JD's Deuce Points (Trick or Treat?)

1. The "Family" Visit

Hello bloggers. I hope you all feel like you put on clothes that just got out of the dryer! My goal is to continue blogging again on a weekly basis with my Deuce Points, but coaching has taken my energy to the woodshed and locked it into a rusted vault. 

Anyways, to pick you up where I last left off, I'm sure you are wondering how Lady is doing...for those of who are reading me for the first time, Lady is my dog. She is a Labrador Retriever who is on the market.

My brother and his wife came in last night from West Virginia to visit us over the weekend for Halloween. Even though today is Halloween, our neighborhood trick-or-treats on Thursdays to keep the kids safe, if you know what I mean (cough cough). 

My wife and I decided to dress Lady up like Peter Pan to go around the neighborhood trick-or-treating for Milk Bones. What we didn't realize though was that my brother brought his dog, Wendy, down from West Virginia. You see, Wendy is a Labrador Retriever too. That's where all the trouble began. 

Lady has been all over Wendy since she has been here. My wife and I are beginning to think that Lady is having a gender identity crisis because we are dressing her up as a male (Peter Pan). And then, throw in the fact that my brother's dog is named Wendy, it makes things even more confusing. 

Eventually, my wife and I had to tell Lady that Wendy is her cousin and that it's only kosher for them to just be friends. 

2. Get Lucky

Like the legend of the Phoenix, you soar above the whistling oaks and scour the earth like a wounded beetle. 

I sense a scent I haven't seen in a while, but smell an unfamiliar sight. I call, where are you? You don't respond. I'm done. I can't take it anymore. Leave me to my own devices. 

Let's open a K-Mart. 

Week 10 Scorecast and Synopsis

Here are the picks for Week 10. Keep in mind that the panelists' records and picks are made
based on the spread.

Synopses:

Jeremy

1. Florida State @ Louisville - Looks like the betting public likes Louisville here as the line has dropped through the week. I think this is just people wishing FSU will lose. The Cardinals defense has been solid but their best opponent has been Clemson. The Noles havent been able to run the ball consistently so I'm not sure it will matter if Karlos Williams plays or not. I think the Cardinals can keep it close but I have to go with the Noles to get the win and cover. FSU 31-21

2. TCU @ West Virginia - All I can say is the scoreboard may break in this game. TCU put up 82 last week. West Virginia is capable. They may have the best WR in the country so pay attention to Kevin White. However, I just feel as if TCU is the more complete team here. I think this will be an up and down game but TCU has enough fire power behind Trevone Boykin to get the win.  TCU 42 - 35

3. Florida vs. Georgia - So tough as a Georgia fan to think we are going to run away in this game. The sting of the 90's and 2000's are quite fresh. Here's my problem with the Gators though; How are they going to score? Treon Harris is supposed to come in and give Florida a lift but the best stat on his resume is  leading the Gators on a game winning drive against a horrible Tennessee team. The Gators defense is solid but I have faith in the UGA line to continue doing a fine job up front and opening holes for whoever the running back is. The game will be ugly as Will Muschamp is fighting for his life (probably won't matter though) but the Dawgs get it done. UGA 28-14

4. Auburn @ Ole Miss - I think this game is going to be an absolute slug fest. Ole Miss is fighting for it's life after their loss to LSU last week. Auburn already knows it has no room for error either. Auburn doesn't seem to be the same team on the road this year. They struggled in a win against Kansas State and looked pedestrian at times against Miss State. I don't have a ton of faith in Bo Wallace but I think the Landsharks give him every opportunity by limiting the Auburn offense. Ole Miss wins a squeaker. Ole Miss 28-24


Brian

1. Florida State @ Louisville - Jeez. Can they both lose? Between Jameis Winston and Bobby Petrino, there's more than enough dislike to go around. I'm sure Louisville will keep this game interesting for a while, but Florida State has superior talent and mojo. Florida State 35-17

2. TCU @ West Virginia - TCU sure did score a lot of points last week versus Texas Tech. Seemed a bit like they were running up the score, but impressive nonetheless. TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin has been lights out lately. I take TCU to keep rolling. TCU 42-28

3. Florida vs. Georgia - I know, I know. Florida is bad. Muschamp is likely gone. Georgia has played well lately. You know what? In rivalry games, sometimes all these factors just don't matter. Even though UGA is riding a 3 game win streak against the Gators, I've seen Georgia lose and make games versus Florida interesting way too many times. I think Georgia wins, but doesn't cover. Georgia 21-10

4. Auburn @ Ole Miss - I watched a decent amount of the Ole Miss @ LSU game last weekend. I was pretty disappointed with Ole Miss's offense and thought the Land Sharks played more like Land Groupers for a lot of the game. If it weren't for 4 LSU turnovers, LSU may have won by more. However, I was equally unimpressed with Auburn's defense against South Carolina. I expect Auburn's offense to give them enough to beat the Black Rebel Bears in Oxford. Auburn 35 Ole Miss 20

Keppel

1. Florida State @ Louisville - Florida State is favored I pick Florida State

2. TCU @ West Virginia - TCU is favored I pick TCU

3. Florida vs. Georgia - Georgia is favored I pick Georgia

4. Auburn @ Ole Miss - Ole Miss is favored I pick Ole Miss even though I don't want to

Week 9 Poll and SEC Standings

I'm not sure why Hugh Freeze allowed Chris Jericho to have one more throw against LSU. I was pretty unimpressed with Ole Miss's offense against LSU. Sure, it's hard to play at Death Valley, but Mississippi State put up a much better performance than Ole Miss. And, the Land Sharks played more like the Land Groupers at times. Here was my poll at the end of Week 8. Here is my update at the end of Week 9. 

Further, below the rankings, I will list a few superlatives from the week. 

Week 9 Top 10

1. Mississippi State

2. Florida State

3. Alabama

4. Auburn

5. Georgia

6. Notre Dame

7. Ole Miss

8. Oregon

9. Michigan State

10. TCU

Week 9 SEC Standings

1. Mississippi State

2. Alabama

3. Auburn

4. Georgia

5. Ole Miss

6. LSU

7. Arkansas

8. Missouri

9. Texas A&M

10. South Carolina

11. Kentucky

12. Florida

13. Tennessee

14. Anchor Down. 

Team of the Week: LSU

A-Holes of the Week: TCU. 82 points? C'mon now. 

Failed execution of the week: Kentucky's Onside Kick vs. Mississippi State 

Current Projected SEC Champion: Alabama. Mississippi State is still top dog until they lose, but Alabama has looked awfully good lately. I don't expect MSU to win at Alabama. 

Brain Droppings

We're headed into the final month of the season and there is still so much to be decided. The number of one loss teams is starting to mount and the initial "playoff poll" comes out on Tuesday. The question is, how do you differentiate between losses. I see Oregon in a lot of people's playoff. Do you count that they lost at home to another one loss team while missing 4 offensive tackles? What about Auburn? They lost on the road to the current #1 team in the country. Michigan State lost the first week of their season to another playoff contender and likely top 10 team. Is that enough to differentiate them from Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia, TCU, or Kansas State? I'll be intrigued by the initial standings. Folks who still take their cues from the meaningless AP or Coaches' Poll may be surprised. But before all that...on to the week that was.

Thuds - Bo Wallace - There he is. The guy that makes poor decisions and costs the Rebels ball games has returned in emphatic fashion. Nevermind that you need merely a FG to limp into OT against a difficult opponent on the road. Just wing it into the endzone. Oops. Auburn at home next could end the dream for Ole'. 12:00 Games - I ended up with very little time to actually watch football on Saturday. The time I did have was right after the 12:00 kicks. They were all awful. Texas/K-State, Nebraska/Rutgers, and Arkansas/UAB were all stinkers. I found myself looking forward to the Marshall/FAU game. Hell, I even spent some time watching Yale play. That's how bad the noon games were. Atlanta Falcons -  I know we concentrate on CFB most of the time but the Falcons are so horrendous, it must be mentioned. How do you blow a 21 point halftime lead in the NFL? More so, you have a first down just before the 2 minute warning and your opponent has 1 time out left. How do they get the ball with 1:50 left? Then, how do you allow a 35 yard pass play so easily on their first play. To cap it all off, the Lions missed a FG only to get a second chance when they were penalized for Delay of Game. As a long time Falcons fan, this was the most Falcons game ever.

Studs - Amari Cooper - I have no desire to laude Lane Kiffin in his return to Neyland. However, I will say this, even the dumbest offensive coordinator in America would make sure Cooper toughed the ball. He touched it often and by the end of the 1st Quarter had 185 yards of receiving.Wow. Death Valley - The real one. In Baton Rouge. Les Miles described this place as 'where dreams go to die.' Winning at night is a near impossibility here. This is one place I've never been but I know the outside of the stadium is just as crazy as the inside. Did y'all see that whole pig they had roasted on Gameday. Alabama is a better football team, but they haven't been amazing on the road. They have to visit in a couple of weeks. I think Bama will get the W but I wouldn't want to play LSU in the next few years. Patrick Towles - We don't put losers on the studs category very often, but Patrick Towles outplayed Dak Prescott on Saturday. State got the win but the Kentucky QB gave the rest of their opponents something to think about going forward. I know as a UGA fan I'll be sweating that visit to Lexington in a few weeks.

Playoffs - (1) Mississippi State (2) FSU (3) Alabama (4) Oregon - Honestly, other than State and the Noles I don't know who to go with. State and Bama play each other in a few weeks. Let's say State loses and is shut out of the SEC Championship game by a 1 loss Alabama, will they get left out? I kind of doubt it. However, I see polls with 3 SEC teams in it and I'm still having a hard time fathoming the committee letting two in. I'm also not sure Oregon is best of the rest. TCU looks pretty legit. So does K-State. Just a tough call.

Next Week - Ole Miss and Auburn will be playing an elimination game on Saturday night in Oxford. It's not the first for Auburn and it won't be the last if they win. It's the first for Ole Miss. Perhaps the last remaining land mine on FSU's schedule is Thursday night against Louisville. Stanford and Oregon are going at it on the West Coast and TCU at West Virginia may have 150 scored in it. Throw in the Cocktail Party and it's a solid slate of games.

SEC Rankings:
14) Commodadores - Showed some fight against Mizzou. Hey, they got Old Dominion coming up!
13) Tennessee - Showed signs of life after falling behind by 4 scores to Alabama. It's the little things.
12) Florida - Didn't lose on their bye week Congrats!
11) South Carolina - Their defense is bad. Great effort against Auburn but another L in a miserable season
10) Arkansas - This team would be ok in the East. Not saying they'd win it but they wouldn't be at the bottom.
9) Texas A&M - Can they get some magic back from the beginning of the season?
8) Mizzou - Their offense is a travesty. They only have one SEC loss but a big game with Kentucky on the horizon.
7) Kentucky - What will they have left in the tank after a valiant effort against State?
6) LSU - Their offense is still a ? but their defense looked solid on Saturday night. This young team is starting to come into form.
5) Georgia - Will Todd Gurley return? UGA wants an answer today if possible.
4) Ole Miss - Their D is still nasty. Bo Wallace drives the team though. Big game against Auburn this week.
3) Auburn - Would they have beaten Carolina in Columbia? Doesn't matter now but something to ask. Schedule doesn't lighten.
2) Alabama - I think we are getting ready to learn an awful lot about the Tide. Their best win so far is probably against WVU.
1) Mississippi State - They keep living the dream in Starksville.

Week 9 Scorecast and Synopsis

Here are the picks for Week 9. Keep in mind that the panelists' records and picks are based
against the spread.

Synopses:

Jeremy

1. Ohio State @ Penn State - Penn State got off to a great start under new HC Humpty Hump. However, they've cooled off a bit losing to a horrible Michigan team and a very mediocre Northwestern team. Ohio State lost to what we now know is a very mediocre Virginia Tech team. I think the Buckeyes just have too much talent here. Franklin will have the Nittany Lions ready to play and the Buckeyes have some holes on defense but I think the second half will allow OSU to pull away. Ohio State 35-20

2. USC @ Utah - Tough match-up. Utah has been under the radar with their only loss to Washington State in a game they should've won. USC should've beaten Arizona State but probably shouldn't have beaten Stanford or Arizona. I'm going to lean Utes here because they are at home in a tight ball game. Utah 30-27

3. South Carolina @ Auburn - Auburn is the clear pick here, right? They're at home. They're coming off of a bye. Carolina's defense is atrocious. Something just seems up. Maybe Auburn starts to look ahead to Ole Miss, but I just get the feeling the HBC will keep this game close. Auburn wins but Cocks cover. Auburn 45-31

4. Ole Miss @ LSU - The Ole Miss gauntlet continues. Sure they got Bama out of the way and won a trap game against A&M but after a breather against Tennessee, they get LSU and Auburn. This game is at night because of a blunder by CBS taking State and Kentucky in the 3:30 time slot. That makes things harder on the Rebels. LSU is improving and will be ready but I think the Landsharks are too much for them to overcome. Ole Miss 24-17


Brian

1. Ohio State @ Penn State - Penn St has been struggling lately. Ohio St hasn't exactly played anyone since losing to Virginia Tech, but I trust that Urban Meyer has them progressing. This was tough to pick since it is at Penn St, but I think the Buckeyes will take care of business. Ohio State 28-14

2. USC @ Utah - Cody Kessler led the Trojans to victory over Colorado with 7 TDs. Maybe this means USC is hitting its stride. I don't know a ton about Utah; so, I will stick with USC winning this one. USC 35-32

3. South Carolina @ Auburn - Auburn is definitely a better team than South Carolina. However, I do believe Spurrier will find a way to keep the Gamecocks competitive in this one. Auburn will win, but slightly under the spread. Auburn 42-28

4. Ole Miss @ LSU - I'm not sure why Ole Miss isn't favored by more points. Yes, LSU played well against Kentucky and Death Valley is hard to play at, but Ole Miss's defense has been amazing this season. Pair a great defense against a mediocre offense (LSU), and the Rebels will win. Ole Miss 31-13

Keppel

1. Ohio State @ Penn State - Ohio St is favored I pick Ohio St

2. USC @ Utah - USC is favored I pick USC

3. South Carolina @ Auburn - Auburn is favored I pick Auburn

4. Ole Miss @ LSU - Ole Miss is favored I pick Ole Miss

Trivia Challenge (Week 20)

WEEK 20 TRIVIA QUESTION (10/23)

No Outside Resources. This means you cannot use other people, the internet, or other means to help your answer. E-Mail answers to groundrulehuddle@gmail.com.

This is the final week. There will be 4 parts, each worth 15 points (total of 60 points).

College Football (worth 5 points each)

At the end of September 2014, name the 3 programs (only Power 5 Conference programs) with the most wins all-time.

Major League Baseball (worth 5 points each)

According to MLB.com, name the 3 MLB Franchises with the most World Series Titles (as of 2014). MLB.com calculated World Series wins based on the City the franchise is currently in. For example, if you were answering for the Braves, you would answer 1 due to the 1995 World Series title in Atlanta. 

National Basketball Association (worth 5 points each)

Name the 3 NBA Franchises with the oldest NBA arenas (based on when the arena opened)?

National Football League (worth 5 points each)

Name the 3 active NFL players who have rushed over 10,000 yards in their career?

After Week 19 Scoreboard
Name	Week Score	Cumulative
Bruce*	0	81
Bryan	0	127
Derrick	0	82
Josh*	0	90
Jarred	0	14
Jim	0	5
David*	0	140
*Note: Extra points for Blog Submission

Week 8 Poll and SEC Standings

Since losing Todd Gurley, Georgia has been playing with a chip on their shoulder. How does their win against Arkansas shake things up? Here was my poll at the end of Week 7.  Here is my update at the end of Week 8. 

Further, below the rankings, I will list the best SEC offensive and defensive units at the midpoint.

Week 8 Top 10

1. Mississippi State

2. Ole Miss

3. Florida State

4. Auburn

5. Alabama

6. Georgia

7. Notre Dame

8. Oregon

9. Michigan State

10. TCU

Week 8 SEC Standings

1. Mississippi State

2. Ole Miss

3. Auburn

4. Alabama

5. Georgia

6. LSU

7. Arkansas

8. Missouri

9. Texas A&M

10. South Carolina

11. Kentucky

12. Florida

13. Tennessee

14. Anchor Down. 

SEC Unit Rankings

Offense - Mississippi State

Quarterbacks - Auburn (Marshall/Johnson)

Offensive Line - Georgia

Runningbacks - Georgia (Gurley/Michel/Chubb/Marshall)

Wide Receivers - Auburn (Coates/Williams/Bray)


Defense - Ole Miss

Defensive Line - Alabama

Linebackers - Georgia

Secondary - Ole Miss

Brain Droppings

Let's just get this out of the way right off the bat, if you are one of those people that said a 4 team playoff would ruin CFB, get out of here. We're halfway done with the season and there is so much turmoil everywhere, that I can't tell you that one of the 4 teams I put down as a playoff team will make it. FSU is the only one I'd bet on and that's because their schedule is a joke. I know Mississippi State has looked unbeatable. They still have to play Ole Miss and Alabama on the road. Ole Miss? They have LSU at Death Valley in a night game this week. Nevermind that they still are looking at State and Auburn down the stretch. What about a Big 12 or PAC 12 team? Those conferences are cannibalizing each other. Everyone knows the Big 10 is weak but Michigan State is in the conversation again. I honestly have no idea how the selection committee will decide. I know there's a lot of football to be played but if you had to pick this week, good luck. On to my thoughts...

Studs: Nick Chubb - No Todd Gurley? No Problem. Chubb ran for 202 yards against Arkansas. Every ESPN analyst I saw said that the Hogs would stack the box and stuff the UGA run game. Not so, my friends. How about UGA's offensive line? They've been the real MVP this season. UGA looks formidable down the stretch but still has a very tough game with Auburn on the schedule. Don't sleep on them just yet. That being said, how did they lose to Carolina? Notre Dame - I know they lost the game on Saturday night but I thought they were going to get smoked. They should've won the game. They didn't cost themselves a spot in the playoff by losing, but they gave themselves no room for error with a tougher schedule down the stretch. West Virginia - A lot of people thought WVU would be a dumpster fire this year. Turns out that was just Morgantown after they upset #4 Baylor on Saturday. Kevin White is a pretty awesome receiver and Clint Trickett has that offense humming. Tough loss for Baylor. The Big 12 is wide open.

Thuds:  Texas A&M - Getting beat 59-0 pretty much sums up what I've been saying for a while now. The Aggies were overrated after that impressive win against Carolina on opening night. We know Carolina isn't very good. The Aggies were flat out awful. Props to Bama for bouncing back but Kenny Trill ought to think of changing his nickname to Kenny Still hasn't thrown a TD this Week. Georgia Tech - Look, as a UGA fan, it's no secret I hate Tech but I actually want them to be good. That way when we kick the crap out of them at the end of the year I feel better about myself. This is a bad loss to an awful UNC team. Paul Johnson is in trouble. Florida's Offense - The defense held Mizzou to 120 yards and one score. The offense gave up 2 TDs and special teams gave up two more. The fans started calling for Will Muschamp's head during the game. 2 Gators came to the sidelines to sing the Alma Mater after the game. Looks like Coach Boom is about to go off. Somehow I'm still worried about this game as a UGA fan in two weeks.

Playoffs - (1) Mississippi State (2) Ole Miss (3) Florida State (4) ????? I'd probably put Auburn in this slot for now, but I ultimately think it will be Michigan State. I'm still leery of the SEC getting 2 teams in, but you never know. Lots of 1 loss teams still alive, including Notre Dame. Here's my problem with ND/FSU. I know it was a great game but was that because two decent teams were playing? I get the feeling there are 3-5 SEC teams that would wipe the floor with both the Noles and Irish. However, that's not how it will work. If either make it to the playoffs, we'll see how good they are.

   

Next Week - Kind of slow. Utah and USC could be interesting. LSU and Ole Miss is the game of the week. Other than that, I'm not sure there's a marquee game. That's usually the time when things go haywire though so watch out!

SEC: The top 6 are pretty dang good. The top 4 are really freaking good. The bottom is pretty bad though.

14) Vanderbilt - Took a week off from getting beat. They'll get back to it next week.
13) Tennessee - Continually look worse every week. Not sure what happened to a team that looked poised to improve this year.
12) Florida - Wow. The Gators are a dumpster fire right now. Smells like Muschamp will be on the lookout for a new job.
11) Kentucky - The second half of the schedule is much more daunting than the first half. Look no further than getting whipped by LSU this week.
10) South Carolina - Somehow this team has wins over UGA and ECU.
9) Texas A&M - Bet these guys wish it was still August 30. They haven't basked in the glow of that Carolina win for a while now. Defense is bad and offense is bad against good defenses.
8) Arkansas - 16 straight SEC losses. Their improved but at what point do they get frustrated and possibly quit.
7) Mizzou - Their offense is really struggling right now. Fortunately the Gators were happy to let them score every other way imaginable.
6) LSU - Starting to get their mojo back. A huge game against Ole Miss this weekend.Will they be able to feed Fournette?
5) Georgia - UGA continued it's resurgence without Todd Gurley. A win in the Cocktail Party would have them primed for a solid stretch run.
4) Alabama - This team might be unbeatable at home. Uh oh Mississippi State. Still some questions but that was pretty impressive on Saturday.
3) Auburn - Their win over K-State looks better than it did at the time. However, their schedule continues to be brutal.
2) Ole Miss - Whipped a bad Tennessee team. Bo Wallace was afforded a so-so game because their defense is so good.
1) Miss State - I don't know if they can sustain it, but State is the team to beat even after playing nobody this week.

Week 8 Scorecast and Synopsis

Here are the picks for Week 8. Keep in mind that the panelists' records and picks are based
against the spread.

Synopses:

Jeremy

1. Kansas State @ Oklahoma -  Oklahoma dropped a massive game to TCU a couple of weeks ago and let Texas keep it close with them last week. K-State played tough against Auburn and are better than Texas but other than that, I couldn't tell you much about them. Bill Snyder usually has his team ready for big games, but with this one on the road and Oklahoma playing for their playoff lives, I'm going with the Sooners here. Oklahoma 31-20

2. Texas A&M @ Alabama - There's problems in Alabama. Nick Saban has been critical of his fan base and looks as if he is about to have a heart attack on the sideline. It's not a talent issue in Alabama, it's the mental problems. That's got to be killing him. A&M has been handled by both Mississippi schools. They aren't as good as everyone thought. But, I think their offense is good enough yo put points up on Bama's secondary. The Tide win, but the Aggies get the cover. Alabama 30-24

3. Georgia @ Arkansas - The Dawgs had their best showing of the season without their best player against Mizzou last week. Now comes an Arkansas team that has lost 15 straight SEC games. The Hogs are better this year and have let some games slip away. This one makes me nervous as a UGA fan, but I think Malcolm Mitchell is the difference here. Arkansas loads the box, UGA responds with the short passing game, stretching the field from sideline to sideline. The defense doesn't stop the Razorbacks like they did the Tigers, but they do enough. UGA 31-24

4. Notre Dame @ Florida State - Notre Dame must've been looking ahead to this weeks game with the Noles as they almost let a very bad North Carolina team beat them last week. I think the Irish are solid but they just don't match up here. FSU intends to play Jameis Winston regardless of the allegations against him. It's a big stage at home and I expect FSU will want to make a statement. I think they handle the Irish pretty easily. FSU 38-24


Brian

1. Kansas State @ Oklahoma -  It's hard to tell how good either of these teams are. I thought Kansas St played decent vs. Auburn, but haven't seen them otherwise. Oklahoma did not play great against Texas but has a solid team. I like Oklahoma to win, but not cover. Oklahoma 31-24

2. Texas A&M @ Alabama - Texas A&M has cost me 2 losses the last two weeks in picking games. I thought they would play much better vs. Miss St and Ole Miss. Maybe they just aren't that good. Even though Alabama was underwhelming against Arkansas, they will probably cover at home. Alabama 35-21

3. Georgia @ Arkansas - Who knows week to week what Georgia will do. Looked great Saturday without Gurley, looked mediocre against South Carolina and Tennessee with Gurley. What encourages me is that Arkansas doesn't pass much, which should play to the strength of UGA's defense, provided they don't get worn down. Georgia wins on a Marshall Morgan FG, but doesn't cover. Georgia 27-24

4. Notre Dame @ Florida State - Not sure why FSU is so heavily favored here, given all the controversy surrounding the program and Notre Dame's decent play. Florida State should still win, but I don't know if they'll win by 12 points. Florida State 35-27

Keppel

1. Kansas State @ Oklahoma -  Oklahoma is favored I pick Oklahoma

2. Texas A&M @ Alabama - Alabama is favored I pick Alabama

3. Georgia @ Arkansas - Georgia is favored I pick Georgia

4. Notre Dame @ Florida State - Florida St is favored I pick Florida St

Week 7 Poll and SEC Standings

Mississippi State looked convincing again (for the third time in a row), defeating defending SEC champ, Auburn. Where does that vault them for me? Here was my poll at the end of Week 6.  Here is my update at the end of Week 7. 

Week 7 Top 10

1. Mississippi State

2. Ole Miss

3. Florida State

4. Notre Dame

5. Auburn

6. Alabama

7. Baylor

8. Michigan State

9. Oregon

10. Georgia

Week 7 SEC Standings

1. Mississippi State

2. Ole Miss

3. Auburn

4. Alabama

5. Georgia

6. Texas A&M

7. Arkansas

8. Kentucky

9. LSU

10. Missouri

11. South Carolina

12. Florida

13. Tennessee

14. Anchor Down. 

Fantasy Update

It was a beneficial wee for my Fantasy teams as they both were victorious. We're tied for 2nd in both leagues and getting ready for a potential playoff push. Here's this week's breakdown:

Trending Up -  TY Hilton - Perilously close to not playing again because of his boom or bust style, Hilton came up big for me as I benched Andre Johnson. 200+ yards and a TD. Giving myself a pat on the back for that one. Larry Fitzgerald - The AJ Green injury sent me scrambling for a wide receiver. Fitzgerald hadn't been himself this year but with the return of Carson Palmer, I took a chance. Good thing for me it worked out. Lesean McCoy - The man has been MIA the first few weeks of the season. It wasn't a spectacular outing for Shady, but certainly a step in the right direction.

Trending Down - Julio Jones - Matt Ryan has not time so Julio doesn't have many catches. He's underperformed most of the year and this week was no exception. Chris Ivory - After wrestling away the majority of the carries from Chris Johnson, Ivory laid an egg for the second game in a row. 2 points ain't going to cut it on this team. The only problem is I don't know who else to play. Buffalo Defense - Looks like Tom Brady is starting to figure things out. Great. I dropped him two weeks ago. The Bills have been stout this year but Brady shredded them pretty easily this week. Hopefully they get back on track next week. If not, at least they get to play the Jets twice a year.

This Week: 2 (Yahoo and ESPN) - 0

Overall: Both teams are 4-2 with a hold on 2nd place.

In other Fantasy News, Destiny is a total timesuck. Fortunately it has only affected school work and not Fantasy Football.

Brain Droppings

We're halfway through the CFB season and things continue to evolve. It seems apparent that the team froms Mississippi are legitimate contenders and that their meeting at the end of the year in the Egg Bowl may be the biggest of all time. The SEC East continues to be a bit of a mess but UGA showed they are the team to beat by throttling Mizzou without their best player. The PAC 12 continues to be a gauntlet as Oregon effectively eliminated UCLA from playoff consideration and Arizona followed up their upset of the Ducks by showing they can't kick field goals. Michigan State still seems to be the leader in the Big 10 but were tested by an improving Purdue team. Baylor has a great opportunity in the Big 12 after a dramatic come from behind win over TCU. Finally, FSU seems to finally be playing full games but may get their biggest test of the year at home against a Notre Dame team that is turning heads. Let's get to my thoughts on the weekend...

Studs - Mark Richt - The often criticized coach had one of the most impressive moments of his career on Saturday when he took the Dawgs to suddenly favored Mizzou and dropped the hammer on Gary Pinkel and his team 34-0 without talented running back, Todd Gurley. The Dawgs control their own destiny in the East now and if  the defense can play as well as it did on Saturday they have a great chance to make it to the Dome. However, tough games still loom, starting with a much improved Arkansas team this week. Marcus Mariota - Left for dead in the Heisman campaign after struggling mightily last week against Arizona at home, Mariota led the Ducks to a big win over UCLA this weekend. The Ducks have a clear path to the PAC 12 championship if their offensive line can hold up the rest of the season. Kansas City Royal - I know I concentrate on football season this time of year in Brain Droppings but here's to the Royals, a team that hasn't made the playoffs since the mid 1980's has seized control of the ALCS and are making baseball fun to watch again. They still have 6 games to win before being crowned World Series champions but it's hard not to cheer for them if you don't have a team in the race.

Thuds - Florida Football - The Gators had a win right in front of them. Jeff Driskel had even completed a long pass. With just a few minutes remaining, the Gators had the ball on the 2 yard line, first down, down by 3. And they couldn't put it in the endzone. After settling for a FG, they stopped the LSU offense and were in position to move into FG range for a game winner. However, Driskel and the offense reverted to themselves and an interception led to an LSU victory. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Ouch. Texas A&M - Everyone thought the Aggies were a contender after a rout of Carolina in the opener on the road. It turns out the Gamecocks just weren't very good. Now, it doesn't look like A&M is either. Lots of talent but they've been blown out by the two Mississippi schools (granted, those teams are pretty good). The Aggies get rewarded with a trip to a wounded Alabama this week. The Tide don't look like themselves and there may be an opportunity there but I just don't trust them to get it done.  Arizona - One team controlled their own destiny in the PAC 12. Many didn't give them a chance at home against USC after their win over Oregon last week. However, the Wildcats were in position to win. But multiple missed FGs, including one as time expired gave the Trojans a road win. The PAC 12 is wide open and fun to watch. It's a shame it's so hard to watch on the east coast.

Playoffs - (1) Mississippi State (2) Ole Miss (3) Baylor (4) Florida State - Notre Dame is on the cusp but struggled to beat a pretty awful North Carolina team at home. Beat Florida State though and things change. Meanwhile, State looks like the best team in the country with possibly the best QB. Dak Prescott wasn't perfect on Saturday by any stretch and the Bulldogs still handled Auburn pretty easily. Meanwhile, Bo Wallace and the Rebels had no let down against A&M. They were pretty dominant. Baylor had a miracle win against TCU and still controls it's destiny in the Big 12. Their offense is nasty but the defense leaves an opening for any team it faces.

Next Week - Look for another wild week in the PAC 12. Lots of solid match-ups in a league that is probably underrated if you live in the South. Also keep your eye on the SEC East. UGA has the upper hand but a potentially tough road game against Arkansas could derail things. The winner of Mizzou and Florida isn't done yet. Also, Kentucky has a put-up or shut-up game against LSU. The biggest game of the week takes us back to 1993 when the Fighting Irish visit the Seminoles. This could be a de facto playoff elimination game. The Noles have underachieved all year but are still undefeated and figure to run the table against the weak ACC. The Irish have overachieved thus far but are well coached and have talent.

SEC Rankings:
     14) Vanderbilt - Ugly. Is there another win in their schedule that includes Old Dominion?
     13) Tennessee - A win over Chattanooga doesn't change things. Is Ole Miss the team the Vols finally break through against?
     12) Florida - Who is the QB moving forward? Still more questions than answers in Gainesville?
     11) South Carolina - Can the HBC get things on track against Auburn? Not if that defense continues to be a disaster.
     10) Arkansas - 15 straight SEC losses. A great opportunity against UGA this week after letting a great opportunity against the Tide slip away.
      9) Mizzou - UGA gave you the blue print. Pressure Maty Mauk and Mauktober doesn't happen.
      8) LSU - Fournette is starting to come into his own. But the team still doesn't have a great option at QB.
      7) Kentucky - One loss in triple OT against the Gators. The meat of the schedule is still ahead though.
      6) Texas A&M - Defense looks suspect and Kenny Hill isn't shredding teams like he was able to do against South Carolina.
      5) Alabama - Their win against Florida looks less impressive. Old Alabama teams wouldn't struggle that bad against Arkansas.
      4) Georgia - Where's that defense been all year? UGA can run the table if they play like that for Jeremy Pruitt the rest of the year, regardless of Hutson Mason. The question is whether they can be consistent.
      3) Auburn - State had their way with them on Saturday. Their schedule doesn't get easier. Well, with Carolina coming to town next week it might.
      2) Ole Miss - Everyone looked for a let down and couldn't find one. Their defense is legit.
      1) Mississippi State - How fast has the rise been for the Bulldogs, they've gone from unranked to #1 in 6 games. There are still hurdles to clear, but it looks like with Dak Prescott leading the way, the Bulldogs could rise to unseen heights.

From the Epicenter: Thoughts on Todd Gurley

Here at GRH, we make no secret about who we are. Brian and I are UGA graduates (multiple times over) and avid supporters of UGA athletics. However, for the purposes of this blog, we try to be as unbiased as possible. It's not easy and at times, I'm sure we slip into what the good folks at Every Day Should Be Saturday call "blatant homerism." Being at the epicenter of the whole Todd Gurley scenario, I felt I couldn't let my thoughts on this pass today. I'm sure Brian would feel the same way, I'm just not sure what kind of schedule he has that may allow him to do so. Anyways, with all of that in mind, here are my thoughts on GuleyGate...

Atlanta radio host John Kincade sent out this tweet yesterday in the wake of the Gurley suspension:

John has a point. However, I'm not sure I would call what sane Bulldog fans think about this as an absence of morals. Let's be clear here: If these allegations are true, then Todd Gurley broke the rules and should be punished. Even if the rules seem to be dumb. My problem isn't a moral one. It's the fact that how the NCAA handles scenarios like this is totally arbitrary. I teach a class to future educators here at UGA and part of what I teach them is that it is important to have rules and when those rules are broken, you must have a clear and consistent punishment that occurs in the immediate aftermath to curb behavior. The NCAA doesn't have this. The first problem is that the NCAA does nothing swiftly. In fact, it is UGA that has suspended Todd Gurley (more on that later), not the NCAA. While the NCAA investigation goes on, it seems Gurley will not play. Georgia fans are well aware of how long that took for one AJ Green. Wait, forget that, UGA fans will remember that Kolton Houston had to sit out the better part of two years because of the slow wheels of the NCAA (granted that was a different scenario). Additionally, there is no set punishment for something along these lines. With no evidence of wrong doing, Johnny Manziel sat a half of a game against Rice. With no evidence of wrong doing, Cam Newton sat out zero games while at Auburn (again, different scenario but being paid was an accusation). 

Now, did UGA fans scream for them to be suspended. Of course they did. We're fans. Just like any other SEC fans would say the same about Todd Gurley if he hadn't been suspended but the story broke. It's not a moral dilemma. Todd Gurley broke no laws. When kids get kicked off the UGA football team for breaking laws, I don't think any sane UGA fans have a problem with it. I think the problem they have is the moral compass of other schools coaches and administrators who seem to benefit off of UGA's stance. That doesn't mean I don't think kids deserve second chances. I do. Zach Mettenberger, Nick Marshall, Trey Matthews. All of those guys deserved a second chance. But it chaps my ass that another SEC school gets to benefit from UGA doing the right thing at the time.

Now, let's talk about UGA doing the right thing. I don't know the inner workings of this story, but I did read this email released by the folks over at SBNation. If you haven't yet seen it, I encourage you to take a look at it. In it, a memorabilia dealer who claims to have had Gurley sign autographs for money and took pictures (of a dreadlocked man who's face is covered signing and not of money exchanging hands) tries to get SBNation to scoop the story. Apparently, this was also done at TMZ. Could this have happened? Sure. Money may have even exchanged hands. We don't know and that's the point. UGA better have more evidence that Gurley is in the wrong here before they suspended him. 

When there is a man crazy enough to poison the trees at Toomer's Corner or threaten to behead Gus Malzahn, what's to say there's not a fan that would report supposed infraction to the UGA compliance office? I want to give people the benefit of the doubt but people give me every reason not to. I'm no conspiracy theorist either. My friend, Matt Forshee used the word 'predator' to describe this scenario and that is exactly what it is. "Hey man, sign this stuff. No on will ever know" (until I report this in person to others). If this scenario is true then doesn't the man who urged Gurley to sign deserve restitution as well. Rumors have run rampant that the memorabilia dealer in question, is a Florida graduate. Maybe that's true and maybe it isn't but in today's world, is it hard to believe? 

Anyways, one thing is for certain in this mess. Todd Gurley isn't playing on Saturday in UGA's most important game of the season to date. He may never don the Red and Black again. The loser here is all of College Football. I texted my dad last week during the game with a simple question: "Be honest, this is the closest thing to Herschel I'll ever see." He said it was. We're all missing out on what could've been a really special year for one player. It's sad. As for the Dawgs, I think this will bring them together as a team. I think they'll play well this weekend, rallying around each other in this difficult scenario. I don't know if that's enough to win the game though. I wasn't extremely confident with the best player in the nation on the team so it's hard to be more confident without him. 

The main thing is that the NCAA needs to get its shit together. I have little doubt that this is a recurring problem for a reason. It's happening all of the time. Figure out what the punishment should be. Enforce it immediately. If I can teach that to 20 year olds who understand it, you'd think an organization run by supposedly educated people could get it.  A standard suspension is better than the horrible 'suspended indefinitely' term that has to be used because people don't know. It's not fair to the team. It's not fair to the fans. And even if he broke the rules, it's not fair to Todd Gurley to be left in limbo.

Week 7 Scorecast and Synopsis

Here are the picks for Week 7. Keep in mind that the panelists' records are based on picks
against the spread.

Synopses:

Jeremy

1. TCU @ Baylor -  TCU is coming off a big win against Oklahoma. This is Baylor's first real test. However, TCU won't be able to keep them from scoring and I don't see the Horned Frogs being able to keep pace offensively on the road. If TCU wins this game, they have a pretty awesome path to the playoff with wins over the Sooners and Bears, so they will be motivated. I just don't see them getting it done.  Baylor 41-28

2. Ole Miss @ Texas A&M -  Tough spot for Ole Miss. They're coming off the biggest win in a long time at home against Bama. Hard to not have a let down against a wounded Aggie team. I've preached that I'm not sold on A&M this year but I like them at home in this scenario. Points won't be easy to come by against a good Rebel defense, but I think they have just enough to get this done. Texas A&M 31-27

3. Georgia @ Missouri -  This game has me stumped. What Missouri team do we get? The one that struggled at home against Indiana or the one that rolled Toledo and UCF. If the Dawgs don't get pressure on Maty Mauk, it might be a long day. If they can get pressure, Mauk and the Missouri receivers could have a field day. On the flip side, can Mizzou be the team that finally slows Todd Gurley down? I don't think so. I'm betting on the Dawgs to get more pressure than Missouri stopping Gurley.  UGA 34-31

4. Auburn @ Mississippi State -  I've been back and forth on this one as well. I've been waiting for Auburn to take a step back. So far, they've looked solid but the best team they've played is Kansas State. The Bulldogs are better than the Wildcats. But they are in a similar situation as their Ole Miss brethren. I'm going with experience in big games here and taking Auburn to get it done on the road. Auburn 38-34

Brian

1. TCU @ Baylor -  TCU had a very impressive win at home last week vs. Oklahoma. Will they be able to get up a second week in a row? I do not think they will beat Baylor, but I expect TCU to cover the spread. Baylor 38-31

2. Ole Miss @ Texas A&M - I am sure I wasn't the only one who was shocked by Ole Miss beating Alabama. I am still shocked. I certainly think Ole Miss can beat Texas A&M, but I don't trust Bo Wallace two weeks in a row. Texas A&M 35-28

3. Georgia @ Missouri - I really want to be wrong about this game, but as a UGA fan, I do not feel good about it. I think Maty Mauk with have a field day with UGA's secondary, and I do not trust Hutson Mason beyond 5 yard passes. Sure, Gurley will put up numbers, but he rushed for over 200 yards vs. Tennessee and UGA barely won. Missouri 35-24

4. Auburn @ Mississippi State - I will not underestimate Mississippi State a third week in a row. I actually do think they are legitimately good now. However, I think Auburn is legitimately better and has more experience being in the spotlight. Expect a wildly entertaining game. Auburn 42-38

Keppel

1. TCU @ Baylor -  Baylor is favored I pick Baylor

2. Ole Miss @ Texas A&M -  Texas A&M is favored I pick Texas A&M

3. Georgia @ Missouri - Georgia is favored I pick Georgia

4. Auburn @ Mississippi State - Auburn is favored I pick Auburn

Trivia Challenge (Week 19)

WEEK 19 TRIVIA QUESTION (10/09)

No Outside Resources. This means you cannot use other people, the internet, or other means to help your answer. E-Mail answers to groundrulehuddle@gmail.com.

Peyton Manning just surpassed 500 career TD passes. In breaking this record, he also set the record for most 4th quarter/OT TD passes with 119. Which QB did he beat out with 118 4th quarter/OT TD passes? 

Brett Favre

Week 18 Scoreboard
Name	Week Score	Cumulative
Bruce*	4	81
Bryan	4	127
Derrick	0	82
Josh*	4	90
Jarred	0	14
Jim	0	5
David*	8	140
*Note: Extra points for Blog Submission

Why Do You Love College Football?

Jeremy and I before the Clemson Game

Last fall, following the Georgia-Auburn game, I wrote a piece called "College Football and God?" explaining why I love college football so much. 

This fall, after 6 weeks of great excitement, in having lengthy discussions with Jeremy, my Dad, and my good friend Derrick, I have come up with a list of more reasons that make college football truly unique and better than other sporting events.

1. Across the board, athletes are too good at the pro level and not quite good enough at the high school level
Sometimes I almost think the athletes are so elite at the professional level that there are less exciting plays. I am not saying the NFL lacks excitement. What I am saying is that players are so good at each position that you don't see a RB jumping over defensive players, you don't see as much busted coverage, etc. Yes, this means the overall level of play is better, but some of the excitement in college football comes from players who are NFL caliber making plays on other decent, but not NFL caliber players. In other words, the range of talent is larger in college than in the NFL, but not so wide as high school, which can be painful to watch at times.

2. LSU fans smell like corn dogs
No, LSU fans smelling like corn dogs is not a reason in itself, but the fact someone created the notion that a fan base smells like an obscure food makes college football wildly entertaining. Do you think Eagles fans think Giants fans smell like clam chowder?

3. The Marching Bands
I am sure NFL teams have traditions before kickoff, but how can you not love the college marching bands and the fight songs associated with each school? What really makes marching bands great are how they are interwoven into the schools' traditions. If you have never seen TBDITL's entrance, script Ohio, or Michael Jackson halftime show, you should seriously check it out!

4. What the heck do those cheers mean?
I grew up in Auburn and never once did I think yelling War Eagle sounded funny. It was just what you yelled to other fans and during kickoff. However, when I went to UGA for undergrad, my friend Stanton noted how weird the chant sounded. Stanton pointed out that most teams have a chant that uses a "Verb+the name of the Team"...Go Dawgs, Go Gators, Go Vols, Go Cocks, etc.  Valid point. War is a noun, but kind of serves as an adjective to describe the Eagle which represents Auburn, yet sounds like a verb when yelled. Catch my drift? And then there's Auburn's Bodda Getta Cheer too. Not to single out Auburn, most of the SEC schools have some cheer that doesn't make sense to others.  

5. Deeper Investment
If you are someone who grew up in Boston and have lived in Boston your whole life, then I could see your passion for the Patriot or Red Sox completely matching that of a college football fan. However, I doubt most professional fans outside a few select cities typically have the same irrational passion as most college fans. Why? Most college fans tie their identity directly to the university they attended, and the football team (or basketball team if you're in Kentucky) directly represents their identity. Consider Auburn University or the University of Alabama. Since most of the students at these universities are from Alabama and Alabama has no professional sports, it is not shocking to see where the University's success on the football field directly ties to someone's identity. It's not that this can't happen at the professional level, but cities are more transient and have less fans who have consumed the team their whole life and for generations. 

So, why do you love college football? Let us know!