Week 1 Poll and SEC Standings

After Todd Gurley and Georgia handled Clemson in the 4th Quarter in the opening weekend, does Georgia make the Top 10? Here was my preseason poll.  Let's see how things have changed since:

Week 1 Top 10

1. Florida State

2. Auburn

3. Oklahoma

4. Michigan State

5. Georgia

6. Texas A&M

7. Stanford

8. LSU

9. Alabama

10. Oregon

Week 1 SEC Standings

1. Auburn

2. Georgia

3. Texas A&M

4. LSU

5. Alabama

6. South Carolina

7. Ole Miss

8. Florida

9. Missouri

10. Mississippi State

11. Tennessee

12. Arkansas

13. Kentucky

14. Anchor Down. 

Brain Droppings: Week 1 Rewind

OK, week 1 is in the books. As stated earlier, the first week in CFB has become a great spectacle with big time match-ups and a lot of pomp and circumstance. Week two takes a bit of a dive but there's still some games worth keeping an eye. Brian and I will get to those later in the week along with the Bear and Lord McFather. As for now, let's concentrate on the week that was:

1) Thuds - Some teams had a hard time getting out of the starting gates in week one against opponents they figured to beat. The worst of these had to be Vanderbilt on Thursday night. After a two hour weather delay, Vandy looked as if they wanted to be anywhere but in Nashville and got drubbed by Temple by 30 points. Too early to know if James Franklin was that big of a difference but with Penn State's win against favored UCF in Ireland on Saturday morning made Vandy long for the days of yore (2011-2013). South Carolina also struggled at home against a team they were favored to handle but the truth is A&M might be at the point where it just reloads under Kevin Sumlin. I admit I drank the HBC's kool-aid and thought the Gamecocks would win going away but the Aggies unleashed a beat down of the home team. What I noticed most was the Aggie's dominance of the lines, especially on offense. The QB had all day to throw and the RBs had lanes to run in. If UGAs line can do the same in two weeks, USC could be off to an 0-2 hole in the SEC. Bama, UCLA, and FSU played closer games than the experts predicted. That doesn't mean these teams are bad, it just means they unexpectedly struggled to dispatch teams people thought they were capable of beating. Next week may be a whole new story for all of them.

2) Studs - Were there two bigger studs this weekend than Todd Gurley of UGA and Kenny Hill of Texas A&M? Hard to imagine. Todd Gurley just broke another long run against Clemson. The man touched the ball 16 times. He scored 4 TDs and averaged over 18.5 yards a touch. That's ridiculous for a RB. What if the Dawgs had given him the ball more? Well, we might not have gotten to see the stable of RBs UGA has stockpiled. When they get Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott Wesley back to stretch the field as receiver, this offense is just going to be flat out tough to stop. Kenny Hill surpassed Johnny Football in the record books and won on the road against a Top 10 team in his first ever start. He had all day to throw, but made all the right decisions and butchered what many thought would be a very good South Carolina defense with over 500 yards passing. Brian and I both mentioned Kevin Sumlin as a good coach in our picks last week and then took the HBC for the win. Looks like Kevin Sumlin has A&M on the fast track. How dumb does Texas look these days for turning down possible SEC overtures over the years? A&M looks like the new power in the Longhorn State.

3) Playoffs - I've seen a lot of pundits go ahead and put out their top 4 teams for the inaugural playoff and I'll be doing the same every week. However, unlike most pundits, I just don't believe one conference is going to get two teams in. As much as I think both A&M and UGA deserve to be in the Top 4,  it ain't gonna happen; doesn't matter how good the SEC is or isn't. My top 4 after week one are:

      1) FSU - They struggled but got a win against a good OK State team. They'll get everyone's best shot this year. They better be ready.

      2) Texas A&M - As impressive as UGA was, they played at home and beat a team that was ranked lower than South Carolina. A&M had the most impressive win of the weekend.

      3) Oklahoma - Baylor has a hurt QB but it's hard to imagine the winner of the Oklahoma/Baylor game not going undefeated. Oklahoma gets the nod this week.

      4) Oregon - They looked sharp against nobody. Marcus Mariota is the reason they get the nod from the PAC-12 right now. UCLA looked pedestrian against Virginia

Next Week - Stanford and USC have an early conference match-up in the PAC-12. Ohio State tries to recover from a middling performance against Navy with what at one time could've been a very big match up but no one talks about Va Tech anymore. Maybe they can change that with a win against the Buckeyes. The biggest match-up of the week is a cross conference class between Oregon and Michigan State. It's an unstoppable offense against an immovable defense. At least, that's what it will be hyped as. The truth is neither one of these teams played anyone of note in week one so we'll find out what they have on Saturday. Regardless of the outcome, both are favored to win their conference. However a win by Michigan State will put the Spartans squarely in the playoff hunt in the watered down Big 10.

5) SEC Power Rankings - This is a Georgia based blog, so we keep it real with the SEC because that's what we know the most about. These rankings are based on what has happened on the field thus far...
     14) Vanderbilt - Nothing to say about their debut except it stunk.
     13) Florida - They didn't play but Vandy was so bad, they come in above them.
     12) Arkansas - Valiant effort for a half but succumbed to the reigning SEC chanps on the Plains
     11) South Carolina - They won't stay here but they had a really bad loss at home to open the season. If they would've played it close I could rank them higher but they got blitzed.
     10) Kentucky - Big win against a horrible opponent.
      9) Mizzou - Again, a big win against a bad opponent but a good start to the year.
      8) Miss State - The Bulldogs were another team that feasted on a weak opponent but things are looking up in Starkvegas.
      7) Alabama - A win over West Virginia two or three years ago would've merited more here but the Tide's defense struggled a little with an inferior opponent. Plenty of room for improvement.
      6) Ole Miss - Defense looked great. Bo Wallace was ineffective for a three quarters and then found a rhythm. The question is how even-keeled can he get?
      5) Tennessee - The Vols looked and acted like their old selves on Sunday. It was against a team that could've been trouble. It's good for the SEC if they're back.
      4) Auburn - A lot of folks are high on the Tigers after a big win on The Plains. My problem was the Razorbacks were regarded as one of the worst teams in the league.
      3) LSU - Good ol' Les Miles football. Three awful quarters and then 21 straight points to pull out the win. It was against a good team though, so the Bengals end up here.
      2) Georgia - The Dawgs were pretty awesome in the 4th quarter against Clemson but their defense struggled for a half and we're still unsure what Hutson Mason brings to the table from a passing standpoint to be honest.
      1) Texas A&M - Best performance of the weekend. Really impressive what they did against South Carolina in Columbia. 
     

Week 1 Scorecast and Synopses (2014)

Here are the picks for Week 1. Keep in mind that the selections are based on the spread
not straight up.

2014 Bergies and Predictions

Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN releases his Herbie Awards every year. I release my own version called the Bergies. I was pretty off in some cases in 2013, but here goes nothing after my 10 Modest Hopes:

10 Modest Hopes for the 2014 CFB Season:

1.  J. Winston is arrested for stealing K-Swiss shoes and a Garfield Replica
I don't wish misfortune for Florida State and their fans, but this guy is just a ball of sleaze. Tired of seeing him on the field. 

2.  Alabama's players stage a mutiny on Nick Saban
I highly, highly respect Nick Saban as a coach. I think he is probably the best when it comes to establishing a winning process. However, that doesn't mean I have to like him. From talking to coaches and players around the South at coaching clinics, he isn't the most fun person to be around. If Malzahn breaks his process again, what will be the attitude in T-Town?

3.  It is revealed that UVA fans smell like meatloaf and BYU fans smell like cabbage

They do, seriously!

4.  Mark Richt finally gets a National Championship
Yes, I am biased because I am a Georgia fan, but I really think Mark Richt is someone who tries to do things the right and respectable way. 

5.  The SEC wins the First CFB Playoff
The SEC won the first BCS Championship. Time for the SEC to continue it's dominance and win the first CFB Playoff.

6.  The SEC Network keeps Tim Tebow and Greg McElroy around
I'm not one to obsess over Tebow like Florida fans, but have you ever listened to him or McElroy? They actually seem pretty bright and provide good, articulate insight. 

Joe Tessitore

7.  Joe Tessitore puts on some sunglasses
You ever watched this guy while he speaks? #CaptainBlinking

8.  What is Britney doing with her life? What about Mike Patrick?
Remember this? http://youtu.be/5pfs6LNk7Po

9. Lee Corso retires at the end of the season.  
Had this last year and will have it again...Totally respect what Corso has done throughout his career as an analyst, but he has become a tad senile.

10. Purdue gets rid of their creepy mascot 
Need I say anything else?

2014  "Bergies"

MVP: Nick Marshall (Auburn)

Coach of the Year: Bob Stoops (Oklahoma)

Scariest Player: Todd Gurley (UGA)

Most Intimidating Atmosphere: Williams-Brice Stadium (South Carolina)

Best Tailgate: World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (Georgia vs. Florida)

Keep an eye on: Derrick Henry (Alabama)

Most Overrated Team: Alabama

Most Underrated Team: Florida

Freshman Phenom: Leonard Fournette (LSU)

Best Looking Co-eds: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi St, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

Conference and National Championship Predictions

AAC: Central Florida

ACC: Florida State

Big 10 with 12 Teams: Ohio State

Big 12 with 10 Teams: Oklahoma

Pac 12: Stanford

SEC: South Carolina

(West- LSU; East- South Carolina)

National Championship: Florida State over Oklahoma

The Year In College Football

Believe it or not, college footballs season kicks off tomorrow. That's right. For all you die-hard fans out there the Georgia State Panthers kick off the 2014 CFB season with a home game against Abilene Christian in the Georgia Dome. It marks the beginning of a crazy weekend in Atlanta. Actually, last weekend may have officially kicked it off with the opening of the brand spanking new CFB Hall of Fame.I hope to make it over there to check it out sometime this season. In the meantime, the Dome, in addition to hosting Ga State on Wednesday will host Ole Miss and Boise State on Thursday and Alabama and West Virginia on Saturday. If you weren't sure, it's pretty obvious Atlanta has become the capital of CFB.

Apart from what's going on in Atlanta this week, there are big games all over the country. Just down the road from the ATL, UGA will kick off against Clemson. LSU will be playing Wisconsin in Dallas (well, Arlington). Reigning champs FSU will travel to play OK State. There's even some big conference games with South Carolina hosting Texas A&M on Thursday night for the SEC Network's football debut.

With CFB only a little over 24 hours from commencing, this week's Brain Dropping's is all about predictions. So here goes...

ACC: Wish there was a legitimate challenger to FSU but this is going to be like when they first joined the conference.

Big 10: The injury to Braxton Miller makes things a little hazy. Sure, Ohio State doesn't have a proven back-up, but their schedule includes the Saint Peter's Little Orphans and the Akron Retirement Home Codgers. They'll post a strong record. However, I think even before Braxton Miller was injured, I would've chosen Michigan State and since he got hurt, the Spartans are definitely the choice.

Big 12: I'm so tempted to pick Baylor just because I think Oklahoma may be a tad overhyped. Not much, just a tad. The problem is Baylor's defense. Actually, the problem is most Big 12 defense's. I'm taking Oklahoma.

PAC-12 - I see this as a two horse race between UCLA and Oregon. Can I really trust a Jim More, Jr. team? I'm going to take Oregon. Though I think the two teams will play twice this season.

SEC - Truthfully, I just watched a UGA hype video and am really tempted to take the Dawgs. I like the way the schedule lines up. I feel as if Auburn won so many close ones last year that the ball will bounce the other way this year. South Carolina is also going to be really good. The Dawgs have to go to Columbia and that's not going to be easy. Alabama is almost a mirror image of the UGA team, but they have to play in the West. Ditto to LSU. Ok, I just convinced myself. It might be laying the jinx on them, but I'm taking the Dawgs. They beat Alabama in another classic SEC Championship tilt.

Heisman Winner - I really can't pick Jameis Winston again. To win twice in a row is just too tough. Some really good college QBs have recently failed in their quest. However, my back-up pick was Braxton Miller. Jameis is going to put up big numbers this year, but I just get the feeling someone is going to sneak in there and nab it. I'm just not so sure who. So I'm going to re-visit this later.

National Champion - While I picked UGA to win the SEC, I can't jinx them a second time by saying they'll win it all (Matt is currently cussing me). Plus I have to be somewhat objective as this the point of the blog. I'm taking the Noles to successfully defend their title. They're loaded. They have a manageable schedule that will also provide some different tests. Plus, they've been there before. Also, I think Jimbo Fisher is set to become an upper echelon coach.

There you have it. My predictions for this year. Feel free to chime in with your own thoughts and opinions. And follow us on Twitter at GRHuddle or like us Facebook.

Trivia Challenge (Week 15)

WEEK 15 TRIVIA QUESTION (8/21)

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.

For the following college football programs, your job is to name the coach in their history with the most wins at that school since 1960.  

You will receive 1 point for each correct answer, and 5 extra points if you guess all correctly. 

1. Notre Dame 

2. Michigan 

3. Texas

4. Nebraska

5. Florida

6. Miami (FL)

Week 15 Scoreboard
Name	Week Score	Cumulative
Bruce*	4	67
Bryan	3	107
Derrick	5	77
Josh*	4	75
Jarred	0	14
Jim	0	5
David*	4	116
*Note: Extra points for Blog Submission

Check out the Question and Leaderboard from Week 14

Bold Predictions

This week's Brain Droppings comes with a story and dedication. Upon graduating from college, a small group of us has made it our mission to get together at least one time every year and pretend we are in college again (to a certain point, at least). This outing is always centered around a UGA away game. We've been to Columbia, SC, Knoxville, TN, Oxford, MS, and even Lexington, KY. For some reason or another, I've had to miss a trip here or there but the point is it's been a time to get together, relive some old memories, and catch up. The four (and occasionally five) of us have had a great time doing it over the years. And a new tradition formed. Prior to the season, we would each pick UGA's record game by game. I think 3 out of the 4 of us took it pretty seriously and would pick records that were realistic based on our expectations. However, I am pretty sure we have all picked UGA to be National Champions at least once.

Not Matt though. Had all of Matt's predictions come to fruition, UGA wouldn't have lost in 10 years and would have a dynasty to rival that of UCLA basketball under Coach John Wooden. To make things more interesting, Matt had to make outlandish claims like the time he predicted Kendrell Bell would hit Kentucky QB Jared Lorenzen so hard he would immediately decapitate him and then pick up his head (still in helmet) and dance around with it to celebrate. This year will be our first without Matt's wild observations. We lost him in a car accident in January and though the other guys have made the trip without him before, I think it will be my first year. Though I know it will be fun, there will definitely be something missing. He'll be toasted not only on that trip, but throughout the season by those who knew and loved him even if only through the magic of UGA football.

We also are robbed of his searing wit and what, no doubt, would be another prediction of an undefeated season and national championship for the team. So, here, as part of Brain Droppings, I bring you this year's predictions for UGA as I think Matt would have seen it...

1) UGA vs Clemson - The Dawgs will looking for revenge against Clemson this year as they lost a heartbreaker last year. The offense will be breaking in new QB, Hutson Mason, while new DC Jeremy Pruitt will try and improve on what was a historically bad defense last year. Not a problem as the Tigers hail from the ACC. UGA wins 42-14

2) UGA @ South Carolina - Normally Matt would've picked a romp against Carolina but as much as he hated the ol' ball coach, he respected him and this game would've scared him. That being said, it will probably be the closest UGA plays all year but the Gamecocks can't stop Todd Gurley on a last second drive to win 24-20

3) UGA vs Troy - Yawn. Offense gets a practice game. 51-6

4) UGA vs Tennessee - Tennessee will be slightly better than Troy in Butch Jones 2nd year. UGA wins 45-17.

5) UGA vs Vandy - We don't have to worry about Humpty Hump coaching Vandy this year. Dawgs roll 38-7

6) UGA @ Mizzou - It's too bad I don't feel as if I can spew forth the cursing Matt would have laid down at a team like Missouri. Despite winning the East last year they would be wannabe SEC members. Only being admitted for their academics. He would remind me of the 'grown man football' it takes to win in the SEC and pick the Dawgs 44-17.

7) UGA @ Arkansas - How can a proud football program like Arkansas take the crappy Big 10's sloppy seconds for a coach. UGA 50-10

8) UGA vs Florida - I once watched Matt taunt Florida fans after a Gator score by letting them know it was ok because they would one day be serving him french fries at McDonalds. Safe to say he hated the Gators. But they'll be better under that turncoat Muschamp. UGA 30-20

9) UGA @ Kentucky - Our group has a pretty dang good record when we take our trips. If we were all there, we never lost one. We visited UK on the next to last one we were all at together and had a blast. We're going again this year. Dawgs win 41-17. Jared Lorenzen will manage to keep his head this time as Kendrell Bell no longer plays for UGA.

10) UGA vs Auburn - The whole secondary that gave up the hail mary last year either was kicked off the team or transferred to Louisville. Actually, one of them transferred to Auburn. UGA won't need a miracle though. They win 41-30

11) UGA vs Charleston Southern - 48-6

12) UGA vs Tech - If there was one team Matt hated above all others (and he hated all of them), Tech was the worst. I had the pleasure of getting to watch last year's game with and his family over Thanksgiving and we celebrated heavily after a Dawg victory. This year, there will be no need for a major comeback and the Todd Gurley show in OT. Dawgs 38-0.

13) SEC Championship: UGA vs Alabama - In a rematch from 2 years ago, the Dawgs will be in for their biggest test of the season. Both Matt and I had thought we had them beaten two years ago after the Alec Ogletree field goal return only to have our hearts ripped out at the end. However, this game will be different and the Dawgs will prevail 31-20.

14) CFB Semi-Final: UGA vs Oregon - The Dawgs are rewarded with a #1 seed going into the inaugural playoff. Despite their prolific offense, Matt would've dismissed Oregon as not playing enough physical football. He would cite our running game and nasty defense as the difference in the game and predict a UGA victory 38-28

15) CFB National Championship: UGA vs Florida State - This game will be over before it starts. As the FSU mascot, Osceola comes out of the tunnel to bury his flaming spear in the ground, UGA player, Quayvon Hicks comes off the sidelines and proceeds to slay his horse, Renegade, as if it was a dragon. FSU players are now terrified. UGA wins after they clean up the mess 45-0

Unlikely? Maybe. Outlandish? Yes. But that's how the man thought about football season. At least before it began. Lord knows, as a UGA alum, I always hoped he was right. Now I hope I am too. Go Dawgs!

Next week, I'll bring you full SEC predictions...