Week 4 Scorecast and Predictions

Synopses:

Jeremy

1. TCU @ Texas Tech - After he bitch slapped Bret Bielema, how can you not bet on Kliff Kingsbury here? Sure, I know Tech's MO is win their first few games against inferior opponents (which apparently includes Arkansas) and then fall apart later in the year. However, TCU has been beat up and not very impressive out of the gate. I'll jump on the upset bandwagon here and take the Red Raiders. Texas Tech 41-38

2. Mississippi St @ Auburn -  Every bone in my body wants me to take State. Auburn will be breaking in a new QB. I've touted Miss State as being not so bad after a close game against LSU. Auburn has looked absolutely awful for two and a half weeks. Yet, I'm rolling with the sweater vest here. If this was another road game, then I'd take State outright. Auburn hasn't been good. But they can't be this bad, especially at home. Auburn 24-17

3. Tennessee @ Florida - The Gators have dominated the Vols for a decade now. Somehow Tennessee managed to lose at home against a horrible Florida team. UT bounced back after the Oklahoma debacle but I wonder about that loss still lingering in the back of their heads. Florida still doesn't have much on the offensive side of the ball but has talent on defense. I think they use that talent to make Josh Dobbs beat them with his arm. Remember, while everyone was sold on Dobbs as the Second Coming preseason, I questioned his ability against teams with more or an even amount of talent. The problem is, I'm not sure Florida falls into that description. Tennessee 28-20

4. UCLA @ Arizona - Arizona was my sleeper in the PAC-12. The problem is I didn't expect a freshman to be as good as he has looked so far for UCLA. With that being said, there were time against BYU that Josh Rosen looked the part of a first year player. This is his first road start. Arizona has been putting up points, but I figure UCLA will slow that down. If Scooby Wright comes back for Arizona, then I think they get the upset straight up. So, here's hoping he does. Arizona 34-28


Brian

1. TCU @ Texas Tech - Other than the opener against a decent Minnesota squad, TCU has probably been on auto pilot due to the weak opponents they've been playing. Texas Tech is 3-0 and picked up a nice win vs. Arkansas last weekend. Trevone Boykin and TCU step up their game against the Red Raiders. TCU 42-28

2. Mississippi St @ Auburn -  I was unable to watch the Auburn @ LSU game, but from the stat sheet, Auburn was awful. Jeremy Johnson has played very poorly thus far, and the defense isn't stopping anyone. It will be interesting to see if new Auburn QB Sean White can play better than Johnson. Aside from Auburn's QB situation, I'm wondering if there are some deeper, locker room issues that extend beyond the field. Dak Prescott will lead Mississippi State to a victory over reeling Auburn. Mississippi State 27-21

3. Tennessee @ Florida - Tennessee may be more talented this year, and SHOULD win this game. If Tennessee had beaten Oklahoma, I would have chosen the Vols. However, the Vols are still not over the hump in my opinion, and there are just some programs which dominate others. Tennessee hasn't won a game in this series since 2004. Even though Florida suspended 2 players, Florida will continue the streak in The Swamp. Florida 20-17

4. UCLA @ Arizona - UCLA edged BYU this past weekend for a big win. While this game is being played at Arizona, UCLA has beaten the Wildcats the past 2 seasons. Bruins QB Josh Rosen played poorly vs. BYU, but I expect him to bounce back and lead UCLA to a victory over Arizona. UCLA 35-31

Keppel

1. TCU @ Texas Tech - Tip 20% for good service. TCU wins

2. Mississippi St @ Auburn -  Why do people reference pigs flying? Auburn wins

3. Tennessee @ Florida - New internet speeds for low prices. Tennessee wins

4. UCLA @ Arizona - Pick Enterprise. They'll pick you up. UCLA wins

Week 3 Scorecast and Predictions

Synopses:

Jeremy

1. Auburn @ LSU - QB play will be key here. Jeremy Johnson has been very shaky in the first two games. That won't fly in Baton Rouge. The problem is, I'm not sold on Brandon Harris either. But I am sold on Leonard Fournette. I expect this game will look a lot like the games these two teams played last week. JJ isn't dynamite though and throws one too many interceptions. I like the Bengal Tigers at home but Auburn keeps it close. LSU 27-21

2. Georgia Tech @ Notre Dame -  There's going to be a theme in the picks this week and it's QB questions. If the Irish had Malik Zaire I would like them a lot more. The problem is, I think I liked Tech even if he was playing. Their offense has been a machine against cream puffs. I think it will continue to roll. Notre Dame will play inspired but I don't think they have the magic two weeks in a row. Tech 34-24

3. South Carolina @ Georgia - I see this game being very similar to UGA's tilt with Vandy. I don't know where the offense is going to come from with South Carolina. Yet, I think the HBC is in desperation mode and will throw everything he has at the Dawgs. The game will be as close as QB allows for Georgia. I think it will be better than last week, but not as good as it needs to be still. Being at home will help but I think 17 is too much in a must win game for Carolina. UGA 30-14

4. Ole Miss @ Alabama - How good is Ole Miss? The answer is I don't know. That's what happens when you play Tennessee Martin and Fresno to open the season. I know Alabama will be ready to play this game. Plus, they've already gotten a test from Wisconsin. I just keep thinking how Ole Miss used to have Florida's number when they were really good. I like the Tide to win the game, but I like the Rebels and the points. Alabama 28-24


Brian

1. Auburn @ LSU - Auburn certainly did struggle against FCS power Jacksonville State. Jeremy Johnson has thrown 5 INT in 2 games, and Auburn has not won in Baton Rouge since the late 1990s. All reasons to completely be terrified if you're an Auburn fan, right? Not so fast. Did you watch LSU vs. Mississippi State Saturday night? I was not overly impressed with LSU either. I highly doubt Jeremy Johnson continues to play this poorly. I think LSU probably wins at home, but doesn't cover. LSU 20-17

2. Georgia Tech @ Notre Dame -  QB DeShone Kizer did a nice job of stepping in for Malik Zaire last weekend and leading the Irish to a dramatic win over the Cavaliers. Coach Brian Kelly claims the Irish will be fine with Kizer, but have you seen Georgia Tech lately? While the Jackets haven't been playing powerhouses, they have been blowing teams out. For the first time in a while, Tech actually impresses me. Georgia Tech 41-24

3. South Carolina @ Georgia - Does Vegas not follow this series at all? 17 point spread for Georgia? No matter how many times South Carolina looks mediocre at the beginning of the season, UGA finds ways to screw up this game. Given the Cocks' QB is likely out for a while, I definitely think UGA wins this year, but not by 17. Georgia 35-24

4. Ole Miss @ Alabama - Think Alabama remembers their lone regular season loss from last year? I do, and so will everyone else at Bryant-Denny this Saturday. Alabama 35-17

Keppel

1. Auburn @ LSU - Ban Wal-Mart. LSU wins

2. Georgia Tech @ Notre Dame -  Where have all the cowboys gone? Georgia Tech wins

3. South Carolina @ Georgia - Blurred vision can cause issues. Georgia wins

4. Ole Miss @ Alabama - We need a diversion. Alabama wins

The Sky is Falling Edition of Brain Droppings

All was well in the Southeast after Week 1. The only loss in the SEC was Vanderbilt and many thought that might happen against a better than people realize WKU team. Ten SEC teams graced the AP Top 25, a feat that no other conference had ever attained. There were big wins against other Power 5 conferences by South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, and Texas A&M. Coaches went out of their way to criticize the only possible title contender from another conference.

Then Week 2 came along and shattered all of that...

Auburn almost lost to Jacksonville State. Georgia struggled to put away that same meek Vanderbilt team. Florida struggled against ECU. Tennessee blew the largest lead it ever had at Neyland Stadium and lost to another ranked team. Missouri struggled in a road game against Arkansas State. Arkansas had an embarrassing loss to Toledo where they didn't run the ball and their QB fell apart inside the 20.

So after being heaped with praise after Week 1, everyone is down on the SEC in after week 2. My answer is this...we all knew what the SEC was before the season and (maybe other than Auburn) it is what we thought.

Most people felt Alabama and Auburn were the title contenders out of the West. This hasn't really changed despite Auburn's poor efforts. Jeremy Johnson is a major concern at this point but Gus Mahlzahn's teams usually get better as the season progresses. I would expect that to still be the case here. However, they need to figure something out against LSU this week or they will be in trouble. Alabama has been fine in the first two weeks. However, all of that could change with what appears to be an explosive Ole Miss team rolling into Tuscaloosa this week.

Elsewhere in the West, LSU appears to be what we thought they were; a super talented team that can't throw the ball. Despite that flaw, they managed a tough win on the road against Miss State. Ole Miss could be the real deal as they have put up basketball numbers through the first two weeks albeit it was against cupcakes. The Rebels could launch themselves into the playoff discussion with a win this week. Texas A&M was a darkhorse for a lot of folks prior to the season. Early results say they could be that. Their win over Arizona State is the conference's best so far this season. Arkansas was the darling of many prior to the season but I think most folks didn't think they had the depth to win the West or make the playoff. It appears clear that is true. Mississippi State played hard the other night but no one believed they would be a player after losing a lot of talent.

So after two weeks the West still has 5 legitimate playoff contenders. Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, Texas A&M, and Auburn (in that order right now). That will change as 4 of those teams face off against each other this week.

The East was always going to be the lesser here.. Tennessee's game against Oklahoma was a big one for the Vols and losing it (especially in the fashion they did) hurts. I still would contend if they could run the table with wins against Georgia and Alabama, plus whoever they faced in the SEC Championship, they would be a playoff contender.

Georgia always struggles at Vanderbilt. First road start in the SEC for Greyson Lambert and he looked it. But don't underestimate Vandy's defense. They are the best part of that team by far.The good news is that the UGA defense and running game still looked really good. However, the mistakes have to be cleaned up if the Dawgs are going to run the table or even end with 1 loss. That starts with a visit by the HBC this weekend. Georgia is the superior team but Coach Spurrier always seems to have a little something for them.

Unfortunately, South Carolina appears to have been reduced to spoiler this season.

Technically you could say Missouri, Kentucky, and Florida are still alive. However I don't think anyone ever felt as if anyone other than Mizzou might have a chance in the conference. Personally, I just don't think Maty Mauk is consistent enough to give them a chance in the long run. Vandy isn't going anywhere this year.

So, by my count there are still 7 potential playoff teams still alive in the SEC. Things will continue to shake out and only 1 (most likely) will get in. But that's always how a season plays out. Some teams aren't as good as we thought (possibly Auburn). Some are better than we thought (possibly Ole Miss or Texas A&M).

Yes, this week the conference didn't look like the powerhouse it did in Week 1. But, no, the sky is not falling. There are still some good teams in the SEC. I still feel as if they will be well represented as the season progresses.

So don't freak out....yet.

Power Rankings
(1) Texas A&M - They still have the best win in the conference. Plus, they took care of business last week.
(2) Alabama - We'll know a lot more after this week. Their win over Wisconsin is the 2nd best win in the conference and they took care of business last week.
(3) LSU - Hard fought road victory against a conference opponent.
(4) Georgia - See above. But they have to get the QB issues worked out if they are truly a contender.
(5) Ole Miss - They look great. Against cream puffs. Let's see what they look like this week in Tuscaloosa.
(6) Auburn - Survive and advance. People won't remember this game against Jax State if Auburn wins the rest of their games. Remember UGA getting destroyed by Carolina and being one play away from the National Championship a couple of years ago?
(7) Kentucky - It hasn't been pretty. But they're 2-0
(8) Mizzou - See above
(9) Florida - See above
(10) Tennessee - Yes they lost. Yes it was horrible. They'll still be contending in the East.
(11) Mississippi State - Tough way to lose against LSU. This team is going to pick somebody off if they aren't careful.
(12) South Carolina - Not good losing Connor Mitch, but they still almost came back against the Cats with their back-up.
(13) Arkansas - Why can't they run the ball against Toledo?
(14) Vanderbilt - Inspired effort against the Dawgs. Just not much talent on offense at all.

Mark Richt, Re-Visited

Reflecting upon each season, the same story seems to surface for Mark Richt and the Georgia football program: 9 to 11 wins and a lot of "could've" or "should've" discussion. Entering the first game of the SEC schedule for 2015, Mark Richt is averaging 9.7 wins per season, which ranks him in the top 5 for active coaches with the highest winning percentage (for a minimum of several seasons). 

Yet, the last time UGA won the SEC title was in 2005, despite finishing 2nd in the nation in 2007 and being a play or two away from the National Championship in 2012. Recently, a 13-year old called into the Paul Finebaum show, basically wondering when Richt was going to deliver something meaningful again (if ever). 

Quite honestly, I never know quite what to think about Richt. My feelings for him are somewhat like my feelings for the band, Journey. I don't want to stop believing in their legacy, but they never got as great as they could have been. They had amazing vocal talent in Steve Perry and a solid guitar talent in Neal Schon, but I ultimately remember Journey as having great songs here and there. Ok, back to more relevant thoughts on Mark Richt...

I admire him as a person and certainly think he is a very good coach. Last season, it was impressive to keep UGA composed after losing Gurley mid-season due to suspension. UGA reeled off impressive road victories at Missouri and Arkansas. However, every time I want to fully jump aboard the Richt train, UGA loses to a team it shouldn't (Florida). 

After the Florida game, I hit the reset button after UGA dismantled Auburn. But, then two weeks later, UGA lost to Tech in one of the most frustrating scenarios: squib kicking the ball when the opponent only needed 3 points to tie. I cannot blame Richt for the loss to Tech, but his call, in a lot of ways, compromised UGA's position to win the game.

Georgia finished with a solid win over Louisville in the Department Store (Belk) Bowl and a top 10 ranking. As the 2015 season commences, I once again find myself cautiously optimistic about the Bulldogs. They have tons of talent, a relatively favorable schedule, good coordinators, and depth. But, I can't help but believe UGA will lose 2 or 3 games it shouldn't (cough cough Tennessee). 

Following the loss to Florida last season, Jeremy and I both expressed our views on Mark Richt, which remain largely unchanged today: we both agree UGA has missed opportunities under Richt, but at the same time, Richt has kept UGA consistent while Auburn, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee have certainly seen an ebb and flow of success since 2000. 

Yesterday, ESPN ran an article profiling which programs have the most players on active NFL rosters at the start of this season. Not surprisingly, UGA placed in the top 5. Miami had the most players with 36, LSU with 35, and Alabama/UGA tied with 33 players. 

This statistic about UGA's NFL talent tells me two things: 1) Mark Richt continues to recruit elite talent, and 2) Mark Richt continues to develop talent. Certainly, there are players like Matthew Stafford, AJ Green, or Todd Gurley who could have attended any program and made it to the NFL. 

But, there are plenty of other Pro Bowl UGA alums in the NFL who were not nationally rated talents out of high school (Geno Atkins, Justin Houston, Tim Jennings) - meaning they developed while playing at Georgia AND/OR Mark Richt truly has an exceptional eye for recognizing talent. 

In any case, I won't stop believin...Mark Richt is the right coach for Georgia right now. 

But, as for Georgia's season: "some we'll win, some we'll lose...oh this movie never ends, it goes on and on, and on, and on..."

Week 2 Scorecast and Predictions

Synopses:

Jeremy

1. LSU @ Mississippi St - I have no idea what to do here. Not getting to see LSU last week is a big handicap. However, based on their inability to pick a QB, I have to think they lean hard on Leonard Fournette. The problem is, I actually think Mississippi State can stop the run. I like LSU to figure out a way to win the game but give me Miss State and the points because I think it will only be a field goal LSU 20-17

2. Boise St @ BYU -  BYU won on a Hail Mary against Nebraska last week. Boise bumbled their way to a victory over Washington. I like the fact that BYU is at home but I don't like the fact that they lost their starting QB.  I'll take Boise in a tight one. Boise State 30-27

3. Oklahoma @ Tennessee - I was very impressed with Tennessee's running back duo last week. Alvin Kamara is an excellent complement to Jalen Hurd and, in all honesty, might end up being the better back. However, what was up with that defense? Bowling Green's game plan was to just throw it up. That only works  consistently when the receiver can beat the defense and they did, time after time. That's why I'm going with Oklahoma here. They threw for close to 400 yards against Akron, and while their run game was suspect, I expect it will be enough to carry them to a hard fought victory in Neyland. Oklahoma 38-31

4. Oregon @ Michigan St - I didn't get to watch either team last week but after seeing the score I have real concerns about the Oregon defense. Eastern Washington scored on them. Now they have to travel to East Lansing with an unproven QB at this level. State has a QB. They also have Mark Dantonio, who is one of my coaching favs. I like Sparty to get the job done at home. Michigan State 34-27


Brian

1. LSU @ Mississippi St - Given LSU's game versus McNeese St was cancelled, it is tempting to pick Mississippi State since they have already played one game. I haven't been nearly as high on LSU as some analysts, like Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso, who picked the Tigers to make the CFB playoff. However, I didn't find Mississippi State's win over Southern Miss to be convincing. LSU wins this game on talent and depth. LSU 31-24

2. Boise St @ BYU -  I really don't know a ton about either of these teams. They both notched Week 1 wins over Power 5 conference teams. I give the nod to Boise since the program has been in the spotlight a little longer and should have more athletes, leftover from when Chris Petersen was head coach. Boise St 34-31

3. Oklahoma @ Tennessee - Many have become optimistic about Butch Jones and the Vols. Certainly, Tennessee was playing notably better toward the end of last season. But, I still think this is a program that needs a big win before I can jump aboard. I'm not sure Oklahoma will field a great team this year, but I believe Stoops will instill enough confidence in his team for the Sooners to win at Neyland. Oklahoma 35-21

4. Oregon @ Michigan St - Most of the time, my thoughts on Oregon are accurate: Oregon is a very fast team that can run the Pac-12, but anytime they face much larger offensive and defensive lines, they are in trouble. There are many examples to prove this thought over the past several seasons. The exception is when Oregon defeated Michigan State last season. However, that game was played at Oregon, and this year, the game is in East Lansing. I think Michigan State's atmosphere, size, and experience will be too much for the Ducks. Michigan State 28-21

Keppel

1. LSU @ Mississippi St - You rang? LSU wins.

2. Boise St @ BYU -  We dem boyz. BYU wins. 

3. Oklahoma @ Tennessee - If you don't know me by now, you'll think twice. Oklahoma wins.

4. Oregon @ Michigan St - Grant me statehood. Michigan State wins.

Week 1 Brain Droppings

Coming at you like the "SS Enterprise" at a Jayhawk's mouth, it's the week 1 edition of Brain Droppings.

Let's see just hope this edition of my weekly musings doesn't end up with me giving an apology about how this whole article was meant to be about college football but ended up being a veiled attempt at vulgarity.

(1) Ohio State -

This is literally the only play I saw from last night's game as I was driving home from my Labor Day festivities. I cut the game on and saw this. Then I turned it off and went to bed. Apparently, the Hokies were winning at halftime? Oops.

Ohio State's schedule is cupcake city until they see Sparty later in the year. I think it's safe to see we'll be seeing a lot of plays like this so I doubt I'll talk about them too much barring an upset or some other news.

BTW, a spin move like this rarely even works for me in a game of Madden. Just imagine if this kid hadn't "wasted" three years playing QB,

(2) What Happened?

Everyone was focused on Jim Harbaugh's debut on Thursday night as the head coach at Michigan and I get it. He was a highly successful college coach who went on to be a pretty successful pro coach who has taken over at his alma mater, which hasn't been itself for a few years. But that game went about how I expected. Harbaugh will get his ducks in a row but it will take time.

The real story to me is how his old school, Stanford, has dropped off since his departure. After sustaining a level of success for the first couple of years after Harbaugh left, the Cardinal dropped their opener on Saturday to Northwestern. Now I like Pat Fitzgerald as the coach of Northwestern but let's not confuse them with some powerhouse team. They are an average Big 10 squad, which these days means they could be a below average team.

Stanford, up until last year, had a pretty successful run. But there is no Andrew Luck on the squad this year and the running game wasn't as strong. Keep in mind the PAC 12 South is loaded this year. What happens if the Stanford Slide continues? Just something to keep an eye on.

In similar news, James Franklin proved that a coach matters when he led Vandy to back-to-back 9 wins seasons (Just look at them now). But how does a team with a QB that many rate as one of the nation's best NFL prospects, lose to Temple. That's right. The Owls quietly beat Franklin's Nittany Lions the other day. The good news for Coach Humpty Hump is that they play in the Big 10. But I guess they better watch out for Northwestern

 

(3) QB Battles - I'll go out on a limb here and say Texas A&M made the right call. Meanwhile, in Oxford, my guess is Chad Kelly will be firmly implanted at Ole Miss until his next arrest. We still have no idea about LSU. While Pharaoh Cooper might be the best choice at Carolina as he is the most talented person on the team, he needs to play WR and occasionally line up for direct snaps. Florida played New Mexico State but all QBs looked solid anyways. Greyson Lambert was efficient. Vanderbilt's offense is going to stink no matter what. Coker looked to be sharp against a decent opponent on a big stage.

 

So while some decisions have been solidified, there are still questions about others. Week 2 will help shake things out around the SEC.



(4) Revenge - Despite not being ranked in the preseason polls, Mother Natur,e wreaked havoc on the SEC slate. She defeated both #9 UGA, stifled #25 Tennessee, and #13 was too afraid to take the field against her. And rightfully so, did y'all see this?

 

 

Sure Ohio State looked good last night but Mother Nature will now be ranked #1 in my poll as she showed who was really boss on Saturday. I'll be at the UGA-Vandy tilt on Saturday and I hope she doesn't decide to follow the Dawgs around.

 

(5) SEC Power Rankings

 

1.  Mother Nature (see above)

 

2. Texas A&M - Best win of the weekend by any team. I don't expect them to stay in this lofty position, but a lot of respect for soundly defeating a team many thought could be a dark horse playoff contender.

 

3. Alabama - No surprise. Wisconsin couldn't match up with Alabama's defense and the Tide Rolled. Highly anticipating a week 3 match up with Ole Miss

 

4. Auburn - I would be concerned as an Auburn fan. The defense looked good for 3 quarters but then a mad rush by Louisville gave them a chance at the end. More disconcerting was Jeremy Johnson's decision making. Auburn is really good but can't overcome those kinds of turnovers consistently. No one can.

 

5. Georgia - I would've liked to have seen a complete performance by their defense and I would have liked to see them throw the ball a little more. But I get it. They certainly were far from perfect but Sony Michel, Keith Marshall, and Tony Godwin all impressed. We already knew what Nick Chubb could do.

 

6.Arkansas - Threw the ball more than they needed but showed they could do so. At least against a bad team.

 

7. Tennessee - The Vols beat an underrated team on Saturday. Alvin Kamara stole the show for me on offense. The combination of he and Jalen Hurd will be a force to be reckoned with. I know I'm in the minority but I'm still not 100% sold on Joshua Dobbs against top-tier talent. But with all the talent around him, it'll be hard to not succeed. Their secondary and pass rush were nowhere to be found though and that's a concern.

 

8. Ole Miss - I get it. They played some team called UT-Martin. But they answered questions. Chad Kelly seems to be the guy at QB. Their defense looked stout. They let Robert Nkemdiche play some offense. They flexed their muscle. It's what they were supposed to do.

 

9. LSU - I still don't know anything about the Tigers because their game got cancelled. So they go in the middle.

 

10. South Carolina - I don't know if they'll stay this high but they did beat a Power 5 team that was supposed to be ok. Larry Fedora should've been fired after some really poor decisions to end that game. But South Carolina did enough. Their defense looked improved but there's still a long way to go.

 

11. Mississippi State - They weren't overly impressive against Southern Miss and that could spell trouble. Of course, I have no idea why they opened in Hattiesburg. Dak Prescott is uber-talented but I don't know if that's enough. A game against LSU this week will tell us a lot.

 

12. Mizzou - This may be underrating their performance a little. But Maty Mauk is still prone to make poor decisions and I don't think they can overcome it if he does that all year.

 

13. Florida - The jury is still out. Their QBs looked really good. They put up points. Their defense was solid. But they played New Mexico State. We'll see.

 

14. Kentucky - Poised to beat the crap out of a team and flex their muscle, UK went from big lead to barely hanging on against the Ragin Cajuns. That spells trouble.

 

15. Vanderbilt - Ugly. Their offense is atrocious. Their defense actually impressed against a team known for scoring. The problem is Derek Mason isn't their defensive coordinator. He's their head coach.

 

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook or Twitter/Periscope @GRHuddle. Watch out for 'US Enterprises" at work this week!

 



Week 1 Scorecast and Predictions (2015)

Synopses:

Jeremy

1. Texas @ Notre Dame - Ultimately I like Charlie Strong to get Texas back on track eventually. I just don't see it happening here. Meanwhile, Brian Kelly has Notre Dame back on track and it sounds as if Malik Zaire is the real deal. I think Texas holds on for a while but their inability to score is what will eventually be the difference. Notre Dame 27-13

2. Wisconsin vs. Alabama - It's tempting to pick Whisky here. But again, Alabama's defense is the key. Wisconsin's offense isn't up-tempo Auburn or even Ohio State here. Give Nick Saban a lot of time to prepare for a game and he's usually ready (last two bowl games excluded). He wants to make a statement against a good opponent here.  Alabama 31-17 

3. Ohio State @ Virginia Tech - Much like the above game, I want to take the Hokies. I really do. Lane Stadium is no easy place to play a night game and after last year's upset of the Buckeyes on the road, expectations will be high. But, I've seen Urban Meyer in revenge games. Especially when his team is loaded. This game has been marked on his calendar for a year now. I think he'll turn the dogs loose. Ohio State 34-14

4. Louisville vs. Auburn - Obviously I've been itching to go with the underdog for more than one game. I finally found the one I'm pulling the trigger on. Auburn is super talented and Louisville will be breaking in a new QB and defensive backfield. But that doesn't mean the Cardinals don't have talent. They could contend in the ACC if everything pans out. Let's not forget, that new defensive backfield has seen Auburn before and Bobby Petrino always seems to find a QB. The Tigers win but the I'll take the Fighting Grantham's and the points in this one. Auburn  34-27


Brian

1. Texas @ Notre Dame - Malik Zaire and Notre Dame looked impressive toward the end of last season. Not really sure what to expect from Texas, but with the game being played in South Bend, I'll take the Irish. Notre Dame 31-21

2. Wisconsin vs. Alabama - Alabama has the most question marks at the beginning of the season in quite some time. The Tide are replacing Sims at QB and the starting WRs from last season. However, Wisconsin is replacing Melvin Gordon, who was huge chunk of their offense. I like the Tide in this one. Alabama 31-10

3. Ohio State @ Virginia Tech - "Enter Sandman" and Lane Stadium will be rocking on Monday night. The Hokies handed the Buckeyes their lone loss last season. I expect Ohio State to have a slight National Championship hangover, but they will ultimately win the game (even though I don't think they will cover the spread). Ohio State 27-21

4. Louisville vs. Auburn - I undoubtedly think Auburn is the better team and will be one of the best teams in the country this season. However, often, really good coaches have their teams playing significantly better in year two. This is Petrino's second year at Louisville; so, I expect the Cardinals to battle Auburn down to the wire. Auburn sneaks out of Atlanta with an opening victory. Auburn 35-31

Keppel

1. Texas @ Notre Dame - I can't get things squared away at the office. I'll take Notre Dame. 

2. Wisconsin vs. Alabama - My car insurance is due soon. Alabama wins. 

3. Ohio State @ Virginia Tech - I hate the dentist. Buckeyes roll. 

4. Louisville vs. Auburn - Turn off the oven. Auburn wins. 

Welcome (back) to Brain Droppings!

Well, here we are. Two days before college football kicks off and I take a second to look around at the landscape of things and how drastically different they are since we started this whole thing a couple of years ago.

GRH was started as a way for Brian and I to share our thoughts on sport with each other (and whoever wanted to read). This became a necessity after he graduated from grad school and moved on into the real world. We recruited a couple of other folks to do picks with us and GRH was born.

Fast forward two years and here I sit, also finished with graduate school and in the real world with a new wife and step-kids in a new state. Needless to say, the time to find and write a weekly blog is difficult. Yet, it is a great release and I really enjoy writing that a little more casual than what I have to adhere to for a living (although at least one reader would argue that I slip back into blog language when I should be writing academically!).

Look, I don't know who ends up reading all of this stuff. Frankly, I don't really care. Maybe we get really serious about this one day and try to sell ads or something. Probably not. It reminds me of what sports is all about: fun, entertainment, distraction. Let's not get too bent out of shape about what happens on the field. Life is far bigger than that. Let's enjoy the rivalry, the passion, the competition.

But most importantly, let's enjoy the opportunity to disagree with someone just because their team wears different colors than you! If you don't like who they cheer for then get a picture of Calvin peeing on their logo tattooed on your ass, poison their trees, t-bag them at Krystal,...

Wait a second. Don't do those things. Alabama fans have already done them.

Come up with new less classy ways to demean your fellow man! Then make sure you share them with us so we can put it online! Don't worry...only our friends read the blog.

On to the pre-season thoughts:

(1) Grammar Police - If you read other sport blogs, you probably came across this story http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/top-25-teams-in-college-football-re-ranked-by-the-grammar-of-their-fan-base

Now, I'm not saying Brian and I have ever trolled the Auburn message boards, but I have inside information that Auburn fans may have excellent grammar in their message board posts, but I'm not sure that means they're all there. For instance, prior to hiring Bruce Pearl as basketball coach, I saw someone who said they should "bring Mike Brown home to Auburn" to be the new coach. I'm not even sure Mike Brown is from the south, let alone Alabama. And I figure it was an awful long shot for him to get fired from his Lakers gig and turn around to coach the Tigers.

Also, my beloved Dawgs rank second on this list. I thought this could be a misrepresentation of my alma mater, but then I read the AJC sport message boards. But just like in real life Georgians can always count on Alabama to be worse. Unlike in real life, Alabama can not do the same to Mississippi like normal because Ole Miss fans appear to have decent grammar. Of course, I figure that's just because John Grisham writes all of their posts.

Apart from that, how did LSU rank so highly. My guess is all of Bobby Hebert's posts were redacted and did not count towards the study.

(2) QB Carousel - The big news out of Athens yesterday was the naming of Grayson Lambert as the starting quarterback. I don't why everyone is making a big deal out of who the QB for Georgia was going to be this year. I could have asked for a year of eligibility to turn around and hand the ball to Nick Chubb.

However, what does this say about Bryce Ramsey, UGA's heir apparent to Hutson Mason? While everyone has said he has a great arm, he spent his whole high school career turning around and handing the ball off. You figured he was a shoe in.

Instead, UGA has a QB who won a whopping two games in an inferior conference last year. That could spell trouble for a team who many think is the class of the East and could compete for the SEC title. Both QBs will play on Saturday, so this will be a story to continue monitoring.

(3) The Big Question - Who's going to win it all?

Like I said in our season preview, it's hard to not go with Ohio State. Tons of talent and a schedule softer than Baylor's transfer policies. However, there are others which could contend.

Michigan State is the best of the rest in the Big 10. If they can beat Oregon, even if they lose to the Buckeyes on the road late in the season, a win in the rematch could be enough to catapult them into the playoffs.

Oregon is probably the best bet for a team out west. They have the championship pedigree but are breaking in a new QB and replacing a Heisman Trophy winner. The problem is, I don't know if they'll win the conference. And I'm not sure the winner of the PAC-12 will have just one loss.

The same can be said of the SEC. The West is just brutal. If anyone comes out with one loss, then they will definitely have a shot. That's going to be tough to do. I think Tennessee has a real shot in the East, but don't see them winning on a national scale quite yet. If UGA gets solid play from their QB (Lambert if he sticks or Ramsey) then they have the talent to compete with anyone as well.

I like Georgia Tech to win the ACC but with 2-3 losses. So I don't think they make it either.

Baylor and TCU have a great shot out of the Big 12 but their schedules are soft and I don't know if they could hang with these other schools for 2 games in a playoff. Sure they could win one and advance to the championship. But I don't think they have the juice for two.

Regardless. It's going to be fun finding all of this stuff out. Ready for kick off on Thursday. Look for our picks to come out that day too!

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