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!

If you don't yet, follow us on Facebook and on Twitter/Periscope @GRHuddle.

2015 College Football Preview and Predictions

Will Ohio State repeat as National Champions?

Brian

College football is finally back, and I, as most of you, are thrilled. For the second year in a row, the season begins without an SEC team previously winning the National Championship. 

Some SEC fans are concerned about the league's status as the premiere conference in college football. Rest assured, the SEC is still the premier and deepest conference in the country. However, being the deepest conference means that the next National Champion may not be from the SEC again due to the grueling schedule most teams face. 

The SEC West has 5 teams (minus the Mississippis) that could potentially make the CFB Playoff, and Georgia, as always, has the talent and ability if it doesn't stumble over itself. 

Below I will list some of my predictions, on a conference and national scale:

Preseason Top 10

1. Ohio State - Give me one reason they shouldn't be #1? Urban Meyer. Cardale Barrett Miller, Ezekiel Elliott. You get the picture. 

2. Auburn - Auburn has the least question marks in the SEC and should be the best team (adding Muschamp), but their schedule concerns me. 

3. Michigan State - Mark Dantonio has really turned Michigan State into a very consistent power, especially defensively. 

4. Alabama - I have a lot of questions about Alabama, notably replacing all starting receivers and settling on a new QB, but I do trust that Saban will field a very solid team. 

5. TCU - Based on the way they finished last year and who they return, hard not to rank them in the top 5. Boykin should have a big year. 

6. Baylor - Basically, see TCU description. Art Briles has done a wonderful job of turning Baylor into an offensive powerhouse. I give a slight nod to TCU, given Baylor and TCU have similar schedules and Baylor plays at TCU. 

7. Notre Dame - Brian Kelly is a solid coach. With Malik Zaire at QB, Notre Dame has the potential to be a pretty dangerous team. Watch out. 

8. Georgia - I hate to say it, but this is likely where Georgia will also finish the season. I wish something would change this year, but UGA has this insane ability to lay eggs. On paper, UGA has a great shot at the playoff: great offensive line, great RBs, and great defense. But, how is that different than most other years?

9. Clemson - Deshaun Watson was dangerous when he was healthy last year and made Clemson a dynamic team offensively. I would not be surprised if Watson leads Clemson to an ACC title. 

10. Texas A&M- This may seem a little lofty, but did you watch QB Kyle Allen toward the end of last season? He was quite impressive. Further, A&M poached longtime successful defensive coordinator John Chavis from LSU (previously at Tennessee under Fulmer). 

Teams to Keep an Eye on
1. Louisville - Often, good coaches really make their mark in year two at a program. I don't think there's much of a debate whether Petrino is a top tier coach or not. In year one at Louisville the first time around (2003), Petrino led the Cardinals to a 9-4 record. In year two (2004), they were 11-1. In year one at Arkansas (2008), the Razorbacks posted a 5-7 record under Petrino. In year two (2009), the Razorbacks finished 8-5. I'm sure Auburn won't take the Cardinals lightly in their opener on September 5th. 

2. Florida - Over past few seasons, I know Florida hasn't played like the elite Florida most people became accustomed to seeing since 1990; however, despite posting mediocre records, Florida has still fielded very talented squads. Florida doesn't lack talent heading into 2015, but needs better coaching, notably on the offensive side of the ball. I fully expect Jim McElwain to make Florida into a dangerous team again over the next several seasons. I wouldn't pick them to win the SEC East, but they can certainly put up a fight. 

Teams I Don't Know What to Think About
1. Tennessee - Butch Jones has put together several solid recruiting classes and has some legitimate play makers on both sides of the ball. Thus, the sky seems the limit for the Vols; however, it will take winning several big games to make players believe the program is better than the 8-5 type seasons Tennessee has shockingly grown accustomed to recently. If UT can beat Oklahoma and UGA, watch out. 

2. Oklahoma - Bob Stoops is one of the most successful coaches in college football right now. But, Oklahoma teams have severely failed to meet expectations for a lot of the past few seasons. Will Oklahoma break through again and regain its status as an elite power? I don't know. 

Conference Winners

ACC- Clemson

BIG - Ohio State

Big 12 - TCU

PAC 12 - USC

SEC (East) - Georgia

SEC (West) - Auburn

SEC - Auburn

CFB Playoff and Champion

Ohio State, Michigan State, TCU, Notre Dame

Analysis on the SEC being left out: Auburn beats Alabama and wins the SEC, but with 2 losses. Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Arkansas, etc. also finish with 2-3 (or more) losses. 

Ohio State repeats as National Champion. 

 

Jeremy

 

Hard to believe we're less than two weeks away from meaningful football. Though we don't have the anticipation of A&M/Carolina premiering on the SEC Network, there are still some fun games on opening Thursday night. Then opening Saturday, as always has a few choice match-ups.

 

I think the big story heading into the season has got to be Ohio State. They return a boatload of talent after winning the inaugural CFB playoff last year. With a favorable schedule, I'm with Brian and think they have an excellent chance to repeat. However, if I recall, that was the same thing we all said about FSU last year. While they did make the playoffs (in part because of a favorable schedule), they were exposed in a match-up against Oregon. I wouldn't say Ohio State would be exposed if they were to reach the play-offs again, but I will say the step up in competition could be their biggest challenge.

 

Remember, we are talking about a team that hasn't named a starting QB yet. That doesn't mean both guys aren't proven as both have played well in big games. However, I've learned when you have two QB's, it can be a problem. Let's also not forget that this mega-talented team inexplicably lost to Virginia Tech last year. If they lost to that squad then they could certainly lose to a TCU, Baylor, Alabama, or Auburn.

 

Perhaps the biggest question going into the season is who else are the favorites to make the play-offs. The SEC is up for grabs as many of the teams who are supposed to be in contention have questions marks. Many of those concerns are with who will be the QB? As Marcus Mariota has graduated, who emerges as the front-runner in PAC-12? The Big 12 is stacked at the top again. And the ACC has question marks as well.

 

That's what makes CFB so great. Sure we have a front runner but you just never know. It's why we watch. The landscape changes from week to week. Maybe even more so with the play-off. We're looking forward to another great season here at GRH.

 

Pre-season Top 10

 

1. Ohio State - No surprise here. The Buckeyes are loaded and the weak Big 10 gives them a manageable path. Hard to not envision them making a run at the playoff.

 

2. TCU - These guys probably got screwed last year but when the Buckeyes ended up winning it all, everyone kind of forgot. They have a lot of talent coming back and I expect they will be in the mix for the CFB playoff.

 

3. Auburn - They get the nod over Bama because of the QB situation. That's not to say I am confident here. Auburn was not as good as many thought last year and though they hired Will Muschamp to coach the defense, I'm not sold. But from a talent standpoint, they are stacked.

 

4.  Alabama - Questions at QB and a very tough schedule. I have the Tide high to start the season but I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with 3 losses. Uncle Nick just seems to get the job done though.

 

5. Baylor - These guys didn't seem to miss Bryce Petty too much when he was hurt so my guess is the offense will keep rolling. However, the defense will again be the question. Don't sleep on Art Briles and the Bears.

 

6. Michigan State -  The Spartans have become a pretty powerful team under the direction of Mark Dantonio. They play stout defense and are smart on offense. I don't think they have the talent of Ohio State, but they should be the Buckeyes toughest competition in the Big 10.

 

7. Notre Dame - I agree with Brian about Coach Kelly. He has these guys prepped to play. I'm concerned about their schedule though. If they can navigate some tough early games, I like their chances to have a stout year.

 

8. Georgia - Talent wise, I think Georgia is loaded again. While many people look at their skill positions, I think their lines are the key. If they can continue to open holes for Nick Chubb and company as well as give whoever is their QB some time, the offense will be dangerous. The defense should take another step and could be elite.

 

9. Oregon - These guys are the premier team in the PAC-12. However, they are replacing a Heisman winning QB. But the Ducks seem to just keep rolling. I expect them to come back to the rest of the conference some, but they'll still be really good.

 

10. USC - The Trojans are primed to be back. They have a lot of talent and I think will be a player again in the PAC-12. The road to the conference title still goes through Eugene, but the Men of Troy could break through this year.

 

Dark Horses

 

1. Georgia Tech - God, I hate to say this but if Tech can get some defense going, then they can be pretty good. Clemson will be solid as will FSU, but if the Jackets can get past an early test against Notre Dame, watch out. Paul Johnson finally has the QB he's wanted in that flexbone system.

 

2. Arizona- Rich Rodriguez has things working in the desert. This offense will be good. The question in the PAC-12 lies in defense. I just have a hunch that this could be a big year for the Wildcats. They  have to travel to both Stanford and USC. The rest of the schedule is manageable as they don't draw Oregon from the North.

 

Questions

 

1. LSU - As talented as any team in the country, but yet I still have no idea what to expect from LSU. They play in arguably the toughest division in the country but should be able to compete. Perhaps finding a QB is key but Les Miles' team has me a little flummoxed this year.

 

2.  Arkansas - I don't know whether to buy in or not. They are one of the few teams in the SEC who have a known commodity at QB. They are loaded at RB and have a solid offensive line. Why do I have such concerns? I think, again, it's because of the SEC West. But this team could be really special or 6-6.

 

Conference Champs

ACC - Georgia Tech

BIG 10 - Ohio State

BIG 12 - TCU

PAC 12 - Arizona

SEC - Georgia

 

CFB Playoff

Ok, going out on a limb here but I think the ACC is the conference with no play-off team. Here's my reasoning: Tech wins the ACC but has one loss in conference and losses to UGA and Notre Dame. 3 losses won't get you in the playoff.

 

Arizona wins the PAC 12 and draws Ohio State in one semi-final. Georgia and TCU in the other. I like the Buckeyes and Dawgs in the championship but I think the Buckeyes win title number 2 when all is said and done.

 

 

 

Just a Tease

Brian and I will be back soon with out take on the new season. But until then enjoy Lawyer Mike remind us just how much he loves being a Florida Gator.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hUk5fQZp2Po