Happy New Year! Week One, and such...(gremlin-free redux)

And so it begins, the most wonderful time of the year   - a time known coast-to-coast as "college football season," except in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan, where it is now simply known as "Fall."  

So what can we look for this college football season?

Well, first congratulations are in order for Cal QB Kevin Riley, who, on September 4, will join Dan LeFevour and Carlos Huerta as the only Division 1 players to appear for their team in three different decades.   Way to go Kevin!   Cal has pretty much everyone back, a solid replacement for the offensive stud they lost, and a great schedule.  They, of course, will still find a way to go 8-4 and wind up in a crappy bowl. 

 Three thousand miles away, Clemson returns veteran illiterates at nearly every position, inclusing coach.  Of course, Tiger High will still find a way to lose four games and wind up in a somewhat less crappy bowl.    They will, however, do so with way hotter cheerleaders.

This is also the first year of Virginia's experiement with "talent-free football," a controversial concept it has borrowed from ACC brother Duke.  UVa, which would probably finish 4th in the CAA, opens against CAA power Richmond, before getting disembowled in the Coliseum in Week Two.  They do play VMI and Eastern, so if the Cavs manage to go winless, they will surely have earned it.

What are the odds that Temple winds up the highest-ranked team in Pennsylvania at season's end?  I'd be surprised if they don't have the best record.  All they have to do is beat Penn State impressively and their a lock for the BCS title game. Of course, the Owls have been nipped by the Lions by a combined 154-9 over the last four, so don't go making your travel plans yet Owl fans.    Yes, both of you.

How about a few picks:

Northwestern -4 at Vanderbilt - About a month ago in Nashville, Bobby Johnson walked into practice and said: "This is my goddamn football team?!  Really, these guys?!  Are you aware that we play in the f-ing SEC? Is that an Asian kid a tight end?!  I'm outta here!."  He was a wise man.  The Mildcats are decent.  I liked what a saw from the new QB when he got time last year. Vandy should spend most of the day punting.  NU should spend most of the day covering 3rd-and-2's.  Should be quick and ugly.  23-9 Cats.

BYU -3 vs. Washington - I like Washington, and I heart Jake Locker.  That said, I"m not sure I'm ready to buy into the Pups going into the bastion of polygamy and coming out with a "w."  Should be close and entertaining.  34-24 Cougs.

East Carolina +8 vs. Tulsa - ECU lost everybody.   I think even the Pirate left town.   Still, Tulsa didn't beat anyone with a pulse last year, and I'm going to cross my fingers and hope there's enough talent in the pipeline to keep this close and ugly.  I'm also going to hope that Domonique Davis, perhaps the worst college QB I've ever seen not named Xaveir Lee, doesn't lose the game himself.  26-23 Pirates.

Syracuse -8 at Akron - - Zips should be awful.  Orange should be better.  30-13 SU.

Florida -35 vs. Miami of Ohio - I actualy think this line is about right, in that I think it ought to have a "5" and a "3" in it.  53-0.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College +1.5 vs. North Carolina (at Atlanta) - the last time the Tigers saw an ACC team in the Georgia Dome, they ran a controlled scrimmage against a GT team that was lucky it didn't get 70 dropped on its eggy little heads.  16-10 The Hat.

Toledo/Arizona over 59 - Toleddo should score on anybody, and won't stop anything.  45-31 Cats.

Maryland +7 vs. Navy (at Baltimore) - two teams who play a lot of close games in a neutral-site, rivalry (sort of) encounter.  27-24 somebody. 

Kansas State -2.5 vs.UCLA - I actually played this six points in the other direction, but I always thought that KSU would win this, or, perhaps more acurately, that UCLA wouldn't.

Colorado -12 vs. Colorado State (at Denver) - against my better judgment, I'm going to buy into the hype surrounding the CSU program, and believe that they are actually bad as I'm hearing.

Quote Originally Posted by thorpe:

Great stuff as always Maine.



I know I'm in the minority as far as Cal fans go, but I'll take 8 wins and a bowl game every year from my Bears (and a clean program).  I am old enough to remember the lean years where we used to be happy with 1-10 and a win over Stanford.

I met a lot of people in Berkeley last year would basically echoed that sentiment.  I'll bet I'll see more than a few folks in Charlottesville this fall who would agree as well.  GL, this season my friend.

Love your Threads ....

Laughter is Awesome (Talent Free Football at UVA) Riley playing in 3 different decades)

BOL Brother ....May this Season be YOUR BEST EVER

Your threads get so long, I get lost.     You're too popular for your own good. 

 Is that an Asian kid a tight end?!  I'm outta here!." 

Xavier Lee

liking that Zona-Toledo over, MD, LSU, NW and against none

BOL maine

I am talking to MYself 90% of the time in my Threads.....

Just go to Last Page and skip all the Rambling

I'll certainly sleep better at night knowing I'm not against any of yours.    I think Wahoos is on the other side of LSU, so I can probably count that as a loss now.    Wahoos generally has the Tigers well figured. 

I need to go back and work myself through that crazy thread of yours.  I think it's 15 pages long now. 

I talk to myself a lot too - just not in print.    how are your Bulls going to be?  Seems like a lot of teams in the MAC are about the same. 

And a few totals:

Florida Atlantic/Alabama Birmingham under 52 - So let's see.  The Blazers lost apporomately 100% of their offense when Joe Webb (3,700 yards last year) left town.  The Owls have to replace 9-year QB starter Rusty Smith, and are currently trolling the local rec. centers looking for someone, anyone, to play on the offensive line.   Unless there are about four defensive scores, I'm not sure where these two are going to find 52.

Clemson/North Texas under 57.5 - Eagles haven't gotten more than 7 against a BCS school since 2007 (10 against Oklahoma), while the Tigers have only gotten to 50 once in that same span (70 against CMU).  Tigers defense should be very good, so CU probably needs 50 here to beat you.  Could happen, but I'm thinking 43-7 is more likely.

Quote Originally Posted by D-Town:

Good luck this year Maine. 

Same to you, my friend.  

I really like that FAU/UAB under.  I will be on the 1st Half UNDER whatever the number happens to be.  That number has fallen like a rock though.  It was around 55 at one time, and Bookmaker has it at now at 51.    That still should give a respectable 1st Half line though.

I like your logic on the Mean Green UNDER, but for some reason I think North Texas may be a lot better than people think this year.  I still think it goes UNDER though.  I see a score more like 38-17 with Clemson backers sweating the hell out of a cover.

  Have you some good damn luck this season bro!!! 

Quote Originally Posted by THEMUGG:

Good stuff B............not sure how BYU is gonna score 34 pts though..........I may just play NW on the entertainment value of your write-up.

GL this season bro ...........any trips planned yet?

You're probably right.  I drink a lot, so some predictions are more pulled out of my rear end than others.  How about 24.5 - 21 Cougs?

I know I'll be in BR for LSU/WVU and LSU/Bama.  Thinking about a trip to Knoxville in October, but I have a wedding which will probably scuttle that.  I have an invite to Cincy/Pitt at Nippert at season's end.  Might be worth a drive.  I like old stadiums.  I need to find a way/excuse to get the Pacific Northwest next year.  Really liked it out there. 

Thanks ;  but, be aware that my threads are for entertainment purposes only.  Winners are found elsewhere.    GL this season.

Those totals look solid,  I see Clemson winning by a score ranging from 35-3 to 48-7, which is all on the right side of your bet.

Good luck. 

You are spot on .....Brother

anyone of these teams could win the MAC this season

Northern Illinois,Temple,Ohio,Kent St,Ball St, CMU,WMU....

Like the Value in Kent St at 15-1 and Ball St 25-1////

As for the U at Buffalo Bulls  .....Can we Please get Turner Backkkkkk...