NCAA Football 2007 -- let the trash talking begin!

[Dread Pirate Robert]

The pre-season coach's poll is out:

 

USA Today Poll

1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481

2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372

3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278

4. Texas 0-0 1,231

5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218

6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205

7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114

8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026

9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005

10. Ohio State 0-0 919

11. Louisville 0-0 836

12. California 0-0 763

13. Georgia 0-0 604

14. Auburn 0-0 595

15. Tennessee 0-0 583

16. Rutgers 0-0 466

17. UCLA 0-0 454

18. Penn State 0-0 440

19. Nebraska 0-0 388

20. Arkansas 0-0 360

21. Florida State 0-0 301

22. TCU 0-0 233

23. Boise State 0-0 222

24. Hawaii 0-0 214

25. Texas A&M 0-0 209

 

Others Recieving Votes

Boston College 150, Georgia Tech 150, Miami (FL) 91, Notre Dame 90, South Carolina 90, Wake Forest 71, Missouri 58, Oregon State 52, Brigham Young 47, Clemson 30, Oregon 30, South Florida 26, Texas Tech 20, Alabama 16, Oklahoma State 15, Southern Miss 14, Iowa 12, Kansas State 8, Memphis 5, Houston 4, Arizona 1, Duke 1, Kentucky 1, Washington State 1.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex

 

 

 

Thoughts? Flames? Rants?

 

For now, I just want to know who was the one schmuck who voted for Duke. Either he is a complete total idiot or is a genius who sees something beyond the rest of us poor mortals' powers. My guess is the former and not the latter. Then again, maybe it was just Duke's coach figuring "what the hell, might as well vote for my team before the season begins when it is all a sham guessing game anyway, especially since that will be the only vote we get all season long. "

 

Btw: I hate USC, and pray that someone somewhere in their weak schedule will somehow knock them off along the way. It strikes me as fundamentally unfair to all the rest of the schools that USC gets spotted a number one ranking to start the season, with nothing to face along the way except a weak schedule. Chances are, USC will end up in the championship game, all because they were spotted a number 1 ranking at the start with very few teams to give them any sort of challenge at all along the way. Grrrrrrr . . . .

[softfilter]

Hey after last year's reality check, I know better!!

They pick the Buckeyes to finish third in Big Ten and that's just the way I want it, under the radar!

[claunchorlando]

QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 3 2007, 09:50 PM)

The pre-season coach's poll is out: USA Today Poll 1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481 2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372 3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278 4. Texas 0-0 1,231 5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218 6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205 7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114 8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026 9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005 10. Ohio State 0-0 919 11. Louisville 0-0 836 12. California 0-0 763 13. Georgia 0-0 604 14. Auburn 0-0 595 15. Tennessee 0-0 583 16. Rutgers 0-0 466 17. UCLA 0-0 454 18. Penn State 0-0 440 19. Nebraska 0-0 388 20. Arkansas 0-0 360 21. Florida State 0-0 301 22. TCU 0-0 233 23. Boise State 0-0 222 24. Hawaii 0-0 214 25. Texas A&M 0-0 209 Others Recieving Votes Boston College 150, Georgia Tech 150, Miami (FL) 91, Notre Dame 90, South Carolina 90, Wake Forest 71, Missouri 58, Oregon State 52, Brigham Young 47, Clemson 30, Oregon 30, South Florida 26, Texas Tech 20, Alabama 16, Oklahoma State 15, Southern Miss 14, Iowa 12, Kansas State 8, Memphis 5, Houston 4, Arizona 1, Duke 1, Kentucky 1, Washington State 1. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex Thoughts? Flames? Rants? For now, I just want to know who was the one schmuck who voted for Duke. Either he is a complete total idiot or is a genius who sees something beyond the rest of us poor mortals' powers. My guess is the former and not the latter. Then again, maybe it was just Duke's coach figuring "what the hell, might as well vote for my team before the season begins when it is all a sham guessing game anyway, especially since that will be the only vote we get all season long. " Btw: I hate USC, and pray that someone somewhere in their weak schedule will somehow knock them off along the way. It strikes me as fundamentally unfair to all the rest of the schools that USC gets spotted a number one ranking to start the season, with nothing to face along the way except a weak schedule. Chances are, USC will end up in the championship game, all because they were spotted a number 1 ranking at the start with very few teams to give them any sort of challenge at all along the way. Grrrrrrr . . . .

steve spurrier always votes duke #25 until they lose a game-story about this in yesterday's usa today.

[softfilter]

QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 3 2007, 08:50 PM)

The pre-season coach's poll is out: USA Today Poll 1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481 2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372 3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278 4. Texas 0-0 1,231 5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218 6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205 7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114 8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026 9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005 10. Ohio State 0-0 919 11. Louisville 0-0 836 12. California 0-0 763 13. Georgia 0-0 604 14. Auburn 0-0 595 15. Tennessee 0-0 583 16. Rutgers 0-0 466 17. UCLA 0-0 454 18. Penn State 0-0 440 19. Nebraska 0-0 388 20. Arkansas 0-0 360 21. Florida State 0-0 301 22. TCU 0-0 233 23. Boise State 0-0 222 24. Hawaii 0-0 214 25. Texas A&M 0-0 209 Others Recieving Votes Boston College 150, Georgia Tech 150, Miami (FL) 91, Notre Dame 90, South Carolina 90, Wake Forest 71, Missouri 58, Oregon State 52, Brigham Young 47, Clemson 30, Oregon 30, South Florida 26, Texas Tech 20, Alabama 16, Oklahoma State 15, Southern Miss 14, Iowa 12, Kansas State 8, Memphis 5, Houston 4, Arizona 1, Duke 1, Kentucky 1, Washington State 1. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex Thoughts? Flames? Rants? For now, I just want to know who was the one schmuck who voted for Duke. Either he is a complete total idiot or is a genius who sees something beyond the rest of us poor mortals' powers. My guess is the former and not the latter. Then again, maybe it was just Duke's coach figuring "what the hell, might as well vote for my team before the season begins when it is all a sham guessing game anyway, especially since that will be the only vote we get all season long. " Btw: I hate USC, and pray that someone somewhere in their weak schedule will somehow knock them off along the way. It strikes me as fundamentally unfair to all the rest of the schools that USC gets spotted a number one ranking to start the season, with nothing to face along the way except a weak schedule. Chances are, USC will end up in the championship game, all because they were spotted a number 1 ranking at the start with very few teams to give them any sort of challenge at all along the way. Grrrrrrr . . . .

Hawaii ?

I guess they were good last year did they play in a bowl game?

[EveryNerveAware]

GO GATORS!!!

 

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/EveryNerveAware/RUSH/1863.jpg

[Test4VitalSigns]

QUOTE (claunchorlando @ Aug 4 2007, 03:48 PM)

QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 3 2007, 09:50 PM) The pre-season coach's poll is out: USA Today Poll 1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481 2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372 3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278 4. Texas 0-0 1,231 5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218 6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205 7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114 8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026 9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005 10. Ohio State 0-0 919 11. Louisville 0-0 836 12. California 0-0 763 13. Georgia 0-0 604 14. Auburn 0-0 595 15. Tennessee 0-0 583 16. Rutgers 0-0 466 17. UCLA 0-0 454 18. Penn State 0-0 440 19. Nebraska 0-0 388 20. Arkansas 0-0 360 21. Florida State 0-0 301 22. TCU 0-0 233 23. Boise State 0-0 222 24. Hawaii 0-0 214 25. Texas A&M 0-0 209 Others Recieving Votes Boston College 150, Georgia Tech 150, Miami (FL) 91, Notre Dame 90, South Carolina 90, Wake Forest 71, Missouri 58, Oregon State 52, Brigham Young 47, Clemson 30, Oregon 30, South Florida 26, Texas Tech 20, Alabama 16, Oklahoma State 15, Southern Miss 14, Iowa 12, Kansas State 8, Memphis 5, Houston 4, Arizona 1, Duke 1, Kentucky 1, Washington State 1. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex Thoughts? Flames?  Rants? For now, I just want to know who was the one schmuck who voted for Duke.  Either he is a complete total idiot or is a genius who sees something beyond the rest of us poor mortals' powers.  My guess is the former and not the latter.  Then again, maybe it was just Duke's coach figuring "what the hell, might as well vote for my team before the season begins when it is all a sham guessing game anyway, especially since that will be the only vote we get all season long. " Btw:  I hate USC, and pray that someone somewhere in their weak schedule will somehow knock them off along the way.  It strikes me as fundamentally unfair to all the rest of the schools that USC gets spotted a number one ranking to start the season, with nothing to face along the way except a weak schedule.  Chances are, USC will end up in the championship game, all because they were spotted a number 1 ranking at the start with very few teams to give them any sort of challenge at all along the way.  Grrrrrrr . . . . steve spurrier always votes duke #25 until they lose a game-story about this in yesterday's usa today. They beat Arizona State last year in Hawaii Bowl.   Their QB Colt Brennan is a good one...last year set single season records for TD pases with 58 and QB rating with 185.96       Anybody remember their coach June Jones when he was coaching the Atlanta Falcons?

[New World Manny]

USC has to be #1. LSU and Florida as the cream of the SEC, it's always interesting to see how things shake out in the SEC. There's always much hype around SEC teams and rightfully so in general, but it always seems like at least one of the big favorites underachieves while a Georgia or an Arkansas will step up. Conspicuous absense of Fighting Irish in the top 25. And finally, Go Bucky! I'm happy and a bit surprised to see them in the top 10, knowing they lost Joe Thomas and John Stocco. But I read that they are ruturning 18 starters, not bad.

 

http://www.lssaa.wisc.edu/careers/images/Bucky_Badger_no1_football01.jpg

[Dread Pirate Robert]

QUOTE (Test4VitalSigns @ Aug 5 2007, 08:57 PM)

QUOTE (claunchorlando @ Aug 4 2007, 03:48 PM) QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 3 2007, 09:50 PM) The pre-season coach's poll is out: USA Today Poll 1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481 2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372 3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278 4. Texas 0-0 1,231 5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218 6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205 7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114 8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026 9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005 10. Ohio State 0-0 919 11. Louisville 0-0 836 12. California 0-0 763 13. Georgia 0-0 604 14. Auburn 0-0 595 15. Tennessee 0-0 583 16. Rutgers 0-0 466 17. UCLA 0-0 454 18. Penn State 0-0 440 19. Nebraska 0-0 388 20. Arkansas 0-0 360 21. Florida State 0-0 301 22. TCU 0-0 233 23. Boise State 0-0 222 24. Hawaii 0-0 214 25. Texas A&M 0-0 209 Others Recieving Votes Boston College 150, Georgia Tech 150, Miami (FL) 91, Notre Dame 90, South Carolina 90, Wake Forest 71, Missouri 58, Oregon State 52, Brigham Young 47, Clemson 30, Oregon 30, South Florida 26, Texas Tech 20, Alabama 16, Oklahoma State 15, Southern Miss 14, Iowa 12, Kansas State 8, Memphis 5, Houston 4, Arizona 1, Duke 1, Kentucky 1, Washington State 1. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex Thoughts? Flames?  Rants? For now, I just want to know who was the one schmuck who voted for Duke.  Either he is a complete total idiot or is a genius who sees something beyond the rest of us poor mortals' powers.  My guess is the former and not the latter.  Then again, maybe it was just Duke's coach figuring "what the hell, might as well vote for my team before the season begins when it is all a sham guessing game anyway, especially since that will be the only vote we get all season long. " Btw:  I hate USC, and pray that someone somewhere in their weak schedule will somehow knock them off along the way.  It strikes me as fundamentally unfair to all the rest of the schools that USC gets spotted a number one ranking to start the season, with nothing to face along the way except a weak schedule.  Chances are, USC will end up in the championship game, all because they were spotted a number 1 ranking at the start with very few teams to give them any sort of challenge at all along the way.  Grrrrrrr . . . . steve spurrier always votes duke #25 until they lose a game-story about this in yesterday's usa today. They beat Arizona State last year in Hawaii Bowl.   Their QB Colt Brennan is a good one...last year set single season records for TD pases with 58 and QB rating with 185.96       Anybody remember their coach June Jones when he was coaching the Atlanta Falcons? Just to clarify, you are talking about Hawaii and not Duke, right?

[Dread Pirate Robert]

QUOTE (New World Manny @ Aug 5 2007, 09:31 PM)

it's always interesting to see how things shake out in the SEC.  There's always much hype around SEC teams and rightfully so in general, but it always seems like at least one of the big favorites underachieves while a Georgia or an Arkansas will step up.

 

Needless to say, I hope it is South Carolina who is the team that "steps up" this year. We'll find out early. SC's 2nd and 3rd games of the season are at Georgia and LSU, both on the road. After those games, it should be clear whether Spurrier's Gamecocks are now ready to compete for the top of the SEC, or whether it will be just another "also-ran" season for South Carolina as usual.

 

QUOTE

Conspicuous absense of Fighting Irish in the top 25.

 

Notre Dame has lost its last 9 bowl games in a row (a NCAA division I record for longest bowl losing streak), and a lot of those were blow out losses. Notre Dame is no longer the powerhouse program it used to be. Rather, it is a program that has been way overrated for a long time now. Apparently this fact is finally sinking in to the voters.

[New World Manny]

QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 6 2007, 08:28 AM)

Notre Dame has lost its last 9 bowl games in a row (a NCAA division I record for longest bowl losing streak), and a lot of those were blow out losses. Notre Dame is no longer the powerhouse program it used to be. Rather, it is a program that has been way overrated for a long time now. Apparently this fact is finally sinking in to the voters.

Yea, you're right about that, they're comparable to middle-to-upper-tier Big Ten or SEC squad....like a Michigan State or Arkansas.

 

Not that I think it'll ever happen, but they really should start considering joining the big 10. I think both ND and the conference would benefit, and they already play 3 or 4 big 10 schools a year. The problem is they'd have to start sharing TV revenue, and would have to drop some of the cream puffs (read: the 3 military academy games) which they rely on to become bowl eligable every year. The conference could use a little boost too, since all the other conferences have annexed other schools over the past decade to boost their revenue and recruiting streams (ACC, Big 12, SEC), not to mention it'd be nice to even-out the schedule by having 12 teams instead of 11. The main reason I know this will never happen is that it seems to make too much sense!

 

Big Ten East: Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana, Purdue

 

Big Ten West: Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota, Illinois

 

Or something like thaat

[Dread Pirate Robert]

QUOTE (New World Manny @ Aug 6 2007, 09:03 AM)

Big Ten East:  Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana, Purdue Big Ten West:  Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota, Illinois Or something like thaat

This set up would be quite unbalanced, imo, making the Eastern division a lot more powerful than the Western. I know Wisconsin has had some good years recently, but historically speaking this set up would leave the three traditionally strongest Big Ten programs -- Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State -- all in the same division. It seems to me that any division of the Big Ten should put Michigan and Ohio State in opposite divisions, for balance sake.

 

Anyway, I have thought for a long time that Notre Dame should join the Big Ten also, but they probably won't for the reasons you point out.

[New World Manny]

QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 6 2007, 10:38 AM)

This set up would be quite unbalanced, imo, making the Eastern division a lot more powerful than the Western.  I know Wisconsin has had some good years recently, but historically speaking this set up would leave the three traditionally strongest Big Ten programs -- Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State -- all in the same division.  It seems to me that any division of the Big Ten should put Michigan and Ohio State in opposite divisions, for balance sake.

That's a fair point , let's try this (in relative order of program strength):

 

Big Ten South

Ohio State

Notre Dame

Penn State

Purdue

Illinois

Indiana

 

Big Ten North

Michigan

Wisconsin

Iowa

Michigan State

Northwestern

Minnesota

[Dread Pirate Robert]

QUOTE (New World Manny @ Aug 6 2007, 02:02 PM)

QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 6 2007, 10:38 AM) This set up would be quite unbalanced, imo, making the Eastern division a lot more powerful than the Western.  I know Wisconsin has had some good years recently, but historically speaking this set up would leave the three traditionally strongest Big Ten programs -- Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State -- all in the same division.  It seems to me that any division of the Big Ten should put Michigan and Ohio State in opposite divisions, for balance sake.  That's a fair point , let's try this (in relative order of program strength):   Big Ten South Ohio State Notre Dame Penn State Purdue Illinois Indiana   Big Ten North Michigan Wisconsin Iowa Michigan State Northwestern Minnesota Much more balanced, imo.

[Test4VitalSigns]

QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 6 2007, 09:14 AM)

QUOTE (Test4VitalSigns @ Aug 5 2007, 08:57 PM) QUOTE (claunchorlando @ Aug 4 2007, 03:48 PM) QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 3 2007, 09:50 PM) The pre-season coach's poll is out: USA Today Poll 1. USC (45) 0-0 1,481 2. LSU (4) 0-0 1,372 3. Florida (9) 0-0 1,278 4. Texas 0-0 1,231 5. Michigan (2) 0-0 1,218 6. West Virginia 0-0 1,205 7. Wisconsin 0-0 1,114 8. Oklahoma 0-0 1,026 9. Virginia Tech 0-0 1,005 10. Ohio State 0-0 919 11. Louisville 0-0 836 12. California 0-0 763 13. Georgia 0-0 604 14. Auburn 0-0 595 15. Tennessee 0-0 583 16. Rutgers 0-0 466 17. UCLA 0-0 454 18. Penn State 0-0 440 19. Nebraska 0-0 388 20. Arkansas 0-0 360 21. Florida State 0-0 301 22. TCU 0-0 233 23. Boise State 0-0 222 24. Hawaii 0-0 214 25. Texas A&M 0-0 209 Others Recieving Votes Boston College 150, Georgia Tech 150, Miami (FL) 91, Notre Dame 90, South Carolina 90, Wake Forest 71, Missouri 58, Oregon State 52, Brigham Young 47, Clemson 30, Oregon 30, South Florida 26, Texas Tech 20, Alabama 16, Oklahoma State 15, Southern Miss 14, Iowa 12, Kansas State 8, Memphis 5, Houston 4, Arizona 1, Duke 1, Kentucky 1, Washington State 1. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex Thoughts? Flames?  Rants? For now, I just want to know who was the one schmuck who voted for Duke.  Either he is a complete total idiot or is a genius who sees something beyond the rest of us poor mortals' powers.  My guess is the former and not the latter.  Then again, maybe it was just Duke's coach figuring "what the hell, might as well vote for my team before the season begins when it is all a sham guessing game anyway, especially since that will be the only vote we get all season long. " Btw:  I hate USC, and pray that someone somewhere in their weak schedule will somehow knock them off along the way.  It strikes me as fundamentally unfair to all the rest of the schools that USC gets spotted a number one ranking to start the season, with nothing to face along the way except a weak schedule.  Chances are, USC will end up in the championship game, all because they were spotted a number 1 ranking at the start with very few teams to give them any sort of challenge at all along the way.  Grrrrrrr . . . . steve spurrier always votes duke #25 until they lose a game-story about this in yesterday's usa today. They beat Arizona State last year in Hawaii Bowl.   Their QB Colt Brennan is a good one...last year set single season records for TD pases with 58 and QB rating with 185.96       Anybody remember their coach June Jones when he was coaching the Atlanta Falcons? Just to clarify, you are talking about Hawaii and not Duke, right? Yes, sorry. I meant to quote softfilter's post

[JDL2112]

QUOTE (Dread Pirate Robert @ Aug 3 2007, 06:50 PM)

Btw:  I hate USC, and pray that someone somewhere in their weak schedule will somehow knock them off along the way.  It strikes me as fundamentally unfair to all the rest of the schools that USC gets spotted a number one ranking to start the season, with nothing to face along the way except a weak schedule.  Chances are, USC will end up in the championship game, all because they were spotted a number 1 ranking at the start with very few teams to give them any sort of challenge at all along the way.  Grrrrrrr . . . .

I'm all on board with your USC dislike!

 

Even though UCLA is ranked high, I somehow don't think they will be the main competition in the Pac-10.

 

IMO, if it isn't Oregon St., or Oregon at the outside, they will probably take the Pac-10 and we'll have to hope that they lose outside.

 

I would like UCLA to take them!

[GhostGirl]

http://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/eeeteachers/smithle/images/auburntigers.gif

 

War Eagle!

[workingcinderellaman]

It would be nice if Nebraska could do something this year.

 

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k171/sandersfan/Nebr_2549.gif

 

GO HUSKERS!

[JDL2112]

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q111/JDL2112/UCLA.jpg

 

I just like this picture! :-)

[Dread Pirate Robert]

QUOTE (workingcinderellaman @ Aug 10 2007, 11:18 AM)

It would be nice if Nebraska could do something this year. http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k171/sandersfan/Nebr_2549.gif GO HUSKERS!

How about beating the Trojans?

 

I am not a Nebraska fan at all, but I will be for that game.

[Dread Pirate Robert]

Spurrier has been talking lately about how his goal for this year is to win the SEC championship. That says a lot, imo, since he seems to have realistic expectations for his teams. The previous two years, his officially stated goal was just to win more games than he lost and make it to a bowl game.

 

But as a Gamecock fan, mindful of the longstanding and dreaded Chicken Curse, it makes me nervous as well. Too high of expectations can easily lead to gross disapointment.

 

 

[Dread Pirate Robert]

QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Aug 7 2007, 03:10 PM)

http://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/eeeteachers/smithle/images/auburntigers.gif War Eagle!

All I will say is that I am glad we don't play you guys this year. Except of course for the outside possibility of meeting in the SEC championship game.

 

That, and I hope you kick the crap out of Alabama.

 

[skyswing]

Well, here's the deal for me.

I grew up in Auburn Tiger country - like or not, Montgomery, Ala. leans heavily toward Auburn. It helps that it's less than an hour's drive away.

In 1989, in my apartment in Tuscaloosa, Ala. before that year's "Iron" Bowl, I made the difficult and life-altering decision to pull for the Tide after growing up as an Auburn fan. I even campaigned for Fob James as an 11-year-old when he ran for governor the first time in '78, mainly because he was a standout at Auburn.

Now that I'm living in a sea of Maroon, I feel the gravitational pull here, but the Bulldogs will be doing well to finish the season 6-5. They open with LSU on ESPN Thursday, Aug. 30 and while I hope they make a dent with LSU, an upset does not appear likely.

I'm still an Alabama fan, but I think throwing $32 million at somebody with the chance that they'll just walk away or get shoved out the door with it is kind of insane.

So, my relatively uninformed opinion on the SEC this year is this: I think it is possible that LSU could run the table in the West, but it is likely that a second-tier team like Auburn could hobble to the finish line after a pretty tough battle.

Same goes for the East - Florida could run away with it, but a Georgia or Tennessee finish isn't unlikely there.

And I do agree - Spurrier usually has the goods to back his mouth, so SC could be a dark horse.

One thing is clear - an SEC team who completes the season without a loss or with one or two numbers in the right column deserves a shot at the national title. Very rarely does a team just waltz to the SEC title.

They earn it.

[third hand grace]

Well ...

I'm rooting for where my kids are playing... so even though I'd personaly like to see ASU do well, I have to root for Stanford, Northwestern, U of Illinois, and Northern Illinois this season.

ouch.

But at least I have the Chargers!

[New World Manny]

QUOTE (third hand grace @ Aug 11 2007, 11:43 PM)

Well ... I'm rooting for where my kids are playing... so even though I'd personaly like to see ASU do well, I have to root for Stanford, Northwestern, U of Illinois, and Northern Illinois this season.

 

Wow, you're fertile.

[Dread Pirate Robert]

QUOTE (skyswing @ Aug 11 2007, 11:25 PM)

I'm still an Alabama fan, but I think throwing $32 million at somebody with the chance that they'll just walk away or get shoved out the door with it is kind of insane.

Yeah, that is what all the rest of us SEC fans think about Alabama's deal with Saban.

 

Insanely irresponsible throwing of money, just proving how crazy and desperate Alabama fans are to regain former days of glory.

 

Well, we'll see if it brings results for Alabama on the field or not. Time will tell.