Stats of the Day

I have a couple of interesting stats for today...both involve the number 2 ranked Auburn Tigers.

1. If you missed the stupendous Thursday night game, Auburn had possesion of the ball for the ENTIRE 3rd quarter. Has anyone seen this happen before? It went like this...halftime score Auburn 14 South Carolina 10, start of 2nd half, USC kicked off, Auburn converted a field goal after an 85 yard 17 play drive that took 8:19 off the clock, score Aubun 17 USC 10, Auburn onside kick (one of the best I've ever seen, it should have been caught on the fly), Auburn recovers, Auburn scores a touchdown on a 13 play drive that takes 8:39 off the clock, Auburn kicks off, USC regains control of the ball with 14:42 left in the 4th quarter. I bet Stever Spurrier was steaming! Final score: Auburn 24, USC 17. The riverboat gambler strikes again!
2. Auburn has 19 wins in its last 20 regular season SEC games. Southern Cal has 19 wins in its last 20 regular season Pac 10 games. Call me east coast biased, but I believe Auburn certainly has achieved the greater accomplishment here. Is it possible that the "BCS media" doesn't understand that running the football and playing fantastic defense wins football games just as effectively as throwing the ball 35 times and outscoring your opponent 45 - 42? That's right. I just made an argument for west coast bias. Discuss amonst yourselves.

Today's second stat of the day has a direct correlation to several other serious topics of debate in college football.

1. East Coast bias
2. SEC vs. Pac 10
3. BCS Championship Game decision criteria
4. Current BCS rankings
5. Championship game conferences vs. Non-championship game conferences

T.O. tried to OD

According to SI.com, Terrell Owens' latest trip to the ER was not due to an abnormal reaction from his pain killers. It was because he took 30 or so pills at once in an attempted suicide. The emergency responders said that T.O. told them he was trying to harm himself. Sad.

So you are saying there is a chance!!

First, how are we AT Virginia Tech for the second year in a row? Did they randomly select this to happen? Or did Virginia Tech look at the ACC and pick the one team that they new would be scared sh*#less to play in Blacksburg no matter how good they were.

Second, VT is going to be without its best player on their D-Line and their second leading receiver due to violations of team rules. Due to the name Hokies and their proximity to West Virginia, insert hillbilly joke here:

Third, GT enters the game as #24 in the latest AP poll. I will be the one with my drinking hat on!!

Game time is 3:30 PM Saturday.

Virginia Fans are Lame

I just dont get why UVA fans wouldn't be more receptive to the "where's your ascot?" questions...thise guys are L-A-M-E.

Old news to some, but news to me.....Tommy Bowden's daughter is hot and likes to show her gash.

Jackets Crush UVA in ACC Opener

Georgia Tech off to nice start in the ACC with an easy win over the Hoos on national TV last night.
Some of the highlights:

• Travis Bell drilled a 47 yard field goal to put Tech up 10-0
• C. Johnson's two long TD passes and 165 yards recieving
• UVA held to 51 yards rushing on 23 attempts
• 4 of Tech's 8 punts were "downed" inside the 20
• 2 interceptions for Tenuta's D
• The weather was delightful

And the things to improve on:

• Tech was penalized 7 times for 65 yards
• Tech fumbled 4 times! Although the Jackets only lost one (T. Choice's), it led to UVA's only score.
• No touchbacks on kickoffs
• 4 of 14 on 3rd down conversions. This needs to improve for Tech to win in Blacksburg next weekend. 3:30 p.m. kickoff, by the way.
• Only 1 sack against a poor offensive team that was forced to pass after getting behind early

A site for the Tech alumi and fans:
http://www.ramblinracket.com/

ESPN's ACC football blog

Included in this week's News and Notes from Around the ACC:

Georgia Tech
• Reggie Ball set a school rushing record by a quarterback with 130 yards against Troy last Saturday. Ball ranks tied for sixth among ACC rushing leaders with an average of 64.7 yards per game. But Ball continues to have his problems as a passer. Through three games, the senior has completed 50.7 percent (35-of-69) of his passes. His five touchdown passes are tied for second in the ACC, but his three interceptions are also second in the conference.
• With Miami reeling, the Yellow Jackets have a better chance to win the Coastal Division title in the ACC. "I always think we'll compete for the title," said coach Chan Gailey. "The key is to win. If you win your conference games, it doesn't matter what everybody else does. Take care of yourself, that's the key."

source: ESPN INSIDER

Injury status for Week 3

Official injury report for Monday's game as of 9/21/06:

ATLANTA FALCONS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Falcons: QUESTIONABLE: WR Roddy White (Shoulder); LB Edgerton Hartwell (Knee); DE John Abraham (Groin). PROBABLE: DE Patrick Kerney (Tricep); S Kevin Mathis (Hamstring); OG Kynan Forney (Shoulder); OT Wayne Gandy (Groin).

Saints: DOUBTFUL: RB Mike Karney (Calf). QUESTIONABLE: DT Brian Young (Shoulder). PROBABLE: C Jeff Faine (Foot); LB Terrence Melton (Hamstring).

source: profootballweekly

The Red Headed Stranger Gets Hassled by the Fuzz

I'm sure it was medicinal.

Possible strategies for Falcons/Bucs

Things to possibly look for this Sunday afternoon as the Falcons host the Bucs.

Look for both sets of safeties on each team to play a large role and be tested. Atlanta’s front four may be banged up a bit with Kerney (Probable) and Abraham’s (Questionable) injuries. Tampa Bay’s o-line played very poorly last week versus Baltimore. Look for Atlanta to be aggressive up front to stuff the run and make Simms throw the ball. Hall will be on lock down duty against Galloway and the secondary may “roll” to the opposite side to keep strength in numbers. This will leave the safeties vulnerable to play-action and deep middle patterns. Ed Reed dominated the secondary last week causing headaches for Simms. Look for Atlanta to try to mimic some of the Ravens success.

Cadillac Williams (Probable) is a little banged up but should be fine. He was “compressed” a few times last week and had an MRI on his back on Monday. His two starting guards may still be out (Buenning is listed as out), as well. If Atlanta’s front four are healthy, or if Jackson plays effectively, look for Williams to get hit hard. He proved last year that he can wear down. Also Ed Hartwell is listed as out but has reportedly told Coach Mora that he will be available on Sunday.

Atlanta will probably keep trying to move the pocket when Vick passes to utilize his speed and help buy him a little more time. This has reaped mixed results in the past against TB. The Buc’s front seven are very fast and have proven to be up to the challenge of stopping Vick’s scrambles. Jenkins may continue to see some time in the slot to create some matchup problems. However, the Buc’s corners are physical and should be effective at neutralizing Lelie and White. This can open up play action to Jenkins and Crumpler.

The key to the game, as usual, will be Atlanta’s ability to run the ball. TB gets LB Quarles back this week to help out and are tough to run outside on. TB’s safeties will have to help out if the Atlanta runs the ball up the middle like last week. Being the home opener, Atlanta should have a good energy level and not have a huge drop-off from last week. Atlanta is great with a lead. But if they can’t run the ball, TB has proven they can beat Vick when he passes. But let’s see if the Buc’s can score first!!

Stroker Ace is A - OK

In case you forgot, Burt Reynolds is a cool guy.... and he'll piss on your grave.

Rankings for NFL

Rankings are used all the time. Few mean anything. But the Falcons are getting respect after a terrific win. And it comes at the same time that the NFC South looks pretty weak. If they can get a lead by running the ball and force the other team to pass, they will win games. But lets remember that it was only one week.

NFL.com has the Falcons as the best team in the league. They are followed by Pitt, Balt, Indy, and Cinci.

ESPN.com has the birds moving up to no. 7 from no. 17. 1 through 5 are Pitt, Indy, Sea., Cinci, and Jax.

Sportsline.com has not updated their yet, but has Atlanta as no. 14 heading into Week 1 with Pitt, Carolina, Indy, NE, and Denv. as 1 to 5.

Next up for the Dirty Birds is a Tampa Bay team that got their heads handed to them at home. They have a much better running game than Carolina, but their O-line was exposed as weaker than last years in Week 1. Simms is very bad under pressure and the Ravens were able to run the ball at will last week. TB always has a little something extra for Vick. It should be a closer game than the Carolina matchup. But if TB can't get it going, Atlanta may not face a potent offense until New Orleans or Arizona. Amazing how one win against Carolina can make a tough start to the season look a whole lot better.

Good recap of Week 1

Check out "Scout's Eye" by Nolan Nawrocki on ProFootballWeekly.com. Good recap of the weekend including Abraham and Vick's effort against Carolina.

Also from PFW:

Quick read: The Falcons got their revenge for a 44-11 loss to the Panthers in Week 17 last season. And the Panthers started off 2006 like they did ’05, with a loss to a divisional foe at home. Carolina lost 23-20 to the Saints last year.

Thumbs up: Atlanta’s offense shredded a formidable Carolina defense. RB Warrick Dunn rushed for 132 yards on 29 carries and QB Michael Vick toyed with his nemesis with 140 yards passing and two touchdowns. Vick also had 48 rushing yards on seven carries.

Thumbs down: Without WR Steve Smith, who missed the game with a right hamstring injury, the Panthers’ offense was wholly inept. QB Jake Delhomme struggled and the running game never got started.

Fantasy stud: We rarely get to do this, but a Falcons receiver (not named TE Alge Crumpler) earned fantasy props. Third-year WR Michael Jenkins had three catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Oh, by the way, Crumpler also had a TD catch (but only 27 yards receiving).

Fantasy dud: Delhomme was picked by many, including yours truly, to have a breakout season in ’06. Well, he got started on the wrong foot, completing 21-of-39 passes for 186 yards and an interception

Branch Traded

Deion Branch has been traded to Seattle, according to ESPN's Michael Smith. He will be a big addition to their offense and may give them the edge again in their division. At the same time, this really hurts the Pats. Their top two receivers are gone from last year and their next two are hurt. Plus it pisses off Brady.

Week 2 College

Picks against the spread for week 2. Feel free to blow me up. Only put 20 because it takes up way too much space and it takes too long.

Week 2 College Picks

1. Pitt (-7.5) over CINCINNATI, over 42.5
2. NC STATE (-9) over Akron
3. Virginia Tech (-12.5) over UNC - this could be a blowout
4. WAKE FOREST vs Duke- over 38 points – will anyone watch this game?
5. Auburn vs MISS STATE – over 39
6. ALABAMA (-16) over vandy
7. Penn State (+7.5) over ND and over 46- Irish had trouble at home in big games last year
8. BC (+3) over Clemson – big o-line and ball control keeps it close
9. Wash (+16.5) over OKLAHOMA – both teams looked really bad last week
10. Colorado State (+2.5) over Colorado (neutral)- battle of who is worse. Buff’s lost to a I-AA last week
11. Troy at FSU- over 44 – look o/u for an FSU game. Troy would only need to score once or twice.
12. Central Florida (+23.5) over FLORIDA- O’Leary loses by 21 and covers
13. LSU (-14) over Arizona – smells like a blowout to me
14. Air Force at TENN – over 45 – both teams should score plenty
15. CAL (-7) over Minn – Cal comes back strong. Lots of points scored in this one.
16. SOUTH CAROLINA (+3) over Georgia – I’ll take the points at USC.
17. TEXAS (-2.5) over OSU – Defending champs get the nod until they lose. Plus at Texas.
18. Texas Tech (-6.5) over UTEP – last one with the ball wins?
19. UCLA (-27) over Rice – UCLA won by 40-something last year. Will do it again.
20. Fresno State (+4) over Oregon – home team has won last ¾ and no margin was greater than 4 points.

Week 1 NFL

I can't resist picking games against the spread. Feel free to blow me up for some of these.

NFL picks against the spread

1. PITT (-1) over Miami – Batch won’t matter
2. Balt (+3) over TB – low scoring. Ravens D is energized by McNair’s impact on O.
3. NE (-8.5) over buffalo – fairly healthy Pats team with new running back is scary
4. atl. (+5.5) over CAROLINA – no excuses this year for the Falcons. I think they lose but it is close. Showers are possible, battle of the ground games, and maybe no Steve Smith.
5. cinn (+2) over KC – Bengals need a good start to compete in their division.
6. Denver (+3.5) over ST. LOUIS – rams are a sleeper this year and Denver starts slow. But the AFC is still better than the NFC until proven otherwise. Shaky pick.
7. CLEVELAND (-3) over n.o. – Browns made good additions in the offseason and get it done with D. This will go over the 35.5 line.
8. TENN (-3) over n.y.jets- When both teams suck take the points. But the Jets really suck. And I have heard nothing but bad things from their camp. Titans starting QB has only been with the team for a week though.
9. phlli (-5.5) over HOUSTON – bad karma all around for not taking Bush while the Ewing theory comes true for the Eagles after T.O. is gone.
10. seattle (-6) over DETROIT – Seahawks are never good on the road. But the Lions are even worse at home. They do have a new QB. But the ‘Hawks will be focused despite the large spread.
11. chicago (-3.5) over GB – Packers looked really really really really bad in the preseason. If Farve has a bad day, this could get ugly with the Bears D. Watch for Griese to play if the starter struggles for the Bears.
12. JACKSONVILLE (-3) over dallas – tough to get a read on the Cowboys in the preseason. Jag’s don’t blow teams out so this one should be close. Edge to the home team. They need early wins to come out of their division again.
13. ARIZONA (-7.5) over s.f. – this is a lot of points to cover against a niners team that always plays the Card’s close. But I will jump on the Card’s new offense bandwagon for one game.
14. colts (-3) at NEW YORK GIANTS – Indi needs to start strong after yet another collapse in the playoffs. Look for Freeny to get after the little brother. I think it will be a fairly close game but the Colts SHOULD win this.
15. minnesota (+4.5) over WASHINGTON – Vike’s are supposed to have a defense this year and the Skin’s have a banged up RB and an ineffective QB. Taking the points.
16. s.d. (-3) at OAKLAND – Brooks might turn the ball over 4 times himself even though his receivers are sick. LT should

Harry the Hawk - Born To Be Wild

Get your motor runnin'. Head out on the. . . sidewalk. Appearantly Harry the Hawk rides his motorcycle around town on the sidewalk in full outfit (he's even got the yellow feet on). Hmmm. Harry's scootin' around town on a motorcyle. . . Maybe he's going to pick up his acrobatic sidekick, Skyhawk.

What's the officer problem?

Just a quick recap of some the latest events in the world of sports and entertainment that are not to be celebrated:

Apparently the Detroit Lions have an assistant coach who likes to drive in the nude....drunk. Here is the question. Do you make him get out of the car and do a sobriety test? I am all for busting drunk drivers. But I am not for seeing any mid age coach's manhood. That is just not ballin.

Penn State has banned alcohol during tailgating in the area surrounding to the stadium. The school said that 353 students were taken to the emergency last year due to overconsumption of alcohol and that home football games were the root cause of this large number. The heaviest volume was after the home football win against Ohio State. I wonder if anyone dared to point out that Penn State had been playing like crap since the early '90s and that maybe the students were a little happy to have a winning season on campus. Bunch of amateurs.

Next on the list, Larimer County prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for five currents members of the Colorado State football team. The felony charges range from forgery to theft to indentity theft. No word yet on if the charges were in response to Colorado State's attempt at passing themselves off as D-I football players.

A man who left a threatening phone message to former Notre Dame football coach Tyrone Willingham, pleaded guilty and has been fined $2,000 after performing community service and writing an apology. This is an ugly precedent to set. Now every drunk person has to be careful when threatening an overrated coach? That sucks!! That is half the fun about following sports.

Clarett is denied a request to conduct a survey to determine if he could obtain a fair trial. You screwed over Ohio State, an insurance company, and got caught wearing a bullet proof vest, while drinking vodka and carrying loaded fire arms. Does it really matter if its fair?

Texas cornerback Tarell Brown has tested negative after a drug screening for cocaine and weed. He has alreday been suspended for this weekend's game against Ohio State for his role in an incident that involved a hand gun and marijuana and led to his arrest. Not sure if that will affect his ability to play Saturday or beyond.

Bob Uecker has a stalker and she has been ordered to stay away for four years. The stalker claims to be a big Brewers fan and has been stalking him for about seven years. I wonder if Joe Buck has any stalkers?

Marion Jones' "B" sample turns up clean. Guess that masking agent she uses really does work. Jones' former husband (CJ Hunter), her coach (Trevor Graham), and her baby's daddy (Tim Montgomery) have all been busted for using and supplying performance enhancing drugs. But of course she doesn't know a thing about that.

And not to be outdone by the athletes, Paris Hilton was arrested on a DUI charge. How did they know she was drunk? She acts and talks like a drunk idiot all the time, already.

Pink Taco Stadium? *UPDATE*

The mexican restaurant chain "Pink Taco" was denied consideration for sponsorship/naming rights to Arizona Stadium where the Cardinals play thanks to the double entendre. The owners offered $30 million over 10 years. The first location opened in Las Vegas 6 years ago and a Scottsdale location opened earlier this summer where the Scottsdale mayor publicly objected to the name. L.A., Chi-Town, and Dallas are among the cities included in Pink Taco's future. Pink Taco president Harry Morton, who founded Hard Rock Cafe, is dating Lindsey Lohan and model Claudia Schiffer is a part owner. The Arizona Stadium owners hope to get $5 million/25 years.

Here's a clip from youtube.com, from when the Daily Show did a piece on the Mexican restaurant that has hot women all around.

(Wouldn't it be interesting if the Arizona Cardinals played in Pink Taco Stadium and the St. Louis Cardinals played in Busch Stadium.)

(source: www.bizjournals.com, www.Flickr.com)

One can only imagine his pain.

Chicago Cubs catcher Michael Barrett may be lost for the season after a "mishap" required emergency corrective surgery this past Saturday. Barrett was hit in the scrotum by a foul ball in the fifth inning of Saturday's game against the Giants. He remained in the game and even batted before having to be taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with intrascrotal hematoma and bleeding.

If you were ever a catcher for your baseball team, you know that your first responsibility is to protect your nuts. If he was "protected," then I really feel bad for him. Just because you are wearing a cup doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt like hell if you get a direct blow. I think that it was Carlton Fisk who took a foul boul in the goods and burst one of his boys. He passed out from the pain.

Michael, I speak for all guys. We feel your pain. Now walk it off!!

GT receiver to the Pats

After being waived by the Bills, receiver Jonathan Smith has been picked up by the New England Patriots. Smith was a seventh round draft pick out of Georgia Tech, who started one game during his tenure with the Bills. He will most likely serve as insurance, should the Pats consummate a trade sending star holdout WR Deon Branch elsewhere.

Dwyer, Claytor Commit To GT

Jonathon Dwyer - 4.4 40; 11th RB in the nation; 96th overall in the nation; 6th player in GA. It came down to Tech and UGA but he also had offers from and looked at Auburn, UF, and FSU.

Nick Claytor - 6'6 315lbs and has a nasty streak. 10th OT in the nation; 94th overall in the nation; 5th player in GA. He chose Tech over OSU, Auburn, and FSU.

Big day recruiting-wise for the Jackets as we lock up 2 National top 100 products to join our great class. Georgia Tech's QB commit from Michigan Steven Threat (6'6) is moving up the charts too. He is ranked the #9 pro-style QB in the nation and is the 12th player in Michigan.

Josh Nesbitt, the 8th duel threat QB in the nation with a cannon for an arm, has Tech in his final 4 and maybe the favorite. Last year he threw for 2,800 yards and ran for 1,200 more. Cedric Everson is another possibility. He is a 6'1 CB/Athlete from MI who ran a 4.29 40 according to scout.com and Tech is rumored to be leading UCLA. He is ranked as the 7th best player in Michigan.

Now it's time to take care of business on the field. Oh man, I can't wait till 8:00 Sat night when Toe Meets Leather and Tech Wrecks the Sect.

(rankings according to rivals.com)