Bad Blood

Hello All,

"Scrawny Lou Holtz takes pride in telling that, doesn't he?" Jimmy (Johnson) says now. "It's funny, but you never heard those kind of stories come out of Notre Dame when they were losing those games.

"He should just be happy the Big Ten official gave him that game or he wouldn't have won his one national championship and I would've won my second. He should just be happy about that."

He chuckles and says again, "Scrawny Lou Holtz."

And with those words in the Sun Sentinel this week, Jimmy Johnson hammered home a point that every fan worth their salt knows: Notre Dame week is here, and old grudges die hard.

We all know the story...once upon a time, this was the definitive rivalry in college football.

Miami and Notre Dame played games that directly impacted at least three national titles in the 80's, and probably more.

Miami almost certainly would have a 6th national title if they had not been absolutely jobbed on a call in South Bend...as Johnson mentioned above. 

(Sidenote: the DPI call in 2003 was the worst call of all time, but the fumble call on Cleveland Gary in South Bend has to be a CLOSE number two)

Then Notre Dame cancelled the series...ostensibly out of fear.

And that brings us to present day. This is the first regular season matchup between the schools in 2 decades.

It does not matter as much as it once did, but don't tell the fans that.

As far as between the lines, this looks like a matchup worthy of the former rivalry.

Miami has found a groove on offense, and Notre Dame has done the same on defense.

Manti Te'o is the best linebacker in the country. Stephen Morris is coming off a 500+ yard passing day.

You want a combustible combination? You got it.

This is a fun Miami team. I don't know how good they are ,but they are definitely fun.

You get the sense that they are too young to know any better...mistakes seem to roll off their back.

And yet, Notre Dame presents much the same challenge as Kansas State, the only team that shook these 'Canes: they are big, physical and like to take the air out of the ball.

The biggest things that Hurricanes have going for them are that they have been on the road plenty already, they are HEAVY underdogs and Notre Dame has not seen an offense anywhere close to this good yet.

This is shaping up to be an epic game. I expect it to be close, and both teams to have their moments. The question is, who will gut it out best?

I know Vegas disagrees, but I think this Miami team has more to it than people think.

And just remember one thing: God made Notre Dame #1. Miami made them #2.

(Even the t-shirts were better in the 80's)

Go 'Canes.

-- --

Last week I went 6-0 overall, and 4-2 against the spread. Season numbers are now at 15-6 (11-9).

The Picks:

AUBURN (-10) over Arkie

Never betting on Arkansas to do anything ever again. Arkansas is the New York Jets of the NCAA.

VAG TECH over Carolina (-4)

Just a classic ACC "who the hell knows?" matchup.

LSU over UiF (+2.5)

MICHIGAN over Purdue (+3)

A CLOSE cover.

WEST VIRGINIA over Texas (-6.5)

Let's see Ash outduel Geno...then we can crown his ass.

GEORGIA over Cackalacky (-2)

Georgia was my preseason title pick and I have seen nothing to make me change that. Except for maybe Alabama. But still...

OHIO STATE (-3.5) over Nebraska

Oregon (-24) over WAHSINGTON

Also, if there was a line, would Washington's uniforms be -25 against Oregon's? -30? -50?