Bent, Not Broken

Hello All,

Due to this week's bye, I decided to take a little time to reflect before writing this post.

So as to NOT overreact on emotion.

I am glad I waited, because aside from some immediate anger on Saturday night, my reaction to this game is actually pretty upbeat.

Losing sucks. Losing to FSU REALLY sucks....especially at home.

There is no such thing as a moral victory; that being said, I was damned proud of our boys last Saturday night.

The defense rose to the occasion for the most part.

Realistically, FSU's roster is where we want our roster to be in two years. The fact that we had them on the ropes for as long as we did was an accomplishment.

Even more uplifting was the style with which these young 'Canes put them on the ropes.

Hard hits. Forced fumbles. Tight coverage downfield. Onside kicks. Throws down the sideline.

To win big time football games with a less talented team, you have to create some breaks for yourself.

Miami had their shots, and more importantly, pulled the trigger. At the end of the day, they played too poorly to win. And yet, they played to win. Which is a lot better than a lot of football we have seen over the past 7 years.

-- --

And now, the picks.

Last week: 5-4 (2-8)
Season: 25-21 (19-25) - Don't use these picks.

K STATE (-7.5) over Texas Tech

OLE MISS over Arkie (-6)

Carolina (-7.5) over The 11 Year Old NC STATE

ARIZONA (+6.5) over USC

GEORGIA (+7) over UiF

Eventually, I will call the Florida loss we all know is coming.

TCU over Okie State (-7)

MICHIGAN over Nebraska (-2)

Battle of the Arm Punts!

OKLAHOMA (-11) over Notre Dame

-- --

Always guard the inbound passer.

Little Brother

Hello All,

I am a realist.

I understand that Miami will probably lose to FSU this weekend. I understand that if Ryan Williams is the starting quarterback, Miami will probably get blown out; nothing against the kid, but we need a playmaker at quarterback at this juncture and he isn't a playmaker.

However, to all the fans that are already inking this one is as a loss, I say "pump the brakes".

Miami and Florida State is beautiful because anything is possible.

In a sport marked by chaos, these are two programs that overturned the apple cart more beautifully than just about anyone. This rivalry is a walking, talking, breathing advertisement for the "on any given day, anyone can beat anyone" mantra that coaches love so much.

This is a rivalry that has meant more to football over the past 25 years than any other. It is played between two schools that rose out of oblivion in the 80's and became the only two programs, frankly, that really mattered; they were the whipping boys that decided "enough is enough" and started doling out some lashes of their own.

Within the rivalry, as we all know, there is never a dull moment. Just when you think that FSU has run out of ways to choke these games away, they find a new one. Got sick of Wide Rights? How about a Wide Left?! Sick of missed field goals? How about a dropped ball in the end zone?!

Anything can happen in Miami vs. FSU. That is what makes it a great rivalry. The schools just have too much in common for it to be any other way.

Renegades.

Outlaws.

Counter culture.

Whatever you want to call them, Miami and FSU have a common bond buried deep down.

They are brothers. Miami is the older brother, the overachieving, overly competitive winner. FSU is the talented, mercurial younger sibling that always seems to shoot itself in the foot. But the gap that separates the two is pretty damned small, and the similarities are overwhelming. Hell, a lot of the kids on the two teams grew up playing on the same teams, for the same coaches, at the same high schools.

So is it possible for one school to blow the other out? Of course it is.

Hell, FSU whupped our ass in our own stadium two years ago; it was so bad that the coach got fired.

The rivalry is cyclical, and right now we are in an FSU cycle.

But as has happened throughout this rivalry, Miami looms as a potential pot hole on FSU's expected romp.

There have been times when Miami has been counted out of this rivalry, only to see unexpected heroes emerge.

In 2007, on the road, the 'Canes were down 2 scores with a bad team in the 4th quarter. Out of nowhere, Kirby Freeman turned in to Ken Dorsey and lead the 'Canes on their own version of The Drive, taking the life out of Doak Walker.

This was Kirby 'Kirnobyl' Freeman, the same guy who a couple weeks later would go 1-15 in a FULL GAME...at home...in a loss.

And so that is why I say "hold on a sec" to all the naysayers.

Miami will probably lose, but this is a rivalry between two schools that, more than anything else, are brothers.

I have a little brother. There are things he is better than me at and things I am better than him at. However, there has not been a single time that we have ever competed in anything and it has been easy. We both have too much pride, and there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion.

That's the thing about brothers. It is rare that one lays down for the other. And that makes for unpredictable outcomes.

So maybe FSU does blow Miami out. Quite frankly, I have no idea how the hell Miami's defense is going to stop the FSU run game.

I do know this...if there was going to be one game that the defense would rise up for, I would bet on this one. And I know that if I were FSU, the last person I would want to see between me and the finish line is a pissed off, disrespected big brother.

So don't be apathetic. Don't be negative. Don't be resigned to a bad fate.

This is Miami - FSU. It always matters, and it is always unpredicatble.

Go Canes, Go to Hell FSU.

-- --

Last week's picks were 2-4 overall, 3-3 against the spread. That brings the old season record up to 20-14 (17-17). As always, please don't take my advice if you are looking to actually make money.

Okie State (-13.5) over IOWA STATE

Don't underestimate Paul Rhoads.

LSU over aTm (+3.5)

Will Manziel emerge with his head intact? Is there a more annoying nickname than 'Johnny Football?' These are the things we wonder.

VAG TECH over Clemson (-7.5)

The ACC...a Tire Fire, as the gentlemen over at The Solid Verbal would say.

DENARD ROBINSON (-9.5) over Michigan State

CACKALACKY over UiF (-3.5)

The SEC...this season's surprise Tire Fire.

TCU (+1) over Texas Tech

The Big 12...a smoldering, smoldering Tire Fire.

WVU (-2.5) over Kansas State

ALABAMA over Tennessee (+20.5)

*in his best Keith Jackson voice*

"The thirrrd Saturday in October, Tennessee and Al - a - baMMa."

Stanford over CAL (+2.5)

The Big Game... a Tire Fire next to a chemical plant.

This is the biggest C.F. of a college football season I have seen since 2007. I don't know who is any good except Alabama. Essentially, always take Alabama and the points and then pray like hell.

UNC Week

Hello All,

To the dozens 2 of you that tried to tell me I was ducking everyone by not posting since the debacle that was Notre Dame, I hear you. 

I have been a little tied up with work. 

Orioles fever...I mean, c'mon.

And to be honest, maybe I was ducking everyone a little.

No matter, I am here now, and the dozens 8 of you that faithfully read my erratic posts can rest assured.

I am bent, but not broken.

Now, let's get something straight. I am not going to dwell on the Notre Dame game, because quite frankly I would like to keep that as blacked out as possible.

Just know this: IF Dorsett catches one of those touchdowns and IF A.J. Highsmith snags that interception, the 'Canes are up at least 10-0. And that is a different ballgame.

This week the opponent is North Carolina, and they have a high powered offense featuring the #1 running back in the conference in Gio Bernard.

Yes, he will probably run for eleventy billion yards.

Yes, at least once, you will be very pissed off during this game.

Yes, you will question why you ever started rooting for this team.

But the 'Canes will battle. I am not sure to what result, but they will fight. They are too young to know any better.

Prepare yourselves for the inevitable shootout and probable emotional roller coaster. If you have plans on Saturday night, make sure to budget in some nap time beforehand. 

(That is, unless you're the type of fan that takes naps during the game. Not to name names.)

With these two quarterbacks, it could resemble Baylor - West Virginia 2: Electric Bugaloo.

And I am looking just as forward to it as to the Orioles staring down the Yankees tonight at 5PM EST.

-- --

Last week I went 3-4 (2-5). No, there are no remiburements if you used my picks; in fact, if you used my picks for actual gambling purposes I am going to have my friend Tommy come hit you on the head with a tack hammer. Season record: 18-10 (14-14).

The picks:

TEXAS over Oklahoma (-3)

Find me something cooler than the overhead shot of the fans at Red River and I will give you $20 out of my pocket.

VTech (-9.5) over DUKE

Congrats universe, you win.

STANFORD over Notre Dame (-7)

Old grudges die hard.

BAYLOR (-7) over TCU

It would certainly help if TCU, ya know, had a quarterback.

USC over WASHINGTON (+13)

Really tempted to pick Washington in the upset. Actually, ya know what? Screw it.

WASHINGTON (+13) over USC

LSU (-3) over Cackalacky

Repeat after me: you do not win at Death Valley at night.

Go Canes, and Go Orioles.

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?