Heisman Watch IV

Oklahoma's QB Sam Bradford may have won the Heisman, but he didn't win my non-vote. In protest, I'm not going to place him in my top 5 since McCoy beat him on the field and matched all other accomplishments. I'm also going to avoid the Texas Tech players because I think they benefit from Coach Mike Leach's system more than anything else. I admit, I hate how the Heisman avoid defensive players. But I'll be guilty just the same. So here are my picks for the best players in college football for 2008.

1.) Tim Tebow, QB, Fla.
2.) Colt McCoy, QB, Tex.
3.) LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt.
4.) Pat White, QB, WV
5.) Percy Harvin, WR/RB, Fla.

I think Tim Tebow should have won so let's hope he enjoys his consolation prize instead!

My Regular Season Picks

Over the past 15 weeks, I picked 5 games each week against the spread. I got off to a hot start, but certainly slumped as the season wore on. Thankfully I finished the regular season with a few decent weeks to end in positive territory. It certainly wouldn't have been enough to cover the juice on these potential bets, but it could have been worse. The coin flips I used in these 75 same games produced an even worse success record as George Washington finished 8 games below .500.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 38-36-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 33-41-1

Let's see if I can redeem myself in the forthcoming bowl games!

JBCS Rankings IV

The BCS computers choose a Florida vs. Oklahoma matchup. I think Texas is more deserving, but I don't blame BCS voters for the result. The fault rests with the Big 12 conference who crowed Oklahoma its champion through tiebreaker rules. I agree that winning a conference should be required to participate in the BCS title game. That being said, here are my top 5 teams at the conclusion of the 2008 regular season.

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. Oklahoma
5. USC

Game of Week #15: Florida 31 -- Alabama 20

The SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome proved to be an exciting, well-played game. With the win, Florida earns a spot in the BCS National Championship and is poised to win their second national title in 3 years.

The game was back and forth for much of the way. In fact, Alabama's RB Glen Coffee powered the Crimson Tide to a 20-17 lead at the end of 3 quarters. Then Gators QB Tim Tebow worked his magic once again. The 2007 Heisman winner was near perfect all game and was certainly flawless in the 4th quarter in throwing for 2 unanswered TD's.

Most impressively, the Gators win came without the use of arguably their best player in WR/RB Percy Harvin. They'll need him for the BCS title game and winning this one without him certainly sends Oklahoma and Big 12 fans a strong message.

Week #15

1 game above .500 as we enter the last week of the regular season.

Alabama (+10) vs Florida -- MY PICK: ALABAMA, GEORGE'S: ALABAMA;

Arizona State (+11) at Arizona -- MY PICK: ARIZONA STATE, GEORGE'S: ARIZONA STATE;

USC (-32.5) at UCLA -- MY PICK: UCLA, GEORGE'S: UCLA;

Army (+10.5) vs Navy-- MY PICK: ARMY, GEORGE'S: ARMY;

Pittsburgh (+2.5) at Connecticut -- MY PICK: PITT, GEORGE'S: PITT;

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 35-34-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 31-38-1

Game of Week #14: Arkansas 31 -- LSU 30

What a great finish to what has become one of the best rivalries in the SEC, if not all of college football! Arkansas senior QB Casey Dick has seen a few highs and many lows in his collegiate career. After being benched in favor of his little brother, he certainly ended his time at Arkansas on a high note. The Razorbacks pulled off the upset against LSU for the second consecutive year on a miraculous 4th down, 24 yard TD with 22 seconds left in the game. You gotta love college football!

Week #14

My yearly record is officially at .500. For every 1 pick I have gotten right, I've gotten another one wrong. And that won't make money for anyone but the sportsbooks.

This is my favorite week of the college football season. Not only is the Thanksgiving weekend packed with rivalry games, but you get a full slate of televised games both on Friday and Saturday. Perfect to go with a side of leftovers!

This week I'm sticking with the SEC and its rivalry games. I need a big one!

Miss State (+18) at Ole Miss -- MY PICK: OLE MISS, GEORGE'S: OLE MISS; I have been riding Ole Miss all year and it's only fitting that they are the only team to beat my Gators. I think QB Jevon Snead is going to be a big time star and I think coach Houston Nutt might be the best in all of college football. The Egg Bowl won't even be close.

Georgia Tech (+8) at Georgia -- MY PICK: GEORGIA, GEORGE'S: GEORGIA TECH; I think this game will be close but 8 points isn't enough. Tech is getting closer and I'm sure their offensive scheme will rattle the Bulldogs a little. But Georgia has never lost this game under coach Mark Richt and they won't do so this year.

Florida (-16.5) at Florida State -- MY PICK: FLORIDA, GEORGE'S: FLORIDA STATE; There is part of me that fears the Seminoles playing up for this game. And I remember how the Gators struggled to win 2 years ago in Tallahassee even as they marched towards the National Championship. But this offense is simply too hot. I'll lay the points.

Auburn (+14.5) at Alabama -- MY PICK: AUBURN, GEORGE'S: AUBURN; I need Alabama to win this one. I want Florida to face an undefeated Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship next week. But I think it will be closer than expected. Auburn will play up for a game they have dominated of late.

Kentucky (+3.5) at Tennessee-- MY PICK: TENNESSEE, GEORGE'S: KENTUCKY; I hate to go with the Vols since they have burned me a lot this year. But how can I not like the boys from Rocky Top to win one last game for 17 year coach Philip Fullmer is his final game?

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 32-32-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 29-35-1

JBCS Rankings III

1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Oklahoma
5. USC
6. Texas Tech
7. Penn State
8. Utah
9. Boise State
10. Georgia

Game of Week #13: Oregon State 19 -- Arizona 17

Normally I don't get too worked up about the Pac 10. I don't think that conference has kept pace with the depth of the SEC and Big 12. However, this was a good game and a great win for the Oregon State. The Beavers won on a last second field goal that was sweet redemption for PK Justin Kahut who had missed a game-typing extra point only moments before.

With the victory, the Pac 10 championship is still to be determined. If Oregon State beats instate rival Oregon this week, they would go to the Rose Bowl having the head-to-head tiebreaker over USC. And though that would mean the Beavers would get to play Penn State for the second time this year, it would be nice to see the Trojans denied a Rose Bowl bid.

Week #13

I'm coming off another horrid 1-4 week. I'm just 1 game above .500 after flirting with .750 earlier in the year. This week, I'll follow the lead of my Gators and take a week off from the SEC. But The Citdeal? That might be pushing it Jeremy Foley! Regardless, there's not too many exciting ones in the SEC anyway. And I'm going to avoid the Texas Tech-Oklahoma matchup because my brain and heart are at odds. I don't want to spoil the enjoyment of watching it. So here are my 5 games from week #13.

Illinois (-3) at Northwestern -- MY PICK: NORTHWESTERN, GEORGE'S: NORTHWESTERN; The Illini have been one of my biggest disappointments this year. Give me a much better Northwestern team at home and the points.

BYU (+6.5) at Utah -- MY PICK: BYU, GEORGE'S: UTAH; Rarely do I root for a team full of Mormons. But in this one, there's really no choice either way. Give me BYU and the points to clear up the BCS confusion.

Oregon State (+2) at Arizona -- MY PICK: ARIZONA, GEORGE'S: OREGON STATE; I would love to see Oregon State get the Rose Bowl berth instead of USC. They deserve it too. But I just don't see it happening. This is a tough road game and 2 points ain't enough for me.

Michigan (+19) at Ohio State -- MY PICK: OHIO STATE, GEORGE'S: MICHIGAN; I vowed not to touch Michigan again. But this one looks so easy. How can you not like Ohio State at home in a blowout against a horrible team. We shall see as I tempt fate yet again!

Boise State (-7) at Nevada -- MY PICK: NEVADA, GEORGE'S: NEVADA; Though I'm fond of Boise from their 2006 heroics, I'd like to see them fall here so a 2nd SEC team is assured a BCS spot. 7 points is a lot to lay on the road against a decent Nevada squad.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 30-29-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 26-33-1

Game of Week #12: LSU 40 -- Troy 31

I never expected this one to be my game of the week. Here's what I love best about this one. When a team trails 31-3 in the 3rd quarter, it's hard enough to believe that the losing team has a chance to win. But crazy things do happen in college football so one might allow that they could score 4 TDs and steal a win in OT. Nope. There was no overtime in this one.

Instead, LSU put up 37 unanswered points not only to win in regulation, but they actually beat Troy by 9 points! But it shouldn't have been this close for LSU in a late season home game against a weak Sun Belt opponent. The Bayou Bengals have a long way to go to get back to the form they showed last year. But it is enough to earn my Game of the Week!

Week #12

I finally turned it around last week with a 3-2 performance. That's good, not great, but it kicked George Washington's butt at least. Lesson learned is I'm much better when I stick with the SEC. So I'll take 3 SEC games today, going all with favorites I like. The line scares me away from LSU and Alabama, though both should win.

Georgia (-9) at Auburn -- MY PICK: GEORGIA, GEORGE'S: GEORGIA; Auburn is simply awful on the offensive side of the ball this year. No way Georgia loses this one and I don't see it being close. It wouldn't be fair, but Coach Tubberville may be in trouble in Tiger land.

Vandy (+3.5) at Kentucky -- MY PICK: KENTUCKY, GEORGE'S: KENTUCKY; It's a shame but Vandy is in their annual free fall. They started 5-0 and needed only 1 more win for a possible bowl berth. It still hasn't happened. The offense is stagnant no matter which QB they lose and I don't seem them winning at Kentucky.

South Carolina (+21) at Florida -- MY PICK: FLORIDA, GEORGE'S: FLORIDA; With memories of the 1 point thriller two years ago, I'm hesitant to pick Florida in a blowout over Steve Spurrier. And the Gamecocks are playing good ball too. But Florida is hungry and they know their SEC and BCS fate is in their own hands now. Too much Tebow.

Nebraska (-6) at Kansas State -- MY PICK: KANSAS STATE, GEORGE'S: KANSAS STATE; This one could be ugly. Both teams have underperformed this year. And while Nebraska Coach Bo Pellini has just started rebuilding, K State Coach Ron Prince has already been fired. Doesn't seem fair as expectations were too high in the wake of legendary Coach Bill Snider. I look for K State to win one at home for the departing coach.

Ohio State (-9) at Illinois -- MY PICK: ILLINOIS, GEORGE'S: OHIO STATE; Remember this one last year? Illinois shocked an undefeated Ohio State on the road and seeminly prevented them from ruining the BCS title game. It didn't play out that way, but Illini Coach Ron Zook will rally his underachieving troops for a big home win here. It's my upset special of the week.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 29-25-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 24-30-1

Heisman Watch III

Here's the current version of my top 5 Heisman list. Guess who's back? Hint: maybe it could be a back-to-back winner afterall?

Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell
Texas QB Colt McCoy
Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford
Florida QB Tim Tebow
Michigan State RB Javon Ringer

JBCS Rankings II

1. ALABAMA
2. TEXAS TECH
3. FLORIDA
4. TEXAS
5. SOUTHERN CAL
6. OKLAHOMA
7. GEORGIA
8. BOISE STATE
9. UTAH
10. PENN STATE

Game of Week #11: Iowa 24 -- Penn State 23

The Alabama-LSU was the most exciting game of the week by far. It was back and forth all game. You knew LSU was pumped to hand former coach Nick Saban the Crimson Tide's first loss of the season. And the defending champs came close, but could not overcome costly turnovers by their new QB Jarrett Lee. Alabama won and clinched an SEC championship game appearance.

However, my official game of the week has to be this Big "10" upset. Thank you Iowa and coach Kirk Ferentz for beating Penn State and thus eliminating these phonies from the National Championship picture! The SEC and Big 12 are so clearly the best conferences in America. It's not even close. Perhaps USC deserves some consideration despite the weak Pac 10 in which they play. But I was very afraid the Nittany Lions would run the table in the weak Big 10 and earn the right to take another Big 10 drubbing in the BCS title game.

This road loss prevents that. Iowa won on a last second FG after keeping it close the whole game. Thus Penn State's signature wins prove to be a 4 point win over Ohio State and a home rout over Oregon State. I'll take the resumes of the Big 12 and SEC champs any day. If the Big 10 wants to be taken seriously, they need to drop the fake-ass name, add a good 12th school (Pittsburgh, Notre Dame?) not another cupcake, and play a championship game. Then they need to start recruiting speed, not just size.

Week #11

A 3rd straight pathetic week and I'm barely above .500. George Washington is literally nipping at my heels. Time to circle the wagons by looking only at the 5 SEC games today. In week 11 I like all the favorites. Yes, that does scare me!

Georgia (-13.5) at Kentucky -- MY PICK: GEORGIA, GEORGE'S: GEORGIA; Look for Georgia to bounce back strongly after an embarrassing blowout last week by the Gators. If they can avoid turnovers and special teams mistakes, they should be able to win big even on the road.

Wyoming (+27) at Tennessee -- MY PICK: TENNESSEE, GEORGE'S: WYOMING; I'm not impressed by the Volunteers by any means, but I expect them to be fired up against a cupcake on the Saturday following longtime coach Phil Fullmer's resignation.

Alabama (-3.5) at LSU -- MY PICK: ALABAMA, GEORGE'S: LSU; I wish this game was a pick 'em. I think Alabama finds a way to escape with a win in Death Valley but I can see it being very close. Crimson Tide QB John Parker Wilson and RB Glen Coffee must manage field position in this one.

Florida (-24) at Vanderbilt -- MY PICK: FLORIDA, GEORGE'S: VANDY; I just don't see a letdown game here after Florida suffered one earlier this year against Ole Miss. Vandy could make it a 3 way tie in the SEC East with an upset win. But they are coming off 4 losses in a row and not impressing anyone of late. The Gators roll here.

Arkansas (+12.5) at South Carolina -- MY PICK: SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGE'S: ARKANSAS; Again I'm somewhat afraid of the spread here, but I think South Carolina finds a way to get it done at home. With a senior QB and good running game, Arkansas has some weapons on offense but I don't trust their defense at all. Look for new Gamecock QB Stephen Garcia to continue his progress under the Ol' Ball Coach.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 26-23-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 23-26-1

Game of Week #10: Pitt 36 -- Notre Dame 33

Even if it takes 4 field goals in 4 OT's, it's always sweet to watch Notre Dame fall to one of their many rivals against whom they otherwise love to rack up cheap wins. Panther Coach Dave Wannstedt appears finally to have his alma mater on the right track. With this win, they are bowl eligible for the first time since 2004. And they have one of the best RB's in college football with freshman LeSean McCoy.

Meanwhile Notre Dame falls to 5-3 with tough games against Boston College and USC remaining. QB Jimmy Clausen is slowly improving but I wonder if fans of the Fighting Irish will find a patience that they rarely display.

Week #10

A second straight losing week has killed my once strong yearly record. Therefore, enough of the analysis. I'm not worthy anymore. Let's just try to turn it around with 5 picks. Go Gators!

Auburn (+6.5) at Ole Miss -- MY PICK: AUBURN, GEORGE'S: AUBURN;

Florida (-7.5) vs Georgia -- MY PICK: FLORIDA, GEORGE'S: FLORIDA;

Clemson (+3) at Boston College -- MY PICK: BOSTON COLLEGE, GEORGE'S: CLEMSON;

Oregon (+2) at California -- MY PICK: OREGON, GEORGE'S: CALIFORNIA;

Duke (+8) at Wake Forest -- MY PICK: WAKE FOREST, GEORGE'S: WAKE FOREST;

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 25-19-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 19-25-1

Game of Week #9: Duke 10 -- Vandy 7

I gotta pick this one as my game of the week. Normally, one might think the only time these teams would be given that distinction is when Dick Vitale is calling the game on tv and Coach K is walking the sidelines. But the times are changing. These academic schools have always been known as the weaklings of their respective powerhouse football conferences. However, two good coaches are trying to change that. Vanderbilt's Coach Bobby Johnson and Duke's Coach David Cutcliffe are battling recruitment obstacles and trying to build good teams.

This was an ugly game in many ways, filled with sacks, turnovers, and missed field goals. But we can also choose to look at that score and pretend both sides played stellar defense. Either way, it's a great for Duke to get a victory on the road against an SEC team. And for Vanderbilt, at least it's nice that they've come far enough that we can call this an upset.

Duke is now 4-3 and on the verge of a non-losing season. That would be an amazing feat that even former coach Steve Spurrier would have to admire. As for Vandy, with the loss they fall to 5-3, including 3 losses in a row after opening up 5-0. Vanderbilt has not been to a bowl game in 25 years. Can they get one more win?

JBCS Rankings II

No change in my top 2 this week. But I'm bumping Georgia and Penn State up one spot each after impressive wins. I moved Texas Tech up to #5 after watching them actually play some good defense on the road against Kansas, while still bringing their usual offense showcase. With a home game against Texas this Saturday, their fate is truly in their own hands and I'd love to see them win. Also I'm putting Oklahoma State ahead of Oklahoma because they played Texas much tighter and they also did it on the road. It's amazing how good that Big 12 South is this year.

LSU drops off the list after losing at home to Georgia. In their place is non-BCS conference Boise State. They're undefeated and actually have a track record of belonging in elite company after their shocking 2006 Fiesta Bowl win. Finally, watch for the Florida Gators at #9. This is a make-or-break week. A win over Georgia moves them way up. But if they lose, they're likely gone from my top 10.

1. ALABAMA
2. TEXAS
3. GEORGIA
4. PENN STATE
5. TEXAS TECH
6. OKLAHOMA STATE
7. OKLAHOMA
8. SOUTHERN CAL
9. FLORIDA
10. BOISE STATE

Heisman Watch II

A couple of weeks ago I listed my Heisman contenders as Missouri QB Chase Daniel, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, BYU QB Max Hall, and Michigan State RB Javon Ringer.

Things sure do change fast in college football. Max Hall is definitely out of the mix and Chase Daniel now needs a big finish to get back in it. And how can you not respect the QB-WR duo putting up incredible numbers for Texas Tech?

So my list as of right now looks like this:

Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell
Texas QB Colt McCoy
Michigan State RB Javon Ringer
Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford
Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree

High School Football: Barron Collier 28 -- East Lee County 18

We live very close to East Lee County High School, which is located in Lehigh Acres, FL. In fact, on a home game Friday night, we can hear the Jaguars' PA announcer loud and clear from our driveway. That's pretty cool. But I thought it'd be even better to take the kids to a game before the season ended. I waited until 6:30pm (one hour before kickoff) to make the call about this game. Though it had been rainy here all day, the rain had stopped by now and the late afternoon sky had even turned colorful as some sun started to peek through the clouds. Why not? So I packed some necessities and we headed to the game.


I could see the weather (or perhaps lack of interest by the students on a day off from school) had kept most fans away. The crowd was small. Visiting Barron Collier High School from Naples actually appeared to bring more fans and supplied the game's only band.



By kickoff the rain had unfortunately returned and weather would dominate the game. Jaguar junior RB James Holland's 70 yard touchdown kickoff return on a sloppy field was the highlight of the night for the home team. However, Barron's offense was far superior and senior RB Quin Thornton was the best player on the field rushing for 200 yards with both a rushing and a receiving TD. East Lee did keep the game competitive and used turnovers and special teams to hang around to the end.



The same could not be said of us. We finally left halfway through the 4th quarter thoroughly soaked. I figured the outcome was decided and we'd gotten our $8 worth for parking and admission. I think the kids actually more enjoyed the game because of the added element of playing in the rain -- both on and off the field! And thankfully being wet to the bones in SW Florida on a muggy October night is not a problem. In fact, it felt pretty good. I bet even the players agreed last night.

Week #9

Another sub-par week last week at 2-3. George Washington is steadily catching up as I continue to slide. I think as we get into the meat of the season, I'm making the class amateur mistake by picking with my heart. So with that lesson in mind, here goes as I look to get back in the win column with 5 games from week 9.

Illinois (-2.5) at Wisconsin -- MY PICK: ILLINOIS, GEORGE'S: ILLINOIS; The Badgers season is sinking fast after losses to Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. I expect it to continue, even at home. Look for a big game from Illini QB Juice Williams.

Ole Miss(-6.5) at Arkansas -- MY PICK: OLE MISS, GEORGE'S: ARKANSAS; I wish the line wasn't so high here. Though I have every reason to go with the Rebels, it is a road game afterall. Ole Miss is coming off a close loss to Alabama. Coach Houston Nutt will make sure his boys win this one.

Alabama (-5) at Tennessee -- MY PICK: ALABAMA, GEORGE'S: TENNESSEE; The oddsmakers are giving too much respect to the home field edge at famed Neyland Stadium. Coach Phil Fulmer may be fighting to keep his job. But Alabama is just too good. This one could be a blowout.

Texas Tech (+1) at Kansas -- MY PICK: KANSAS, GEORGE'S: TEXAS TECH; Looks like I've taken an attachment to this Kansas team. They are very flawed, especially on defense. But I am impressed by the way they can put up points. So too can Texas Tech. This will be a shootout. I'll take the home team.

Notre Dame (-10) at Washington -- MY PICK: WASHINGTON, GEORGE'S: WASHINGTON; I could see the Fighting Irish finding a way to win this one. Washington is very young and not that good. They haven't even won a game yet. But it's a home game and a long road trip for Notre Dame. If there is justice, Coach Ty Willingham gets revenge for his unjust firing. I think that's reason enough to think this one will be close.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 24-15-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 17-22-1

JBCS Rankings I

With the official release of the year's first BCS standings, this week I release my own top 10 positions in the race for the National Championship. I'll call it the JBCS. Original, I know. But I will differ in one regard. I'm putting Alabama at the top of my list. As long as they're undefeated and they play in the SEC, the Crimson Tide is #1 to me. Winning on national TV at Georgia might just be the best win any team has had this year. As for Texas, I don't mean any disrespect. Wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in the next two weeks will more than prove their worth. In fact, though I think everyone will have 1 loss in the end, but the Longhorns have the best chance at running the table.

1. ALABAMA
2. TEXAS
3. OKLAHOMA STATE
4. GEORGIA
5. PENN STATE
6. OKLAHOMA
7. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
8. TEXAS TECH
9. FLORIDA
10. LOUISIANA STATE

Game of Week #8: Tulsa 77 -- UTEP 35

Man I wish I had seen this game! It's not everyday that you get to watch a game that features 112 points of scoring. And the loser usually doesn't score 5 TD's and also get blown out in the same game. Tulsa amassed an incredibly 791 yards of offense, including 434 yards passing from QB David Johnson. Amazingly, this game was actually tied 28-28 after the 1st quarter before the onslaught began.

Week #8

I'm coming off my first losing week of the season. The difference maker was Florida winning over LSU, however, so I'm ok with that. But it's time to make up for it this week big time.

So here's a look at my 5 games from week 8.

Missouri (+4) at Texas -- MY PICK: MIZZOU, GEORGE'S: MIZZOU; I say Texas chokes with the pressure of being #1. Mizzou is coming off a loss and QB Chase Daniel will love playing before a homestate Texas crowd. Everyone is going to have a loss by the time this thing is over with.

Kansas(+20) at Oklahoma -- MY PICK: KANSAS, GEORGE'S: KANSAS; I think Oklahoma wins in a shootout. Kansas can score, especially if they get the ball to WR Dezmon Briscoe! Give me the 20 points, even in Norman.

Ohio State (-3.5) at Michigan State -- MY PICK: MICH STATE, GEORGE'S: OHIO STATE; Please let the Spartans hand Ohio State a second loss so we are spared any nightmare scenario of seeing them in the Championship game once again. Look for a lot of RB Javon Ringer who could emerge as a Heisman hopeful with this gamn.

Miami (-3) at Duke -- MY PICK: MIAMI, GEORGE'S: MIAMI; Coach David Cutcliffe will make Duke a better team. He's already seen them win a conference game for the first time in 2 years. But I expect Miami to bounce back from a bitter loss to Florida State. It's time for much-heralded Miami QB Robert Marve to emerge as something other than mediocre.

Virginia Tech (+2.5) at Boston College -- MY PICK: VA TECH, GEORGE'S: BOSTON COLLEGE; Look for the Hokies to get revenge for last year's heartbreaking loss to Matt Ryan and BC. I don't trust their offense and unsettling QB situation but Va Tech's defense and special teams can win games on their own.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 22-12-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 13-21-1

Game of Week #7: Florida 51 -- LSU 21

I can't resist. I know CBS Sports was hoping for better when they made this their annual Saturday night game. But the blowout was sweet for me.

If not for a stupid 1 point, missed extra-point loss to Ole Miss, Florida may very well be the #1 team in the nation right now. I'm not sure they'd deserve that distinction. But if Coach Urban Meyer turns the ship around, this will be the game that did it.

The Gators dominated in every facet of the game. QB Tim Tebow looked sharp, especially with his right arm. WR/RB Percy Harvin showed why he is the most explosive player in college football. And the Florida defense finally looked they have a chance to compete for the SEC title this year.

With apologies to Texas-Oklahoma....chomp, chomp, chomp!

Week #7

Going with all big games this week. That sometimes makes playing against the spread a little tougher. But I think I'm up for it. Should be a good week. I hope my brother Russ has fun at the Cotton Bowl for this year's version of the Red River Shootout.

So here's a look at my 5 games from week 7. Notice the coin decided to have George Washington piggy-back my every move!

Oklahoma (-6.5) vs Texas -- MY PICK: OKLAHOMA, GEORGE'S: OKLAHOMA; Assuming a neutral crowd, I think the Sooners have the better team. This game could really be a shootout with the outstanding QB play for both Big 12 powerhouses. But the Oklahoma running game will be the difference. They win by 10 points or so.

Tennessee (+12.5) at Georgia -- MY PICK: GEORGIA, GEORGE'S: GEORGIA; This could be coach Phil Fullmer's worst season ever in Knoxville. I have no faith in QB Jonathan Crompton. UGA is coming off a bitter loss and is home. This looks like a blowout to me.

Arizona State (+28.5) at USC -- MY PICK: ARIZONA STATE, GEORGE'S: ARIZONA STATE; Arizona State was my upset special to win the Pac 10. USC just lost to a weak Oregon State team. Why is the spread so high? I'll take the points and hope Sun Devil QB Rudy Carpenter can score TD's to keep this one close.

Penn State (-6.5) at Wisconsin -- MY PICK: PENN STATE, GEORGE'S: PENN STATE; I have no faith in the Badgers, even at home, after crushing losses to Michigan and Ohio State. They blew leads in each case and showed no toughness. They complete the trifecta by losing big at home to a far superior Penn State team.

LSU (+6.5) at Florida -- MY PICK: LSU, GEORGE'S: LSU; I know Florida is home but this spread has it all wrong. I think the Gators have a real shot of pulling off the upset. But if so, it'd be just that -- an upset. This game should be close.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 20-9-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 11-18-1

Game of Week #6: Florida State 41 -- Miami 39

This game lacked the talent that made this annual matchup one of the best in all of college football throughout the 1990s and early part of this decade. However, although it was sloppy, I really enjoyed watching this Florida battle. It came down to the very end and it looked like neither school really wanted to win. As usual special teams played a big factor and so too did the pouring rain in which much of this game was played. Also it was the first time this rivalry has been played at Dolphins Stadium in place of the now imploded Orange Bowl.

Seminole QB Christian Ponder won the battle of first year starting QBs and outplayed Miami's Robert Marve. Neither QB looked very good, however.

And FSU coach Bobby Bowden must be grateful that PK Graham Gano actually played well, including hitting a 53 yard kick. Fate mercifully spared the legendary coach another "wide right" type loss!

Prime Time SEC Alert!

One time a year, CBS gets to move an SEC game into the Saturday night prime time slot. For the third year in a row, tv has chosen that the game will feature my Florida Gators. This Saturday night 10/11/08 the Gators will host the LSU Tigers before a national audience on CBS. The game will be a rematch of last year's exciting matchup in Baton Rouge, which was also the annual prime time game for CBS.

With tough games against Georgia, Vanderbilt, and other still remaining, I'm hoping a signature win against LSU could be the start of Florida's march to an SEC championship!

Ball State

Don't expect it to last, but it's nice to note that Dave Letterman's alma mater, little old Ball State University from Muncie, Indiana makes it first appearance in the AP Top 25 poll ever! The Cardinals are sitting atop the MAC and ranked 25 in the nation.

Heisman Watch

As we approach the mid-point of the season, it looks like the Heisman contenders are Missouri QB Chase Daniel, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, BYU QB Max Hall, and Michigan State RB Javon Ringer. My guess is still Chase Daniel, but if Ringer can stay healthy, he will have incredible numbers as he gets the ball a lot!

Week #6

The 2008 picture is getting a little more clear. I know better than to write off any of the powerhouses with 1 loss such as Georgia, Florida, and USC. However, the teams sitting undefeated do have a clear path to the national championship if they take care of business on the field. And the top 5 reflects this. You got LSU and Alabama in the SEC. And Oklahoma, Texas, or Missouri in the Big 12. The great thing is that these debates will be settled on the field. Not this week, however.

So here's a look at my 5 games from week 6.

Florida State(+2) at Miami -- MY PICK: MIAMI, GEORGE'S: MIAMI; These two former powerhouses are still struggling and so this game has lost much of its luster. Plus for the first time it won't be played in the old Orange Bowl. 2 pts is not enough to make me trust FSU's offense. Miami's Robert Marve looks like the better player of the two first year QB's and the Hurricane's should have a slight home advantage. This one could be ugly but I'll take Miami.

Florida(-24.5) at Arkansas -- MY PICK: FLORIDA, GEORGE'S: FLORIDA; This looks like an easy one. We'll see. After losing at home last week to Ole Miss, the Gators have to be pissed. If they aren't or don't play like it this week, Coach Urban Meyer isn't doing his job. And I don't believe that. The Razorbacks already took a whupping this year at home to Alabama. Expect another one to QB Tim Tebow tomorrow. 25 points isn't nearly enough.

Kentucky (+15) at Alabama -- MY PICK: KENTUCKY, GEORGE'S: ALABAMA; This is one of those famous SEC trap games. And Kentucky coach Rich Brooks knows all about that after winning a trap game last year against future National Champion LSU. When you're sitting pretty in the SEC as Alabama currently is, it's so easy to look ahead to big games against the top teams. But in the SEC, even the bottom feeders like Kentucky can show up to play. They simply have superior talent than other such schools in other conferences. Alabama wins but Kentucky keeps it within 2 TD's.

Oklahoma (-24.5) at Baylor -- MY PICK: OKLAHOMA, GEORGE'S: BAYLOR; Sometimes I just don't understand these lines. And that's why I know that there are so many complicated factors that go into the numbers. This spread is simply too low. I know this is a road game. And I recognize that Oklahoma outright lost a similar road game last year at Colorado. But I don't think that happens here. And I don't see Baylor as building a program like Dan Hawkins is doing in Colorado. This is a good example of where the talent pool on weaker Big 12 teams is not the same as the SEC like I discussed above. Look for Oklahoma to win by 30 points even on the road.

Texas (-12.5) at Colorado -- MY PICK: COLORADO, GEORGE'S: COLORADO; I'll stay in the Big 12 for my brother Russ. This is a trap game. Texas must have its eyes on an undefeated Oklahoma in forthcoming the Red River Shootout. But here's the problem. Colorado is not Baylor. So while I expect the Sooners to take care of business in Waco, I could see the Longhorns stumbling in Boulder. The Buffs are coming off a bad loss last week to Florida State. They can redeem themselves in conference by keeping this one close. I liked QB Cody Hawkins when I saw him earlier in the year in a home win against West Virginia. I'll take the points here in a close game.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 17-7-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 10-14-1

Game of Week #5: Alabama 41 -- Georgia 30

I usually go with a game where the score is closer for the game of the week. And I briefly considered Ole Miss' stunning 31-30 upset of Florida that fits that definition well. However, no game of last week was more exciting than the Crimson Tide's upset victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on the road on Saturday night.

Alabama came out on fire. They put up 31 unanswered points and led 31-0 at halftime. QB John Parker Wilson was connecting with freshman star WR Julio Jones at will. Power RB Glen Coffee was dominating at the line of scrimmage. Georgia had no answer on defense and was anemic on offense.

Then Georgia coach Mark Richt must have said something really good at halftime because UGA came out like a new team in the 2nd half. And you just knew they were going to make history with an amazing comeback for a quarter and a half. QB Matthew Stafford showed why he is a future NFL star. And RB Knowshon Moreno finally got it going and looked like the best player in the ballgame. It was like a different game entirely.

But the clock was still the one thing the Dogs couldn't overcome. And as UGA threatened to make it a 1 TD game late in the 4th quarter, Alabama finally stopped them. And with this year's new clock rules, that was all she wrote.

Game over. But ya gotta love the SEC!

Week #5

If only I could begin this week's look at the games by claiming to have called the mighty USC Trojans falling on Thursday night to unranked Oregon State. However, nobody saw that one coming, including your little blogger with the 75% winning percentage. But I'm sure glad to see them lose! Yet, just as I said about Ohio State, don't write Southern California off yet. Both teams are capable of recovering by running the table against their weak conferences. Regardless, the loss clearly does help the superior SEC and Big 12 powers who are seeking a spot in the BCS champtionship themselves.

Here's a look at 5 games from week 5.

North Carolina(+7.5) at Miami -- MY PICK: NORTH CAROLINA, GEORGE'S: NORTH CAROLINA; Butch Davis is slowly building a real program at North Carolina. The Tar Heels come into this game at 2-1, with a solid beating of Rutgers and a near upset of Virginia Tech. In fact, I couldn't understand why they are a TD underdog to struggling Miami. Then I saw that UNC lost QB T.J. Yates for a month to injury. Makes more sense now. However, I still don't like the Hurricanes and expect Coach Davis to rally his squad for the outright upset of his former team.

Alabama(+6.5) at Georgia -- MY PICK: ALABAMA, GEORGE'S: GEORGIA; What a game! As if last year's overtime thriller between these schools wasn't good enough, this one could be even better. Both teams are top 10 ranked and the winner of this game is primed to march towards an SEC championship. Alabama's QB John Parker Wilson and Georgia's QB Matthew Stafford are both juniors and in their 3rd year as starting quarterbacks. You can't ask for better in college football! This one will be close. So I'll take the Tide and the points.

Colorado(+5.5) at Florida State -- MY PICK: COLORADO, GEORGE'S: FLORIDA STATE; Here again I question the odds makers this week. I know Colorado is on the road. But there's no reason why FSU should be a TD favorite. FSU looked awful at home against Wake Forest last week. The luster fell quickly off new QB Christian Ponder. And though Mickey Andrews' defense was typically good, it's not enough when you only score 3 points. Colorado will score way more than that. Coach Dan Hawkins is rebuilding the Buffs and it's pretty cool that he's doing it with his son QB Cody Hawkins at the helm.

Arkansas (+27) at Texas -- MY PICK: TEXAS, GEORGE'S: TEXAS; Coming off a 40 pt loss at home to Alabama, look for new coach Bobby Petrino's Razorbacks to get destroyed at Texas. It's too bad because it's otherwise great to see this rivalry restored. I well remember then new coach Houston Nutt going into Austin with QB Matt Jones and coming out with a huge upset win earlier in the decade. Not this time. Coach Mack Brown's Texas squad has its usual offensive weapons led by QB Colt McCoy. However, Arkansas has nothing after losing their running attack and best wideout to the NFL draft. Petrino was hoping to build an offensive attack around 3rd year starting QB Casey Dick, but it just isn't working.

Wisconsin (-6) at Michigan -- MY PICK: WISONSIN, GEORGE'S: WISCONSIN; Can Michigan burn me a 3rd time? I vowed not to touch them again, but I think it's ok to go against them in this one. Wisconsin is so much better that I have to go with yet another road team. Michigan QB Stephen Threet has looked clueless (even against Notre Dame!). On the other hand, Coach Brett Bielma's Badgers have their usual solid running game in high gear. Wisconsin RB P.J. Hill keeps the tradition alive and I wouldn't be surprised to see him run for 200+ yards in this one and enter the Heisman discussion.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 14-5-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 7-12-1

Game of Week #4: LSU 26 -- Auburn 21

This all Tigers rivalry that paves the way to the SEC championship game never fails to disappoint. Only this time, the road team stole a win for the first time in 8 years.

LSU trailed most of the game and Auburn's offense led by QB Chris Todd actually looked better than I expected. Bayou Bengal backup QB Jarrett Lee entered the game due to injury in the 3rd quarter and their struggles continued. However, after a costly interception returned for a TD, Lee began to turn things around for the visitors.

Louisiana State put up 23 second half points and took the lead for good on a 18 yd TD pass from Lee to WR Brandon LaFell with only 63 seconds left to play. Not surprisingly, Auburn immediately rallied, but came up short in the end.

Another great SEC matchup on Saturday night. Look for this week's Georgia-Alabama game to be even better!

Week #4

The record continues to improve as I earned my first push of the year last week. I bitterly note that 2 of my 3 losses have come in picking Michigan. Even against the pathetic Irish of Notre Dame, backing the Wolverines of 2008 proved to be a big mistake. Lesson learned: I won't touch them again. Week #4 sees a beginning of real conference play, especially here in the South.

Here's a look at 5 games I like from week 4.

Temple(+28) at Penn State -- MY PICK: PENN STATE, GEORGE'S: PENN STATE; Last week visiting Penn State beat weakling Syracuse 55-13, amassing 560 yards and 7 TD's of offense. Coach Joe Paterno still recruits incredibly well and QB Daryl Clark is supported by a strong running attack. Penn State is good for one more home blowout before embarking on its Big 10 schedule next weekend.

Wake Forest(+4) at Florida State -- MY PICK: WAKE FOREST, GEORGE'S: FLORIDA STATE; Though they cracked the top 25 this week after two big wins over cupcakes, the once great Seminoles still have no business being the favorite in this game -- even at home. With returning QB Riley Skinner, Wake Forest handled them easily last year and even won the year before in Tallahassee. Let's see if FSU QB Christian Ponder is the real deal.

Buffalo (+34.5) at Missouri -- MY PICK: MISSOURI, GEORGE'S: BUFFALO; You won't see too many spreads this high. Missouri needs to beat MAC up-and-comer Buffalo by 5 TD's. Coming off a 52 point road win against a better Nevada team, I still think the spread is way too low. Look for Mizzo QB Chase Daniel to add plentifully to his already sick numbers.

LSU (-2.5) at Auburn -- MY PICK: LSU, GEORGE'S: LSU; Although Alabama may enter the mix this year, the winner of this game usually ends up on a fast-track to the SEC Championship game. Both teams have good coaching, good defense, and questionable offense with unproven QB play. However, Auburn's 3-2 win over Mississippi State last week was pathetic. Coach Tommy Tuberville is mistakenly trying to implement an option offense with players not fit for such a system. Laying 2 1/2 pts is not enough to scare me away from the Bayou Bengals

Florida(-7) at Tennessee -- MY PICK: FLORIDA, GEORGE'S: TENNESSEE; This one is a close call but I feel compelled to take a stand. I can see the Vols having a good year because of their talent on defense, but I can also see them being a disappointment if new starting QB Jonathan Crompton cannot help out the solid running game with a pass attack. On the other hand, if the Gators cannot handle this Tennessee team, they are not worthy of a top 5 ranking. I think Florida wins handily, even if they do surrender some points.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 10-4-1
GW YEARLY RECORD: 4-10-1

Game of Week #3: South Florida 37 -- Kansas 34

The four letter network hit another jackpot with this game of the week played to a national audience on Friday night. The USF Bulls have come a long way in barely 10 years of existence. Coach Jim Leavitt has spurned multiple offers from big-time programs. Instead, he seems intent on molding South Florida into one. Despite the in-state competition, there's so much talent in this state, I think he'll succeed. And after this big non-conference win, the Bulls look poised to win the Big East and claim a BCS spot.

The game played in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium went back and forth all night. The Jayhawks were up by 10 at half and yet needed 2 4th quarter TD's to tie it up by crunch time. Kansas star junior QB Todd Reesing played hero-like in throwing for 373 yards and 3 TD's, but he also played goat-like with a last minute INT giving the Bulls a chance at a game-winning FG at the buzzer.

Good move by South Florida in going with true freshman kicked Maikon Bonani who nailed the 41 yard winner. I watched last year's kicker miss so many similar kicks in a "what might have been" season.

As usual, Lakeland, FL's junior QB Matt Grothe played spectacular for the Bulls. I don't think Grothe has pro potential. But he's one of those college players that make football so special. Indeed, he's a bull!

This blogger declares that the key to Kansas' loss was the lack of use of the weapon that is WR Dezmon BRISCOE, who only accounted for 36 yards on 3 catches.

Week #3

It was a big week for my non-existent Sportsbook account last Saturday. I hit on 4 of 5 picks and continued to distance myself from old George Washington.

Here we go with a look at 5 games from week 2.

Rice (+8.5) at Vanderbilt -- MY PICK: VANDY, GEORGE'S: RICE; Since they are the only team with a win in conference play, Vanderbilt sits on top of the entire SEC. They better enjoy it because it won't last. However, they sure earned some respect with a 24-17 home win over South Carolina. Vandy won that game with good defense and special teams play including 2 INT's, 4 sacks, a blocked field goal, and a block punt returned for a TD. They'll need more of that to beat the high octane Rice Owls as the Commodores offense is nothing special, led by athletic QB Chris Nickson. But I gotta go with the SEC here.

Florida Atlantc(+17) at Michigan State -- MY PICK: FLORIDA ATLANTIC, GEORGE'S: MICHIGAN STATE; Florida Atlantic is such a good story. The start-up program has been led by famed 72 year old coach Howard Schnellenberger since its inception only a decade ago. As they play in South Florida, the Owls are overshadowed by Schnellenberger's old team, plus every other big football school in the state. However, that started to change last year when Florida Atlantic captured the Sun Belt Conference and won their first ever bowl game. Look for this program to continue to grow as they land better hometown recruits. I would not be at all surprised if Schnellenberger leads another program from nothing to the hilltop where he can view the promised land before retirement, as he has done before in Miami and Louisville. With my lack of respect for the Big 10, I like high powered QB Rusty Smith to lead the Owls to the upset of the week.

Penn State (-27.5) at Syracuse -- MY PICK: PENN STATE, GEORGE'S: PENN STATE; What a shame how this once-famed rivalry has fallen. Ever since Harvard and Yale ceased to be football powers a century ago, these two schools have kept big time college football alive in the baseball-obsessed Northeast. However, times have changed. Newer schools like Boston College, Connecticut, and Rutgers have emerged and chipped away at recruiting. Meanwhile, while Coach Joe Paterno struggles to keep his Nittany Lions competitive, Syracuse's program has completely crumbled since the Donovan McNabb era ended in the late 1990s. Look for Penn State to rack up yardage on the ground and embarrass the Orangemen in their once-legendary Carrier Dome.

Michigan (-2) at Notre Dame -- MY PICK: MICHIGAN, GEORGE'S: MICHIGAN; Because this is Michigan-Notre Dame, I will make a pick. Otherwise, this game is a dud. Both teams are rebuilding and suck-ass teams. However, there is a big difference. The Wolverines will get better with new coach Rich Rodriguez. But for Charlie Weis and the Fighting Irish, it's over pal. Notre Dame is getting its comeuppance for wrongfully firing former coach Ty Willingham. And it couldn't happen to a nicer team. Expect little from once-prized recruit QB Jimmy Clausen. Michigan wins on the road with defense and special teams.

Ohio State(+11) at USC -- MY PICK: USC, GEORGE'S: USC; ESPN is calling this game "Clash At The Coliseum." To that I say "Much Ado About Nothing." Though Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is a likeable guy in his red sweater-vest, the OSU Buckeyes are totally over-rated yet again. It's a disgrace that voters continue to offer them such respect after their poor performances in big-time bowl games. The SEC seems to make mincemeat out of the Big 10's best every January. Ohio State still has QB Todd Boeckman and RB Chris Wells from last year's team, but they will continue to have a "speed" deficit on both sides of the ball against USC. Look for USC RB Joe McKnight to have a big game and start the Reggie Bush comparisons.

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 7-3
GW YEARLY RECORD: 2-8

Game of Week #2: Wake Forest 30 -- Ole Miss 28

I just missed on this game proving me correct in being my upset special of the week. Wake Forest used a last second 41 yard field goal by K Sam Swank to avoid a home upset by the upstart Rebels. Swank is arguably the best kicker in the nation and him coming through in the clutch was no surprise. The game, however, was closer than many (your little blogger excluded) expected.

Rebels 1st year transfer QB Jevan Snead continued to impress with 4 passing touchdowns and 250 yards of passing. Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner played very well with 267 yards passing, 2 TD's, and a last minute 60 yard drive to set up the winning kick.

Look for this game to set up two things: 1) Ole Miss will be much improved this year as Houston Nutt is building a winning program already, and 2) With Clemson, Boston College, and Virginia Tech off to rocky starts, the ACC is Wake Forest's for the taking.

Week #2

I began the year with a solid week hitting 3 of 5 picks. Not surprisingly my bias revealed itself well as I hit all 3 predictions involving SEC schools and then missed the other two. Maybe I should reconsider diversification? That kind of average won't win much money, but it will keep you in the black. On the other hand, George Washington only correctly called 2 of his 5 games.

The coin and I have very different opinions this week. Here we go with a look at 5 games from week 2.

West Virginia (-8) at East Carolina -- MY PICK: WVU, GEORGE'S: WVU; Coach Skip Holtz led his underdog East Carolina Pirates to a win over Virgina Tech in the big upset of week #1. I don't see it happening again. The Mountaineers also got off to a strong start last week. You know the running game will be there led by North Fort Myers own RB Noel Devine. However, run-first QB Pat White actually looked really good throwing the ball for 5 TDs. He could be a Heisman winner with a few more games like that.

Cincinnati (+21.5) at Oklahoma -- MY PICK: OKLAHOMA, GEORGE'S: CINCINNATI; This is one of those games where the line is too low. The odds makers are showing respect for the decent program that has been emerging at Cincinnati in the past few years. However, this Oklahoma team is too good for them, especially at home. And Cincinnati will not have their star from 2007 QB Ben Mauk who recently was denied another season of eligibility by the NCAA. I really like Sooners QB Sam Bradford and RB DeMarco Murray. This is Oklahoma's chance to grab some 1st place votes in the polls with a big rout.

Central Michigan (+24) at Georgia -- MY PICK: GEORGIA, GEORGE'S: CENTRAL MICH; Pretty much the same thing as above. I think the line is low out of respect to the Central Michigan Chippewas who are led by do-it-all QB Dan LeFevour. In 2007 LeFevour became only the 2nd player in Division 1A history to pass for 3000 yards and run for 1000 yards in the same season. That's impressive but he won't be playing Eastern or Western Michigan this week. Look for big games out of Georgia QB Matt Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno as UGA gets ready for the brutal SEC schedule.

Georgia Tech (+7) at Boston College -- MY PICK: GEORGIA TECH, GEORGE'S: BOSTON COLLEGE; First year coach Paul Johnson has brought a totally new offensive system to Georgia Tech. And after 5 years of Chan Gailey, they needed it! The Yellow Jackets will run the ball in a multi-option system. Last week numerous contributors led to an eye-popping 350 yards on the ground. On the other hand, Boston College is seeking an identity. They lost their star QB Matt Ryan to the NFL draft. Can career backup senior QB Chris Crane fill the void? This game will tell but until then, I'll take the points.

Mississppi (+7.5) at Wake Forest -- MY PICK: OLE MISS, GEORGE'S: WAKE FOREST; I guess I'll make this pick my upset special. I like Mississippi coach Houston Nutt's track-record for overachieving so much that I think I'll be riding the Rebels and new QB Jevan Snead a lot this year. On the other hand, Coach Jim Grobe has amazing amazingly turned the basketball crazy Wake Forest into a solid football program led by the smart play of QB Riley Skinner. It's a feel-good story but give me the SEC team anytime!

JTB YEARLY RECORD: 3-2
GW YEARLY RECORD: 2-3

Game of Week #1: UCLA 27 -- Tennessee 24 (OT)

ESPN got lucky and so did college football fans. Last week's game of the week proved to be the Tennessee-UCLA game that was featured on Monday Night Football. With the pros back this week, it's the last time we'll see a big college football game on Monday night until the BCS championship. The Pac 10-SEC matchup started slowly and was a defensive/special teams struggle until the 4th quarter. And Tennessee appeared in control as long as it stayed that way. However, both team's offenses came to life in the 4th quarter and UCLA got right back into it. In fact, the Volunteers needed a last second game-tying FG to force overtime.

The overtime proved less dramatic as UCLA hit their field goal on its first drive, while Tenneessee's kicker Daniel Lincoln missed his chip shot. Too bad. However, this game reminded us how excited college football can be because of the unique overtime format. I sure wish the NFL would adopt the college rules. I love when these games go 4 or 5 OT periods.

As for the game's turnout, I wouldn't read too much into the result. UCLA is rebuilding and will still struggle this season in the Pac 10. Meanwhile, Tennessee had a tough task beginning the season on the West Coast and playing in the famed Rose Bowl. Their running game, led by star Arian Foster, and defense looked solid as usual. QB Jonathan Crompton was only fair but he did play very well when it mattered most. I think UT can still make some noise in the SEC East this year, led by my favorite player WR Josh Briscoe.

Week #1

Although the season actually started last night, tomorrow brings the first Saturday slate of games during the 2008 season. I can't wait! As always, there are some interesting matchups of teams from different conferences. And then there are plenty of duds as the powerhouses schedule Division 2 cupcakes merely looking for a payday. However, don't tell that to Appalachian State or Michigan! And remember - though the BCS may drive us nuts sometimes - the uniquely fun part of college football is that title contenders can be eliminated from contention with a loss even here in week one.

Every Friday I will make 5 predictions here on games that I think will be interesting. I'll use the current betus.com point spread so hopefully this will put my forecasting skills (or lack thereof) to the test. Additionally, I will also pick these same games by flipping a quarter with Heads indicating a preference for the home (or favored for neutral site games) team and Tails marking the road team. Let's see how I fare against George Washington!

Hawaii (+34) at Florida -- MY PICK: FLORIDA, GEORGE'S: FLORIDA; June Jones and Colt Brennan are gone. Florida will break in the new running backs and the defense piches a shutout.

Alabama (+4.5) vs Clemson -- MY PICK: ALABAMA, GEORGE'S: CLEMSON; Great ACC-SEC matchup at the Georgia Dome. Look for Nick Saban and QB John Parker Wilson to make great strides this year.

Memphis (+7.5) at Ole Miss -- MY PICK: OLE MISS, GEORGE'S: MEMPHIS ; The Houston Nutt era begins with new QB Jevan Snead.

Utah (+3) at Michigan -- MY PICK: MIGHIGAN, GEORGE'S: UTAH; New Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez can't implement his offense yet but he can kick some butt to avoid another embarrassment.

USC (+19) at Virginia -- MY PICK: VIRGINIA, GEORGE'S: VIRGINIA; USC appears to have QB issues. Will a banged-up Mark Sanchez be able to fill the shoes of past QB greats? Virginia keeps it close.

More SEC on your TV

I was a little disappointed when I heard the SEC, my favorite conference, got into bed with ESPN on a 15 year television deal. My biggest concern was that the big game-of-the-week would no longer be on CBS every Saturday and called so ably by Verne Lundquist. Thankfully, I soon learned that as of 2009 most of these worries will prove to be unfounded. Though we'll have to deal with ESPN's crap more often, in the end the college football fan wins by getting more games. CBS will continue to broadcast the big game every Saturday. And every other conference game will now be televised in one of the ESPN's many platforms. The only loser is Raycom/Jefferson Pilot Sports who has provided great coverage of college football in the South for so long. In 2009 I guess we'll be ready for the "SEC on ESPN."

This kinda screws the other BCS conferences, doesn't it? I hope fans of the Big 10, Pac 10 and Big 12 are happy with minimal coverage they get on Versus and Fox Sports. Look for those conferences to scramble to do something to compensate.

Highlights of the SEC Television package:

CBS: Has 1st pick of games and will broadcast SEC game-of-the-week at 3:30pm. Will have one prime time game per season.

ESPN, ESPN2: Will televise minimum of 20 SEC games annually, including Saturday nights and two Thursday nights per season. They will take the No. 2 and No. 3 games.

ESPNU: Will add a package of at least 13 SEC games per season.

ESPN Regional Television: Takes the place of Raycom/Jefferson Pilot as the free tv provider for SEC football in the South at 12:30pm. Will have a minimum of 13 games per season.

1st Game of the 2008 Season

It may not be Division 1-A, but tonight you can catch the first game of the year on CBS College Sports Network featuring Division II powerhouse Valdosta State hosting Fort Valley State. They'll be a lot of homegrown Georgia talent on display for sure.

My Picks

I don't pretend to be the most knowledgeable, but I do love to watch the games. So I'm going to focus less on forecasting and more on commentary here. However, you can't be a real football fan unless you stake your claim every August with some predictions. Most will be wrong. I might nail a couple. And I can always hit the delete button later in the season. Here they are -- apologies for the SEC bias, but the best conference in America has earned it afterall!

SEC -- Florida Gators: Sorry Georgia fans, Heisman Trophy winning QB Tim Tebow is still better than Matthew Stafford. Look for him to emerge as an even better passer as his role in the rushing game diminishes. The Gators will have a much better defined running game this year with Lakeland, FL RB Chris Rainey, USC transfer Emmanuel Moody, returning starter Keystahn Moore, and all-around amazing athlete Percy Harvin. The offense will be scary good. Let's see if longtime coordinator Charlie Strong can improve the defense.

ACC -- Clemson : Great double-headed running attack in CJ Spiller and James Davis. Clemson always seems to choke in big spots but the lack of depth in the ACC tells me this might be their year. Virginia Tech has QB issues which will prove too much to overcome.

Big East -- West Virginia : New coach Bill Stewart seems to be the biggest question. Otherwise they don't miss a beat with returning QB Pat White and new starter RB Noel Devine. Pittsburgh is a dark horse after their surprise upset of the Mountaineers last year.

Big Ten -- Michigan : Why not? We'll get to hear all about the greatness of coach Rich Rodriguez if he can win this once great conference with Lloyd Carr's players. Michigan lost all its play makers but the new spread offense should breathe life into the struggling program. Hopefully Ohio State will be exposed this year sometime before the BCS title game!

Big 12 -- Oklahoma Bob Stoops defense is always good. But this year his offense will really shine led by sophomores QB Sam Bradford and RB DeMarco Murray . Additionally, the Big 12 just might be the best conference this year after the SEC has had a stranglehold on that title for a half-decade. I was impressed by the emergence of Kansas, Texas Tech, and Mizzou last year. Imagine if Bo Pellini can improve Nebraska in a hurry.

Pac 10 -- Arizona State: It's time to dethrone USC already. I predict they'll have QB issues and former Arkansas QB Mitch Mustain won't help any. They lost a lot of O-Line and defensive talent and perhaps it will take a year or two to reload. But for the Sun Devils, Coach Erickson already has a good passing attack led by QB Rudy Carpenter. He'll find quickie junior college players to supplement the team's needs just as he always does wherever he goes.

BCS Champion -- Oklahoma: If Oklahoma gets through that conference without a loss, they deserve a chance to play for the title.

Heisman -- Missouri QB Chase Daniel: Yes, I'm definitely a Big 12 convert for the 2008 season.

That time of year

I'd be remiss if I open this journal by describing how how much I anticipate this time of year in the sporting world. Baseball is OK up to the All-Star game, but then but it hits that mid-season point where I generally lose interest. Same thing with Nascar and auto racing in general, which seem to peak in the spring months. Basketball as usual seems a distant memory. And I don't even remember what a puck is, confusing it with some sort of vulgar curse word I don't want my kids saying. And so as the long hot summer rolls on and I consider turning off the TV in favor of something that may actually prove productive....ALONG COMES FOOTBALL!

And it comes in full force with both the college and NFL seasons ready to begin with a bang. TV networks schedule meaningful primetime games earlier every year. Before you know it, it seems there's a game of some sort that can hold my attention on every night of the week. Then suddenly as if baseball realizes it has some serious competition, that sport grows more interesting as the weather gets colder. We have September playoff races and then the playoffs. And Nascar's Chase for the Championship gets underway and provides a few moments of late season drama. And as the football season continues, the unexpected never ceases to occur and to amaze. America is captivated. The holidays approach and we have presents and food and football.

My wife Dana sheds a brief tear. Suddenly order has been fully restored to my sporting world!



Good memories: Florida QB Chris Leak hoists the 2006 BCS National Championship trophy.