Pure Picks Baby

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Let's Get Ready to Rumble (or Fumble, if you're BC)

Thanks for this invitation, Jack. Just so there's no confusion, this is Patrick Holland (not McCarthy). I just want to start off by saying I don't deserve to be here at all, because I never even played football. After the first two weeks of freshman practice I quit because I was too scared to get hit, so then I became a waterboy. Plus, when 3:24 rolled around on Mondays and Wednesdays I was always much more content to go home and play football on Playstation because it didn't require any real work or sweat.

That having been said, I will usually stick to making predictions only for Georgia games and BC Mock Trial matches.

For Saturday:
Georgia 35, Western Kentucky 14
Notre Dame 31, Georgia Tech 17

For Next Friday:
BC 27, Jenkins 7

Also, I want everybody at as many BC games as possible this year. Attendance last Friday night was very thin among young alumni. It was only me, Leonard, Reardon, Bruce, and cracked skull Fleming there. Pathetic. I don't give a shit if you have class on Fridays. Everybody better be there for Jenkins next week, and then at Carey Hilliard's afterwards. Starting tomorrow there will be a new monthly special, and that gives us even more to look forward to.

Go Dawgs. Go Irish. Go Cadets.

Our Co-#3 Quarterback

These clips are just a reminder of what we probably won't be seeing for awhile. Damn he's good!

Spurrier Suspends Guard

South Carolina will be without one of their starting offensive guards tonight when they open their season in Starkvegas. James Thompson was suspended 4 games for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Hopefully, this softens the blow of losing Inman for next week.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

College Football Predictions, Part II

Well, since we seem to have moved the football talk over here, I'll bring my Only in America predictions here with me.

Obviously, this is as wide open a year as I can remember there being in college football, so I'm not sold on a single one of these picks, but I'll stand by them anyway.

Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

ACC: Virginia Tech
Big East: Louisville
Big Ten: Iowa
Big 12: Oklahoma
Pac 10: Cal
SEC: Auburn

Sugar Bowl: Louisville vs. Ohio State
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia
Rose Bowl: Iowa vs. Texas
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame
BCS Championship Game: Auburn over Cal

Heisman: Kenny Irons

Georgia: 9-3, beats Florida State in the Chik-Fil-A Bowl.

And Jack, will you be posting your picks on here every week too?

College Football 2006

Patrick and Larry have given there takes here are mine:

Pre-season Top 10:
1. Texas -- only because they are the defending champs. Defense will once again be one of the best in the country. If they are to get by Ohio St. the only challenge will be Oklahoma and possibly Nebraska because its in Lincoln. [ Game to Watch: vs. Ohio St.]

2. Auburn -- Returns a good bit on both sides from a team that finished strong outside of Capitol One Bowl. Cox is key to teams success as revealed last year. Irons is one of the best backs in the country at a school that seems to have a "great" one every year while Georgia hasn't had one since Hearst.[GTW: vs. LSU]

3. California -- Opening week will be tough especially with questions at QB. However a Heisman candidate in the backfield will save them on their bad days until the QB gets settled in just in time for USC.[GTW: at USC]

4. Louisville -- All the talk in the Big East is about West Virginia. Louisville has just as easy of a schedule with basically 2 games and will beat the Mountaineers at Papa John's stadium on what could be one of the most meaningful Thursday night games in recent memory.[GTW: vs. Miami(FL)]

5. Notre Dame -- I will be very surprised to see Notre Dame get out of September without a loss. Defense still has issues but Weis combined with the fact they are Notre Dame will keep them in the top 5 all year and could jump an undefeated Louisville or W. Virginia to play for the title with 1 loss.[GTW: at USC]

6. Oklahoma -- The loss of Bomar keeps them out of the top 5. Schedule keeps them in the top 10 in a very overrated Big 12. If they can beat the Longhorns Bomar will be forgotten.[GTW: at Oregon]

7. Miami/Florida St. -- Every year they say the winner of this game has a legitamate shot at the National Title. These are the two best teams in the vastly improving ACC with Clemson in third. QB play will be the determining factor in this game and in turn the winner of the conference.[ GTW: eachother]

8. Ohio St.-- Seems to be the fancy pick this preseason but i dont buy it as much as others. I believe they lost to much from last year and are going to have to play a style unusual to Tressel. No doubt they will be good but not as good as everyone thinks.[GTW: at Iowa]

9. USC -- They lost a whole bunch but never stopped recruiting. They won't put up the points but the athletes are still there and have only Cal standing in their way of another conference title. Wouldn't be shocked to see them undefeated when the Irish come to town.[GTW:vs. Cal]

10.LSU-- In my opinion Les Miles is on the Hot seat just because of the Timeout he called last year against Tennessee. LSU will lose to Auburn and thats it.[GTW: Florida]

11. Wofford -- #63 LS - 6'2 - 215 - JR.
...... Hard worker who is very competetive....Made one tackle against Furman... 85 total snaps as a soph. with only 1 punt blocked.... friend of Daniel Bunger.


*HEISMAN WINNER: Its already been decided. Barring injury or Charlie Weis taking the 49ers job its Brady Quinn.

* Conference Champs: Auburn, Miami, Louisville, Texas, Iowa, California

* September 16th is unlike anything that I can remember. All of these games could host gameday if it was being played on almost any other Saturday. Michigan/Notre Dame...LSU/Auburn...Oklahoma/Oregon...Miami/Louisville...Clemson/FSU...Nebraska/USC...
Gators/Vols . WOW...even better than kh!

* Top 5 Fight Songs: 1. Notre Dame 2. Dixie 3. Auburn 4.Alabama 5. USC
* Top 5 stadiums: 1. Notre Dame-tradition 2. Rose Bowl-history 3. LSU-atmosphere 4.South Carolina-intangibles 5. Georgia-setting
* 5 Guarantees for 2006:
1. Florida will lose at least 3 games.
2. Louisville will play in a BCS bowl.
3. Georgia Southern will not make the playoffs.
4. Florida will beat Georgia
5. Rick will think we are losing when we are actually winning at least once this year. ( Only rick comment)


Georgia Overview:

Even though it won't be the best team Georgia will have in my 4 years here, it will defiantly be the most interesting. Anything can happen and the Quarterback controversy will be ongoing throughout the year.

The defense is going to be very good. The 2 DE's are the best in the country and will make Jeff Owens look like the stud he is. The key to the defense will be whoever plays the corner opposite of Paul Oliver. If he is just average it will allow more freedom for the safetys in both run and pass coverage. PLAYER TO WATCH: Charles Johnson

The Offense will be a question mark at best. Joe-T is a capable QB but that is it. I do not see him as a player who could win a conference championship. It is my hope that as the younger QB's get game action one will make an impact that will force them into the starting role. If Stafford has not played by Ole Miss he needs to be redshirted. No one is talking about our O-line, but if you don't know, its not great. Its a lot easier to run block than pass block, therefore we should ride the tailbacks that are said to be so talanted. Mo Mass. will not be as big a factor as people will hope but will emerge next year as one of the best pass catchhers Georgia has had in a long time. Just don't turn the ball over and let Brown and Lumpkin run till they die. PLAYER TO WATCH: Kregg Lumpkin

Verdict: Georgia's Defense will keep us in every game. It is so crucial that our offense not make mistakes. I would love to see our team resemble the Ohio St. team of 2002 that won so many games by less than a touchdown. With an All-American Kicker and Punter, we have the capability of winning games we shouldn't but a team that is also capable of losing games that might seem like gimmies. Georgia is a year away. Anything from 10-2 to 7-5 is possible.

Beat Western Kentucky by 24
Beat South Carolina by 3
Beat UAB by 13
Beat Colorado by 10
Lose to Ole Miss by 4
Beat Tennessee by 1
Beat Vandy by 14
Beat Miss St. by 21
Lose to Florida by 10
Beat Kentucky by 12
Lose to Auburn by 6
Beat Tech by 1

Outback Bowl vs. Michigan

Hell I dont Know!!!

WEEK # 1


TENNESSEE (-1.5) vs. California
Notre Dame (-7.0) vs. GEORGIA TECH
Southern Cal (-8.0) vs. ARKANSAS
OLE MISS (-3.0) vs. Memphis
MIAMI (-3.0) vs. Florida St.

Camden vs. Brookwood
Savannah High vs. Beach
Groves vs. South Effingham

Hey

Hey everybody. I know its kind of lame that I'm starting a blog right after Patrick but I said fuc* it. "Only in America" will continue to be the best blog because of its insight it gives to the treasure that is Ricks life as well as the weekly features. However, this blog will only pertain to college and high school football, especially Georgia, BC, and Wofford. Each week I will put forth 5 college games with the spread and 3 high school games straight up. The person with the most wins at the end of the season will get to host an all expense paid bowl party in Savannah come this December. Along with the weekly picks, comments,observations, and previews that hold real significance will be welcomed. Its only football! All things regarding Rick, fraternities, Kappa Alpha Order, Mitt, blacks, politics, class of '62, Beth Tuck, Emmy, Leslie anne Kate, Stekki, Stu, SR Roberts, Savannah Blues, Dotson, Wormsloew, The Beacon and Beauregards, should be directed to one of the other numerous blogs that all of you are a part of. Thank you for your consideration and if you are too busy with the other blogs or just have no interest there will be no hard feelings. Thanks and picks are due by 6:00pm each friday.