Pure Picks Baby

Monday, August 30, 2010

WEEK 1

SOUTH CAROLINA (-14) vs. Southern Miss *Thursday*
UTAH (-3) vs. Pittsburgh *Thursday*
NOTRE DAME (-11.5) vs. Purdue
TCU (-13.5) vs. Oregon State
LSU (-3.5) vs. North Carolina @Atlanta
Boise State (-2.5) vs. Virginia Tech @ Washington D.C. *Monday*

Spartanburg @ Dorman
Buford @ Carver-Columbus
Miami-Central @ Camden

Conference Champs

SEC: Alabama
ACC: Miami
Big Ten: Ohio State
Big East: Pittsburgh
Big XII: Nebraska
Pac 10: Oregon State

NATIONAL CHAMP: NEBRASKA

Region 3-AAAAA Week 1 Recap

Results
Groves 19 Savannah High 12
Jenkins 19 South Effingham 3
Beach 28 Hardeeville 12
Blessed Trinity 44 Benedictine 0
Glynn Academy 23 Bradwell 6
Camden County 65 Savannah High 14
Johnson 25 Richmond Hill 22
Windsor Forest 20 Wayne County 17

Standings
Rick 6-2
JJH4 5-3
PMac 5-3
PLowe 1-7

Thursday, August 26, 2010


Blessed Trinity of Roswell, GA is a member of Region 6-AA. They are known for their domination in spring sports and have surpassed Marist as the Catholic spring sport power in Atlanta. The last couple of years they shared a region with Buford, Lovett, GAC, and Westminster. Two years ago they were able to beat Lovett in football and only lost at Buford by 4. Other than that they have 3 state playoff appearances. They have had the same head coach since the school's inception about a decade ago.

This year's team has 12 starters back including 1st team All-state selections at LB and OL (TK Thomas and Jack Bradley). They will start a new QB but all other statistical leaders are back. The youngest group of players is in the secondary where they will have 3 new starters. Their kicker with a kicker name, Riley Lyons, is very good.

Fun facts: My cousin is a 2007 BT graduate and was a member of their AAA baseball state championship team back in 2006... BT graduate Tyler Flowers spent a couple of years in the Braves organization as a catcher before being traded to the White Sox as part of the Javier Vazquez deal. He recorded his 1st major league hit last year with BC grad Hawk Harelson at the mic. He holds the BT record for defensive touchdowns in a career... 2010 BT graduate Jake Skole signed with Georgia Tech over Georgia for football and baseball in February of this year. That was prior to being the Texas Rangers' first round pick in the 2010 MLB draft. He won't be playing collge athletics anytime soon.

Radio:

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Georgia 2010

Today is Georgia's last pre-season scrimmage. The reports and stats from the scrimmages so far have been average at best. The offense has been reported to look good in spots and real bad in others. The QB and RB numbers have been a little disappointing but Richard Samuel rushed for 1000+ yards in the pre-season last year and we saw how that went. Its hard to get a good idea from scrimmages because its always been 1's vs. 2's under Richt and so many people are held out or limited. You just hope for some progress and few injuries.

The offense will be fine if the QB play is just a nudge better than Joe Cox (Thats a serious comment). If the O-line stays healthy there is no reason Georgia can't run the ball as good as anybody in the country. Murray needs to take care of the ball and let A.J. Green do a lot of work. A.J. Green is the greatest receiver in school history and will be gone in 5 months. Knowshon was a top 10 player and we didn't maximize his career. Just throw it up there so that doesn't happen again.

The LB's are going to be fine. Fast, experienced, and deep enough. The secondary is a spot of concern especially at safety. Three new starters and a safety spot that obviously nobody has taken by the horns. Hamilton hasn't stepped right in like everyone assumed and the other option is a guy who doesn't know if hes a LB or safety. Branden Smith hasn't progressed like I thought he would but Owens has been a huge surprise. As far as the D-line goes, I don't know. Theres not one guy that makes me feel great. But I don't know if they need to be great. Its a defense that requires a lot of gap eating and if its a former offensive lineman doing it or not I don't think you have to be David Pollack to get the job done.

Kicking can't be as good as it was last year. No possible way. It will still be really good.

Offensive standout other than A.J.: Orson Charles
Offensive breakout: Logan Gray
Offensive surprise: Marlon Brown

Defensive standout: Justin Houston
Defensive breakout: Daryl Gamble
Defensive surprise: Christian Robinson

The most important stretch of games is by far and away the Carolina-Arkansas series. If you lose both the season is almost over. You win both, 7-0 is a better chance than not. No Alabama or LSU but Auburn on the road. An earlier trip to Kentucky really doesn't help Georgia. 11 straight games without a bye week makes it tougher as well.

My Guess:

Louisiana-Laf: W 34-14
@Carolina: W 17-14
Arkansas: L 30-24
@Miss St.: W 24-12
@Colorado: W 33- 14
Tennessee: W 17-16
Vanderbilt: W 28-6
@Kentucky: L 16-14
Florida: W 26-21
@Auburn: L 24- 13
Idaho St: W 63- 7
gtu: W 37-20

Outback vs. Penn State

Region 3-AAAAA Lines: Week 1

Hardeeville **Thursday**
Beach (-6)

Blessed Trinity (-7.5)
Benedictine

Glynn Academy
Bradwell (-6.5)

Savannah High
Camden County (-48)

South Effingham (-3.5) **Thursday**
Jenkins

Johnson (-6.5)
Richmond Hill

Windsor Forest
Wayne County (-2)

Monday, August 23, 2010

BC 2010

The 2010 BC football team has already been described as the youngest BC team in over 30 years. The projected starting lineup has 4 freshmen, 3 of which on defense. Another freshman seems to be knocking on the door of the first 22. There has been unbelievable attrition on both sides of the ball. Since spring practice 5 projected starters have either transferred or will miss most if not all of the season with an injury.

The offense will be brand new. "The System" is the formal name of this spread offense derived from Tony Franklin. Every snap in the Calvary scrimmage, including one from the 1 yard line, was taken from the shotgun and with no huddle. Prior to the spring 2 starting Offensive linemen crossed over to defense. In addition, the starting RB tore his ACL in spring practice and a starting WR left the school. With any new offense, execution and consistency often takes time and could face periods of futility. This offense has big play capability but does lend itself to plays of lost yardage. A bright spot going into the season was the offense dominating a good portion of the Calvary scrimmage after a sluggish 1st quarter.

The defense will not face the drastic changes as far as scheme but does have 10 brand new starters. At least 4 freshmen will see significant action. The number of new starters would have been 3 lower without the attrition. The defense will be very, very young and undersized at spots. They are athletic though and the youth could be used as a positive. The freshmen and returning sophomores have a strong nucleus which will see a lot of action and bodes well for the future.

Special teams could be the best in the region. The kicker is arguably the best in Southeast Georgia and the punter, who also plays receiver, had 3 punts over 40 yards in the scrimmage.

The early schedule is brutal, especially with the inexperience. Blessed Trinity plays in a tough region and is always competitive with the likes of Buford and Lovett. St. Pius is # 4 in both of the major AAA state polls. They lost in last year's state quarterfinals, in overtime, to eventual state champ Peach County. From there on every game is winnable with the exception of Camden. However, a number of games are also very loseable. Bradwell, Jenkins, and Windsor are the 3 teams that all the state publications figure will battle with BC for playoff spots. I would also throw Johnson in that discussion with 20+ seniors. Groves and Savannah High will be a tad below average and practicing hard. The Windsor game in week 3 looks to be the most pivotal game on the schedule and will go a long way in painting the 3-AAAAA picture.




Friday, August 20, 2010

I'm sure most have seen the supposed pregame video for this year. As much as I like the Florida and Tennessee highlights I think "Party in the UGA" has already taken care of our ridiculous video quota for the year. Other than Baba O'riley I still don't see the need for anything other than the Redcoats.




OR

Region 3-AAAAA Lines: Week 0

This will be a new contest for the PPB faithful. I will post the lines for all games involving Region 3-AAAAA teams. Post your picks in the comments section. I will post the results after each week. The most correct picks at the end of the regular season will win.

The Region 3-AAAAA football schedule kicks off tonight with Groves facing Savannah High at Memorial Stadium. You can read the SMN preview here. So, here is your first line of the 2010 season.

Groves (-6)
Savannah High

Thursday, August 19, 2010

2010 Picks

Still 6 college and 2 high school games per week. The top 2 records after week 13 will then pick during week 14. Picks begin Labor Day weekend.

2009: Will
2008: Anymouse
2007: Patrick/Don
2006: Patrick

Going for that elusive winning record this year.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Boyd

Pure Lines Baby

Region 3-AAAAA Futures

Total Regular Season Wins O/U
Camden (9)
Bradwell (7)
Jenkins (7)
Windsor (5.5)
Benedictine (4)
Beach (3.5)
Johnson (3)
Groves (2)
Savannah (0.5)

Odds to make the State Playoffs
Camden (1:infinity)
Bradwell (1:30)
Jenkins (1:10)
Windsor (1:5)
Benedictine (5:1)
Beach (10:1)
Johnson (15:1)
Groves (30:1)
Savannah (infinity:1)

*No money at stake this year. Pure entertainment...baby!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

SSU (cont.)

USA Today- Savannah State faces 2 lawsuits with race at center

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Top 2 Weekends

September 11th:
Auburn at Miss. State (Thurs.)
Georgia at South Carolina
Michigan at Notre Dame
Florida State at Oklahoma
Miami at Ohio State
Penn State at Alabama

October 2nd:
Georgia at Colorado
Texas vs. Oklahoma
Florida at Alabama

SSU

In the last week Savannah State football has hired a coach who was then arrested 3 days later, and another coach has resigned 4 days before fall camp starts. This follows an off season that included another assistant resigning and Robby Wells resigning citing racism from the administration. A lawsuit that was covered by ESPN's Outside the Lines followed. 7 SSU players were involved in an assault which placed a number of them in jail for weeks.

Not that I care, it just amazes me. Somebody over there thought it would be a good idea to play Division I athletics. A conference with approving member schools thought it would be a good idea to let them join. I just don't get it. It can be comical, but at the same time somewhat unbelievable.