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Crystal-Balling The college football world is already starting to play the "what if" game when it comes to potential undefeated teams at the end of the year, and which ones should be playing for the title. It's way too early for this rhetoric, but it does fill-up a radio show or online column. We have witnessed six weeks of the college football season, and there are some things that we have learned....and there are some teams that have impressed and some that have disappointed. The more I watch of the PAC-12, the more I like. The league has a great collection of coaches and perhaps the most diverse style of schemes and style. The SEC will continue to be the barometer until proven otherwise, but there is no doubt that the PAC-12 is closing fast....in both quality and quantity. Some of my Southern Fried Football™ brethren have circled the November date when LSU travels to Bama....but that game isn't nearly as interesting as the potential surrounding Stanford and Oregon. Georgia's inspiring win over Tennessee was incredible to watch because the Vols had the banged-up Dawgs in deep, deep trouble. But that was the same UT team that was destroyed at Oregon by 45 points. I'm just sayin'.... In the SEC West, Bama is the team to beat....but then you have the over-hyped Ole Miss Rebels on a 2-game SEC losing streak......LSU is a quality team, but their young defense isn't close to shutting anybody down.....A&M is fun to watch, but they play zero defense....Auburn is much improved, but not ready to be a factor....same goes for Arkansas.....Mississippi State is toast. In the SEC East, Georgia is rolling, but the injury-bug is killing them......the Gators play great defense and will have their chance......South Carolina has been a bit disappointing and Clowney has been a joke.....Mizzou is unbeaten, but soon to be tested......the Vols are better....Kentucky stinks.....and Vandy has taken a step back. The ACC has been better than advertised, and the showdown in Death Valley between FSU and Clemson will be fantastic....both of those teams are Top 10, perhaps Top 5 worthy despite the outcome on October 19th. Miami is getting closer to joining the mix, too. The ACC has three legit football teams that are national caliber.....the rest of the league is a collection of odds and ends. Only Virginia Tech could be considered as a Top 25 program. What does it all mean? Not a damn thing in early October. Stay tuned, though...the best is yet to come. I'm a fan of David Pollack. The former Georgia star is currently part of the ever-growing ESPN College Gameday ensemble. Pollack, unlike his non-stop talking partner, Jesse Palmer, usually has well thought-out takes and opinions. This past week, he stepped right into an old-fashioned debate when he claimed that he didn't think Condi Rice was a good fit for the upcoming CFB Playoff Selection Committee. He didn't think any woman should be on the staff because they didn't play the game......it was right out of the "go back to the kitchen and make me a sandwich" chatter. The back-stroking took place soon after and now we've got everybody covering their ass. Regardless of the people that are selected for this esteemed committee, there will be an outrage from the general public.....everybody will have some sort of bias in the selection of the four best teams for the 2014 Playoffs. I've had the chance to briefly interview Rice...she's engaging and no doubt intelligent. I know she was born in Bama, and loves her Stanford Cardinal. I also know that her inclusion into the committee is PC at its finest. But can she do the job? I would say that she is more than qualified to study the data, do the research, watch the games and give a well-formed decision. Pollack would have been better served by taking the approach that the committee, regardless of gender or race, should have some background in football. That way, it eliminates the "iffy candidates" immediately. Now we can get back to the "King of the Lazy Narrative", Jesse Palmer. I watched the first lap of the NASCAR race from Kansas..... Guess who wrecked? I know, I can't make this stuff up. That was quite a tough day at the office for Danica Patrick. But she might have been exhausted from her new music video that she is involved with along with her boyfriend, Ricky Stenhouse. I can't make it up.....he plays an auto mechanic and is fixing her wrecked vehicle. That's not acting...that's real life. Well, I'm just glad Danica is ok....she will bring all of her immense talents to Charlotte this weekend, and I can promise you that I won't be there to see it. As far as the Chase for the Cup....in case anyone is interested.....Matt Kenseth's lead is down to only 3 points to you know who.....Jimmie Johnson. The MLB Playoffs are underway....and all you need to know is this: Beat LA. How bad are the Carolina Panthers? After destroying the NY Giants by 38 points....the team gets two weeks to gameplan for the average Arizona Cardinals and build on their momentum. So they go out west and score 6 points.....watch their star QB throw 3 INTS.....watch him get sacked 7 times.....and just for good measure a lost fumble, too. It was a terrible performance by a team and a franchise that never seems to know how to capitalize on momentum and good fortune. The Carolina Panthers continue to master the way to take the life out of a party. The schedule the next three weeks is loaded with equally lame teams and it is possible that they can get on some type of run, but I'm convinced of two things:
That's precisely what the Carolina Panthers do.....consistently. Ron Rivera is a super nice guy, but it just doesn't feel like he can get his guys to respond. I'm so tired of watching this franchise pull up lame.....if it was a race horse, we'd shoot it. |
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