Week 3 National Games of Interest

Even though it may be a down weekend for marquee match-ups across the nation, save USC-Ohio State, there are still some nice games slated for this weekend. While the Texas - Arkansas barn burner has been delayed a few weeks, California goes coast to coast to visit Maryland, Nevada takes on its second straight Big XII team, UCLA takes on BYU, and Oklahoma returns to the Pacific Northwest to get shafted by more Pac 10 officiating when they take on the Huskies.

Here is a run-down of the weekend battles and my picks:


#13 Kansas Jayhawks at #19 South Florida Bulls
Friday, September 12 -- Tampa, FL -- 8:00 ET -- ESPN2
Spread: South Florida by 4

In an evening normally reserved for recruits, two marquee quarterbacks battle in Tampa in a battle of mediocre teams ranked 11-20. While America was introduced to a rejuvenated Kansas last year, Todd Reesing will attempt to make his name memorable while stating his case as a potential Heisman candidate while the nation watches. Matt Grothe isn't so bad himself, but his name called in NYC will be a stretch. In a game full of offense and some surprising special teams from Kansas, the Jayhawks fly home from Tampa victorious. Kansas 38 - South Florida 24

#23 California Golden Bears at Maryland Terrapins
Saturday, September 13 -- College Park, MD -- 12:00 ET -- ESPN
Spread: California by 10

Props to the ADs from Cal and Maryland for scheduling this match-up, but this weekend might not be all that they thought it could be. This game has lost some luster after Maryland's shaky start (a near-loss to Flacco-less 1-AA Delaware and a loss to Middle Tennessee State), while Cal is at a decent 2-0 and #23 in the nation. The spread may not be as generous as I think it should be, as the Bears travel a billion miles to simply conquer the Terps. Cal 41 - Maryland 13

#18 Brigham Young Cougars vs. UCLA Bruins
Saturday, September 13 -- Provo, UT -- 3:30 ET
Spread: BYU by 9

This is potentially the game of the weekend, other than USC-OSU. These two clashed last year in a Sun Bowl
game that saw BYU upset the Bruins on yes, a blocked kick. Kevin Craft comes in under center for UCLA as an unproven quarterback that could be what seems like the worst QB in the country or the best QB out there. Max Hall for BYU is very proven and a potential draft pick, already amassing 824 yards and 5 TDs. This game could go either way, and I think BYU's overrated ranking inflated this spread. In the end, the Cougars escape a close one at home. BYU 21 - UCLA 20

#16 Oregon Ducks at Purdue Boilermakers
Saturday, September 13 -- West Lafayette, IN -- 3:30 ET -- ABC
Spread: Oregon by 6

Oregon comes in boasting the nation's best offense over the first two weeks, imagine that. Purdue has only played once so far, trouncing 1-AA Northern Colorado 42-10 in the first week. While Purdue lacks a top tier defense, their offense can play with the best. The difference in this game will be the defense that steps up, as a turnover may decide this game. Look for the Ducks to escape this shootout with only a few pellets. Oregon 45 - Purdue 35

#3 Oklahoma Sooners at Washington Huskies
Saturday, September 13 -- Seattle, WA -- 7:45 ET -- ESPN
Spread: OU by 20

Bob Stoops takes his Sooners once again to the Northwest hoping the Pac 10 officials are more welcoming, especially after the scandal that affected the Huskies just last week. This game was surprisingly close a few years ago for a half, but then OU took over and dominated the Huskies. Jake Locker will put a scare on Stoops' defense for a few series, perhaps with a rushing TD, but the Sooners will adapt into the game and shut down the Tebow-like QB. The Sooners get another chance to flex their offensive muscles against an over matched opponent. OU 38 - Washington 17

#10 Wisconsin Badgers at #21 Fresno State Bulldogs
Saturday, September 13 -- Fresno, CA -- 10:30 ET -- ESPN2
Spread: Fresno State by 2

This game, along with the UCLA - BYU battle, has potential to make the off-week more exciting. Pat Hill has instilled a sense of superiority in the Valley, pledging to take on any BCS team no matter the year or where. This time he as a chance to knock of a big boy at home when the tenth-ranked Badgers come to town. The Bulldogs have their best squad in several years with Tom Brandstater under center and Ryan Mathews handling the rock. The potent Bulldogs offense comes with a defense that held Rutgers to only 7 points. On the other side of the ball, Wisconsin is 2-0 behind strong second half performances to put away Akron and Marshall with ease. The offense is secretly explosive with PJ Hill pounding the ball and a passing attack that can strike at any time. This time Vegas gets the line right, as the Bulldogs prove they are a legit BCS team. Fresno State 28 - Wisconsin 23

#1 Southern California Trojans vs. #5 Ohio State Buckeyes
Saturday, September 13 -- Los Angeles, CA -- 8:00 ET -- ABC
Spread: USC by 7.5

Now the game the world has been waiting for, the Collision in the Coliseum, the Fight of the Century, the Battle of the Immortals. The USC never-been-defeated-before Trojans take on the Ohio State all-and-mighty Buckeyes in a clash of gods. Only Mars, the god of war, knows whats in store for this epic intergalactic explosion waiting to happen. In all seriousness, this could be the game of the year. These traditional powers are once again in the top 5 and seeking what seems to be an annual birth in the title game, but the both paths to the championship runs through each other. I can see this game being an outright battle from start to finish, but it could also be pretty sloppy (i.e. OSU last week). While these teams match up so well, there are so many questions. Is Mark Sanchez the answer? Is Beanie Wells really hurt? Is Terrelle Pryor ready for the limelight? Tressel knows how to coach his squad into a marquee away game, a la Texas in 2006, but Carroll isn't so bad himself. There are so many ways this game can go, its a tough call. But based on the Buckeyes' performance last week and the location of the game, I'll take the Trojans to win big. USC 31 - Bucks 17

Top SEC games of the week and predictions to follow

"Same old Georgia"

Is a phrase I heard numerous times today while driving around our great state of Georgia. Where was it coming from you might ask. From Heisman Trophy winner, MNC coach and downright blowhard Steve Spurrier himself. The Ol' Ball Coach has had it in for the Dawgs ever since DB Lynn Hughes housed one of his passes in 1966 to knock the ever-hated Gator's from the ranks of the unbeaten. Many years have passed since that fateful Fall evening and the rage and hate inside Spurrier for the University of Georgia has never subsided. Uncoincidentally, the feelings are mutual.

This quote came via the victorious coach after last season's debacle in Athens. Many fans, not including this one, believe that game cost us a shot at the National Championship. Whether or not you agree the feelings for Spurrier after last year's upset only grew darker and more overwhelmingly towards pure, unadultured hatred.

Heading into the 2007 matchup the Dawgs appeared to be unbeatable after having trounced overhyped Oklahoma State in the opener. Many UGA supporters, including this one, thought there was absolutely no way that we would not destroy the overmatched Fighting Spurriers, much less cover the -4 point spread. Well we didn't, ask my bookie.

Spurrier relayed his comments in the post-game interview, saying this was "the same old Georgia." Truth be told, it was. We have seen a number of uber-talented teams lose to inferior opponents not just during the CMR era but also under Donnan, Goff, Butts and even HOF Vince Dooley.

This year's clash involves two squads headed in seemingly opposite directions. South Carolina looked awful offensively against NC State and was outcoached, outplayed, outhustled and other out's I can't even think of in their loss to Vanderbilt. Georgia is coming off of a thrashing of CMU that saw our running game show it's brute force and breakaway wheels as well as an above average improvement in the passing game. Every sign is pointing towards a blowout in COLA town, a letdown here would probably ruin our chances at the MNC before the season really even gets under way.

Is this the "same old Georgia?" We will know Saturday evening. I for one am betting that it's not.

News and Notes Around the SEC

It has been said that teams improve the most between week 1 and week 2. As we take a look around the SEC, how much did each team actually improve?

In Knoxtown, head coach Phil Fulmer had the weekend off, presumably spending the day "with his family, lounging around the living room and kitchen around the TV and a 'few' boxes of donuts and pizza," according to reports. Meanwhile, the rest of the Vols had the opportunity to sulk a little longer after a what-could-have-been on national TV last Monday. The actual on-field improvement will have to wait another week when the Vols take on the formidable Blazers of Alabama-Birmingham. Looks like the jury may have to wait until Florida.

"I regret to inform you, ..."

Not much more could be said in Fayetteville, where Bobby Petrino's 'revitalized' career is looking for any vital signs period. The Razorbacks are looking like the cellar of the SEC for the second straight week after surviving with a late Casey Dick touchdown strike followed by a missed 45-yard field goal attempt by a Louisiana-Monroe squad that no SEC team should schedule in the near future. Apparently Petrino's secretary didn't pass on Nick Saban's message where he left numerous words of advice and scouting tips on the Warhawks. The revitalization will be on hold for at least another week, as Bobby takes his Hogs down into Austin for a grudge match with Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns.

Speaking of Saban, all is well in Tuscavegas after the Crimson Tide improved to 2-0 after "ripping" the Tulane Golden Wave. After the victory, Saban only had good things to say about his squad that needed two special team touchdowns to save them from a repeat of last year's bout with the aforementioned Warhawks. "The boys really played hard today, and they really showed how they could overcome a challenge from a formidable opponent," Saint Nick reported. What's next for Saban and the Tide? A nationally televised bout with the 'Toppers of Western Kentucky, followed by a trip into Arkansas to take on Petrino's new career (That is if he has not quit by then). I guess we won't really know how Crimson the Tide is until September 27th.

"Dear God, please guide me away from Rennie Curran"

Head coach Urban Meyer and his Florida Tebows have much to rave over in Gainesville after routing the "old" U, the one that used to reside in Miami but now apparently lives in the 'Ville. Tim Tebow's un-Godly performance should make the world forget the Heisman even exists. After Florida's reign over Miami, Brent Musburger reported in his post-game review that "Tebow is without a doubt the greatest specimen I've ever laid eyes on. The way his arm flexes when he throws, his eyes glisten when he scores, his calves flex when he gets sacked, he just makes me warm inside. Some even say his eyes are the sparkle of God. I've seen the light, and that light is coming from Mr. Tebow." Brent's jubilations are words the nation can share and cherish. Meanwhile, Mark May had similar words, while saying Knowshon Moreno's performance was "just so-so."

"Mommy, Mr. Steve hid my bottle of bourbon. Wait 'til he sees his car after the Vandy game..."

I'm not sure the Ol' Ball Coach even knew how to find his way back to Columbia after what happened at Vanderbilt. He didn't have much to say in the post-game press conference, but in his closing statements, Spurrier reported, "I sure hope Stephen Garcia is sober on Saturday." I think we all do, Coach.

Out in the plains, head coach Tommy Tuberville has "found the quarterback of the future." Tuberville went on to rave about his new guy under center, saying "he's got all the tools we need for a 9-4 season. He's sharp, makes minimal mistakes, and throws enough touchdowns per game to lead us to free chicken biscuits for a year from the kind people in Atlanta." After beating the new-look Southern Miss, the War Eagles travel to Starkville to take on Sly Croom's Mississippi State squad still trying to look past what happened in Shreveport in week 1.

As for the Dawgs in Athens, I think The Leap just about wraps that discussion up.

Don't Blink.

Photo Courtesy ajc.com

The hype was bigger than ever. The media coverage was so plentiful that it was a bit tiring according CMR. Knowshon was dubbed as one of the nation's best running backs by analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. For the first time in a long while, people were beginning to buy into the Herschel Walker comparisons. And that's when I heard it.

"You have no idea how good he's going to be this year," a certain football player told me.

My initial reaction? "What do you mean 'I have no idea?' He's going to be awesome. How can I 'have no idea?'"

My thinking was that even if #24 started the season slowly, he would avoid a sophomore slump simply because he has the energy and passion for the game to help him succeed. 

That energy, passion and competitiveness is often misinterpreted as a cocky attitude by the casual viewer. However, KM has proven that his combination of skill, speed and energy is augmented by and unbelievable drive to make himself better than everyone else. 

So don't blink. Don't miss a snap. Remember to DVR every game--even if it is Central Michigan--because you never know when "the leap" will happen. You never know when a play will occur  that rivals Herschel's steamrolling of Bill Bates. 

And remember, we have no idea how good he is going to be...

Top Gun has merits other than as a movie...

I was forced to watch Top Gun earliar tonight. It's a great movie. Who doesn't like a sweaty Tom Cruise? Oh, that's right, I don't. My 4 year old cousin would bitch slap that dude. I once knew somebody that believed in scientology, he talked about it all the time and he loved it. Too bad for Oklahoma City Ted Kazinski was also crazy.

Great news for everyone else, watching Top Gun gave me a great idea. Who actually enjoys the song "Highway to the Danger Zone?" Nobody, that's who. Where are you going with this? You ask. This is where. Best new drinking game of 2K8. Watch Top Gun and every time the song comes on, take a shot. You won't be able to walk after the movie.

Believe me, Biff told me.

Is it just me...

Or does new Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin strongly resemble West Canaan Coyote's sex ed teacher Miss Davis

Yes Elliot, boner is good.

I'm a new contributor here at DawgsOnTop and I want to start out be letting it be known that at no time will my blogs be laced with either truth or fact. I would advise you to avoid believing everything that I post. Unless of course some of it is true, then you should definitely believe it. Following that gorilla math, believe everything I say, you don't want to be left in the dark.

This week our #2 ranked Dawgs take on the fighting Chippewa's of Central Michigan. Is it just me or does saying Chippewa make you want to punch Tim McGraw in the neck? Learn to sing a song, Indian Outlaw.

Big matchup for us as far as the defensive back 7 is concerned. CMU brings in Dan LeFevour, which of course is Spanish for "the Fever," and his 5,000 all-purpose yards and 50+ TD's from a year ago. Is it just me or didn't the Dawgs donkey punch the last QB we played with similar stats? (yes, that means you Tebow). Rennie Curran will hit LeFevour so hard he won't be able to do the rain dance at their next tribal meeting.

The Chippewa (watch it McGraw) starting defensive front averages a weight that comes in just under that of Manute Bol. They should offer Rosie O'Donnell, that is the only way to beef them up. Their OLB's weigh 190. Is it just me or did we just take a ride in the Delorean back to 1955? Fire up the Flux Capacitor, 1980 here we come (foreshadowing included).

The Dawgs will put on a performance that is worthy of a Mythical National Championship contender. Bombs away from Stafford as we continue to look for a consistent receiving threat and excellence from the D as we look to establish a dominant pass rusher. Late game vagumic pounding by our OL will once again give future Heisman winner Caleb King nice stats. The Fever puts some points on the board a la Georgia Southern in mop up duty but this game will be over by the 4th, which makes this years edition of the Dawgs different than year's past.

DawgsOnTop 45-17.

Believe me, Biff told me.

The Coverdores strike again...

Well they didn't strike again because they've never really "struck" since before the Great Depression. But it was great to see the 'Ol Ballcoach lose for the second year in a row to a recently overacheiving Vanderbilt team.

The Dawgs rode the back of Knowshon Moreno and the leg of Brandon Coutu to squeak by with a victory in Nashville last season and it looked like South Carolina was going to pull off the same sort of win last night.

With two minutes left I was certain that Carolina would find a way to come back. I was mad at Spurrier and felt horrible for Vandy fans because it would be yet another loss they pulled from the jaws of victory.

Needless to say, the "Coverdores" hung on for the win and are a surprising 2-0 on the year (is there such a thing as a surprise 2-0?). The Gamecocks, however, will stumble back to that dump known as Columbia. They will have to deal with that oh so annoying fan base and the evil temptations of Stephen Garcia following the first of what may be many embarrassing losses this year.

You don't show you belong in the SEC East by losing to its bottom feeder Mr. Spurrier...because you, then, become the bottom feeder and everyone knows that bottom feeders don't "belong" with the big guns.

Go Dawgs and the heck with the Poor Man's Tim Tebow.

...

There's nothing more to say than that I'm sick of Mark May and Lou Holtz after the first episode.

Dear ESPN,

You do not have to sell college football. It sells itself--especially when you pick two people who can speak about college football without obvious bias and can convey valid arguments. You can afford to find the best college football analysts. We deserve them. 

                                                                                       -Fans

Week 1.

I can almost smell college football: the greatest of all sports seasons. I can almost feel the excitement that will fill the air when I turn on my TV Thursday night to watch two teams I rarely root for. 

The NCSU/USC game will have more meaning though this year as a fellow graduate of my high school will start at quarterback for the Wolfpack--giving him a 50% chance of taking the first college football snap I see as a college graduate. I hope he does very well, of course, and I hope he wins because I hate Steve Spurrier...ok, not only because I hate Steve Spurrier.

Because of Thursday's game, Saturday will come quicker. I will wake up hungover. There is no denying this fact. I will wake up hungover and I will wake up early (I'm one of those weird males who wakes up early on fall Saturdays the same way children wake up early on Christmas morning). I'll force down some sort of breakfast and I will start the festivities. 

College Gameday, girls in their gameday attire and friends drinking liquor way too early in the day have become staples of college football when I'm in Athens. This year has added something different though. When the tailgates are put on hold as kickoff approaches, fans will enter Sanford Stadium. They will walk in the same entrances and sit on the same metal bleachers. There is something different though and I am going to be there because it isn't something one should take for granted.

The Silver Britches will leave the tunnel for the first time in a long time as the undisputed #1 team in the land. It might last a few hours, a few weeks, or a few months if we're lucky. Either way, seeing the Bulldogs as the #1 team will be added to my list of personal UGA football "I-was-there's". 

All I can say is that this is a wonderful time to be a Bulldog fan. The stellar end to last year left the entire University with a sweet but slightly bitter taste in its mouth. We were better than we could have been but we could have been better than we were. Maybe every year gives us that taste in our mouths...

Unless this truly is the year the drill is finished...

---------------------------------------------------------------------

And another thing...

ESPN.com's Chris Low released his preseason all-SEC team today and only running back Knowshon Moreno made the team. I'm not going to say anything because he's a professional but I'd love to see Stafford, MoMass, Tripp Chandler, Geno, JO, Dannell, Rennie, Asher, Reshad or anyone else step up and prove some of media guys wrong. Or you know what. Even better, I hope a few rings and a crystal football fills the void left by a Chris Low snub.

How I Feel About this #1 "Mess"

I'll start by saying that I completely agree with PWD at Georgia Sports Blog.

Plain and simple, an undefeated season is pretty much ruled improbable. It's the SEC, and especially in this day and age, anything can happen. We saw it last year with App State. They shocked the world. Georgia could shock the world just as much by going undefeated.

I say that because our schedule just plain sucks. Just when you thought playing Florida, Tennessee, Steve Spurrier, and Georgia Tech every year wasn't enough, you've got to slap on a trip out to Arizona State, a meeting with a revamped Alabama, a trip to the Plains, and a descent onto Bourbon Rouge. Tack on a Central Michigan squad, led by a poor-man's Tim Tebow in a Dan LeFevour, and you've got arguably the hardest schedule in the country.

He ain't Superman, but the dude can play.

All doubts aside, this team has the potential to do it. If Stafford can respond to all the hype, if Knowshon and Caleb can form a thunder-and-lightning type tandem, if the receivers can respond to all the doubt, if A.J. Green and/or Tavarres King make an impact beyond expectations, if the defense continues to grow with a great combination of speed, athleticism, and power, and Richt leads the team like we all know and believe he can, it can work. It can happen. From here on out, however, all those aforementioned scenarios have to play out to perfection. The question has moved from the potential to the will of this team. We know the talent is there. It just has to blend together methodically and thoroughly. Mohamed Massaquoi, Matthew Stafford, and Asher Allen are three guys among a handfull that I have faith in for leadership both on and off the field.

13-0 sounds mighty nice, almost too mighty. If this team can finish 12-1, it shouldn't have any problems getting a spot in Miami. I'm optimistic for 12-1. I'd be disappointed with 11-2 or 10-2, so there is a fine line where my expectations are drawn. I don't see a repeat of LSU happening for Georgia, especially with the influence of media darlings these days, which I feel we are not a part of.

It's time for the boys to let their play do the talking. Give 'em hell, you sons of bitches.

Go Dawgs!