The subtle tax time date
I work in a field where tax filings matter. October 15 is a big day in my world and, thusly, I'm swamped, in a Gator offense sense. I must be brief in ruminating this week. My apologies to those of you that hang on every one of my written words.
Georgia Georgia'd
As has come to be expected in the Mark Richt era, Georgia will underperform at one or more points during the season. Not that every team that isn't presided upon by the great Saban doesn't have it's underperforming moments, but Georgia's are more predictable. Just when the stage is at its biggest, it will happen. No, Missouri isn't the "it" game on Georgia's schedule. in fact, the Tigers, until yesterday perhaps, were just a passing thought in the world of the SEC. Long time Dawg fans didn't likely see a difference between Missouri and, say, Vandy. And who could blame them? The Missouri debut in the conference was tepid at best, and overshadowed by Texas A&M and their own Johnny Football. That said, Missouri was coming into Athens yesterday as an undefeated team - maybe the quietest undefeated team in a major conference. Well, they are still undefeated. It's tough to down the Dawgs for this given the rash of injuries that plagued them but the truth is this could be foretold. Georgia's defense, prior to injuries, was awful by SEC standards. Heck, by any standards. It was only a matter of time before a team with a capable offense would outgun them. And now you know why Clemson won too.
Oklahoma Oklahoma's
Different year. Same Bob Stoops. Shoulda seen it coming. In a week where the sports air heads were talking about the margins by which the Sooners would stomp Mack Brown's inept crew, up rose the soft tendencies of Oklahoma. Stoops has over a decade now of games where his teams simply don't show up. The Red River battle was the latest in the series. Mack Brown was as lame a target as one could pick yet here were his Longhorns, finally looking like a team made up of the 4 and 5 star recruits that they are. And there, on the other side of the river, stood Stoops troops, wondering why the Longhorns didn't simply hand them the game. I don't like Mack Brown or Texas, which makes me not like the Sooners.
Stanford Pac 10'd
#1 - I'm really struggling calling it the Pac12. I just can't.I made the switch from Pac8 just fine but this one...too much. Every year, a Pac10 behemoth goes down in mysterious ways. A few years ago, it was the Stanford Cardinal - long term doormat, that upended the golden boy USC Trojans as 41 point underdogs. This year, Stanford fell on the road to Utah, a team they had no business losing to. The Utes wins, prior to yesterday were against Utah St., Weber St., and BYU and, outside of Weber St., none were decisive. Stanford, on the other hand, weren't exactly world beaters but looked like they had all the answers and were the best bet to upend the Ducks in conference. Now THAT designation goes to the UCLA Bruins - who just keep winning.
Michigan Big10'd
Props to the Big10 for not changing its number (yes I realize the Big12 stymied it but still...) Michigan has been edging out inferior competition all year long - until yesterday. Goo for Penn State. Lord knows its fans need a boost. Michigan proves the case that the Big10 is not what is once was. It really hasn't been for some time. It also proves why people are looking skeptically at Ohio State.
ACC is on stage
Now the stage is set for the ACC to look like something. FSU Clemson next week will be a #3 vs #4 ish match up and the biggest thing to hit the ACC since Miami last won a title and then was robbed of a second by a phantom pass interference call. Come on ACC - don't screw it up. BAHAHAHAHA - like THAT won't happen.
