As we always do about this time, let's get this started.
From the "Talks too much" studios, went to the park to get the scoop, those same knuckleheads cold shootin' some hoops.
SEC items of interest
There is no shortage of intrigue this week as there are high stakes for a gaggle of SEC teams. Divisional, conference and even national championship hopes are on the line. Bowl eligibility is being hunted.
SEC
Southeastern ConferenceIt's all here and it's happening. (And enjoy it this week. Next week's schedule is so watered-down that even Seattle beer drinkers would know.)
1) Title trek through T-town
Unbeaten and top-ranked Mississippi State heads to Tuscaloosa. The winner holds firm control of its college football playoff destiny. So it goes, it's a Saturday in the SEC West, where every day is a potential elimination or a potential springboard. That said, two big things to watch here: First, Dak Prescott can not afford some of the questionable decisions that have plagued him and the Bulldogs at times this year. The Tide have forever found ways to turn questionable decisions into statement victories. Second, can someone not named Amari Cooper consistently make plays for the Tide. And Mr. O.J. Howard, would you please report to the white courtesy phone. Mr. Howard to the white courtesy phone, please.
2) Deep South's Oldest scorefest
OK, Georgia's offense is on a record-setting pace. Auburn's defense is really cute when they try to tackle. Todd Gurley, arguably the best college football player in the country, returns for the Bulldogs. Duke Williams, arguably the most NFL-ready wide out in college football, will not play for the Tigers. Auburn's holds the slimmest of margins in the oldest rivalry in the deep south. That means little in this one, however. Each team had legitimate national title hopes until a shocking gaffe. Now, which team handles its emotions - the desperation, the anger, the pressure, et al. - should be left on the fringe of the playoff chase. The loser, though, is done and will be viewed as the best three-loss team in the country. That and $4 will get you a cup of Starbucks coffee.
3) Vols-UK bowl shopping
Two teams heading in opposite directions. Two fan bases at the opposite ends of the emotional spectrum that is the rebuilding process in the SEC. Kentucky looked like the bees' knees after a 5-1 start that included an upset over South Carolina. Tennessee has surged back into the bowl discussions after a win over South Carolina. (Side note: It appears that South Carolina may be the college football version of St. Jude. Who gives more hope to more folks than the Gamecocks? God bless you Steve Spurrier.) UK's Patrick Towles has been the best SEC East quarterback over the long haul of the season. UT's Josh Dobbs has been the best quarterback in the conference over the last seven quarters. It's an interesting match-up, but we believe in a few things and inertia is one of them.
4) Florida-South Carolina
Spurrier's swan-song in the Swamp? Quite possibly considering his age (he will be 70 next spring) and the ups and downs of this Gamecocks bunch. While we hope Spurrier coaches in the league for another decade or three, we could see a scenario if the Gators continue their roll and continue the Gamecocks' slide, where Spurrier announces his retirement plans in the bowels of The Swamp on Saturday. That said, we can't help but think of the classic George Jones song, and sing, "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes"... who's gonna stand that tall? Who's gonna play the Opry... We'll the man that coaches Ball.
5) The spread is what?
Yes, LSU is an underdog at Arkansas. Yes, Arkansas has not won an SEC game since 2012 and that was with Mean Gene Chizik prominently involved. Something smells fishy. OK, the last time Arkansas won an SEC game - Oct. 13, 2012, a 49-7 win over Kentucky - Obama was running for re-election and you probably had pretty good insurance from your employer. So it was 25 months ago today. The iPad mini was about to be unveiled. "Taken 2" was leading "Argo" at the box office that week and fittingly the No. 1 pop song in the country was Mumford & Sons' "I Will Wait for You." Arkansas fans slowly nod their heads.
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Fab 4 picks
Some weeks you make bad picks. It happens.
Some weeks you make good picks, and things happen.
That's why it's called betting and not saving. Well, that is if money was involved, but of course it's not because we all know these picks are for entertainment only.
Two late rallies for underdogs to cover last week left us staring at the wrong end of a 3-4 week. But just because a couple of our old business partners let us down last week does not mean we are completely dropping them. Nope, there are a couple of college football teams this year that we believe are the entertainment equivalent of Hyman Roth, and Hyman Roth always made money for his partners.
Last week: 3-4 against the spread
This year: 35-30-1 against the spread
Since the start of the 2011 season: 246-140-6 against the spread
Rice plus-21.5 over Marshall. We caught the Rice train early, and it has been very satisfying. Some would even say it's been very filling, entertainment-wise. It's been a wild Rice ride, too. Three losses to start the year. Six wins - straight-up and against the number - followed. Now comes a trip to unbeaten Marshall and quarterback Rakeem Cato. Marshall's metrics are impressive - it's top 10 in scoring (second at 47.8 per game) and points allowed (sixth at 16.6 per game) and Cato is among the top five nationally in quarterback ratings. Still, sometimes you are in a mood, and we're in a mood for covered Rice. More please.
Football tileSouth Florida minus-10 over Southern Methodist. SMU tried to get us to break up with it last week with a sneaky back-door cover in a 38-28 loss to Tulsa. But we are Smoo, and we love you. You can't hide the fact that you scored 15 fourth-quarter points last week - a feat that is overwhelming considering that you have scored fewer than 15 points in every previous game save one this year. But we also know that Tulsa had lost seven straight before last week. Want a statistical gauge of the badness of our beloved Smoo? The Mustangs can lose with defense (they are last in the country in points allowed at 46.8) and they can lose with offense (they are last in the country in scoring at 9.6 per game). We love you Smoo.
Boise State minus-14 over San Diego State. The Broncos have found their stride offensively under first-year coach Bryan Harsin. After starting 3-2, the Broncos have won four straight and averaged more than 50 points per game during the streak. Two touchdowns is a light price considering, A) the Broncos' hot streak; B) San Diego State is going to Boise and temperatures will be in the teens, a far cry from the expectations of those in Southern California; C) the Aztecs are one-dimensional and offensively challenged. War Blue Turf.
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.Florida State minus-1.5 over Miami. In a lot of ways it's fair to wonder if Jimbo Fisher has made a deal with the darkside. All the off-the-field troubles. All the distractions. Yes, Tallahassee police have said they are no longer investigated Karlos Williams, but Tallahassee police couldn't make a case against Tony Montana in Scarface for crying out loud. Then there's the COUGH, COUGH "favorable" timing that the school investigation of Jameis Winston is moved to Dec. 1, meaning the results likely won't be known until after the College Football Playoff field is announced. Now that's fortunate, even for Jimbo. All these reasons may explain why FSU is arguably the most disliked team in the country. It also gives the Seminoles an "Us-against-the-world" mentality that is galvanizing and motivating for a locker room. Add in that the Seminoles were jumped in this week's poll, and the fact that Miami has suffered double-digit losses in the three games in was an underdog this year, and well, there you go.
San Jose State minus-10 over Hawaii. OK, here's another familiar entry to the weekly picks. If Hawaii goes on the road, our entertainment goes against Hawaii. Add in the fact that the Warriors last week flew more than 6,500 miles to and from Colorado State and now a week later has to go close to 2,500 more to get to San Jose. That's 9,000 miles and two football games in a week. Hello, jet lag. And in truth, when you are weary-traveler-linebacker, how much to you want to fill a hole on third-and-3.
La-Lafayette minus-6 over La-Monroe. In a battle of La's we almost always prefer the one named after a general that helped the American Army in the Revolutionary war rather than the one named for the strange neighbor in "Too Close for Comfort." What's that? Monroe was named for James Monroe - the steam ship in town in the 1800s that was named after the president - you say? Even better. Still, we'll back the team that has A) won five straight over the team that has lost five straight; B) the team that has a senior dual-threat QB in Terrance Broadway and C) the team (L-L) that ranks 28th in rushing yards over the team (L-M) that ranks 124th, especially if weather could be a factor.
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Here it comes
Reportedly the NCAA will meet with Donnie Tyndall on Tuesday. Here's the story on ESPN.com.
The NCAA is looking into potential violations involving Southern Miss, where Donnie T was before coming to Knoxville. His first game with the Vols is Friday against VCU.
From the report:
"We have an extensive vetting process with all potential coaching candidates, including very specific conversations with the NCAA and school officials at Southern Miss regarding compliance during Coach Tyndall's tenure there, during which no issues were brought to our attention," Tennessee athletic department spokesman Jimmy Stanton said in a statement.
Tyndall, 44, said late last week that he had not been contacted by the NCAA. However, he will meet with the NCAA on Tuesday and has retained the counsel of Stu Brown out of Ice Miller's Collegiate Sports Practice in Indianapolis.
Not sure what will come of this. Certainly nothing from that investigation can be pegged on Tennessee.
That said, when the fan base said they wanted someone more like Bruce Pearl to replace Counzo Martin, well, there you go.
Interesting times ahead, and if there is major NCAA troubles, that would seem to be a much bigger issue for Dave "The Hit Man" Hart, the UT AD, rather than the program.
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This and that
- With the hay in the barn, the Mocs football brood heads to Tennessee Tech. UTC is much better than the Golden Eagles. (Rushmore of worst color-themed nicknames: We'll go Golden Showers, Green Teeth, Yellow Fever, Pink Eyes. Whatcha got?) Interesting to see how the Mocs handle their BID-ness and avoid the inevitable let down.
- On the eve of college hoops starting around the country, this is hardly the tune-up you're looking for. Memphis lost 74-70 to Christian Brothers, a Memphis Division II college.
- Speaking of Memphis, five-star hoops prospect Skal Labissiere is set to announce his college home for the next year or so today. And since he's a five-star, and UK coach John Calipari collects those like the Mrs. 5-at-10 acquires shoes, here's thinking the kid heads to Kentucky.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates his no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles in this June 18, 2014, file photo.- Congrats to Clayton Kershaw for winning his third Cy Young in the last four years. And congrats to the guy from Cleveland who won for the AL Award. Kershaw is going to be an all-timer. The Indians dude, man, not since Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn has someone emerged on the scene that quickly in Cleveland. Just a bit outside.
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Today's question
Gang, feel free to chime in on any of the above.
Also, we have some mailbag space, so there's that.
We will tip the visor to the two-year anniversary of Murray Arnold's death. Moment of silence please.
Brooklyn Dodgers' infielder Jackie Robinson is a photo from April 18, 1948.-
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Thank you.
As for today's question, well, let's reach back for one. On this day 32 years ago, Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini fought and knocked out Duk Koo Kim on Network TV. Kim died four days later, and the sport of boxing was forever going to be changed on a lot of levels.
It was a cross-road moment for an entire sport.
What's our Rushmore of the path-changing moments in the sports history?
We'll go Jackie Robinson, Super Bowl III, Kim's death and the forever change for boxing that it brought and N.C. State's miracle in the 1983 NCAA tournament.
Whatcha got?