Let's just go straight to football, and hold college football alignment, Georgia analysis, some rules and other stuff for later.
And there will be a mini-review of Georgia-USCE as well. But kickoff is 40 minutes old. I'm late.
OOPS
Our first oops is leaving some of today's ramblings on another computer, which is at the office. So we'll be updating that little bit later on.
The second oops belongs to the Falcons and Steelers, preseason picks for the Super Bowl on more than one sheet. They got beat by a combined 46 points, courtesy of Chicago and Baltimore.
Granted, the Bears and Ravens aren't the Raiders and Panthers, but still.
On the other hand, as I keep saying, there are no rings for September.
More NFL later.
PEACH STATERS
The quickies:
Coastal Carolina at Georgia: It's pretty simple.
Mark Richt has to put on a visor and be mean. He has to do what he doesn't do much of: show a killer instinct and keep the foot on the gas.
And Coastal Carolina isn't a dogmeat I-AA opponent. The Chanticleers are 148th in the Sagarin Ratings, ahead of the likes of Tulane and Memphis and just behind Florida Atlantic and UNLV. That puts them in the top 30 of I-AAs in that ranking.
As usual, expect a sluggish first quarter. But Georgia has to get a big lead early. The Bulldogs have to be up 28 or more in the second quarter and start playing those backup offensive linemen and linebackers to build depth.
And they have to lead by 31 or so in the second half. Even if the score is closer, the game can't be, and games every day are/aren't closer than the score.
Georgia 47-10.
Georgia Tech welcomes its first challenge of the season with Kansas coming to The Flats.
This isn't much different on paper this year than it was last year, and the Jayhawks survived for the mild surprise win.
It's worth noting that Tech is mediocre in rush defense and Kansas is 10th nationally in rush offense against basically the same early schedule as Tech.
And Kansas has been putting up some yards, 490.5 on average, still behind Tech's 629 yards.
The suspense remains: Can Tech keep up this passing game? The Jackets are first in efficiency and 24th in yards. KU is 113th in pass efficiency defense and in passing yards.
Tech 37-30.
KICKIN IT OFF
Auburn at Clemson: Enjoy the meeting of the future SEC buddies.
Actually, enjoy the game, because who knows? Auburn is blessed and Clemson is flopping. Dabo Swinney could nudge Mark Richt from the hottest seat with a loss, or at least a bad performance.
Neither team stops the run well at all or puts pressure on the quarterback. Of course, Auburn has played a better schedule so far, so that give the Plains Tigers the advantage.
On the other hand, it's a huge game for the Upstate Tigers, who need to play some good football for momentum with Florida State coming to Howard's Rock next week.
It's hard to pick against a team until it loses. Until now.
Clemson 27-24.
Ohio State at Miami: How many people will be in the NCAA investigators suite at this one?
The Buckeyes were lucky last week, but got to work on the problems. The Canes were off last week, and now Jacory Harris starts at quarterback.
I smell transition problems. Playing at night helps negate a heat advantage for Miami.
Ohio State 30-24.
Oklahoma at Florida State: Two top-5 teams in prime time. A nice capper on the day.
The teams are even in so many ways, so watch special teams.
Florida State 28-24.
Tennessee at Florida:
I remain off the Charlie W. bandwagon, although I feel for UF QB John Brantley.
Still, Florida hasn't been sharp so far in turnovers and special teams, and UT QB Tyler Bray is pretty good.
This one is mostly some hunches.
Tennessee 28-24.
Quickies: May the nation pull for UCLA, today's opponent for the Greedhorns; California should be ashamed of itself for playing Presbyterian (a cross-country I-A vs. I-AA?); Navy will inspire three visor tosses by halftime in making South Carolina sweat before the Gamecocks gain a smidge of control.
LOUGHDMOUTHINGS
If the studio show starts going to the tweets and Facebook, I'm gone. It's absolutely the worst "segment" in the world, and apparently a job given just to get some female scenery on the stage for basically:
"OK, let's see what the drunk narrow-minded nitwits say about everybody else sucking and how they rock WOOOO HOOOO."
Frankly, we all have access to the simplistic bellowing of of buzzed bozos who have a computer and can remember their sign-ons on Saturday.
Ditto the political shows, which offer even less insight from a challenged nation. If I want a simpleton's opinion, I'll ask somebody I know who's in that 72 percentile of simpletons. ...
Syracuse and Pitt are reportedly looking to the ACC.
Thanks, Texas and ESPN, you punks. Let the chaos and greed commence. For a decade. Tomorrow, my BCS conference alignment that's been sitting in a file for a month or so. ...
It's a highlight of the Saturday to see who Lee Corso picks. Honestly, they clearly have fun doing it, and that makes it fun to watch. People take this stuff way too seriously.
Incidentally, Lee only missed Mississippi State last week. And he picked Georgia over Boise State.
Making predictions is a "no win" deal" in a paranoid, illogical world. Takes the fun out of it. ...
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel is watching Jay Leno?
"Since Rick Perry has been governor of Texas, 234 criminals have been executed. That's the difference between Texas and California: In California, those criminals would have been given tryouts for the Raiders."
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