Conference Championship Weekend and Birthday Drinks

Happy conference championship weekend everybody.

And happy birthday to me.

Here's what this weekend's line up looks like:

ACC

#5 Virginia Tech vs. #20 Clemson

I'm going to take underdog Clemson here. Virginia Tech is a team that simply disappoints me year in and year out. They underachieve. Clemson, though probably still licking their wounds from losing 3 out of the last 4, is going to want to bounce back from those loses and show Virginia Tech that they can beat them twice in one season.

Big 10

#15 Wisconsin vs. #13 Michigan State

Wisconsin is out for for revenge in this one. They lost by a touchdown back in October, and save for an upset loss to Ohio State, have dominated every contestant before and after the loss to Michigan State. A jacked up Russell Wilson and Monte Ball running behind those big hogmolly offensive linemen is going to be tough to compete with. Michigan State looks to be out of luck this time. I'm taking the Badgers

SEC

#14 Georgia vs. #1 LSU

Georgia has played a relatively weak, by SEC standards, schedule this season and have lost in their only formidable games to Boise State and South Carolina. Sure they're 10-2 but it's a soft 10-2. Sure they're rebuilding but it's this year, not the future. LSU has brushed past everyone with ease, except for Alabama (rematch national championship game??) and I don't see it being any different in this contest. LSU wins by a landslide.

Pac-12

UCLA vs. #9 Oregon

whoops....uhhh....I mean

UCLA is only in the conference championship game because USC is bowl ineligible. Oregon and LaMichael James run past the Bruins with systematic ease.



What a great birthday present. Great games, great rivalries, great traditions. And great liquor. Yeah that's right. For my birthday I'm not only going to be watching game after game, but I'll be swigging beer after beer and taking shot after shot to celebrate the glorious day 23 years ago (shit, I'm getting old) when the world was graced by the presence of me. Someone's got to keep the liquor stores in business during these tough economic times. Get your hangover cures ready because shit's about to get real.

Urban Meyer and Something to Ease the Stress

It's ok if most of you don't know who Urban Meyer is.

Compared to most, his tenure as a major college football head coach hasn't been very long; only about 10 years.

But he's accomplished quite a bit. He brought to obscure programs (Bowling Green University and University of Utah) to national prominence in only 4 short years and won 2 national championships at University of Florida in another 4 year span. He retired for the 2010 and 2011 seasons due to health concerns.

Urban Meyer is the reason that Tim Tebow is a household name. At BGU, Utah, and Florida, Meyer was the most innovative and creative coach in the country, adapting his game-plan to his players rather than using inapt players for his schemes. He's highly regarded in the college football realm and achieved more success in 10 years than some coaches do in their entire career.

I used to love this guy as a head coach.

And now I hate him.

Let me quickly make something clear to you about college football rivalries. They're more than just about bragging rights. They're about pride, and prestige. They're the definition of what it means to "leave it all on the field."

The greatest rivalry in the entire athletic domain is the University of Michigan vs. Ohio State University. I'm a Michigan fan. Hardcore. I bleed maize and blue. I was happier than a pig in shit when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 2003 last Saturday. So when I see that Urban Meyer has become Ohio State's newest headcoach, it makes me question the meaning of life.

This adds another dimension to the most storied rivalry in the game. Michigan is currently breaking in first year head coach Brady Hoke rather successfully. The Wolverines are boasting a 10-2 record under Hoke, their best since the 2006 season. Now Ohio State as a proven winner in a head coach, a guy who's been to the big games and came out the other side unscathed.

This doesn't make me want to drink. Stress from school does but that's a blog for another day. But I might have a few more than usual to try and get over the fact that a coach I was once a big fan of has sold out to the other side. Time to raid the liquor cabinet.

More Upsets and a Hangover Cure

#2 Oklahoma State was upset by Iowa State on Friday night.

This gave me plenty of reason to start slugging that tequila I was talking about during the week.

There goes Brandon Weeden's Heisman campaign. Poor kid doesn't have a shot now. It's Andrew Luck's show. Even with a Stanford loss to Oregon last week, it's his trophy to lose.

Speaking of Oregon, after an early-season loss to #1 LSU, they clawed their way back up to the top 5 only to be upset by USC last night. Another week of upsets. Crazy. I love this game.

So what does this mean? First thing it means is that I'm a genius because I went 2 for 2 with my upset picks. No big deal. Don't worry 'bout it. Secondly, it means the BCS is in complete disarray and we'll likely see a rematch between #3 Alabama (soon to be #2) and #1 LSU in the national championship. So, #2 Oklahoma state lost, #4 Oregon lost, and #5 Oklahoma lost. That puts #6 Arkansas in the likely #3 slot which is huge because they play LSU next week. *upset alert*. #7 Clemson lost, sadly. They were the little team that could. So that lets #8 Virgina Tech move up to the possible #4 slot, unless they get leapfrogged by #9 Stanford after VaTech's non-convincing win over UNC last night. Stanford would make for better competition and drama, having a better team than VaTech and the Heisman frontrunner.

Bottom Line. The BCS rankings are shaken up again. For better or for worse.

Tequila. Ughh. Why do I put myself through these things? Everyone has their own idea of the perfect hangover cure; I've heard Big Mac's work, putting butter in coffee, and of course, eating as much greasy food as you can. But mine is simple. Orange Juice. I don't know what it is about this elixer of the God's but it is the only reason I can stand to blog right now. Cheers.

Stay Tuned for my analysis for next weeks matchups.

Week 12 and Tequila

I'm moving past the Joe Paterno/ Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Not to belittle it, but it's just too disgusting and depressing to talk about.

So it's on to week 12 and tequila.

Brandon Weeden and my boys down at #2 Oklahoma State are finally being taken seriously. Everyone has known that their offense is high-powered, but Weeden is steadily moving up voters' Heisman lists. It's about time. The Cowboys play friday night at Iowa State. The week after that is the big rivalry game between them and #5 Oklahoma University. I wish it was next week so we could talk about that game. *sigh*

Anyway, theres a big Big 10 matchup between # 16 Nebraska and # 18 Michgan. I'm happy that Nebraska pulled out a win against Penn State last week, but we're not talking about them anymore. Nebraska is a formidable team but they've seemed to shy away in the big games when it matters most. They're not really finishers. Which is why I'm picking the Maize and Blue in this one. Playing at Michigan, The Big House, in front of over 100,000 wolverine fans, I've got to go with Michigan who has played with conviction this year. Coach Brady Hoke respectably turned around a reeling program and is bringing them back into the national spotlight. I'm okay with their two losses. It's his inaugural season after all. Have to expect a few bumps and bruises along the way. But they're going to want to make a big "We've arrived" statement and they can do it this weekend.

For my upset alert, I'm taking Virginia over #25 Florida State in Tallahassee. Virginia has been a ball-busting team this year, upsetting Georgia Tech, Miami, and Maryland and I don't see them letting the Seminoles getting the better of them in this one. This is a classic trap game for FSU. Watch yourselves.

Tequila

I'm not a big tequila person. But I figure the alliteration of week twelve and tequila kind of warrants me to give it a shot. My budget is only going to allow me to buy something cheap (like that post when I bough Kappy's brand whiskey). But my parents are away so I might sneak into their liquor cabinet and take a shot or two (10) of their Patron. Don't tell anyone!

A Sad Day For College Football

I was hoping all of the scandals were over.

I can live with the fact that Rich Rodriguez had a few extra practices or that Jim Tressel turned the other way while players sold merchandise on the side. I lived with all of the allegations surrounding Cam Newton last year. Hell, we all lived (and still live) with the general publicity surrounding Tim Tebow.

But the latest scandal at Penn State is simply sickening. Let me get one thing straight. I condone drinking and watching football on this blog. It's part of the fun, it adds to the atmosphere. But this scandal makes me want to drink because it's just so depressing.

I'll break it down for you.

Former Penn State assistant coach Jim Sandusky has been charged with sexually abusing 8 boys over a 15 year period. Disgusting. Horrible. Sickening.

Hopefully this guy gets what's coming to him. I think everyone will agree. Now, not to belittle the matter at hand, let me put my college football blinders on and explain what this does for the sport. Joe Paterno is arguably the most powerful man in college football. This guy basically built Penn State University himself, let alone the football program. He's the face of the game. He's a living legend. And now over 60 years of contributions to athletics and to teenagers' growth into men has been tarnished. In a matter of hours.

Joe Paterno is the head coach. He may as well be the president of the university. That's how clout this guy has. So to think that this kind of heinous abuse took place without his knowledge is ignorance. Think John Calipari and Marcus Camby. Same basic principles.

I'm not saying I'm sorry for Paterno, who will probably be fired if he doesn't resign first. I'm saying I'm sorry for the fact that a man once considered the model for integrity and moral fiber is not.

So who's left? Who is going to be, or can be, the pillars of character and virtue in a great athletic tradition? How is the NCAA going to respond? How is Penn State going to respond? What can people do to prevent these kinds of unspeakable act from occurring again?

These are just a couple of the mind-numbing questions that we, not only as sports fans but as members of the human race, have to ask ourselves.

And it's a sad day that we have to.

We Still Cool, Though....

Ok, so Alabama lost to LSU.

We still cool, though.

LSU has proven to me that they're a top contender team. But I'm sorry, I'm still not sold. They got lucky over Alabama. Lucky. And while luck goes a long way in this game, I still think Bama would win in a rematch. I'll tell you why.

Alabama missed 4 field goals. 4!!! It's got to suck to be the kicker. My sympathies bro. There's not a single person in the great state of Alabama that has positive feelings towards that guy. But I digress. Alabama was in scoring range 4 times and they got unlucky. That's at least 12 points. 28 if they went four touchdowns and kicked the extra point. Did the Tide get unlucky. Yes. I'd still take them over LSU any day.

With the beauty of the BCS system, this might actually happen. 'Bama fell 1 lousy spot from #2 to #3. And as much as I have a terribly inappropriate crush on the #2 Oklahoma State Cowboys, Brandon Weeden specifically, I'm not sure they'll hold up well against in-state rival Oklahoma. In fact, even if they win, they might drop in the standings below 'Bama if their win isn't convincing enough. Those BCS voters are a fickle folk.

BUT...

If OSU loses, 'Bama could get jumped by Stanford and Boise State. This scenario is unlikely seeing as how 'Bama's schedule is tougher than those two teams combined, but a college football fan and BCS anarchist can dream.

Here's my point. I am still convinced that Alabama is the best team in the country. LSU, as I've stated many a time before, has great athletes but they're raw. I don't really know what will convince me otherwise.

Probably if they meet Alabama in the National Championship and beat them a second time.

Day Drinking and Game of the Century

It's 10:25 am.

Time to start day drinking.

I got a trusty 30 of Coors Light and College GameDay on the tube. Bama's going to LSU for dinner. WHAT DO WE EAT? TIGER MEAT. Coors Light is ok, a little boring but goes down smooth.

STOP READING THIS AND DRINK AND WATCH COLLEGE FOOTBALL.