ummmm........
Extremely normal.
ESPN's experts pick division, conference and national champions. As an Alabama fan, this just makes me nervous . . .
2013 NCAA Football Thread
- Thread starter Wrymouth3
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North King
blech
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Yeah I hate it when people point out consistent, sustained success and extrapolate based on that.
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
Hey, past performance is not an indication of future results, just ask my ex-wife *rimshot*
In SEC preseason injury news:
Florida loses their RT for the season, and LSU loses their LG.
The LSU injury was expected and they've got mountains of bodies waiting for a shot behind him, but it's still a loss. The Florida news is more worrisome, as they already had the toughest row to hoe of the Eastern contenders, schedule-wise . . .
In news that will shock no one news:
ESPN has named Jadeveon Clowney the SEC's best player. Tough to argue . . .
In news that hits close to home news:
The Wall Street Journal -- which has a bizarre preoccupation with Alabama football -- points out that Alabama fans are getting bored with all this winning. The best fact from the article supporting this argument is that only 70% of student tickets were used last season.
It's like I pointed out at the start of last season. It's great that USC was #1 and bound for greatness, but from a fan's perspective it kind of sucked that they're only going to play in a couple of potentially close games that year.
It's also why so many Alabama fans are pulling for Manziel to play on Sept 14th. We just want to see our team play in an interesting game . . .
And speaking of Manziel:
The NCAA finally interviewed Manziel Sunday, for six hours. If there is any chance that Manziel sits this season, I think it comes from this interview. I don't see any way that the NCAA ever proves he did anything that would make him ineligible, so their only other chance is to prove that he lied to them at some point over those six hours . . .
In SEC preseason injury news:
Florida loses their RT for the season, and LSU loses their LG.
The LSU injury was expected and they've got mountains of bodies waiting for a shot behind him, but it's still a loss. The Florida news is more worrisome, as they already had the toughest row to hoe of the Eastern contenders, schedule-wise . . .
In news that will shock no one news:
ESPN has named Jadeveon Clowney the SEC's best player. Tough to argue . . .
In news that hits close to home news:
The Wall Street Journal -- which has a bizarre preoccupation with Alabama football -- points out that Alabama fans are getting bored with all this winning. The best fact from the article supporting this argument is that only 70% of student tickets were used last season.
It's like I pointed out at the start of last season. It's great that USC was #1 and bound for greatness, but from a fan's perspective it kind of sucked that they're only going to play in a couple of potentially close games that year.
It's also why so many Alabama fans are pulling for Manziel to play on Sept 14th. We just want to see our team play in an interesting game . . .
And speaking of Manziel:
The NCAA finally interviewed Manziel Sunday, for six hours. If there is any chance that Manziel sits this season, I think it comes from this interview. I don't see any way that the NCAA ever proves he did anything that would make him ineligible, so their only other chance is to prove that he lied to them at some point over those six hours . . .
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
Warren St. John's profile of Nick Saban is finally up online at GQ. It's pretty awesome, if only because it correctly uses 'Alabamans' instead of 'Alabamians' . . .
North King
blech
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No, but it's a pretty good predictor. It's not like the greate and noble Alabama Crimsone Tide has been replaced wholesale by a team of middle schoolers.
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
Well, they were middle schoolers not too long ago 
And we're returning fewer starts on the offensive line than anyone else in the SEC. And that actually is a good indicator of future results, historically speaking . . .
And we're returning fewer starts on the offensive line than anyone else in the SEC. And that actually is a good indicator of future results, historically speaking . . .
North King
blech
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Yeah, except every team deals with turnover, the OL is full of top recruits, and nothing indicates Alabama will somehow regress seriously. Y'all really need to stop whining when you're on a ridiculous championship streak; it's really annoying. 
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
See, that's just untrue. Every team has turnover, but if we're returning the fewest starts then we're dealing with more turnover, kind of by definition. Nor is the line 'full of top recruits'. Reading from left to right, our O-line goes 5*,4*,3*,3*,3*. I mean, It's nice that we've got Cyrus Kouandjio out there at left tackle, but the rest of the line is pretty unexceptional by SEC standards. And we don't need to 'regress seriously' to go 10-2, and 10-2 would suck pretty hard if you look at who we play.
All that said, yeah, you're right, we are pretty great
But that doesn't mean there's no room for concern or improvement
All that said, yeah, you're right, we are pretty great
But that doesn't mean there's no room for concern or improvement
North King
blech
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Oh no! A part of our team is just solid, not unexceptional!
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
'not unexceptional'? That's sort of a double negative isn't it? I mean, I hope most of our team is not unexceptional. We're shooting for championships here . . .
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
Yeah, it makes no sense, but I don't care . . .
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
Not likely. Perhaps the reverse. Perhaps . . .
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
I think it should be. SCAR's favored by double digits, but lots of SEC folks are picking this one to be a nailbiter, or even for UNC to win outright. Ole Miss/Vandy should be pretty good in game 2 as well.
Actually, the opening weekend SEC slate is uncharacteristically challenging. We're looking at two pretty much guaranteed losses, with maybe eight or nine teams playing in very losable games. I'm calling for three losses, but if the SEC goes, say, 9-5 on opening weekend, what are all the talk shows going to be about next week . . ?
Actually, the opening weekend SEC slate is uncharacteristically challenging. We're looking at two pretty much guaranteed losses, with maybe eight or nine teams playing in very losable games. I'm calling for three losses, but if the SEC goes, say, 9-5 on opening weekend, what are all the talk shows going to be about next week . . ?
I dunno, I feel like UNC's QB is going to have to play out of his mind for UNC to win. That quick strike hurry up offense might be able to keep him upright, but the Gamecocks can throw the ball around a little bit too. I doubt that 20 points would be enough for the Tarheels to win, and I dunno who is running the ball now that Geo is gone.
I could see them covering. Winning would be hard.
I could see them covering. Winning would be hard.
ummmm........
Extremely normal.
I like Fedora's offense in year two, and I like UNC's CBs vs. either of SCAR's QBs.
I'm not saying it's going to happen, I'm just saying it's been a popular pick.
But obviously, either Ole Miss or Vandy is going to lose, and Miss State is pretty much a guaranteed loss as well.
SCAR, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia and LSU may all be favored, but they're all playing tough week one opponents that are capable of pulling off the upset.
Upsets at Florida and Auburn would be more shocking, but aren't outside the realm of possibility.
So basically, we've got five of fourteen SEC teams that are 'sure things' in week one, and one of those will come at the expense of another SEC team. For week one, that's a lot of entertainment . . .
I'm not saying it's going to happen, I'm just saying it's been a popular pick.
But obviously, either Ole Miss or Vandy is going to lose, and Miss State is pretty much a guaranteed loss as well.
SCAR, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia and LSU may all be favored, but they're all playing tough week one opponents that are capable of pulling off the upset.
Upsets at Florida and Auburn would be more shocking, but aren't outside the realm of possibility.
So basically, we've got five of fourteen SEC teams that are 'sure things' in week one, and one of those will come at the expense of another SEC team. For week one, that's a lot of entertainment . . .
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