There’s a lot of great football on tap today. I haven’t followed college football this year as closely as I normally do, so I’m not going to make a pick on every game. But here are my picks for some of the games I’ll be watching today — rationales below.
I think Georgia Tech beats Clemson. Why? I dunno — just a feeling. Mississippi State will roll the Tide, making Saban even more dyspeptic, if that’s possible. LSU will root out the Hawgs.
The Dawgs, still smarting from that beat-down Florida delivered, will take out their ire on the luckless Tigers / War Eagles.
I WISH Miami would beat FSU. I hate both of them but hate FSU more. But the ‘Noles have lured me into false hopes of their implosion too many times this year. I think they beat “The U” like a rented mule.
As for my own Gators, damn, I hope they win. My grandma went to the University of South Carolina, and she will be insufferable over the holidays if the ‘Cocks prevail. But I think the Gators lose, damn it.
What say y’all?
Jade
Absolute blasphemy Betty. ROLL TIDE ROLL. Today Mississippi State gets exposed and the cinderella slippers fall off. The rest of your picks are good.
Felonius Monk
Go Buckeyes! Go Terps! Go Badgers! Go Wildcats!
tybee
just say ‘Nole.
Haroldo
Go the Badgers!
Mustang Bobby
Two of my alma maters (Miami undergrad, Minnesota masters) are on this board and I impishly hope Miami loses and Minnesota wins. The U needs an attitude adjustment. I grew up in Toledo and learned to hate Woody Hayes at an early age since we were closer to Ann Arbor than Columbus.
I’m going to see “Fiddler on the Roof” tonight at game time so I’ll be missing the Miami/FSU game anyway.
Botsplainer
For anybody following my drama, particularly Morzer (who did me a real solid – I owe a bottle of something) communication has resumed. Not exactly pleasant communication, and happening at the gate and over Gogo in flight, but not as apocalyptic as all that. Not completely out of the weeds, but it’s a nice start.
In my male cluelessness, I honestly wouldn’t take “I’m not going to text fight, please find a decent phone line” as “shut up, wife, you’re stupid”. Now that it is out there, I can see how she took it, and acknowledge that I fucked up.
dp
I’m hoping your right about my Tigers versus the Hawgs. After our annual heart-wrenching loss to the damn Tide, I don’t know what to expect from our younguns.
Oh, and I’m pulling for Mississippi State to roll the Tide. I’m at the point where a MSU national championship would be about the most amusing thing left in the season.
Morzer
@Botsplainer:
Glad things are going a bit better, Botsplainer! Enjoy your diving and take good care of yourself.
Morzer
FWIW, I reckon the best football game this weekend is going to be Colts vs Patsies. I am looking forward to watching it at 10.30 this morning.
Botsplainer
@Morzer:
I owe you. Losing this connection shortly, but I just want to express thanks.
Betty Cracker
@Botsplainer: Damn, I missed the drama, but I’m glad things are going better.
Morzer
@Botsplainer:
I am just really glad things have worked out for you. Have fun diving and return refreshed and reinvigorated to your domestic bliss.
Botsplainer
@Betty Cracker:
I was afraid that The Great Silence was going to ooze into a 4th day. She’s in Africa, I’m headed for Bonaire, and we had a huge blowout without being able to sort it. She’s been steaming, I’ve been frustrated and scared, but zero talking was occurring. Now it is happening, and I’m ecstatic.
Mustang Bobby
@Botsplainer: Best wishes, enjoy the dives, and wave hello as you pass Miami.
And best wishes for both you and yours.
JPL
@Botsplainer: I agree with all the sentiments expressed. Do enjoy your trip though.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
@Mustang Bobby: I’m just hoping the Gophers don’t exposed for being the crap team I think they are, though a better class of crap than we’ve had over the
yearsdecades. Even if they lose, make it a close loss in which they play well.In football, that is. I’m actually in Columbus to watch the women’s hockey team play Ohio State and I expect another toasty win this afternoon.
The timing was damned good. Delta had extra shuttles between MSP and Columbus to ferry Ohio State fans to the football game and the return leg was half empty.
JPL
Friends are heading to the stadium to cheer for Clemson and son and his significant other are on their way to cheer on Tech. I’m suppose to say go team. Yeah right, I hope that Tech wins but I wouldn’t pick them.
Dolly Llama
I hope the Dawgs capitalize on Gurley’s return and beat the Barn, but damn if I don’t have the same bad feeling about this game as I had before the Florida game, except worse. For no good reason at all, I think we get boatraced between the hedges. I think Bama beats MSU, Georgia Tech beats Clemson, F$U beats Miami, Florida beats USCe, and Arkansas beats LSU. And I want absolutely none of those outcomes.
JCJ
@Haroldo:
Fuck ’em, Bucky!
JPL
In my world, I’d like Tech to win and Duke to lose. Of course, Duke has to lose another game, too.
My picks..
Clemson
Georgia
FSU
Florida
LSU
Bama
Will there be a prize?
Josie
Yesterday I reported that life is indeed good in my new home. I forgot to add that it could be even better if my Longhorns could manage to beat Oklahoma State and become bowl eligible. Hook ’em, Horns.
Haroldo
@JCJ: Amen..
Gator90
Will be availing myself of the opportunity to drunkenly boo Jameis Winston in person tonight. Unfortunately, though, as long as FSU has him, they can pull out any game in the second half.
Trying to see UF-SC as a no-lose situation. If the Gators win, yay! If they lose, Muschamp’s dismissal is assured (yay).
Morzer
I have to give some not entirely sane props to Driftglass for this fine skewering of two targets with one papercut, as David Brooks might have said on one of his better days:
http://driftglass.blogspot.kr/2014/11/rand-paul-break-government.html
The image alone is, as they say, worth the price of admission. Get yer quatloos out now!
qwerty42
…The Dawgs, still smarting from that beat-down Florida delivered, will take out their ire on the luckless Tigers / War Eagles. …
I think they also go by “The Plainsmen”.
johnnybuck
I’m no Gators fan, but Florida won’t lose another game this season. I don’t know if it was Driskell or what, but they appear to have found their mojo… and Carolina is god-awful.
Howard Beale IV
To fight ebola, the fourth version of “Do They Know its Christmas” by the fourth incantation of Band Aid, is being recorded today in the UK, will be aired tomorrow and released Monday.
Linnaeus
A Buckeyes loss is a victory for humanity. But I don’t see it happening, even if Minnesota has improved somewhat.
tybee
@johnnybuck:
november 29
KG
are these picks against the spread or money line? For entertainment purposes only:
Mississippi State is now a 10 point underdog. I think that’s way too high and they cover, but not sure they win outright.
Florida State at -3 should be a pretty good lock.
I’ll take Nebraska at +6.5, I could see them winning outright against Wisconsin but think Wisconsin probably wins by a field goal.
Also like Arizona State as a 7.5 point favorite, they’ve been rolling lately.
And Georgia at -2.5 should be a win, mainly because I don’t really trust Auburn.
The Dangerman
I’d love to see Mississippi State win but I can’t see it happening. This may be the first and last time a #1 is a double digit dog this late in a year.
FSU will abuse Miami.
Howard Beale IV
http://www.bandaid30.com/
raven
Been out in the field trying out my shock leader on one of my surf rods. Since we go to the beach this week through Dec 1 this is my last game. The summers drag so much waiting for football seems interminable. Every other year I either get the World Cup or Olympics to get me through the dog days but, this year, nuthin. There are so many good games on the box but going to Sanford Stadium for a game like this is something all together different. The Auburn-Georgia series is the oldest in the south and I’ve been going for 30 years. I can’t fucking wait. GO DAWGS!!!!
ruemara
@Botsplainer: good on you. Although, i, personally, hope she saw why what you said makes sense.
raven
Shit, they are all picking Georgia, a fucking death knell if ever there was one.
J R in WV
Well, in spite of my ramblings about being a WVU fan from a very young age, and in spite of the fact that everyone one (else) in my family went to WVU…
I am a Marshall Thundering Herd graduate, and I’m dam proud of their perfect season to date. So I’m big time hoping they beat Rice, doesn’t have to be pretty, doesn’t have to be a lot of points (one will do!) but a perfect season and a trip to a good bowl would be the best thing for the Green family in a long time.
When I was a stu’ent at MU 1980-84 ( I were a non-traditional student at the ripe age of 30 ) they were a poorly coached team that was lucky to win 2 or 3 games.
Doc Holliday (who was a recruiter and coach at WVU for many years) has turned that around, professional coaching and great recruiting, and they look to be a successful team as long as Doc is in charge.
I hope their opponents also improve a little, so that another perfect season in the near future looks a little more perfect.
Anyways, GO HERD! Beat Rice!
Edit to remove dishing on other teams I don’t really care about that much unless they’re in a bowl game against one of my teams…
Howard Beale IV
@Morzer:
Yeah, but the price of admission didn’t mention the amount of brain bleach required afterwards. Yeesh.
Betty Cracker
@Gator90: I like the way you think. Watch Muschump lose this, get the hook, and then come back and beat FSU. Shades of Zook.
Betty Cracker
@johnnybuck: What Florida did right was quit trying to pass, thus eliminating the game-losing turnovers. But you can’t go up against the Ole Ball Coach with a one-dimensional offense. I hope I’m wrong and you’re right because I am a Gator. But I don’t think I’m wrong.
Felonius Monk
@raven: I don’t actually have a dog in the hunt here, but in honor of your recent birthday I will try to conjer up a little extra mojo on your behalf and simply say “Go Dawgs!”
raven
@Felonius Monk: Thanks, I needed that!
Villago Delenda Est
I always root for injuries when SEC teams are involved, but I do hope the Tide can overcome Miss St.
Why?
Well, I’m biased. If Miss St falls, the Fighting Fashion Nightmares will be #1!
raven
@Betty Cracker: Dumb ass fucking call by the genius, it may have worked out but it was dumb.
Felonius Monk
@raven: You are welcome.
Betty Cracker
@raven: It was. I will also be pulling for the Dawgs tonight because one of my most obnoxious cousins is an Auburn fan. Should be a heckuva game!
ETA: Unless Florida wins, of course, in which case we’d need an Auburn win for a shot at the SEC title. Na ga ha pen, though…
Betty Cracker
Fucking idiots!
raven
@Betty Cracker: I’ve got three games on and I’m tying to figure out if I can organize my huge tackle box in the living room without totally trashing the place!
Betty Cracker
I have a “no tackle box in the house” rule ever since I stepped on that Sabiki rig awhile back…
Gin & Tonic
@raven: There are other sporting contests during the summer.
Tommy
Here is a little video for college football fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqKthXGYAOQ
I know, I know many went to college in a place where they won at home. But “Saturday Under The Lights” in “Dead Valley” is a thing most teams don’t win. LSU might be on the road at Arkansas today, but we’ll win.
JPL
It would have been nice if Tech had scored another t.d. but at least they got some points.
Now that ESPN only allows streaming for cable customers, I’m having to listen to the game on the radio. If it warms up a few more degrees, I might bring the radio outside and do rake, while I listen.
JPL
I guess I’m lucky I didn’t see the play where the Tech player got injured. According to the announcers, his leg appears to be broken.
Tommy
@JPL: I don’t need to see that.
My mini-rant. I am less than 200 miles from Columbia, MO and I can’t see the MO game today. With a win today they could win the SEC East. How without cable do I not get this game?
Beatrice
The biggest game today is Macalester College vs Illinois College with the Midwest Conference Title on the line. I don’t know why it’s not on national television. Go Scots!
ellennellee
i luvsya, betty, and all y’all, but….
why is anyone thinking about football?
i’m all for enjoying sports, at least in the abstract, but really? when weighed against the concussions and the violence, both so blatantly ignored, this continued indulgence in the industry is just open hypocrisy, doncha think?
not to mention the gazillions that get sucked into their money machine, all this insanity will just persist until people STOP CARING ABOUT A BUNCH OF JOCKS KNOCKING THE CRAP OUTA EACH OTHER, AND THEN ALSO WHOMEVER GETS IN THEIR WAY OFF THE FIELD.
if you want strategy, switch to soccer, or better, take up chess. at least these reduce the insanity to rich guys hoovering money into their already loaded pockets.
Omnes Omnibus
@Beatrice: It’ll be a better game than Lawrence at Grinnell with the Vikes going for their third win of the season.
JPL
@Tommy: hmm.. I’m twenty miles from the stadium and my choices are OSU/Minnesota and Pittsburgh/UNC
raven
@Betty Cracker: Done!
raven
@ellennellee: Don’t watch it if you don’t want to.
raven
@Gin & Tonic: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Betty Cracker
@ellennellee: If you’re not a fan, it’s pointless to try to explain the value of the game, so I won’t bother. But trust me when I say it’s about a lot more than jocks colliding on the gridiron and the many very real problems on and off the field. And if you think soccer would be a big improvement from a moral perspective, I’d respectfully suggest you Google “FIFA.”
@raven: Gators are keeping it interesting!
raven
@Betty Cracker: Or google Mika Brzezinski since my mom is no longer here to be a scold.
tybee
@raven:
you taking the kite?
raven
@tybee: Yea, I mean it doesn’t take up any room. I’ve done more reading and it seems that conditions have to be just right but what the hell.
Betty Cracker
Gators take the lead!
ETA: And get the ball back! Dayum!
M.C. Simon Milligan
@ellennellee: Like Betty says, FIFA make the NCAA and even NFL look like absolute pikers when it comes to soul crushing greed and corruption. Yet still I search out a feed for the Spain v Belarus Euro qualifier… as if there’s any doubt who will win that one.
Damned international breaks. As if the Vols don’t give me enough heartbreak I eagerly await Schalke’s next exhibition of mediocrity with baited breath. Maybe RdM can turn the Miners around… or maybe VW hires me on directly and I can have an excuse to become a Wolfsburg fan.
Gin & Tonic
@raven: Kite fishing?
JustRuss
yeah, plenty of great football today, but i’ll be working the Beavers-AZ State game. If the last few weeks are any indication, it will not be pretty.
raven
@Gin & Tonic: Yea, it’s an age old form I had never heard of. You launch a kite over the water with a line through a snap fitting like on a downrigger. It takes your bait way the hell out, you snap it and the bait falls into the drink.
This image is a bit different but you get the idea.
Betty Cracker
Refs are getting damn flag-happy!
raven
And the Hokies take the lead!
Betty Cracker
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!
Betty Cracker
That’s a bullshit call right there. Horrible officiating.
raven
Unfucking real. Up 1 4 to got 4th and EIGHTEEN and the Hokies FAKE it and don’t make it. Hands down the stupidest call I have EVER seen.
raven
@Betty Cracker: Jesus your team is awful.
Betty Cracker
Are you fucking kidding me?
Gator90
@Betty Cracker: No, he/she is not kidding you.
Betty Cracker
Christ on toast points, they are fucking killing me. Poor Grandma is about to stroke out too.
Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)
Roll Tide and in honor of Raven Go Dawgs!
Beatrice
@Omnes Omnibus: Found a video feed from Illinois College. Tied 20-20 at the half.
raven
The fact that these two teams beat us makes me want to puke.
Betty Cracker
Fuckity-fuck-shite-feck!
raven
And the best placekicker in the nation MISSES and the Hokies are still winning.
Betty Cracker
@raven: Go Hokies!
raven
@Betty Cracker: Unreal, they won.
Betty Cracker
@raven: Burnsie will be in a foul mood!
raven
@Betty Cracker: Good training for him.
raven
This some evil shit to defend.
raven
Well, they beat us on a horseshit spot.
Roger Moore
@Betty Cracker:
So it’s a day ending in “y”?
Betty Cracker
It’s a good thing my kid isn’t home. She’d be learning even more creative strings of profanities.
raven
@Betty Cracker: And the stupidest interview question follows.
Gator90
Silver lining: I believe we can now rest assured that the Muschamp reign of error will end in 2014.
Go Canes!
Betty Cracker
@raven: Right? Jesus, that was dumb. Oh well. Another nail in Muschump’s coffin, so I got that going for me.
raven
@Gator90: All good Dawgs are pulling to keep him right where he is.
Gator90
@raven: He’s gone. But he’ll always remember his last Florida-Georgia game fondly.
raven
It’s going to be weird leaving for a game after dark.
Betty Cracker
@raven: I bet they are. He’s an UGA mole! That last contest was just a feint to throw us off the scent.
raven
@Gator90: Whatever.
The Raven on the Hill
Today I visited the Washington State Health Plan Finder to find me a health plan for next year and, well, “Washington Healthplanfinder is temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check back later.”
A visit to another Exchange site brings the following information: “The Exchange’s quality control process has determined that 2015 tax credit amounts are currently being incorrectly calculated. As a result the Exchange is taking Washington Healthplanfinder offline in order to resolve the issue.”
The moderately conservative state lege understaffs every state health care service, so far as I can tell and I expect they are working as hard as they can within the limits of understaffing to make the exchange work. Every state health employee I have had contact with has been very helpful and efficient, but also very, very overworked.
Let’s hear it for smaller government!
Betty Cracker
@raven: Is it cold?
LookingForACanadian
Actual fan of the Gophers reporting in, freshly home from the stadium (and very cold and wet) – that was FUN! Nice showing. Ski-U-Mah!
raven
I had emailed the author of the Rise and Decline of the Redneck Riviera after I read the book and he said to give him a shout when we came down. I emailed him a couple of hours ago and he just replied that he’s here in Athens and on his way to the game!!!!!
raven
@Betty Cracker: 38 at kickoff, it’s 47 now. I still have my lined coat from Korea so I’m good.
raven
@LookingForACanadian: How’d you get wet?
Betty Cracker
Whoah, a safety? C’mon other Bulldogs!
LookingForACanadian
@raven: It was snowing the entire game. (still is!) But my dad has one of those all-weather blankets with fleece on the inside, nylon (?) outside, so it could have been much worse.
edit: I should add, just in case my only-on-football threads aren’t obnoxious enough, I’m in Mpls and a season ticket holder for Gopher football. We have about one of these cold/snowy games per year, so I try not to complain too much.
raven
@LookingForACanadian: Ah, I didn’t see that in the highlights.
raven
@LookingForACanadian: I clearly remember when Marion Barber broke his leg against the Illini.
Betty Cracker
73 and sunny here. It’ll be cool enough for the fire pit later, though.
LookingForACanadian
@raven: oh good lord, I do not remember that. I started paying attention in 2003, was it around then?
burnspbesq
Having to root for Florida State really sucks, but Miami has the tie-breaker on Duke in the Coastal if both win out. Duke completely shat the bed against VaTech.
We did win our first-round game in the NCAA tournament in field hockey, however.
JPL
@raven: Have fun..
JPL
@burnspbesq: Maybe they’ll have another bad week next week and then you won’t have to worry about Miami. Tech will win the division.
raven
@LookingForACanadian: No, that it III, this was jr.
LookingForACanadian
@raven: ah, gotcha. have fun at your contest!
Beatrice
@Beatrice: Macalester wins, 30-27!
Mustang Bobby
@raven: If you find any kimchee in the pockets, that should keep you warm. :)
burnspbesq
@JPL:
Have you looked at the schedule? Duke has Carolina and Wake left, both at home. And we have the tiebreaker against GaTech, having kicked your asses on your home field.
If the Noles take care of business, we will be going back to Charlotte.
Now if Dawgs and Cocks can take care of business in their cross-state rivalry games, we’re still going to the Orange Bowl, win or lose against FSU.
Howard Beale IV
The Badgers are giving the Huskers a run for their money.
Betty Cracker
@Howard Beale IV: Go Badgers! I hate Nebraska on general principles.
lectric lady
408 running yards. New NCAA record. Badger Melvin Gordon. If he doesn’t win the Heisman trophy it will be a crime!