Still evolving. Still not sure what this will end up being, but here are the things on my mind while I wrote during Breaking Bad commercial breaks.
1) As podcast listeners know, I've been struggling with being an Atlanta Braves fan while absolutely hating the Atlanta Falcons. The enemy is the enemy and can't be the friend. Sunday was a weird day for that conundrum, as the Braves clinched the NL East while I was jumping around the living room cheering against the Falcons. I thought about adopting a new baseball team before the season but no one stuck out. I knew the Braves' record most of the year and what the standings were, but I watched very few games and didn't get emotionally invested at any point. I'll pull for them in the playoffs and make an effort to get attached, but I think it's a lost venture. I need a switch. There have been plenty of good times and October heartbreaks since the first season I remember -- 1991 -- but it's coming to an end. All my energy is in hating the Falcons. it's 365 days a year. Atlanta is the enemy, and that's the end of it. Thanks for the memories, Braves.
2) If I had a vote…
1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. LSU
4. Clemson
5. Florida State
6. Ohio State
7. Stanford
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma
10. Georgia
3) SEC Power Poll
1. Alabama- Until they lose
2. LSU - The Tigers went into hibernation mode after the big lead
3. Texas A&M - Still think defense costs them again
4. Georgia - Bulldogs dominated the stats. Saturday was fine.
5. South Carolina - Only a 7-point favorite over UCF
6. Ole Miss - Now the work begins
7. Missouri - Indiana isn't awful. Mizzou may be sorta good.
8. Florida - Jeff Driskell is out, but I'm not sure what that means yet.
9. Auburn - AU making a moral victory out of Saturday. That's a stretch.
10. Vanderbilt - It was ugly, but it was a road win, I guess.
11. Mississippi State - Arkansas State 31, Troy 34. Memphis 31, ASU 7. Let's not get carried away.
12. Arkansas - #Karma
13. Kentucky - It's by default
14. Tennessee - There are no words.
4) Quick thoughts from the week of SEC football
a. The Alabama game was what we all thought it would be, and I don't think it means much either way. The Crimson Tide still seems much more beatable than past years because the defense isn't as dynamic. The offense is more so, but it at least stands to reason teams can trade punches and make it a four-quarter game. I guess we'll find out in a few days when Ole Miss heads to Bryant-Denny.
b. LSU was never in trouble on Saturday and coasted the second half. The Tigers are very dangerous and are likely the most complete team in the league right now. Zack Mettenberger is dangerous and has Odell Beckham and Jeremy Hill. The defense remains fast and good. Barring a Rebel stunner on Saturday, Alabama won't have to worry until LSU. The Tigers have a ridiculously tough stretch and will have to be crazy good to navigate it flawlessly.
c. Tre Mason is a heck of a running back. Montravious Adams is going to be a force throughout his career. Nick Marshall throws a nice medium-deep ball. Otherwise Auburn is rebuilding. The Tigers will make a bowl game and keep getting more comfortable with tempo. I saw a lot coming from Auburn about how Saturday was a defining moment. It wasn't. It was a loss where the other team coasted.
d. MSU did what it was supposed to do. I still like Dak Prescott more than Tyler Russell, and there's some talent in the front seven on defense. But the bravado about the win over Troy being anything more than a win over Troy is misguided. It was the first win of three the Bulldogs have to have in the next several weeks. After LSU, MSU has Bowling Green and Kentucky. Win those, and bowl hopes at least remain a dim flicker.
e. Georgia won total yards 641-245 against North Texas. Two special teams plays made it close for a half, but the Bulldogs didn't prove more vulnerable because of that. It was a sleepwalk win. It happens. LSU is up next.
f. A lot of teams would be bad offensively without their starting quarterback, but Arkansas was just a dud on Saturday. Rutgers made tons of mistakes but the Razorbacks couldn't put the Knights away. Then breakdowns gave Rutgers the chance for the win. Pretty sizable rebuilding job in Fayetteville, its seems.
g. Tennessee-Florida: If you can't say anything nice…
5) Quick thoughts about the week of college football
a. Beating crap teams by 70 isn't impressive. It's pathetic. Ohio State was up 48-0 and had thrown on more than 70 percent of its snaps. Think about that. However, Vandy did pull out of that date, so playing Florida A&M wasn't the Buckeyes' fault.
b. There's nothing Louisville can do to impress me at this point. Schedule just way too soft to even be the fun Cinderella.
c. Michigan dropped from 15 to 18 in the AP poll. It wasn't enough. After the Akron stinker, the Wolverines needed a late run to beat UCONN. The same Huskies that lost to Towson.
d. I didn't mind College Gameday at North Dakota State. It was a neat thing on a bad week of major college football. The Bison are an impressive program.
e. Lane Kiffin and Mack Brown just prolonged the inevitable. Man, USC is bad. Texas has talent, but the Horns can't move the ball without David Ash. Texas will beat Iowa State, and then Oklahoma will create the fever pitch.
f. West Virginia managed just 175 yards and had six turnovers against Maryland. Dana Holgorsen's shine is officially gone.
g. Baylor, Washington and Ole Miss are the most underrated teams in the country at this point.
6) Early line thoughts
The Wynn opened Ole Miss as an 18-point underdog, and I thought that was a little high. I expected 11-14, but I'm not stunned. Ole Miss has been solid against the number under Hugh Freeze, and this looks like another one. I think a lot of people are on Bama finally having a breakout at some point. The college football world isn't used to the Tide's defense being potentially vulnerable. I have no idea why Arkansas is only a 3-point underdog to Texas A&M. None. The Wynn didn't post a line. That I can get behind. The three is confusing the hell out of me. I, on first impression, like LSU to win straight up at Georgia, obviously taking care of the 3-point cushion in the process. Florida plays Kentucky and is giving two touchdowns. Quality television that is not.
7) NFL thoughts
a. I said something about the Falcons didn't feel right. I was proved right by that against on Sunday, as Atlanta lost to the Dolphins falling two behind the Saints. Miami is 3-0 and may trip New Orleans, but it's hard to see Atlanta as a true contender at moment. Falcons have a critical home date with New England next week.
b. Speaking of, Tom Brady doesn't have weapons, and the Pats seem like a paper tiger waiting to crumble.
c. Seattle is the best team in the NFC right now, and if it gets home field throughout the playoffs, might as well save the time and send the Hawks to the Super Bowl. No one is going in there and winning.
d. I haven't decided on the Saints yet. Can't run the ball at all, and that negates the screen game and playaction. New Orleans has to run the ball to be successful longterm.
e. The Giants are just abysmal. Eli is a sitting duck in the pocket with no running game and no offensive line. It'll be a wonder if he gets through 13 more games without moderate injury.
f. The Niners are funky. I think the Packers will be fine.
g. I have no major opinion of the Titans, but they are kinda fun. I can get behind that.
h. First time in a while I've been impressed with the Cowboys. Now we'll see if they can be consistent. However, they might have the NFC East by Thanksgiving. It's the worst division in football.
i. Cassius Vaughn got a late interception in the Colts game. Great guy that you have to root for.
8) Congrats to the Ole Miss soccer team after wins over Arkansas to open league play and Arkansas-Little Rock during the weekend. The Rebels are 8-1-1 on the season and have a big one against Florida this weekend. Matt Mott has done an incredible job, and there's a lot of talent on the roster.
9) I like the Newsroom. It's fine, though the season finale was terrible. And I get that Emmys are based off one episode that's nominated and not the entire season of work, but Jeff Daniels getting best actor over Bryan Cranston, John Hamm and Damian Lewis is a travesty. Daniels is good and plays a good role, but he's in there with heavy hitters, and it just doesn't measure up. On that note, I was happy to see Anna Gunn get the supporting actress nod. She's been incredible as Skyler White in the later seasons of Breaking Bad. Breaking Bad won best drama series, and that's fine, though I'd have been OK with a couple of the other choices. AMC has established a heck of a reputation, and it's going to have to put together something soon because currently it's Mad Men, which they irritatingly broke into two parts for the final season, and a lot of nothing. Not on the Walking Dead train. Not watching Low Winter Sun because they bugged me about it too much.
10) Fall baseball started this past weekend. Maybe I'm misreading, but it seems that interest is as down as I can remember to hear about the new guys, especially considering an all-freshman middle infield wouldn't surprise me, and Jay Bell's son, Brantley, is on the team. Carlos Williams going home for personal reasons isn't an immediate dagger. I didn't have him pegged as heavy contributor this season, but man, can he run, and that kind of speed makes some type of impact, so it's not a glossed-over loss either. I'll counter myself a little bit here: There are some intriguing things to the fall, but a lot of the 2014 season will be determined by juniors having bounce back years or finally stepping up into leaders. Will Chris Ellis put it all together? Will Auston Bousfield get back on an upward trajectory? Will the 2011 top-five recruiting class reach some of the promise that was predicted? I don't know those answers. I have guesses, but fall isn't going to answer that. The lights will have to turn on to really know what the Rebels have this season.
This post was edited on 9/23 7:04 AM by Chase Parham
1) As podcast listeners know, I've been struggling with being an Atlanta Braves fan while absolutely hating the Atlanta Falcons. The enemy is the enemy and can't be the friend. Sunday was a weird day for that conundrum, as the Braves clinched the NL East while I was jumping around the living room cheering against the Falcons. I thought about adopting a new baseball team before the season but no one stuck out. I knew the Braves' record most of the year and what the standings were, but I watched very few games and didn't get emotionally invested at any point. I'll pull for them in the playoffs and make an effort to get attached, but I think it's a lost venture. I need a switch. There have been plenty of good times and October heartbreaks since the first season I remember -- 1991 -- but it's coming to an end. All my energy is in hating the Falcons. it's 365 days a year. Atlanta is the enemy, and that's the end of it. Thanks for the memories, Braves.
2) If I had a vote…
1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. LSU
4. Clemson
5. Florida State
6. Ohio State
7. Stanford
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma
10. Georgia
3) SEC Power Poll
1. Alabama- Until they lose
2. LSU - The Tigers went into hibernation mode after the big lead
3. Texas A&M - Still think defense costs them again
4. Georgia - Bulldogs dominated the stats. Saturday was fine.
5. South Carolina - Only a 7-point favorite over UCF
6. Ole Miss - Now the work begins
7. Missouri - Indiana isn't awful. Mizzou may be sorta good.
8. Florida - Jeff Driskell is out, but I'm not sure what that means yet.
9. Auburn - AU making a moral victory out of Saturday. That's a stretch.
10. Vanderbilt - It was ugly, but it was a road win, I guess.
11. Mississippi State - Arkansas State 31, Troy 34. Memphis 31, ASU 7. Let's not get carried away.
12. Arkansas - #Karma
13. Kentucky - It's by default
14. Tennessee - There are no words.
4) Quick thoughts from the week of SEC football
a. The Alabama game was what we all thought it would be, and I don't think it means much either way. The Crimson Tide still seems much more beatable than past years because the defense isn't as dynamic. The offense is more so, but it at least stands to reason teams can trade punches and make it a four-quarter game. I guess we'll find out in a few days when Ole Miss heads to Bryant-Denny.
b. LSU was never in trouble on Saturday and coasted the second half. The Tigers are very dangerous and are likely the most complete team in the league right now. Zack Mettenberger is dangerous and has Odell Beckham and Jeremy Hill. The defense remains fast and good. Barring a Rebel stunner on Saturday, Alabama won't have to worry until LSU. The Tigers have a ridiculously tough stretch and will have to be crazy good to navigate it flawlessly.
c. Tre Mason is a heck of a running back. Montravious Adams is going to be a force throughout his career. Nick Marshall throws a nice medium-deep ball. Otherwise Auburn is rebuilding. The Tigers will make a bowl game and keep getting more comfortable with tempo. I saw a lot coming from Auburn about how Saturday was a defining moment. It wasn't. It was a loss where the other team coasted.
d. MSU did what it was supposed to do. I still like Dak Prescott more than Tyler Russell, and there's some talent in the front seven on defense. But the bravado about the win over Troy being anything more than a win over Troy is misguided. It was the first win of three the Bulldogs have to have in the next several weeks. After LSU, MSU has Bowling Green and Kentucky. Win those, and bowl hopes at least remain a dim flicker.
e. Georgia won total yards 641-245 against North Texas. Two special teams plays made it close for a half, but the Bulldogs didn't prove more vulnerable because of that. It was a sleepwalk win. It happens. LSU is up next.
f. A lot of teams would be bad offensively without their starting quarterback, but Arkansas was just a dud on Saturday. Rutgers made tons of mistakes but the Razorbacks couldn't put the Knights away. Then breakdowns gave Rutgers the chance for the win. Pretty sizable rebuilding job in Fayetteville, its seems.
g. Tennessee-Florida: If you can't say anything nice…
5) Quick thoughts about the week of college football
a. Beating crap teams by 70 isn't impressive. It's pathetic. Ohio State was up 48-0 and had thrown on more than 70 percent of its snaps. Think about that. However, Vandy did pull out of that date, so playing Florida A&M wasn't the Buckeyes' fault.
b. There's nothing Louisville can do to impress me at this point. Schedule just way too soft to even be the fun Cinderella.
c. Michigan dropped from 15 to 18 in the AP poll. It wasn't enough. After the Akron stinker, the Wolverines needed a late run to beat UCONN. The same Huskies that lost to Towson.
d. I didn't mind College Gameday at North Dakota State. It was a neat thing on a bad week of major college football. The Bison are an impressive program.
e. Lane Kiffin and Mack Brown just prolonged the inevitable. Man, USC is bad. Texas has talent, but the Horns can't move the ball without David Ash. Texas will beat Iowa State, and then Oklahoma will create the fever pitch.
f. West Virginia managed just 175 yards and had six turnovers against Maryland. Dana Holgorsen's shine is officially gone.
g. Baylor, Washington and Ole Miss are the most underrated teams in the country at this point.
6) Early line thoughts
The Wynn opened Ole Miss as an 18-point underdog, and I thought that was a little high. I expected 11-14, but I'm not stunned. Ole Miss has been solid against the number under Hugh Freeze, and this looks like another one. I think a lot of people are on Bama finally having a breakout at some point. The college football world isn't used to the Tide's defense being potentially vulnerable. I have no idea why Arkansas is only a 3-point underdog to Texas A&M. None. The Wynn didn't post a line. That I can get behind. The three is confusing the hell out of me. I, on first impression, like LSU to win straight up at Georgia, obviously taking care of the 3-point cushion in the process. Florida plays Kentucky and is giving two touchdowns. Quality television that is not.
7) NFL thoughts
a. I said something about the Falcons didn't feel right. I was proved right by that against on Sunday, as Atlanta lost to the Dolphins falling two behind the Saints. Miami is 3-0 and may trip New Orleans, but it's hard to see Atlanta as a true contender at moment. Falcons have a critical home date with New England next week.
b. Speaking of, Tom Brady doesn't have weapons, and the Pats seem like a paper tiger waiting to crumble.
c. Seattle is the best team in the NFC right now, and if it gets home field throughout the playoffs, might as well save the time and send the Hawks to the Super Bowl. No one is going in there and winning.
d. I haven't decided on the Saints yet. Can't run the ball at all, and that negates the screen game and playaction. New Orleans has to run the ball to be successful longterm.
e. The Giants are just abysmal. Eli is a sitting duck in the pocket with no running game and no offensive line. It'll be a wonder if he gets through 13 more games without moderate injury.
f. The Niners are funky. I think the Packers will be fine.
g. I have no major opinion of the Titans, but they are kinda fun. I can get behind that.
h. First time in a while I've been impressed with the Cowboys. Now we'll see if they can be consistent. However, they might have the NFC East by Thanksgiving. It's the worst division in football.
i. Cassius Vaughn got a late interception in the Colts game. Great guy that you have to root for.
8) Congrats to the Ole Miss soccer team after wins over Arkansas to open league play and Arkansas-Little Rock during the weekend. The Rebels are 8-1-1 on the season and have a big one against Florida this weekend. Matt Mott has done an incredible job, and there's a lot of talent on the roster.
9) I like the Newsroom. It's fine, though the season finale was terrible. And I get that Emmys are based off one episode that's nominated and not the entire season of work, but Jeff Daniels getting best actor over Bryan Cranston, John Hamm and Damian Lewis is a travesty. Daniels is good and plays a good role, but he's in there with heavy hitters, and it just doesn't measure up. On that note, I was happy to see Anna Gunn get the supporting actress nod. She's been incredible as Skyler White in the later seasons of Breaking Bad. Breaking Bad won best drama series, and that's fine, though I'd have been OK with a couple of the other choices. AMC has established a heck of a reputation, and it's going to have to put together something soon because currently it's Mad Men, which they irritatingly broke into two parts for the final season, and a lot of nothing. Not on the Walking Dead train. Not watching Low Winter Sun because they bugged me about it too much.
10) Fall baseball started this past weekend. Maybe I'm misreading, but it seems that interest is as down as I can remember to hear about the new guys, especially considering an all-freshman middle infield wouldn't surprise me, and Jay Bell's son, Brantley, is on the team. Carlos Williams going home for personal reasons isn't an immediate dagger. I didn't have him pegged as heavy contributor this season, but man, can he run, and that kind of speed makes some type of impact, so it's not a glossed-over loss either. I'll counter myself a little bit here: There are some intriguing things to the fall, but a lot of the 2014 season will be determined by juniors having bounce back years or finally stepping up into leaders. Will Chris Ellis put it all together? Will Auston Bousfield get back on an upward trajectory? Will the 2011 top-five recruiting class reach some of the promise that was predicted? I don't know those answers. I have guesses, but fall isn't going to answer that. The lights will have to turn on to really know what the Rebels have this season.
This post was edited on 9/23 7:04 AM by Chase Parham
