Counting down to the real start of college football

Well there were a handful of games this past weekend, with Hawaii’s victory over Colorado State the most meaningful. Speaking of Hawaii, they won the Little League World Series yesterday. Little League makes me remember why I love sports and as long as the parents are out of the picture (and broadcast), it is still innocent, or at least less tainted. I will have to spew some college football predictions in this post, but first let me recap what was a cool weekend of prep football. Crestview beat Bay 68-0. It was 55-0 at the half. I didn’t watch much of it and don’t care to watch any game that is so one sided. Also think some mercy needs to be shown and call the Dawgs off when it is out of hand, and maybe they did play the 9th graders in the 2nd half, I don’t know. Better save some of those points for the trip over to Mississippi, where Ocean Springs St Martin is waiting. A 2-0 team who was a playoff team last year, I expect they will not get rolled 68-0. Even with my distaste for massacre games, CHS did look like the talented team that we have been expecting. Stay humble boys and go win a big out of state match up for Florida.

Niceville fell to Lincoln. St Thomas Aquinas whacked DeMatha. Mater Dei wacked Bishop Gorman. Hoover whacked Pinson Valley. Maybe the best game I saw was the comeback Warren Central pulled to beat Louisville Trinity. Gutsy. Dr Phillips got spanked by a good Georgia team. This weekend, including the Crestview game, here are some others I will be keeping an eye on: St Johns from Washington DC area will go down to Birmingham to take on Hoover. Hoover does not lose very often, in state or out of state. Last week they SPANKED Pinson Valley with Auburn QB commit, who seemed to try to do it all by himself – a very bad idea. Bergan Catholic New Jersey will play Grayson Georgia and it should be a dandy! Deerfield Beach FL, will take on Georgia power Buford (smaller classification, but Georgia’s top team can PLAY). Another FL GA game is Wekiva vs N Gwinett. There are also a couple FL vs AL games with Dayton Mainland and Chaminade playing Huntsville schools Bob Jones and Muscle Shoals. Couple of big match ups in Ohio. Colrian and St Xavier in the Cinci area and St Ignatious vs Mentor up near Cleveland.

College time and the first thing is here is a great site to bookmark: http://www.gameviewingguide.com/ OK, the best programs in college football are: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin and Georgia. Penn State is there and Auburn is close. Miami is close. Texas is coming. USC is talented, Notre Dame is talented. UCLA under Kelly will get good. Nebraska under Frost will get good quick. Mich State should be good this year, and I think South Carolina is close…kind of. Florida has good football players, but the first year under a coach is iffy most of the time and the SEC is not nice. The Tennessee game is huge for the Gators, as I expect the Vols to be much improved. Maybe not improved enough to beat West Virginia on Saturday, but still.

Florida State also has a 1st year coach, so again, I don’t feel as sure of what to expect. Like UF, FSU has plenty of good football players. Do not expect them to be good enough to beat Clemson, but for the Noles, the Miami game is key. As it has been so many times over the years. There are hundreds of media predictions out there, so I don’t get points for having special insights, but here are my picks: Miami and Clemson to play in the ACC Championship Georgia and Alabama in the SEC Texas and Oklahoma in a rematch for Big 12 Wisconsin and Ohio State in the big10 Washington and Utah in the Pac. The Playoff will have Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia, as much as I hate including the Urban Liar’s team. Clemson is my pick to win it all, and it will be the long hair true freshman who is the QB when it counts. Last night, Northwestern and Purdue was worth watching. UCF demolished UCONN and look to be a force again this year even with Scott Frost gone on to Nebraska. Tonight, Duke vs Army will be watchable only because I like Duke and not too many other good games on. Western Kentucky at Wisconsin will be close for about 59 seconds, not because Western is bad, but the Badgers are huge and legit. Will just out physical the smaller team. Colorado and Colorado State has some value just because in state rivalries are “throw out the record books” sometimes. Don’t think Bobo has a long future with the Rams, but I remember him as a high school QB in Thomasville GA! Then on Saturday it is a FEAST of football! The best early games are Ole Miss v Texas Tech and FAU vs Oklahoma. Oklahoma should win, but Lame Kiffin’s Owls will make them work for it. The early afternoon slot has Tennessee and West Virginia playing in Charlotte. Hope the Vols can get Will Grier to throw it to the Orange team a few times, and establish power running game. The Marquee game is Auburn vs Washington! Hot diggity dog! Gators play Charleston and I hope our QB from Wakula has improved a bunch! SEC play will get here fast.

North Carolina plays Cal in an ACC vs Pac whatever match up. Heels are declining… Then the night time slate has MTSU v Vandy in a local game. Alabama will over power Louisville. Michigan vs Notre Dame should be a good one to watch! LATE late we have BYU Arizona and Navy at Hawaii. I hope to watch some of those games before passing out. Don’t stay up as late as I used too, and I had BOTH knees operated on Thursday, so I’m gobbling pain pills for a few days. Then on Sunday night, LSU and Miami go at it.

Finally, the Monday Night Football – college style is Virginia Tech in Tally to tangle with the Seminoles. Like the Hokies young coach, but sure hope FSU can hold serve at home and get Willie Taggert’s legacy started off right. Deondre should find some open receivers and Cam Akers should be able to get some nice stats against a young Foster defense. LIFE IS GREAT! Go Crestview, Go Gators, Go Vols and Go Noles.