Tag Archives: Syracuse

Purple Yeti Roar 45: One True Champion

Hey I’m back for some BCS Fiesta fun!  Kansas State put the beat down on Texas and now they punched their ticket to the Fiesta Bowl to take on Oregon.  I got over that as well as Notre Dame, Alabama, BCS Championship Game, Louisville, Florida, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Northern Illinois, Florida State, Cotton Bowl, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Rose Bowl, Wisconsin, Stanford, Heart of Dallas Bowl, Purdue, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Tulsa, Liberty Bowl, Oregon State, Alamo Bowl, Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Michigan State, TCU, West Virginia, Syracuse, Pinstripe Bowl, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Car Care Bowl of Texas, Holiday Bowl, Baylor, UCLA, SEC, Big 12, and ESPN Continue reading Purple Yeti Roar 45: One True Champion

Pick It And Stick It: It’s A Trap!

Hey it’s another week of college football and it’s that time of the week for me to stick my finger where my mouth is and preview the weekend’s onslaught of college football rebellion. For me this week, it’s all about trap games. I’m looking at it from the guise of my Purple Yeti colored pride (Kansas State for the uninitiated) and there’s a chance a trap could be sprung. The rest of the weekend is somewhat ho-hum with a couple of primo matchups and that’s about it. We also get what I believe is the opening of conference play between Kansas and TCU. Let’s kick on the hyperdrive.

So I mentioned that Kansas State may be rolling into a trap game. First off, what’s a trap game? Usually it’s with an opponent that you are supposed to beat but certain circumstances make it ripe for an upset. Kansas State’s trap scenario is two-fold. First off, Kansas State plays North Texas whose head coach is Dan McCartney. Yup the same McCartney that was Iowa State’s head coach and actually beat the Snyder led Cats twice in his run. Second, the following week’s game for Kansas State is in Norman against Oklahoma. Could there be a situation where Kansas State overlooks North Texas while getting ready for Oklahoma?

The short answer is yes. Kansas State already had their trap type scenario play out in the first week of the season (and you could really look at last year too) with a way too close game against an FCS opponent. I think Bill Snyder likes to run these games as a sort of pre-season type match up. You get vanilla things that help get some real game time experience for some young players. You’ll more than likely see this again against North Texas, but it should be enough to top North Texas. McCartney does not have the kind of talent he had at Iowa State. Bill Snyder (who was an assistant at North Texas for a short time) already has his whole team bought into his system and his system demands discipline at a cosmic rate. Kansas State should win this one pretty easily but I would not be surprised if it will be close for most of the game.

The game starts late and I will miss because of a Passion Pit show (hopefully the football gods will forgive me), but I will be able to watch a couple of games before hand. The most interesting one for me, will be the opening Big 12 game of the year and the opening Big 12 game for TCU when TCU heads to Lawrence. Pretty much everyone is giving TCU the game this week. I’m going to do that too. There’s alot of things I’m looking for, however. How will Kansas State alum and TCU head coach Gary Patterson handle the first game for TCU? Will Casey Pachall keep his astronomic QB passer rating up? Will Charlie Weiss have his kids bounce back from an embarrassing loss last week? Will the Kansas players give up in the 2nd quarter? Will the stadium be empty at halftime? All interesting questions and I think we know the answer to all of them.

So the rest of the slate is pretty limp. I’ll miss out on the evening games because of concert, which is a shame because it’s got USC at Stanford as well as Notre Dame at Michigan State and Florida at Tennessee, the only Top 25 match ups of the week. So let’s pick it right now and hopefully I won’t have to stick it. I’m going with Stanford in the upset because of the media hype around USC as well as their poor performance in a win on the road to Syracuse. Pac 12 needs to come down a bit. Michigan State is the Big 10’s only hope and we’ll see them beat my 2nd favorite team in Notre Dame because the Fighting Irish will be too busy celebrating the ACC move and they struggled pretty hard against Purdue. Finally I have Tennessee over Florida because it’s time for that program to come back. All home picks, I know.

I can’t wait for this weekend of games. There’s a special treat coming up too. I’m going to try this new-fangled live blogging thing that just came out from WordPress. What will be in there? I have no clue. Probably pics and snarky remarks that will end up on the Twitter feed at @kccgd. But hey, it will be fun and you should join me. I’ll have one screen on TCU at Kansas and will channel surf the rest. Who knows? There may be some cartoons or infomercials popping up in the live blog. Tune in and find out!

PIck It and Stick It 2011 Week 14: The Final Flingdown

Yessir, it’s the last regular season week of college football!  We have tons of conference championships, but we also have a fairly stacked Big 12 schedule.  I’m sure that won’t happen as soon as they conference actually goes back to 12, but it’s nice to enjoy Farmageddon and Bedlam while the title games are going on.  Bedlam is bigger, though, and I’m pulling for a major breakthrough for Oklahoma State so they can go the BCS National Championship Game.  Much like I’m pulling for a miracle in the picks this week.  I’m not asking for much, just for third place.  So let’s find out what the picks are:

Continue reading PIck It and Stick It 2011 Week 14: The Final Flingdown

Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 11: Just Don’t Pick It There

Okay, it’s getting to be that time of year.  We had a quick preview of it last night.  Well the whole week, actually.  As the season goes on now, there will be some games on every day of the week.   We’ll definitely be knee deep into over Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks.  But already last night was an epic match up between Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.  I just hope they don’t pile on big time games on Tuesdays.  Tuesdays are for me.   Please college football, don’t take my Tuesdays away.  It’s the only real day I can recharge and get juiced for another week fo college football.  I hope they don’t pick Tuesday but I do hope they Pick It and Stick It.  Here’s this week’s fodder:

Continue reading Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 11: Just Don’t Pick It There

Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 10: Tasty Nuggets of Joy

I have to admit, I am getting excited about going to a BBQ this weekend.  It’s fun running around the city and checking out new places, but the home cooked food and good times with peeps you know is always a welcomed change of pace.  It will be a little awkward, however, as I’ll be sneaking my laptop on over to get ready for the big night games heading our way.  I more than likely will not be watching two games at once, but I will be prepared just in case.  For everyone else, prepare yourselves for the Pick It and Stick It.

Favorite
Versus
Underdog
Final Status (CDT)
(21)USC vs @Colorado 21.0 Fri 11/04 08:00pm
@(24)West Virginia vs Louisville 13.0 Sat 11/05 11:00am
(13)Michigan vs @Iowa 4.0 Sat 11/05 11:00am
@(15)Michigan St. vs Minnesota 28.0 Sat 11/05 11:00am
@Texas vs Texas Tech 14.0 Sat 11/05 11:00am
@Connecticut vs Syracuse 2.0 Sat 11/05 11:00am
@Florida vs Vanderbilt 13.5 Sat 11/05 11:20am
@N.C. State vs North Carolina Off (0) Sat 11/05 11:30am
@Iowa St. vs Kansas 14.0 Sat 11/05 11:30am
@(18)Georgia vs New Mexico St. 32.5 Sat 11/05 11:30am
@(9)Nebraska vs Northwestern 17.5 Sat 11/05 02:30pm
@(7)Oklahoma vs Texas A&M 13.5 Sat 11/05 02:30pm
@(19)Wisconsin vs Purdue 25.5 Sat 11/05 02:30pm
(4)Stanford vs @Oregon St. 21.0 Sat 11/05 02:30pm
Southern Miss vs @East Carolina 9.0 Sat 11/05 03:00pm
@California vs Washington St. 9.5 Sat 11/05 05:30pm
(23)Cincinnati vs @Pittsburgh 3.5 Sat 11/05 06:00pm
South Florida vs @Rutgers 2.5 Sat 11/05 06:00pm
@Arizona vs Utah 3.5 Sat 11/05 06:00pm
@Baylor vs Missouri 2.5 Sat 11/05 06:00pm
(14)Houston vs @UAB 27.5 Sat 11/05 06:00pm
@(8)Arkansas vs (10)South Carolina 5.0 Sat 11/05 06:15pm
(20)Arizona St. vs @UCLA 9.0 Sat 11/05 06:30pm
Notre Dame vs @Wake Forest 14.0 Sat 11/05 07:00pm
@(3)Oklahoma St. vs (17)Kansas St. 21.0 Sat 11/05 07:00pm
@(2)Alabama vs (1)LSU 4.5 Sat 11/05 07:00pm
(5)Boise St. vs @UNLV 42.0 Sat 11/05 09:30pm
(6)Oregon vs @Washington 16.5 Sat 11/05 09:30pm

Yeah the night games have high contrasts in terms of spreads.  Kansas State and Oklahoma State have a huge 21 point difference while Alabama and LSU have only 4.5.  Yeah I know Arkansas and South Carolina are close together too at 5.0.  Out of those, I think LSU will make it a toss up.  Sorry but Kansas State blew its wad already and it will be hard to watch via streaming laptop Saturday night.  Meanwhile, earlier in the day, there is nothing exciting.  Big 12 wise, Texas is up big on Texas Tech, but that will be closer.  Iowa State should hang one on the pathetic Kansas Jayhawks.  Oklahoma will run right over Texas A&M.  That Baylor against Missouri will be a shoot out.  Everything else is seriously blah.

PIck It and Stick It 2011 Week 09: This Is Giving Me Chills

It’s Halloween weekend (-ish, it’s on Monday) and the weather is finally starting to reflect that down here in Austin.  I have to get used to it being hot rolling into late October.  This weekend has a big ole cold front blowing through and I’m already feeling the chills.  That’s the sign on fall that I need and it fits right in the super creepy Halloween theme.  The action of the field and on the Pick It and Stick It is still smoking hot.  Keltron3000 is breaking away from the pack but others are hot on her heels.  Kansas State is up for the game of their lives, well more like the game of the year, as they host Oklahoma.  So grab some Candy Corn and let’s check out the picks: Continue reading PIck It and Stick It 2011 Week 09: This Is Giving Me Chills

Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 08: Ready, Flick, Fight!

It’s high time to duke it out on the field for dominance on the college football landscape.  The unbeatens will dwindle down here real soon, if not this weekend, and it’s everyone team for themselves.  Please remember, however, by fighting I mean actually playing tough football.  I do not mean actually fighting the opposing players.  It seems in the last couple of weeks some players have been confused and took to fisticuffs.  Heck 41 players are suspended because of a big brawl that happened last weekend.  Please, when you go out there fight well in terms of football, not Mortal Kombat.  Now, it’s time to go over the Pick It and Stick It and look for some fatalities.  Finish Him!

Continue reading Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 08: Ready, Flick, Fight!

Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 06: Pick the Bigger One

I have to say I’m a little giddy at the news that TCU will be accepting the offer to join the Big 12.  Yeah, I know that they turned the gravy train around from the Big East but they are a better fit and I’m sure they were a little shakey about that conference after Pitt and Syracuse decided to leave.  Yes, the Big East is in HUGE trouble, and now it’s the Big 12’s turn to take a deep breath and grab a couple of more teams.  In fact, I’d say it’s high time for the Big 12 to Pick It and Stick It!  Speaking of which, we have another exciting weekend of action on the field and on your pick sets.  Let’s go over the list:

Continue reading Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 06: Pick the Bigger One

Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 05: Time To Play For Real

Conference play kind of opened up last weekend for the Big 12, but this weekend we have a couple of head to head match ups.  I don’t know which game will be more exciting, the Texas vs Iowa State or Kansas State vs Baylor.  The obvious is the Kansas State game but if you remember last year, Iowa State went down to Austin and beat the Longhorns.  The local media around here is chirping about how it’s a revenge game but the player interviews talk about how they expect to handle Iowa State easily.  We’ll find that out Saturday as well as just how real Kansas State’s defense really is.  Here’s this week’s Pick It and Stick It: Continue reading Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 05: Time To Play For Real

Crib Sheet: Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

So the deed is finally done.  Texas A&M and the SEC made it official.  Now last week, we found out that the Big 12 was staying together.  We also found out that Dan Beebe resigned, at the request of Oklahoma and some others.  Connected sports guy Chuck Neinas was setup as the interim Big 12 Commissioner.  What else?  The 1st and 2nd tier television rights are on the table.  That’s fine for Texas because the LHN is 3rd tier, noinch!  The athletic directors all met and were saying they are committed to keeping the Big 12 alive.  Although, it seems Missouri’s foot is still out of the door.  Worse yet, the reason Oklahoma wanted the Big 12 to stay alive was because they couldn’t swing a deal with the Pac 12.  So is it safe?  I guess it is for now.  I’ll be certain of it when somebody actually joins the conference instead of leaves it.  Until then, here’s another installment of the Crib Sheet: Continue reading Crib Sheet: Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Pick It And Stick It 2011 Week 04: Sticking Together

Whew!  Another close one for the Big 12.  I swear, the Big 12 is the greatest thing since MTV’s The Real World.  If you want to talk about the best conferences, then the one with the best drama factor definitely is the Big 12.  Yeah, they are staying together but we really don’t know for how long.  So while they hold hands again and tell everybody that things are cool, let’s focus on some actual football.  This week’s Pick It an Stick It kind of reflects the noise off the field.  Like the Big 12, most of the great games are stuck together around 2:30 Saturday.  That’s fine for me and my barspotting trip, but how will it fare for the picks? Continue reading Pick It And Stick It 2011 Week 04: Sticking Together

Pick It Standings Week 03: Pick Alignment

In case you’ve been stuck under a table somewhere, the whole college football landscape is changing right under our noses.  For whatever school, big or large, it’s getting real close to the time where you pick it or lose it.  But before that time comes, we need to go over the Pick It standings for week numero tres.  There isn’t anything as shocking or surprising like the Pitt and Syracuse move to the ACC, but after this week it will start to get fairly exciting.  Let’s check out the standings: Continue reading Pick It Standings Week 03: Pick Alignment

Crib Sheet: Crack that Whip!

It’s a huge week of news on the Crib Sheet so let’s get cracking:

Continue reading Crib Sheet: Crack that Whip!

Crib Sheet: Coaches Go Right Round In the Bowls Baby Right Round

It’s the middle of the bowl season and we’ve had some great games so far.  What’s cool about this time right now, is that coaches are making jumps left and right, either to the NFL or back down from the NFL.  Players are also declaring their intentions for the big time as well.  So while we try to keep up with who’s going where and who’s staying, we get some great bowl action left.  Well, at least through Monday.  Until then, here’s the Crib Sheet: