Tag Archives: USC

Purple Yeti Roar 42: Fun Fun Fun Football

Okay so I didn’t watch football this weekend.  I know, it kinda sucks.  But hey, I did get to see some tasty music at Fun Fun Fun Fest.  I make amends by talking about what I missed, which includes Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Collin Klein, Daniel Sams, Texas, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor, TCU, Gary Patterson, Bill Snyder, Notre Dame, USC, Pitt, Oregon, Alabama, LSU, Les Miles, Texas A&M, and the BCS Continue reading Purple Yeti Roar 42: Fun Fun Fun Football

Purple Yet Roar 41: Your Next Opponent Is The Most Dangerous

Okay back to a regular schedule and back to some exciting college football.  Kansas State blew out Texas Tech and a bunch of other things happened.  The BCS picture got way clearer but it’s still a muddy mess.  Look for all of that and Texas, Kansas, TCU, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama, Florida, the BCS, and USC. Continue reading Purple Yet Roar 41: Your Next Opponent Is The Most Dangerous

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!

Dart Board Predictions 2012: Just Make Sure You Don’t Touch Anybody

Yup it’s time I wing them again.  I don’t like making things ultra official and professional (note the website) and I will follow that same lack of format for another Pick It and Stick It Special.  It’s Dart Board Predictions time!  I don’t keep track so if you want to hit me up on the Twitterz (twitter.com/kccgd) or email ([email protected]) and let me know just how smart or dumb I am.  So with that out of the way, let’s sharpen up the darts and start tossing.  Get out of the way.

  • I for some reason kept picking Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden to kick the bucket on the field.  I was wrong on both shots (but there’s a chance with Bobby still).  This year I will predict that NO ONE will die on the field.  Practice field doesn’t count.  I know about the sickle cell.
  • After capping off the offseason with a newly announced college football playoffs, college presidents will realize the folly of their way and go back the BCS system.  The robots will be replaced by committee members.
  • Brent Musburger starts to fade as he delves into dementia not unlike Keith Jackson 10 years ago.  The only difference, he will still shill and sound super excited.
  • Hey I picked a Big 12 Champion, so who will that champion play?  Pretty easy, it’s BCS bowl bound for Oklahoma against Virginia Tech because Frank Beamer.
  • So that means that the Hokies will win the ACC again and I’m not sure anyone will really care.
  • With the WAC shutting down, you’ll see other lower tier conferences going away.  I’m looking at you Sun Belt.
  • Charlie Weiss will get so frustrated at Kansas, that his front butt will lash out and strike a player.  Unlike his almost twin in old head coach Mark Mangino, no one will seem to care about it.  Poor blowhard Weiss.
  • The Big East will be renamed to The Big after they finish this year announcing new members Hawaii and Japan.
  • Texas A&M and Missouri do okay in the SEC this year.  After they get done cleaning up the table when the big boys are done.
  • Mike Leech trades his sword in for a bow and arrow and starts pegging apples at Washington State.  This somehow inspires Wazzu to double their wins to 2.
  • USC will walk into the Pac 12 as the favorite and will more than likely walk out the winner.  Oregon lost so much except those tasty uniforms.
  • But Matt Barkley will not win the Heisman Trophy.  The consolation?  The next contestant on The Bachelor.
  • Who will win the Heisman?  It’s a quarterback sport anymore so I think it will be someone from the that position.  I see Geno Smith nailing with Collin Klein coming in second.  Such a homer pick.
  • Speaking of Kansas State, Bill Snyder will live through the year and see a bowl win finally.  Maybe in the Beef O’Bradys Bowl.
  • Craig James will spew out some nonsense and get accepted to the Green Party’s ticket for president alongside Rosanne Barr.
  • I really do think this may be Michigan’s year for a Big 10 title. Unfortunately as soon as they step on that stage, they will instantly be overhyped and lose out in the Rose Bowl.
  • About 100 more players will be suspended due to mysterious ‘team rules’ epidemic going around.
  • I will not win Pick It and Stick It again this year.  I’m hedging my bet right now and will be saying ‘Called It!’ in December.
  • USC will face LSU and win in the BCS National Championship Game.  Only because USC did me so well in EA Sports NCAA College Football and LSU just doesn’t have it, much to the chagrin of everything SEC.
  • Finally, super predictor Phil Steele will rip off most of my predictions from this column and discredit everything else he did in 2012.

Purple Yeti Roar 14: Welp Baseball Is Done So Watch More Football

The Royals tanked hard in Kansas City, so why not hang out with me as we get ready for some football?  Sure, it’s all talk and no play but better no play than terrible play.  This week I talk Arkansas, Kansas, Charlie Weiss, Notre Dame, Ireland, Navy, Jessica Dorrell, Bobby Petrino, USC, ESPN, Oregon, Tha tweed, Texas A&M, SEC, West Virginia, Gary Pinkel, and Missouri. Continue reading Purple Yeti Roar 14: Welp Baseball Is Done So Watch More Football

Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 13: Plucking One Out

Ho man, am I stuffed.  I never thought that I would be as stuffed as I was away from the family on the Thanksgiving as I am now.  I know for certain that Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays out there now.  Family is really getting together with friends and loved ones.  Thanksgiving is a reason to get together with family and totally gorge yourself.  I need to hit the gym pronto but first I will go over the Pick It and Stick It for this week.  It’s some doozies and I mostly excited that great games come one after the other.  It was like the second, third, and fourth helpings for me on Thanksgiving.  Here’s the pick set:

Continue reading Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 13: Plucking One Out

Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 11: Saucy Selections

Oh yeah!  I’m already thinking about what to do for the tailgating experience this weekend.  I’m not sure if we actually have a spot to smoke some meat so we may be grilling guerilla style.  What does that mean?  Slapping some meat in a backpack and finding some friendlies for grilling.  It should be quite the adventure.  Speaking of adventure, the corner has turned for Bryce Brown for Heisman.  It’s up to the rest of the league to catch up.  Let’s take a look at the pick set: Continue reading Pick It and Stick It 2011 Week 11: Saucy Selections

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!

Barspotting: Lavaca Street Bar

It’s all downhill from here.  We are halfway through the season and I’ve had some sweat bars to check out around the Austin area already.  Now, I was real close to the big hoopla that is sixth street downtown, but I managed to stay just far away enough not to be in the heart of it.  Well, this week I’m taking one step closer to some of the bars around the much hyped street way.  Saturday, I’ll be heading to the Lavaca Street Bar.  Now, I’ve been there before waiting for a band to got started across the way at Antone’s so I know what it’s like.  I haven’t seen it on a college football Saturday, however.

Continue reading Barspotting: Lavaca Street Bar

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

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

Crib Sheet: It’s PMA Day

There could be a big ole disparaging parenthetical here about how the Big 12 will go away and how badly it will affect my peeps and schools back home around the Kansas City area, but I’m deciding that we’ll focus on the good things this week.  Sure there may be moves, but our teams will play this Saturday and many Saturdays to come.  Whether or not they will play for a national title might still be going away real quickly, we’ll get enjoy the regional rivals and funky inter-conference matchups.  It’s time for some PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) and for this week’s Crib Sheet: Continue reading Crib Sheet: It’s PMA Day