My Obligatory "I'm Not Dead" Post

Just thought I'd mention it, since I haven't posted in two months.

In the meantime, I had fun at the Dragon*Con Parade on Labor Day weekend...



...and Dragon*Con night at the Georgia Aquarium.



Georgia Tech football was really fun for six weeks, and then not fun at all the last two. And guess who we're playing for homecoming next week? *gulp* I can narrow it down for you - it is an ACC game and the opponent is undefeated. At least it is a night game and we'll all have a good time until kickoff. Wonder how long I can keep my buzz going?

While I'm being all productive on blog updates, I also put something up on that other blog I started (and have neglected for two months) as well.

I think PDM and I will probably do another mini-vacation around New Year's Day that is within 5-6 hours driving distance of Atlanta. Any suggestions? Would prefer to be near a state park or some other natural place where we can do a few winter day hikes. Last year we did northeastern Florida (Amelia Island) and had a good trip. The beaches were great (and deserted) but we would also consider going north to the mountains as well.

That's about all I've got for now.

To Hell With Georgia!

It's rivalry week. Get yer hate on!

Yes, LL, this means I'll be rooting for Boise State next September, because my two favorite teams are GEORGIA TECH and WHOEVER IS PLAYING GEORGIA.


"What's the good word?"

TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!


"How 'bout them dawgs?"

PISS ON 'EM.


Carry on.

Only the good stuff.

Two good things about the game this weekend:

1) A USAF C-17 flyover.





2) Honoring the REAL 1990 National Championship team. The one that had zero losses and didn't need five downs and a questionable call to get their 11-0-1 record. No other team was undefeated that year. I was there for the season, and was in the stands at the Citrus Bowl. That 1990 team rocked! They were honored at halftime and Coach Bobby Ross addressed the crowd. Hmmmm, maybe we should have had him in the locker room firing up the 2010 team.

Predictions - Nowhere to go but up.

I got one lousy game right last week (thank you Stanford). Can't get much worse, so maybe things will be better this time around.

Upset specials: once again, my very own Yellow Jackets are underdogs at home against ThugU. We owe them one, and payback is a bitch. Jackets pull off the "upset" in a battle of the untested QBs. Not sure why South Carolina is an underdog against an awful Florida team, but I think Spurrier has this one covered.

Here's the week's predictions (underdogs first with pt spread, and home team is in CAPS).

GT(+4) 28, Miami 24 - Tevin Washington gets it done. GO JACKETS!!! Plus we honor the 1990 National Champion team (the only one that was UNDEFEATED and didn't need a 5th down to win a game)

South Carolina(+7) 24, FLORIDA 21 - not sure it will even be this close, but whatever.

NORTH CAROLINA(+3.5) 17, Virginia Tech 31 - NC has let me down for the last time. Think you can win? Prove it. Then I might pick ya next week.

TEXAS(+6.5) 21, Okla State 35 - don't really care, but had to pick something

Georgia(+8.5) 21, AUBURN 24 - Hate Georgia, and Auburn has had a week of distractions, but I still don't see the upset happening unless something really weird occurs. Hope I'm right!!!

ND(+4) 10, Utah 21 - don't like ND, and don't think they are very good this year.

Predictions Come Early This Week

My team plays on Thursday, so the predictions had to be nailed down early this week. Full disclosure: I am a Georgia Tech homer and I don't bet against my team. That frequently comes back to haunt me, because I have BAD sports mojo. Someone once spotted me 50 points and my team lost 51-0. No kidding.

Which brings me to this week's upset specials. First up - my very own Yellow Jackets. We're due for a breakout game, and I am hoping we get it this week, in spite of being 15 point underdogs and not having put together four complete quarters of kick-ass ball so far this season, even though we are eight games in. My other upset entree is NCState over Clemson. I've seen both of those teams play in person and I think NCState is the better of the two.

So here goes:

The Real Tech(+15) 31, FAKE TECH 28 - probably just wishful thinking on my part, but I hope the Ramblin' Wreck waxes the Hokies, who are still complaining about our blocking techniques a year after we beat them in 2009. Man up, Turkeys. And LOSE!!!

NC State(+4) 28, CLEMSON 24 - Seen 'em both, and this is my verdict.

North Carolina(+10) 17, FSU 28 - NC let me down last week, so eff 'em. FSU takes care of business.

Arkansas(+3) 14, SOUTH CAROLINA 21 - SEC, whatever. Don't really care.

LSU(+6.5) 21, Alabama 24 - Les Miles pulls some new trick out of his ass, but Saban's team finds a way to win in spite of Miles' deal with the devil.

Arizona(+7.5) 24, STANFORD 35 - Go Nerds!!! Trees rule!

Can't lose, right?

My team cannot lose this weekend (due to an open date), but I've still made some of my usual lousy predictions. I didn't publish last week's due to travel - vacation, followed by a road trip to Clemson - but I did about like usual.

Upset specials: Georgia over Florida (still can't understand why UGA is the underdog when UF clearly sucks this year, but whatever...) and Wake Forest over Maryland. UM's record looks good until you realize they haven't really played anyone yet.

Home team is in CAPS and underdog is listed first with (+pt spread).

Mich St(+4.5) 21, IOWA 28 - Iowa is simply the better team

Georgia(+1.5) 17, Florida (at Jax) 14 - would love to see the Dawgs go down, but not counting on it

Missouri(+6) 20, NEBRASKA 21 - Mizzou is good, but I see Nebraska winning a close one

USC(+7) 20, Oregon 35 - Kiffin gets waxed

Duke(+14.5) 14, NAVY 31 - wasn't sure about the Middies beating the spread, but I am thinking they will

Wake Forest(+7.5) 24, MARYLAND 21 - the Demon Deacons will get it done

Football Picks - Can I Go 4-2 Again?

Once again, I was 4-2 straight up last week (but only 2-4 against the spread). I do get to claim bragging points for being one of the few to predict the 'Bammer upset, which made me feel all smart and stuff, and for once my team beat the spread.

This week's upset specials are UVA over UNC, who hasn't won in Charlottesville since I was in high school, and Okie State over Texas Tech just because. UNC may be due, but I ain't seein' it this year. Then again, I've been wrong before (at least two times per week).

Middle Tenn State(+20) 10, GEORGIA TECH 35 - not sure about the 20-pt spread but hope springs eternal and we need a big win before the toughest part of our schedule kicks in next week

VIRGINIA(+6.5) 21, North Carolina 20 - may be wishful thinking, but I'd like to see the 'Hoos get a win

Southern Methodist(+4) 10, NAVY 28 - got a soft spot for Coach Johnson's old team

Texas(+8) 20, NEBRASKA 42 - big time revenge game that'll have people literally seeing red

MICHIGAN(+3) 17, Iowa 28 - Ricky will rock this game and RichRod will be unhappy

Oklahoma State(+3) 35, TEXAS TECH 31 - for no particular reason at all

Football Predictions - No Guts, No Glory

OK, so back to 4-2 straight up and 3-3 against the spread last week. My upset special did not happen, and Georgia let me down (not really, I just picked them to allow my mojo to help them lose). And Tech didn't beat the spread, being lucky to get out with a win. That was then, this is now.

This week's "no guts, no glory" upset prediction is South Carolina over Alabama. Sure, it isn't likely to happen. Probably no one will beat Alabama this season. But if ever there was a chance, I think it is this weekend. SC 21, Bammer 20

Everything else:

Clemson(+2.5) 24, UNC 21 - another upset pick, probably more likely than Bama losing

Virginny(+8) 17, GT 28 - love that koolaid, plus it is Homecoming and we are due to lay the hammer down on someone.

Tennessee(+8.5) 20, UGA 24 - Tempting to pick UT for the upset, but Georgia has their back against the wall and is playing at home. Plus, I hope my bad mojo has its usual effect.

Florida State(+7) 14, MIAMI 28 - Sure, I want FSU to win, but I will be shocked if I am wrong with this pick.

Southern Cal(+7) 10, STANFORD 28 - Go Trees!

Aftermath

Respecting the 24-hour rule, I can now say a few things about the game on Saturday. Apparently, my team just isn't all that good. I didn't see much to encourage me on Saturday. Usually, I can find a bright side. Not so much this time. It is possible we made our opponent look better than they are. They looked very good to me.

I cannot remember EVER being that hot during a football game. Maybe you don't notice when you are winning, and we usually don't drop a home game in September. At any rate, the Atlanta area set a heat record for 9/25 and I believe it. We were in the sun until the middle of the second half, sweating our asses off. The concession stands in our area ran out of bottled water around halftime. The EMTs had their hands full with dozens of cases of heat exhaustion. I got a raccoon sunburn on my face (everywhere except where my sunglasses covered). We were behind the entire game and it was miserable. The only bright spot was the almost comeback when we brought it within 3, but that didn't last.

But you know, that was last week and tomorrow is another day. We've got another game on Saturday. PDM and I will cook another awesome meal, and have people over, and hopefully our team will get it together and kick some butt! And no matter what happens, we will enjoy this season of college football. I'm not a Tech fan because they win. It is in my blood. They are my team, no matter what.

Even More Bad Football Picks

Last week was my best yet. 4-2 straight up and 3-3 against the spread. Maybe I'll still trend up this week.

As per usual, underdogs listed first with spread and home teams are in CAPS.


Virginia Tech(+2) 21, BOSTON COLLEGE 17 - easy money, if I actually wagered any

North Carolina State(+9) 28, GEORGIA TECH 38 - Go Jackets!!! Win! Cover!

Wake Forest(+19) 21, FSU 45 - yes, I think F$U will crush Weak Florist like a bug

ARKANSAS(+1) 24, Alabama 35 - easiest decision ever

South Carolina(+1) 24, AUBURN 21 - why not?

NOTRE DAME(+1) 14, Stanford 17 - Trees rule.


I'll be at the Tech game at noon gettin' another weird sunburn. Last home game my cleavage got burned. Among other things. Dang. I think I will be more careful with the sunblock this time. And maybe wear a hat.

More Really Bad Football Picks

Last week's bloodbath: 3-3, and 1-5 against the spread. Only marginally better than my first week (thank you very little, GT).


This week's strategy: WAG


GEORGIA(+2.5) 30, Arkansas 24

Brigham Young(+8) 24, FSU 35

TENN(+15) 17, Florida 28

Clemson(+6) 14, AUBURN 21

TEXAS TECH(+7.5) 31, Texas 28

Maryland(+13) 10, WEST VA 24


First team listed is underdog, home team in CAPS. I'm going out on a limb for a Texas Tech upset. Why the hell not? Also, I picked UGA to win so they'll get another dose of my bad mojo. It worked last week.

Really Bad Football Picks

This year I decided to share my weekly picks from the prediction contest on a message board I frequent. Meant to do this last week, but got busy and didn't get to it. I'll just give you the Cliff Notes version: I sucked. 2-for-6 and I was wrong about beating the spread on one of those two. (Basically, it doesn't matter what you predict for the actual score - the points come from the score differential compared to the spread.) VT, you're dead to me.

This week, I tried a new tactic: the George Costanza method. Whatever I think will happen or wish would happen, I picked the opposite (except for the Tech game, of course - can't bet against my Jackets). This way, I will either be happy that the games worked out my way, or I will do well in the contest. Win-win for me.

Here goes: Week 2

GT 35 Kansas(+12) 17

UGA(+2.5) 3 USCe 2

FSU(+8.5) 17 Okla 20

Mich(+4) 9 ND 24

Miami(+9.5) 21 Ohio St 28

NCState(+2.5) 14 UCF 10


Now I'm going back to watching the Thursday night game. I'm rooting for MSU, which means they are DOOMED. They'd be in the lead right now if they had stuck with their running game. And the kicker catching his own kickoff was badass. Our kicker has never done that, although he has tackled the returner an alarming number of times. Carry on!

Fun on The Flats

Opening Day was a success - good friends, good weather, good game.

Came home to beer brats and more football on the tube. Glad the season is finally here and there is even more reason to look forward to Saturdays (plus the occasional Thursday night). Go Jackets!

Brace For Impact

It's game day!

Way to go, Panthers!

Georgia State University won their first ever football game tonight against Shorter. Congrats to former Georgia Tech coach Bill Curry and his GSU Panthers!

And a big HOORAY that it is finally college football season at last. I spent a pleasant evening channel surfing between multiple games.

Nesbitt 4 Heisman

John Heisman was the head coach at Georgia Tech from 1904 to 1919. No Georgia Tech player has ever won the trophy named for him. Maybe this year?



Side note: the first player (other than Nesbitt) featured in this video was my favorite GT football player while he was on the Flats -- Gary Guyton. He has a good thing going with the Patriots now. My current favorite is Roddy Jones. He is a senior, so next year I will have to pick another one.

Paging Dr. Lou

It's not college football without Dr. Lou. Here he is courtesy of Lucas Cox.

The Agony of Defeat

Yesterday I covered the thrill of victory. Today I bring you this poor guy. The real comedy gold is with the ESPN announcers commentary as it plays out.

Are You Ready?

College Football starts this week. I'm more than ready, and will be celebrating all week on the blog. For starters, here are some highlights from one of our best games last fall - Georgia Tech's upset win over Virginia Tech on October 17, 2009. It was very satisfying.

Disappointed doesn't even begin to cover it.

What is with Georgia Tech and bowl games?!?

It is nearly midnight. I've got a wine/beer buzz that is sure to cause problems tomorrow morning and NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. Why can't my team win a frelling bowl game? Ever? I can't remember the last time that happened. Hell, we cannot even win a damn basketball game against an inferior opponent.

In the next few weeks all of our promising juniors will announce that they are going pro. Guaran-damn-teed. We'll be left with a 'rebuilding year'. Yup.

Damn, damn, damn.

I should be used to being disappointed, but somehow it still smarts.