Monday Grab Bag: Game Week!

WOOO!  GAMEWEEK!  Finally, after seven months of waiting, I'm about to get to see some actual basketball played.  I couldn't be more excited.

To further whet your appetite for the start of the season, I recommend heading over to AllBuffs where resident hoops guru Goose has been laying down some serious knowledge.  Through six editions, he's been taking a thorough look at the schedule, breaking down each opponent, and even inviting the thoughts of Pac-12 savant Adam Butler (better known as @pachoopsab).  It's well worth your time, and I may be making an appearance as the series reaches its conclusion later this week...

As for the here and now, in the bag today I'm talking more hoops, brushing off the football program, and briefly looking at the highlights from a packed football weekend.

Click below for the bag...





Four days - 


Alright, it's basketball season now.  Media day is done with, the final scrimmage has been "won," and all that's left is selling out opening night.  To that end, there was a rumor floating around one of the premium sites that the Wofford game was sold out.  While that is not the case, there aren't many tickets left.  It was announced Friday that there were only about 200 seats still available, and when I go to buy a ghost ticket the best that is available is GA.  The point is, by Friday night I anticipate that it will be a sellout, so if you're interested in going you better jump on it soon.

A packed CEC will be a welcome sight Friday.

It's amazing that an early tip against a small school from 1,500 miles away will get the CEC packed in early November.  That used to only be the realm of Kansas and, more recently, other conference opponents.  Now the team just has to live up to the hype and thrash the Terriers.


Morbid curiosity -

Shifting gears to the depressing, my sense of morbid curiosity overwhelmed rational thought Saturday morning, and I found myself up at Folsom for the Stanford game.  I managed to stick it out for 15:30 of game action, leaving when Jordan Webb's second interception of the day (Called a fumble on the field. It was an interception) lead to an easy Stepfan Taylor touchdown run.

I saw Ralphie run, that was cool.  From: the BDC

Some people gave me weird looks as I left early in the 2nd quarter, one even managed to smugly say "take care."  By the time Stanford was wrapping up their 48-0 win, however, I think most were in my camp. I mean seriously, 76 yards of offense?  Fuck you.

It was my fault.  I shouldn't have cared, I shouldn't have even bothered to make the trip into Boulder.  I won't make the same mistake in two weeks when Washington takes their turn beating on the crippled Buffs.


Around the nation of football - 

College football

The story in college football continues to be the four unbeaten teams.  This weekend they all received scares, but all managed to cling to perfection.  If only the four-team playoff started this year, as all four teams deserve a legitimate shot at a title.

Oregon @ USC -

I know one thing, Oregon knows how to score some damn points.  They racked up 62 of them Saturday, highlighted by Kenjon Barner's 321 yard, five score performance.  Their defense got a little bruised by USC's vaunted passing attack, but the Ducks still managed to surge to a 62-51 win.  The computers may not like them, but they make for some fantastic viewing.

Barner spent most of the day slicing up the Trojan D.

Oklahoma St @ Kansas St -

K-State held serve, beating the feisty Cowboys 44-30 Saturday night.  The game, however, took a backseat to the injury sustained by Heisman front-running QB Collin Klein.  The 'Cats have yet to disclose exactly what happened, but KSU needs Klein on the field if they have any hope of holding onto their #2 ranking.

Alabama @ LSU -

Down 17-14 with just over a minute and a half to go, Alabama got the ball back at their 28-yard line after a LSU missed field goal.  Recalling 'Bama's first half 2-minute drill, which covered 63 yards in eight plays en route to the endzone, I all but assumed they'd do the same to win.  This time, it only took them five plays to cover the 72-yards needed for the game winning touchdown.  21-17 final, 'Bama remains undefeated.

Too easy.

Maybe they should use that 2-minute offense more often...

Pitt @ Notre Dame - 

Of all the four unbeatens roaming the countryside Saturday, Notre Dame looked the weakest, needing three overtimes and a missed field goal to beat Pitt at home. They should slip down in the rankings as a result. Still, the 29-26 win keeps them in the title hunt. 


NFL

Dallas @ Atlanta -

The Falcons are still perfect, beating the Cowboys 19-13 to earn their 8th win of the season.  QB Matt Ryan had a typically strong game, throwing for 342 yards in the win.  Bruising RB Michael Turner powered through the Cowboy line for 102 yards and a score.

Chicago @ Tennessee -

When My Bears are on, they're on.  The defense caused five turnovers, WR Brandon Marshall hauled in three touchdown catches, and the team cruised to a 51-20 win over the lowly Titans.  With the big Sunday night matchup with the Texans set for Sunday night, I hope they can carry some of that momentum forward.


Happy Monday!