Tuesday Grab Bag: Surviving the Bye Week Blues

Hey, happy November!  You know, that month that marks the start of basketball season. It's been a long winding road, but we're almost there.  Two Friday's from now, the season will finally tip off against Sacramento State, and we'll get to see just what Tad and the team have in store for us.  I'll have my annual Massive Preview up for consumption early next Tuesday, but, til then, we'll just have to do with this non-basketball filler.  I apologize in advance.

Oh, and the football team has a sort of big game this week against UCLA.  I guess you can be excited about that, as well...

Today in the bag, I'm reminding you that there are always championships in the #BananaStand, how the rest of the Pac-12 fared in football with the Buffs on a bye, and a stumble on the soccer pitch.

Click below for the bag...

2014 Off-Week Preview #2

The Buffs are taking the week to regroup, leaving Western hoops junkies to look elsewhere for their fix. Over the next couple of nights there's a five-pack of Pac-12 games to consume, a few of which might actually worth watching.  After the jump, I'll do a quick run-through of the slate, priming you for the bye-week action.

Click below for the preview...

Quick post: Bye week musings

College GameDay

For a while there, I was getting worried.  The only good news of note to flow out of the athletic department in the month of January had been the verbal commitment of four-star wide receiver Shay Fields.  Good for the football program, and all, but, damnit, it's January!  No time to be talking about the gridiron.

Luckily, Wednesday brought the official news that ESPN had made the only decision that made sense, and made their own commitment to bringing College Gameday to Boulder on February 22nd.  The traveling roadshow will be at the CEC in anticipation of the Senior Day showdown between the Buffs and Arizona Wildcats.  The selection had come down to CU or Stanford for their tilt with UCLA.  While Colorado has been in a tailspin of late, even the Woldwide Leader wasn't about to lock in a trip to Palo Alto and that student section in absentia.

More than anything, I look at this as a sign of respect for the C-Unit.  There are plenty of good basketball teams across the country who aren't getting the honor of hosting GameDay.  What drew the eye of Bristol was the raucous home court advantage created in the Keg, and the students are a vital part of that atmosphere.  Kudos to the leaders of the C-Unit, young and old, for building a notable force.  The trick, now, will be maintaining the deserving energy through the month of February, and showing up at the crack of dawn (8am) to make the show an impressive sight to the rest of the basketball world.

You wanted it, you got it.  Now make the most of it.

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The return of TadBall

Almost as a threat, Coach Boyle was quoted in the Daily Camera saying:

"We don't have anything that we can hang our hat on, night-in and night out. That's always been and always will be defense and rebounding, as long as I'm the coach. I've done a bad job of keeping these guys focused in those two areas. That's where we've got to get back to basics."

Uh oh... I've seen this movie before... #TadBall is coming.

I guess it's simple arithmetic.  Without Spencer Dinwiddie, CU can no longer afford to trade shot attempts with teams over 70 possessions.  *sigh*, but I was just getting used to watching the Buffs play offense like they mean it...

To his credit, Boyle couched his return to defensive principles with a pledge that 'We're not going to take the air out of the ball and try to make it a 50-50 game,' but I'm not so sure that's realistic.  This is a young team playing too fast at the moment, and it shows.  I'm not saying some combination of Askia Booker, Jaron Hopkins, and Xavier Talton can't effectively run the point in the Mayor's stead at some point, but, outside of the USC explosion (hoo boy, the Trojans are bad), they have yet to figure it out.

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Bye week viewing

As always, the bye week, when CU sees their weekly schedule cut in half to play their travel partner, strikes me as hollow.  I guess I'll have to fill the brief basketball void with the remaining slate of conference play. Tonight we have USC @ Oregon St and UCLA @ Oregon on the docket, and those teams will be hard pressed to match the excitement generated last night.  

The UofA/Stanford game was particularly fantastic. The Cardinal pushed the #1 team in the land to the brink, but couldn't hold on to a lead that they had enjoyed for most of the second half.  A last-second three from Chasson Randle threatened to send the game to over time, but disappointingly back-rimmed.  Arizona escaped Maples with a 60-57 win, keeping their record-setting start to the season intact.

The ASU/Cal game was also a solid two hours of entertainment.  After a rough start, the Bears rallied to push the game to overtime.  Jahii Carson did his thing in the extra session, however, scoring 11 of his game-high 29 points in the five minutes of bonus basketball.  ASU earned a satisfying 89-78 victory, and took a little step closer to making the NCAA Tournament.

Of tonight's games, UCLA/Oregon is, by far, the most interesting.  The Ducks finally righted the ship this past week in Pullman, earning their first win in six tries. A win over the Bruins this evening would further solidify that narrative.  Tip-off is set for 7pm, and the action can be seen on ESPN2.

Feel free to avoid the USC/OSU game, which tips off at the same time on Pac-12 Networks.


Happy Bye Week!

Monday Grab Bag: Game week, finally

After two consecutive bye weeks the natives are getting restless.  By Saturday, it'll have been 21 days since the last time CU took the field in anger.  I can't imagine how it must feel to be in the course of the season and face a break of more than a fortnight between games.  Players play, and I don't fault the kids for being desperate to get back on the field.

I'm starting to convince myself that this will be a blessing in disguise for the team.  By the time week five starts they'll be fresh and eager, while a team like Oregon St has had to slog through three-straight weeks of close games.  Rhythm counts for a lot, but so does health. CU hasn't hit in weeks, leaving the two-deep clean, and ready to rock.

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Today in the bag, I'm taking a look back at my bye week picks, looking in on the soccer team on the eve of Pac-12 play, and making usual trip around the world of football.

Click below for the bag...

2013 Football Bye Week Preview

For the second straight week, the Buffs will be spending their Saturday away from the gridiron. That means there's no game to preview, no opponent to obsess over.  Those of us in BuffNation will have to turn elsewhere for our sports fix.

While there is a full slate of games to consume from around the country, it's actually a pretty soft week.  Only one top-25 tilt and a lot of early-season fluff.  Hell, the schedule is so light that ESPN's College GameDay is at the home of FCS behemoth North Dakota State this week.  Fucking Fargo, dude.

Shrugging off the milquetoast schedule, I've selected the seven most... interesting games from the weekend for a quick teaser.  Seriously, though, consider taking a hike or something, because Week 1 had more juice than this bunch.

(Lines presented are from Bovada via ESPN as of 2:30, 9/17/2013)

Pac-12 - 


Arizona St @ Stanford  - Saturday, 5MT, FOX - Stanford -9, O/U 48.5

This is it, the only top-25 matchup of the weekend. I mean, "Pac-12!" and all, but that's weak.

The Sun Devils come in off of a highly suspect win over Wisconsin.  No other team in the rankings was as unconvincing last week, and not many are giving them much of a chance Saturday.  Stanford has yet to play anyone of importance, but they should have no trouble with the win and the cover.

A win's a win, right?

As a side note: the Sun Devils have selected the Oct 12th game vs CU as their 'fan's choice game'  They're leaving their uniform choice for the clash up to the internet, which is always a good idea.  If you care, you can take a look at the options and vote here.  Basically, you're picking a pant/helmet color.  Somewhere, Oregon is laughing.


Utah St @ USC - Saturday, 1:30MT, ABC - USC -7, O/U 50.5

I believe in Chuckie Keeton.  I don't believe in Lane Kiffin.  It's that simple - Utah State should cover with a solid chance to win outright.

Oregon St @ San Diego St - 5:30MT, CBS Sports Network - OSU -11, O/U 55

This is interesting only from the perspective that Buffs play OSU next Saturday, and SDSU might wind up on the schedule at the last minute.  On paper, the Beavers should roll, since the Aztecs have looked awful through two season-opening losses.

Mannion should have a field day in San Diego.

Utah @ BYU - Saturday, 8:15MT, ESPN2 - BYU -7, O/U 61.5

Ah, the Holy War.  One thing's for certain - it'll make for one hell of a nightcap. *chortle*

GET OFF THE FIELD, MUSS!

Cheap puns aside, this should be a good game.  Neither team is perfect, but this is, annually, one of the most interesting matchups in the region.


Other games of interest - 


Boise St @ Fresno St - Friday, 7MT, ESPN - Fresno -3, O/U 68

Even though the Broncos haven't been their usual barn-storming selves this season, this is the marquee game of the season in the Mountain West.  Presumptively a conference title game preview, BSU and FSU will show off two of the best offenses in the West under the Friday Night Lights. I'll take the over - there's no reason that those two teams can't crack 70.

Derek Carr and BSU QB Joe Southwick should put up buckets of points tomorrow.

Of course, I'll be rooting for Fresno this week.  How can you turn your back on a team willing to help out in a time of need.  Thank you @FSAthletics, and go Bulldogs!


Tennessee @ Florida - Saturday, 1:30MT, CBS -Florida -17.5, O/U 47.5

I only find this game interesting because I'm following missed connection Butch Jones.  Watching Florida chalk up points against 'Food Cart' should be fun.

Ah, memories.

Outside of that, however, I have no interest.  What was once one of the best rivalries in the South just doesn't rate in 2013.


Colorado St @ Alabama -  Saturday, 5MT, ESPN2 - Alabama -41, O/U 51

For your amusement, feel free to check in on the lambs being lead to slaughter Saturday afternoon.  I normally don't bet on spreads that large, but that over/under may have some potential.  Alabama put up 49 on A&M last week, and there's no reason they can't match that against the Rams, even if they spend three quarters trying not to embarrass the competition. 

Yeah, good luck with that little bro.

If CSU can somehow manage a field goal, you're in the money.


GO BUFFS!  CRUSH THE RECRUITING TRAIL!

2013 Off-week Preview #1

With CU taking the travel-partner bye this week, my Wednesday and Thursday night schedules are starkly devoid of Buff-centric things to do.  No preview to write, no game to watch or attend.  What to do, what to do...

Ah ha!  I know! There's still plenty non-CU basketball to watch!

Specifically, there's seven games I'll be playing close attention to over the next two evenings, five for their impact on the Pac-12 race, and two for their impact on CU's RPI.  Below the fold, I'll be giving each of them the light preview treatment, and predicting their outcomes.

Click below for the preview(s)...

Off-night preview

Where was this off week during football season?

You might be saying to yourself: "NO BUFFS GAME TONIGHT!?!  BUT HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PASS MY THURSDAY EVENING!?!"   Why not try some mildly interesting Pac-12 action? 

Tonight's conference slate is headlined by a bout between contenders Oregon and Cal.  Beyond that marquee matchup, there are much less promising games between Arizona/Washington St, Arizona St/Washington, and Stanford/Oregon St to keep an eye on.  The Arizona's can be seen on a variety of FSN affiliates, while you may have to search a bit for any coverage of the headlining Oregon/Cal game.  Stanford/OSU is a battle for the middle, and doesn't hold any tile-race implications.

Click below for my preview of non-CU hoops...

Bye Week Preview

Bye weeks piss me off. Football is not a sport I naturally enjoy, and while I can watch a baseball or a college basketball game for no reason what-so-ever, I must have a rooting interest (general or made-up) to stay engaged when watching football. So it's natural that my mind can tend to drift on a bye week. In that spirit, here's a list of things I'm going to do this weekend while the Buffs are resting (hint, none of it involves leaving the house):

Civ V - I've always been a huge fan of the Civilization series. This past week the newest iteration came out. If you've never played a Civ game before, and are thinking of giving it a try, be forewarned: they are more addictive than crack. I've lost countless hours to the "Next Turn" button blinking happily at me. Larger games can take 6 or more hours to complete, but the gameplay is engaging and varied. Since purchasing this on Tuesday, I've only been able to play a grand total of 1 hour; you better believe this will get some work over the weekend.

Community Season 1 DVD - I've been pushed by reliable sources to give this show a try. While I usually try to stay away from network television, I do like a good modern comedy show (especially one that's smart enough to not have a laugh track). The first disk arrived from Netflix this week, and I'm gonna give it a shot.

Maybe Watch College Football - My word there are some shitty games this week. Take for example the Big XII: Only two teams, Texas and Oklahoma, are playing BCS schools. Texas is hosting UCLA and Oklahoma is going to Cincinnati. Neither of those teams are any good. Overall, if the Big XII doesn't have a perfect week, what with the likes of South Dakota St (Nubs) and Miami OH (Mizzou) on the schedule, something is seriously wrong. Nationally it's not much better. I cant even bring myself to care about Alabama/Arkansas or Boise St/Oregon St. Seriously, not a single game this weekend is worth my time.

NFL Sunday - The roommates and I got Sunday Ticket which allows me to watch my fantasy team slowly die each week in real-time (I hate you Brett Favre). Even though I don't necessarily like the NFL, the Red Zone channel is awesome. You have access to every game, and there are no commercials. No annoying media timeouts, and no annoying "game-breaks;" just action. If there's one problem I've always had with football, its the lack of actual "game" over the course of 3 hours. Last year there was a Wall Street Journal article that talked about the fact that there's only 11 minutes of actual game action in any given football game. Hell, 58.5% of the time they're just standing around! The Red Zone gets rid of that crap and only shows you the most interesting thing going on at any given moment. I hope the person who came up with this gets a Nobel Prize.

Mad Men - I must watch this every week. If you know me at all, you know that time essentially stops Sunday nights when this is on. I can't say enough about this show, so I won't try. Suffice to say it's awesome. It also gives me an excuse to have a Macallan on the rocks. A really nice way to end a weekend.