WEEK 17 NFL PREDICTIONS JAN. 1

Can you feel the Playoff Brees

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The NFL playoffs are upon us. This is the last week of the NFL season. I have had two rough weeks, with my picks. Over the last 7 weeks I am 63-37, but the last two weeks killed me. I am going to try to get back to my 75% form in Week 17.

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SUNDAY JAN. 1

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Saints 38-31

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Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Patriots 31-20

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Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Vikings 27-19

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New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Jets 27-17

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San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams (1:00 PM ET FOX)

49ers 30-16

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Detroits Lions at Green Bay Packers (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Lions 31-27

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Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Eagles 31-24

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Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Colts 24-20

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Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Titans 27-16

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Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (4:15 PM ET FOX)

Seahawks 27-21

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Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (4:15 PM ET CBS)

Chiefs 24-16

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons (4:15 PM ET FOX)

Falcons 31-13

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Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (4:15 PM ET CBS)

Ravens 24-20

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (4:15 PM ET CBS)

Steelers 27-17

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San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders (4:15 PM ET CBS)

Chargers 27-23

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Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (8:20 PM ET NBC)

Giants 34-27

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(Used-to-Be Champs) Sports Bowl Postgame Reaction: Florida State 18, Notre Dame 14

Here are my thoughts from a poorly played CHamps Sports Bowl, between two has-beens of college football.  If you haven't listened to anything I've said since I started this blog NEVER BUY THE HYPE on either of these two perennial underachievers.  Enjoy!

Here is Notre Dame's 2012 Schedule.  Do you really think they can win more than 8 games with this?

(Schedule courtesy of fbsschedules.com)

2012 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Schedule
Date		Opponent	Time/TV	Tickets
Saturday 09/01/12		Navy Midshipmen  Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 09/08/12		Purdue Boilermakers  Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 09/15/12		at Michigan State Spartans  Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 09/22/12		Michigan Wolverines  Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 09/29/12	---	Open Date	---	---
Saturday 10/06/12		Miami (FL) Hurricanes  Soldier Field, Chicago, IL	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 10/13/12		Stanford Cardinal  Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 10/20/12		BYU Cougars  Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 10/27/12		at Oklahoma Sooners  Gaylord Family OK Mem. Stadium, Norman, OK	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 11/03/12		Pittsburgh Panthers  Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 11/10/12		at Boston College Eagles  Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 11/17/12		Wake Forest Demon Deacons  Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN	---	Buy Tickets
Saturday 11/24/12		at USC Trojans  Los Angeles Mem. Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA	---	Buy Tickets

WEEK 16 NFL PREDICTIONS DECEMBER 24-26

"MERRY CHRISTMAS"

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This last week in the NFL was a wild and unpredictable one. The Green Bay Packers' machine was derailed, and with the Colts winning in week 15 and this Thursday, a few teams are looking for some "Luck." I was 5-9 in week 15, this was by far my worst week for predictions. I am now 56-29 over the last 6 weeks. With a little luck maybe I can get back on track this Christmas week.

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SATURDAY DECEMBER 24TH (Christmas Eve)

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Chiefs 20-17

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Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Titans 31-17

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Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Patriots 34-23

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Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Cardinals 23-20

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Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Broncos 24-19

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St. Louis Rams at Pittsburgh Steelers (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Steelers 23-16

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New York Giants at New York Jets (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Jets 27-24

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Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Redskins 27-17

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Panther 34-19

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Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Ravens 31-16

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San Diego Chargers at Detroit Lions (4:05 PM ET CBS)

Chargers 31-27

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Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (4:15 PM ET FOX)

Cowboys 28-26

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San Francisco at Seattle Seahawks (4:15 PM ET FOX)

Seahawks 27-23

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CHRISTMAS SUNDAY DECEMBER 25

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (8:20 PM ET NBC)

Packers 38-17

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MONDAY NIGHT DECEMBER 26

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (8:30 PM ET ESPN)

Saints 34-27

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Week 15 NFL Predictions December 18,19

"T-Time"

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Tim Tebow lead the Denver Broncos to another 4th quater comeback victory. Denver and Tebow have a huge test ahead of them, as they take on the New England Patriots. What Tebow has done so far this season has been nothing short of miraculous, but beating the Pats would put Tebow on another level and I don't see it happening this week. I am trying to step my game up to the next level. Last week I wasn't so good, I was 10-5. I hope to improve on that mark this week. I am 51-22 over the last 5 weeks.

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SUNDAY DECEMBER 18

Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Texans 31-23

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Washington Redskins at New York Giants (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Giants 27-17

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Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Bills 28-24

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Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Bears 24-16

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New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Saints 34-20

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Cincinnati Bengals at St. Louis Rams (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Bengals 24-17

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Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Titans 31-13

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Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Packers 38-23

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Detroits Lions at Oakland Raiders (4:05 PM ET FOX)

Lions 27-20

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New England Patriots at Denver Broncos (4:15 PM ET CBS)

Patriots 27-20

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New York Jets at Philadelphia Eagles (4:15 PM ET CBS)

Jets 28-24

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Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals (4:15 PM ET CBS)

Cardinals 24-19

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Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers (8:20 PM ET NBC)

Ravens 23-17

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MONDAY NIGHT DECEMBER 19

Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers (8:30 PM ET ESPN)

Steelers 27-20

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FCS Semifinal Postgame Reaction: North Dakota State 35, Georgia Southern 7

Here is my take on today's action (much better than any of the garbage bowls on today) and the 2011 Georgia Southern football season:

Sam Hurd Pushin' Weight!

Why does a NFL player making $685,000 need to be a drug kingpin on the side?  Your guess is as good as mine...I hope it was worth the 20+ years in prison he's about to get hit with. As we saw with Michael Vick, some judge will slam the book at him to make an example.

Are there any NFL players that he was supplying?  That's the question everyone wants to know!

 

Should Ryan Braun Give Back His MVP Award?

In light of the recent report that 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun tested positive for a banned substance, should he have to give back his MVP award?  Should the Baseball Writers of America hold a re-vote and take the trophy away?

I am still a bit shocked that Braun possibly is dirty.  He certainly doesn't look the part.  However, the "I didn't know" excuse just won't fly in the court of public opinion.

My Thoughts on the Xavier/Cincinnati BasketBRAWL

In case you somehow missed it, here is the video from the fracas at the end of the Xavier and Cincinnati basketball game on Saturday:

Here are my thoughts on Yancy Gates, the coaches' reactions and the resulting suspensions:

Week 14 NFL Predictions December 11,12

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"Good but not yet Great"

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I was 11-4 last week. A pretty good week, but one boneheaded time-out cost me 80% on the week. This week will most likely not be a great week for me. Games like the Dallas vs. New York game will cost me my perfect week, which has eluded me so far this year. I am still in search of great. In the last four weeks my record is 41-17, but this week the will be really tough to continue my current percentage.

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December 11, Sunday

Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jest (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Jets 31-13

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Buccaneers 24-20

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New England Patriots at Washington Redskins (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Patriots 34-17

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Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Panthers 27-23

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Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Ravens 38-13

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Philladelphia Eagles at Miami Dolphins (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Dolphins 27-20

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Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Lions 24-16

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New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Titans 31-28

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Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Bengals 20-17

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Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos (4:05 PM ET FOX)

Broncos 20-16

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San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (4:05 PM ET FOX)

Cardinals 23-20

Why The BCS Got It Right: LSU vs. Alabama For National Title

Here's why the BCS got it right for the National Championship Game:

Topics of Discussion:

• Don't hate Alabama for the current system in place, they're the 2nd best team in the country
• My proposal for a four-team playoff (plus-one proposal)

2011 Heisman Preview: Who Should Win?

Here is my 2011 Heisman Preview/Analysis:

If I had a ballot, it would look like this:
3. Trent Richardson
2. Tyrann Mathieu
1. Robert Griffin III


Who gets your vote for the Heisman Trophy?  Let us know!

SEC Championship Postgame Reaction: LSU 42, Georgia 10

Here are my thoughts immediately following the SEC Championship Game:


In the mix:

• Georgia's Dominant 1st Quarter and Missed Opportunities
• Georgia's 1st Half Defense
• Turning Point of the Game
• LSU's 2nd Half Turnaround
• Georgia's Potential Bowl Possiblities
• LSU vs. Alabama Rematch? 
• And others...

Another random topic of discussion:
Was the replay official napping up in the booth?  He never thought to review the Mathieu punt return that should've been a fumble/touchback, not a TD.  Also, he almost waited too long to call for a review of the Beckham catch that clearly hit the ground.  Needless to say, Matt Austin and crew didn't have the best night...

2011 SEC Championship Preview: #1 LSU vs. #13 Georgia

Here is my hard-hitting preview of the SEC Title tilt between LSU and Georgia.  Camera is a little off-center again, I'm sorry.  If it bothers you too much, just surf another window and listen to the video!

At the beginning of the video, I advise you to bet UCLA +31 tonight in the Pac-12 Championship against Oregon; move fast!

Official SEC Championship prediction:  LSU 31, Georgia 20

As always, Don't Buy the Hype!

Week 13 NFL Predictions December 4-5

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"Think Tank"

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Last week I was 12-4, 75% is not too bad in the NFL. That makes three straight weeks for me with a winning record. I am 30-13 over the last three weeks. I did pick games in Week 4 of the season and I was 7-9. That is my only losing week so far this year and makes my record overall 37-22 this NFL season. Here are my picks for Week 13.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 4

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Buccaneers 27-23

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Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Steelers 27-16

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Atlanta Falcons at Houston Texans (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Falcons 24-20

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New York Jets at Washington Redskins (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Jets 26-19

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Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Patriots 34-13

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Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Dolphins 27-20

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Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings (1:00 PM ET FOX)

Broncos 20-17

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Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Titans 30-24

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Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears (1:00 PM ET CBS)

Bears 23-17

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Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns (4:05 PM ET CBS)

Ravens 31-17

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Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals (4:15 PM ET FOX)

Cowboys 28-20

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Green Bay Packers at New York Giants (4:15 PM ET FOX)

Packers 35-24

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St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers (4:15 PM ET FOX)

49ers 31-20

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Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints (8:20 PM ET NBC)

Saints 31-23

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MONDAY NIGHT DECEMBER 5

San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars (8:30 PM ET ESPN)

Chargers 24-16

College Football Conference Championship Picks

Pack, you miss me yet?

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Friday Dec. 2

UCLA vs. Oregon (8:00 PM ET FOX)

Oregon 34-10

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Saturday Dec. 3

UGA vs. LSU (4:00 PM ET CBS)

LSU 32-16

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Virginia Tech vs. Clemson (8:00 PM ET ESPN)

Virginia Tech 31-24

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Wisconsin vs. Michigan State (8:17 PM ET FOX)

Wisconsin 34-23

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Wisconsin lost a close one to Michigan State earlier in the year. This time Russell Wilson will not let this big game slip through his fingers. The Badgers will be Rose Bowl bound!

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1,2,3 SEC!!!

A Different Breed!

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It is hard to believe, but I still run into sports fans who believe that the SEC is not the best college football conference in the country. Recently, the SEC had the number 1,2,and 3 teams in the nation. This is one of the impressive accomplishments by a conference in my lifetime. The only thing more impressive would be if the SEC wins its 6 straight National Championship this year, which seems likely. Yet, I have talked to two different people this year(one of these people was from Ohio) who tried to convince me that the Big 12 and the Big 10 is better. I laughed at them. I will not spend any time trying to persuade anyone, including those reading this blog that the SEC is better. Because it is not even close! I am a huge ACC fan and I watch SEC football with such envy. When LSU runs through the tunnel onto the field, it's like warriors of old running into battle. Few intelligent sports fans will argue against the superiority of the SEC, but there is a great debate as to why. Well, there is not one factor why the SEC is best, because they are the best in every facet of the game. The SEC is the fastest, meanest, most skilled, and has the best fan bases(who are borderline crazy). They recruit from the best talent pool(the South), and they have the best college coaches. With all that said, the biggest reason the SEC has a monopoly on great college football is their seriousness for the game.

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I recently watched a "behind the scenes" look of Alabama's football team on ESPN, and what stood out to me is that the coaches and players alike were so focused and took the game so seriously. Football coaches in the ACC act like glorified gym teachers. The Alabama coaches act like CEO's of fortune 500 companies. Every question the Alabama coaches and players answered oozed with confidence, swagger, and intensity. After watching this look into the Alabama football program, I could not have been more impressed. I am a UNC basketball fan and we are the best college basketball program in the nation, and nothing I have seen at North Carolina compares to Alabama's football program.

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LSU is playing UGA for the SEC championship this Saturday at 4:00 PM ET on CBS. Georgia has been extremely impressive over the last 11 games, but I don't think they can stand up to LSU's brutal defense. The LSU defense is one of the best I have ever seen. To say LSU's defense is aggressive is an insult to them. They play defense the way barbarians sack a city full of women and children. It seems that a wave of yellow just attacks the ball every play like a pack of wild dogs attack one piece of meat. The Dawgs have a good defense, but they do not play like that.

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My prediction for the game: LSU over UGA 32-16. I know this is not a very daring pick, but I can't see it going any other way.

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While I am writing about LSU, I would like to ask a question to SEC fans and college football fans alike. Why doesn't Les Miles get more credit as a football coach? People love to talk about him as "crazy" or a late game gambler. ESPN does commericals about him eating grass, but the people should be talking about Miles being maybe the best coach in all of college football. I guess there are reasons why Miles doesn't seem to get mentioned in the best coach conversations as much as he should. One reason is the guy who runs the Alabama program. Plus, Miles comes across as the ex jock jack-ass who thinks his "you know what" doesn't stink. Still, Les Miles' record speaks for itself, 74-17 over the last 7 seasons. That is just a little more than two losses a year, amazing! LSU does have tons of talent and sends their fair share of players to the NFL, but they do not have the highly ranker recruited classes that some other schools(Miami, Texas, FSU, etc.) have. Yet, Miles has a National Championship and may have another one this year and an undefeated season to ice the cake. So, as much as fans will hate to crown a guy who seems to be a jerk, let the talk begin, Les Miles should be put on the short list of the best coaches in all of college football!

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I would like to leave you with one last question for fans to ponder. The SEC teams have some of the best coaches, facilities, and traditions in all of college football, but is there any other reason the best high school players in the nation might want to play for the SEC school? Just asking...

Why would a boy want to go to LSU? A Mystery, I Guess!

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Tim Tebow: 2011 NFL MVP?

I discuss Tebow's candidacy for MVP in the video below.  The camera was a little off-center, so I apologize.  Do you think Tebow can win MVP?  Let us know!