Time to talk football, both pro and college.

[Swish]

Are the Eagles going to finally win a Super Bowl? They had the Cowgirls right where they wanted them but choked a bit, but I think they''ll win the season finale in Philly. And how about the Pats getting clobbered by the stinky Dolphins? Holy crap! How the mighty have fallen. And the Colts? What's up with that? I do know this; the NFC East is probably going to be the toughest conference in the NFL this year.

Will the college coaches stop glorifying USC every year by ranking them at the top, only to see them sink against an opponent who was supposedly over-matched? Will they fall far in the rankings because of that loss to Oregon State, a team that Penn State obliterated a couple weeks ago? I doubt it, but if you lose to an unranked team, the price you pay should be heavy. Is Georgia really that good? Oklahoma? We shall see.

Swish

[GMichael]

Are the Eagles going to finally win a Super Bowl? They had the Cowgirls right where they wanted them but choked a bit, but I think they'll win the season finale in Philly. And how about the Pats getting clobbered by the stinky Dolphins? Holy crap! How the mighty have fallen. And the Colts? What's up with that? I do know this; the NFC East is probably going to be the toughest conference in the NFL this year.

So far, no team from the NFC east has lost to anyone outside of their conference. The 3-0 defending SB champs are estimated by most experts to be ranked 3rd out of the 4 teams there. How's that for tough? Anything can change, but my money is one of these teams to get the job done.
I hope it's not the Eagles though. They suck.

Go Fish. That was great!

Will the college coaches stop glorifying USC every year by ranking them at the top, only to see them sink against an opponent who was supposedly over-matched? Will they fall far in the rankings because of that loss to Oregon State, a team that Penn State obliterated a couple weeks ago? I doubt it, but if you lose to an unranked team, the price you pay should be heavy. Is Georgia really that good? Oklahoma? We shall see.

Swish

I don't see it changing anytime soon. But college is a strange kettle of fish to begin with. The whole system needs to be revamped.

[Swish]

I don't see it changing anytime soon. But college is a strange kettle of fish to begin with. The whole system needs to be revamped.

...since teams are ranked on last year's performance and how many players are coming back to the team, but that's a bunch of malarkey. We also need a playoff system like every other college sport, but I just don't see it happening. What a mess. Any 'championship' that is rewarded is basically mythical. Yeah, an undefeated team that wins out probably deserves it, by why not force everyone to join a conference, then have the winners of each conference compete in a playoff system?

Swish

The EAGLES don't suck. You do!

[GMichael]

...since teams are ranked on last year's performance and how many players are coming back to the team, but that's a bunch of malarkey. We also need a playoff system like every other college sport, but I just don't see it happening. What a mess. Any 'championship' that is rewarded is basically mythical. Yeah, an undefeated team that wins out probably deserves it, by why not force everyone to join a conference, then have the winners of each conference compete in a playoff system?

Swish

The EAGLES don't suck. You do!

Yes, a true playoff system would be a hge step in the right direction.

OK, so the Eagles don't suck. They blow.

[Troy]

The Eagles won't go anyplace without Westbrook. The NFL is all about injuries. Lose the QB, RB or WR's and you're probably hosed. Just ask NE. OL players get hurt even more frequently and are critical to the skill players performance. Just Ask JAX.

The season's only 3 games old. Making predictions about games 2 weeks away, let alone at the end of the season is a fools errand.

NFC east is the toughest division? Tired of hearing THAT hype. Yeah, the Cowgirls are the class of the league right now. But I just don't believe in the Gints. They almost gave the game to the Bengals last week. The Eagles are too fragile to perform at top levels through the whole season, and the Skins are a .500 club at best. I'm not sure there is a "toughest division" right now. Every div has some good and bad teams.

The Vikes coulda been contenders had they been able to pick up a QB. Martz vastly improved the 49ers offense and they will make a run for their division when (not if) Warner gets hurt in AZ. Atlanta's a huge surprise.

The balance of power shift in the AFC is fascinating to watch. Indy is the team with the best chances of coming back. I like Buffalo and Balmer in their divisions. I wish Denver and SD could play each other every week. Stay healthy and that division's gonna be a dogfight right down to the end of the season.

[Swish]

The Eagles won't go anyplace without Westbrook. The NFL is all about injuries. Lose the QB, RB or WR's and you're probably hosed. Just ask NE. OL players get hurt even more frequently and are critical to the skill players performance. Just Ask JAX.

The season's only 3 games old. Making predictions about games 2 weeks away, let alone at the end of the season is a fools errand.

NFC east is the toughest division? Tired of hearing THAT hype. Yeah, the Cowgirls are the class of the league right now. But I just don't believe in the Gints. They almost gave the game to the Bengals last week. The Eagles are too fragile to perform at top levels through the whole season, and the Skins are a .500 club at best. I'm not sure there is a "toughest division" right now. Every div has some good and bad teams.

The Vikes coulda been contenders had they been able to pick up a QB. Martz vastly improved the 49ers offense and they will make a run for their division when (not if) Warner gets hurt in AZ. Atlanta's a huge surprise.

The balance of power shift in the AFC is fascinating to watch. Indy is the team with the best chances of coming back. I like Buffalo and Balmer in their divisions. I wish Denver and SD could play each other every week. Stay healthy and that division's gonna be a dogfight right down to the end of the season.

First of all, the Eagles won essentially without Westbrook last week, along with their two best receivers, and Westbrook has a minor sprain and may play this week.

As for New England, Brady doesn't play defense and they gave up a ****load of points to lowly Miami, so I'm not sure what you're trying to prove on that one. Sure, they may have put up more points with Brady at QB, but when you give up that many points, you deserve to lose.

I'm not sure why you say you're 'tired of hearing the NFC East is the best', because I haven't said that for years. I do believe that are this years, and the Eagles are likely better than the Cowgirls. Yes, they lost in Dallas, but not by much and could have/should have won. Home dirt still means a lot in football, and they come to Philly at the end of the season.

Later

[kexodusc]

I'm a big Sooner fan, and I'm all for revamping NCAA football to some sort of playoff system. Some years your team really benefits from reputation, some years it gets screwed.
But what a nightmare to put together...

As for the NFL - I'm a Chargers fan...sucker for punishment. When we're not blowing games in the final minute, the NFL is screwing us with bad officiating. SD will do enough to make the playoffs and lose to whoever the sweetheart story is at the time.

True story, I'm pretty sure Ryan Leaf passed me yesterday driving an Slim Jim 18 wheeler...

[Mr MidFi]

Is Georgia really that good? Oklahoma? We shall see.

Swish

Oklahoma is looking very, very good so far. As did USC, until last night.

As for my Georgia Bulldogs...tomorrow night's game should answer that question definitively. Alabama is a tough, talented and well-coached team.

That said, I suspect the dawgs' schedule is just too tough this year to have a real shot at a championship. Sad, but prolly true.

[3-LockBox]

I can't believe Beavers devoured Trojans like they did.























(wink wink nudge nudge)

[Swish]

I can't believe Beavers devoured Trojans like they did.

(wink wink nudge nudge)

I had no idea until I saw my newspaper this morning. What a shocker, but one that made me giddy with delight. Penn State hammered those Beavers (cough, cough) and it was lights out by half-time with a 35-7 lead. I mean, it was a laugher for them. When the dust settled, it was 45-14 and I figured it was another romp over a second tier team. Then they beat the vaunted USC Trojans? Tell me something; is Penn State that good or was USC just over-rated?

Swish

[Rich-n-Texas]

So these are all today's posts? Why wasn't this thread started about a month ago??? I had all sorts of sh!t to talk about.

[02audionoob]

The NFL, like all the leagues, is about league championships...not conference championships. It's all or nothing. Just ask the Dallas Mavericks.

[Troy]

humor impaired today, sorry.

[Swish]

humor impaired today, sorry.

...alcohol impaired today...but it is Saturday after all. Apology accepted. Now go to your room.

Swish

[3-LockBox]

I think The 49ers could be one of those teams in this lava lamp league whose glob is ready to rise to the top. If Gore stays healthy, that is. Their division is full of teams who can't stop the run (St. Louis, Seattle, Arizona) and a decent passing attack to finally compliment a brutal running back like Gore is more than enough to compete in the NFC West. If Seattle could manage a running game, they'd be a power, but what they did against the Rams is indicative of the NFC West, not the Seahawks running-by-committee scheme.

I have a hard time believing Holmgren will really retire after this season - oh I think his time with the Seapigeons is done; I think he coaches somewhere else in the near future. A guy like him doesn't like to go out with a whimper, and that's what's happening to Seattle this year. They've won the NFC West by default two years in a row. A rotational running back system with a mash unit for a reciever corp = recipe for disastor. Of course, stranger things have happened - they went to the Superbowl with a mash unit for defensive backs...and that weakness showed itself in that game.

[emesbee]

Americans don't play football. I mean, they don't even kick the ball!

[Swish]

Americans don't play football. I mean, they don't even kick the ball!

For extra points, field goals, punts and kickoffs. You must be thinking about jai alai or lacrosse.

Swish

[kexodusc]

BOOMER SOONER! I don't know how, and don't care, but OU is going to play in the big game again.
Can they beat Florida? Well, my heart says yes but my brain says they'll lose a close one. Still, maybe ol' Stoops has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Any Gators fans out there I have to worry about?
Just 1 month away...nothing like building a little suspense!

[emesbee]

When people start talking about football, to me that means Aussie Rules. Go The Crows!

[thekid]

Nice thread revival...
Its fun to back and read some of those optimistic assessments back in September.

College wise my Wolverines laid down like dogs and so I have not paid attention to college football all year and now am nauseous from the annual BCS BS.......

NFL wise it has been a roller coaster year with my Colts getting off to a terrible start. They are a roll now but they still have not got in sync yet on offense and the defense is Jekyll and Hyde it seems depending on Bob Saunders' status. Holding out hope though since they have beaten all of the top contenders in the AFC except Tennesse but that was earlier in the year when they were very banged up.

Could it be an all Manning Super Bowl this year????????

[Swish]

Nice thread revival...
Its fun to back and read some of those optimistic assessments back in September.

College wise my Wolverines laid down like dogs and so I have not paid attention to college football all year and now am nauseous from the annual BCS BS.......

NFL wise it has been a roller coaster year with my Colts getting off to a terrible start. They are a roll now but they still have not got in sync yet on offense and the defense is Jekyll and Hyde it seems depending on Bob Saunders' status. Holding out hope though since they have beaten all of the top contenders in the AFC except Tennesse but that was earlier in the year when they were very banged up.

Could it be an all Manning Super Bowl this year????????

No way Jose. I don't think either team will be there, but we shall see.

[kexodusc]

No way Jose. I don't think either team will be there, but we shall see.

My old man is convinced the NFL is rigged and that this is exactly what we'll see...the Manningbowl...

[bobsticks]

My old man is convinced the NFL is rigged and that this is exactly what we'll see...the Manningbowl...

Won't happen. The Colts aren't nearly deep enough and the much-touted homefield advantage has been removed with the ostentatious new stadium. A lotta locals have dropped out of the scene, resentful of footing the bill while Irsay flies around in his helicopter popping pills.

On the other hand, they are at least better behaved than their NBA bretheren. I live a couple of miles away from the infamous club, the nexus around which swirls so much tall guy chaos. I've always contended that if I hear gunshots to the south it's the Sur13's, to the east it's the Dub Treys, and to the northwest it's the Pacers.

More bad behaviour: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/new...v=ap&type=lgns

[02audionoob]

I'm looking forward to some good inter-conference battles in the BCS. Will the bowls prove what the media thinks about the SEC? or the Big 12?