(Editor’s Note: The following was written in real-time during an online conversation between Dave Silverstein and Steve Lugerner and edited for readability. The following conversation is rated PG-13 - all portions of the conversation related to cybersex have been removed. Please email for the unrated version.)David: Alright, let's do it to it Lars!
Steve: I'm feeling skinny Tony! I was thinking we should have some type of theme song for our intro...you know, in written words with no actual sound for our reader to set the mood....any thoughts? I was thinking the theme song to NBC's Saturday morning classic Hang Time if you are familiar.
David: Sometimes you simply amaze me. I'm not quite up to snuff on my Hang Time though.
Steve: Reggie Theus as a high school basketball coach, a female all-star point guard on the guy’s team, and a court the size of a New York studio apartment. Even you could dunk on that court Dave. Well what other theme song properly represents what is about to go down?
David: Not ringing a bell. I remember Hanging with Mr. Cooper though. CoooooOOOOOooooooooPER!
Steve: OK I could rock out to that
David: It was a great song, let me find it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpUpiZG8Qyg&feature=related
Steve: YouTube is a wonderful thing.
David: Amen to that.
Steve: I think this fits perfectly for a college football discussion...should we start it off with BCS Game 1?
David: Let's do it
(Mr. Cooper Season 1 Theme song playing)
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State
Steve: Rose Bowl Jan 1. Oregon-Ohio State.....difference in styles here...how do you see this playing out?
David: I gotta give the edge to Oregon. I just think they're a stronger team. I usually have very little confidence in the Big Ten in bowl games vs. stronger conferences. Although I'm not too sure about the different styles, Pryor is obviously the definition of a mobile quarterback, but Masoli is such a dangerous playmaker with his arm and his legs. He just makes it look so smooth and effortless. It's a real shame NFL teams will overlook him because of his size, but I hope some team takes a gamble on him when he comes out.
Steve: I really disliked watching the Big 10 all year...every game is on at noon and it’s never fun starting off a hung-over Saturday with sub-par football. I don't think Terrelle Pryor has been asked to throw a single pass inside the hash marks - Coach Tressel realized early season he isn't capable of tough decisions over the middle. That's when the Buckeyes got hot and saved their season. That being said, I'm going with Oregon after that awesome win vs. rival Oregon St. to earn the Rose Bowl trip...but how big is this game for Tressel? They've pretty much lost every big bowl game in recent years and honestly they seem due....no tough matchup against USC this year...
David: It's obviously a big game for Tressel, but I think Oregon is just stronger than people think… I know it's tough to say a team playing in a BCS Bowl is underrated, but that loss in the first game of the season was made out to be some huge upset and look who it was against? An undefeated team currently ranked ahead of them named Boise State.
Steve: Yea great point - their only other loss was to a very good Stanford team. I'll agree USC usually trumps every team in that conference most years. Ok so both of us going with Oregon in this one…
David: Yup. One other quick note, the player to watch for: LaMichael James for the Ducks -- this kid is a freshman RB who came into the season as the 2nd string back behind LeGarrette Blount before his circus act at Boise led to almost a year-long suspension and now James has the 7th most rushing yards in the country and is averaging 6.9 yards a carry – impressive.
Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Cincinnati
David: Alright then, moving on... Steve, what are you thinking about the Sugar Bowl? Obviously a lot of people didn't think we'd be seeing Florida playing this early into bowl season, but what's done is done. How do you think this one turns out?
Steve: First, I hope someone at the CDC was able to bottle Tim Tebow's tears after the SEC Championship loss to Alabama - pretty sure if we study it enough his tears could cure cancer.
David: Hahahah
Steve: Second, this should be a really fun game and A LOT closer than odds makers are painting it. Florida is favored by 13 points. I see this being a one TD game or Florida getting a FG late to ice it by 10. Cincinnati has shown it can play against quality opponents...and I think Alabama showed Florida is a little overrated. I just see Cincy being able to run with them in a shootout type game.
Thoughts? Feelings? Should we start with your man crush on Tebow?
David: Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh…I'll start off by saying I also see Florida winning it, but I don't think it'll be as close as you are making it out to be. There's a lot more to this game than what's going on on the field.
Steve: Very true. Two coaches with all kinds of issues in this one.
David: Urban Meyer coaching his last game in what could be a long time (sure he says he'll coach next year, but who knows?) It's gonna be Tim Tebow's last game ever in college. It's become clear he has a flare for the dramatic and I just can't see him letting his crying on the sidelines against Bama matched with a potential loss in the Sugar Bowl being the way he wants his story to end. And then yeah, the whole Brian Kelly thing -- while I'll save my opinions on him and Notre Dame in general for another conversation -- Cincy is heading into this game essentially as an uncoached team. College football fans were just beginning to learn who Brian Kelly was and then, before you know it, he walks out on his undefeated team the night of their celebration banquet to go coach Notre Dame.
Steve: I've already bought http://www.firebriankelly.com/. Some Notre Dame Booster will be paying me for that midway through the 2010 season.
David: Hahahahah - I just think the Cincy players are very emotional and want to show they don't need Kelly, but I'm not sure if they’ll be able to. Outside all those storylines though, from a football aspect, I don’t think Cincy’s faced a defense of this caliber all year. The Gators are SEC football and Cincy needs to get ready for the size, speed, and agility of that defense. Really looking forward to watching the Bearcats WR Mardy Gilyard battle it out with Florida’s CB Joe Hayden all night too.
Steve: You are selling me on the blow out angle somewhat, with Kelly already in South Bend for next year and Jesus owing Tebow a send off win. I just like Cincy QB Tony Pike to make a game out of this. He had a great senior season and can launch the ball to keep up with Tebow and the Gators offense.
David: Yeah, I definitely see where you're coming from. Cincy will put up some points, but the Gators might be too much for them. For college football fans everywhere, I hope it is close, but I don't see it. Although that's not to say I see it as a 2-touchdown blowout either. Should be a good game, but I'm sticking with the Gators.
Steve: Wow we haven't been this cordial to each other since we placed our drunk roomate on a hook by his boxers at 2 am.
David: Hahahahaha - By the way, Meyer dropping dead in the middle of triple-overtime is going off at 16:1.
Steve: haha - For the sake of all involved Tebow will fumble in the 2nd OT to save his life.
David: I also spoke to Urban's doctor yesterday, turns out the "medical condition" Urban’s been diagnosed with is commonly referred to as a broken heart -- the loss of Tebow is just too much for him.
Steve: hahahaha - I was speculating he was 'pulling a Tiger' on his wife, but I have nothing to back that up beside my new pessimistic view of any athlete/coach with the appearance of being a good guy.
David: Well that's the beauty of America.
Fiesta Bowl: TCU vs. Boise State
Steve: Alright next up on the BCS calendar - the two non-BCS conference teams TCU vs. Boise State - I don't think Vegas can set the over/under high enough in this game, final score 72-71? Who do you see having the edge here?
David: Well this one is tough to predict. I mean, who knows if Jesus is going to be fully rested and recovered from helping Tebow win on New Year's Day to help lend a hand to Texas-Christian?
Steve: Best point made by either of us today....I like TCU. I've watched both these teams a great deal this year because betting on the over is fun. POINTTTTTS!!!!! TCU just seems way more dominant.
I'm actually pissed off - the game should have been TCU vs. Florida. But rather than make the non-BCS conference play a powerhouse, we get stuck with essentially two teams that never get enough credit playing each other.
David: Exactly, it was perfectly set up by the BCS. If one beats the other, it won’t have any effect on the overall structure. Although, I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one. I like the Broncos here.
Steve: Conflict! Do tell. I will be perfectly honest - I know these teams score as quickly as humanly possible, but don't have the slightest clue on anything beyond that. I will be taking the over even if it is 80...there is no way this ends below 45-45.
David: I like the Broncos for two reasons:
1) I think Chris Petersen is such an underrated coach, gets no respect because of the myth of the BCS, but we saw his game plan and his play-calling in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma a few years ago -- it was smart, it was inventive, it was masterful.
2) I agree it'll be a high-scoring game, but the one game I'm looking at to declare Boise State the winner was their match-up against Nevada the night after Thanksgiving. Nevada and TCU run similar offenses in that they're both run-first teams. TCU averages over 250 rushing yards a game, while Nevada averaged an astounding 344 yards on the ground every game this year. Boise State was able to score fast enough against them and stifle the run long enough that once Nevada started going it was too late to catch up and I can see the same thing happening with TCU.
Steve: And my rebuttal to all of this very well thought out factual argument is....how cool-looking are the uniforms on both sides!? I just like TCU. I think their run game imposes its will on teams, and the Boise St. defense (not that either team plays defense) is awful.
David: Hahahah - Well let me also throw out some numbers for you that have me leaning towards Boise State. A 13:1 TD:INT ratio…that's what Kellen Moore is bringing to the Fiesta Bowl with him. The kid is a true sophomore QB who led the nation in QB rating. That’s right. Not Tebow, not Pike, not Clausen, not McCoy; Kellen Moore. He's thrown 39 TDs against 3 INTs all season, a 13:1 ratio as I said, (no fumbles either). To put his efficiency into perspective: Jimmy Clausen’s ratio was 7:1, Tebow’s was about 3:1, and McCoy’s was 9:4. When you're able to avoid turning the ball over like that, it's tough for defenses to put a dent in your game.
Steve: I'm dizzy....I feel like a girl doing a March Madness pool.
David: hahahah - I just thought those were impressive numbers. Although, keep in mind that Moore tossed nearly 40 TDs and Boise still had almost 30 rushing TDs this year...just a dominant well-rounded offense, should be a good game.
Orange Bowl: Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
David: Okay, let's take it to the Orange Bowl, which pins a Big Ten team not named Michigan, Ohio State, or Penn State against a team from Georgia that isn't the Bulldogs. It's a matchup I can't imagine too many people had in their books before the season began -- Iowa vs. Georgia Tech. Who you kicking out of the hot tub?
Steve: I’m kicking Iowa out. During my Big 10 Saturday morning hang-over stretch, I was subjected to several Iowa games. I wish I could take some of their players to Vegas - this is the luckiest team I've ever seen. They won games on deflected passes that hit like 4 players before landing in an Iowa player’s hands for a defensive TD. I haven't seen a ton of Tech, but Iowa just isn't that good. They could easily have been 8-4 and it really was a fluke they are even here.
Thoughts? Feelings? Still thinking about Tebow in a hot tub?
David: hahahah, noooooooooooo…YESSSSSSS!
I'm with you on G-Tech, just not for the same reasons. Iowa got lucky sure, but any team who's won any type of championship would be lying if they said luck had nothing to do with it.
Steve: I took them by default because Iowa robbed me of several Saturday mornings so I'd love to hear a better argument that I can steal for my bizzaro sports blog bongbingsports.com.
David: I think the Iowa quarterback, Stanzi, is a solid player, but I'm still not sure about his ankle. He says it's fine, but it's gonna be tested. DE Derrick Morgan is a force of a pass-rusher who doesn't let up for a single play. I also think Tech’s RB Jonathan Dwyer will run all over Iowa. The kid is a bruiser, built in a similar mold of Beanie Wells at 6'1" 235 lbs. and we saw how Beanie had his way with the Big Ten. Dwyer’s racked up nearly 1400 yards on the ground this season and never got more than 25 touches in a single game and that's in a run-first spread option offense.
Steve: I feel like you are channeling your inner-Kiper today...
David: haha…I'm on the ball today baby.
I also really like the G-Tech coach Paul Johnson. Not to take anything away from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, but – I’ll admit I'm taking this from Mark May (I think) who said it first – Paul Johnson is one of the best mid-game coaches in the FBS and it shows. If you look at most of Tech’s big wins this season, they outscored their opponents in the second half almost every time.
Steve: This preview is starting to sound like I'm the Lou Holtz to your Mark May - all we need is me predicting Notre Dame to win the 2011 National Title and we'd be there.
David: Well, that and a lisp.
BCS Championship: Texas vs. Alabama
Steve: Alright Dave. One last one - the one that really matters - National Title game - Texas vs. Alabama....WHO YA GOT?
David: Alright, before I start talking about this game, I want to let it be known how much I hate Nick Saban. I have little respect for any football coach who couldn't cut it in the NFL and has to go back to college to lick their wounds, and I have zero respect for a coach who runs out on a team like a thief in the night the way he did with Miami.
So now that you know how I feel about him, you know how much it'll kill me to say this, but...I think Bama is gonna win this one. I don't think it'll be a high-scoring affair, but I think Bama's defense will be the decider. We all saw what Ndamukong Suhhhhhhhh did to Texas in the Big 12 championship and while defensive tackle Terrence “Mt.” Cody is not nearly as athletic or dominant as Suh, he's still a clogger in the middle who can make an impact.
If Bama can use him to take away any Texas ground game and especially McCoy's scrambling, it's gonna force him to the outside where he'll be met every time by middle linebacker Rolando McClain. By the time the game is over, McCoy’s probably gonna sell all his Die Hard DVDs just so he never has to hear that name ever again.
Steve: hahaha - So in summary you don't like Nick Saban...I want to make sure I get the main point there....
David: Not his biggest fan, correct.
Steve: Yea I like Bama too...especially after what they did to Florida in the SEC title game. Although I'm VERY concerned that I just picked the favorite in every BCS game. Nothing good is going to come of that. I'm just hoping Javier Arenas' play can somehow inspire Gilbert Arenas (his cousin) to stop crapping the bed on his $111 million contract for the Wizards, which is really the only reason I jumped on the Tide bandwagon early in the season. But back to the game - I think McCoy is not nearly as good as the media attention he gets. Nebraska showed what a well-rounded defense can do to a team like Texas and McCoy.
David: Then it looks like I should probably bet the underdogs. I still think back to the day you literally slapped God in the face and bet against the Saints on opening night at the Superdome the year of Katrina.
Steve: I did bet against the Saints after Katrina...maybe the worst bet I've ever placed next to a Boise St.-Nevada nightmare a few years back. I didn't want to discuss earlier, but trust me I was having 'Nam flashbacks as you referenced that game...
On offense for Alabama, I know you think Mark Ingram is overrated, but I really like his running style. Its Alabama’s QB Greg McElroy that scares the living crap out of me, but somehow this team feeds off their defense and the field position game enough to win ball games.
David: Well a lot's also gonna depend on my man Julio Jones. Bama better hope he doesn't take this game off, as he's tended to do this year. And let me back up my Ingram talk. I think he's overrated in terms of winning the Heisman. I just think giving it to a running back on an undefeated team that led 10 of their 13 games at halftime and therefore game-planned to run the clock out in the second half doesn’t prove a player’s dominance. Gerhart was the much more dominant runner, but anyway, I do think Ingram is a good runner. He's got the type of frame that can grind down a defense. Although Texas’ D has a lot of playmakers as well, so I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't such an explosive offensive game.
Steve: Agreed there I think Alabama's defense makes every contest relatively low scoring
David: Yeah, I'd really love to be wrong about this one, but right now, I'd much rather see a playoff leading to a Florida-Bama rematch.
Steve: I actually hate all that is Texas...these people somehow end up at the same bars I'm at during Texas games and don't stop with that “Hook'em Horns” crap....I will gladly watch them get sat on by Cody.
We about done here? I have a Tim Tebow-inspired Yoga class at the YMCA I'm trying to make.
David: I'm all done – wouldn’t want to keep you from that.
And just because we were so kind to each other during this talk and it weirded me out, allow me to say: you're an asshole and you don't smell very good.
Steve: hahaha, I really don't have a good counter to that. Check mate.
