Just to annoy the SEC-bashers, it’s SEC Football Picks! All picks are guaranteed to be actual picks for actual games. Home team in CAPS.
ALABAMA 38 Western Carolina 9
FLORIDA 60 Western Kentucky 3
MEMPHIS 18 Ole Miss 16
KENTUCKY 45 Eastern Kentucky 17
ARKANSAS 20 Troy 18
GEORGIA 48 Okla St 42 (OT)
VANDERBILT 41 Richmond 20
SOUTH CAROLINA 27 La-Lafayette 6
AUBURN 50 Kansas St 14
CAL 27 Tennessee 10
Good predictions, Mac. Frankly, thinking about SEC football is a welcome relief as I am still physically ill that Hudson and the offense blew a HOME GAME to the Mets, the same night the Phillies and Padres won again – reality is starting to set in on the Braves season and unless we win the next 5 straight games, yes, all 5, the season is officially done. Lose today’s game, I am personally waiving the white flag.
Back to the SEC, I am on a flight out to Seattle while the Dawgs game is going on and I am extremely nervous about the Okie State opener. Their offense is high octane–and unlike Boise State 2 years ago when people were predicting them to upset us on our home field (and we subsequently crushed them like bugs), Okie State has athletes and speed to stay with us a lot better.
The good news for the Dawgs is that we are LOADED on offense and Okie State’s defense is tissue paper. Our defense is better than Okie State, but their offense will get points.
Your score call is pretty good, Mac. I just hope when I get off my United flight in Seattle and check my Blackberry, I can see a Georgia win. That’s all that matters. Go Dawgs.
I don’t have much hope James will go more than 3 innings today.
Auburn = 50 HA HA HA
Go SEC!! I am also really glad that college football is back.
I would really love to see Tennessee upset Cal.–especially because I am already tired of hearing how great USC is and that only Cal can beat them….
Go VANDY!!
I hate hearing how the Pac 10 is a great conference. These guys are homers because the Pac 10 has one great team, USC, and 2 good teams, Oregon and Cal. Thats it
NOT DONE YET!
Before you SEC fans scurry off and take all your good karma. please realize that the Braves have 6 games with the gNats, 3 with the Fish, and 3 with the Rastros. (Jetsons reference:)
2 of 3 with the Mets would still be a tremendous boost, a domination. I also realize that 2 of 3 in the remaining series won’t get it done, but one series sweep might get close and two series sweeps would do it.
If you think I’m hanging with this team because I don’t have anything better to do; you’re right. ‘Cause there ain’t nothing better than good baseball.
But my wife’s Colts get started defending their championship this week and they’re wearing me down.
Yogi hasn’t called to say it’s over yet!
Go Braves!
See, the issue for me isn’t that they no longer have the opportunity to win the division or whatever. It’s that I just don’t believe it will happen. The script has played out the same way for so much of the year (“Braves have opportunity, Braves blow opportunity” is of course the script to which I’m referring) that I don’t forsee it changing. But who knows. Maybe Chuckee will step up today. I guess either way I still think we’ll get a good performance out of Smoltz tomorrow.
So sure, we can do some great things now and make it interesting. I’m just inclined to think we won’t. :-/
Why not call up Stockman and Prado at least?
Prado is a much better right handed pinch hitter and about as good of a fielder everywhere except short as Woodward. If nothing else, that would stop the Woody platoons and the Woody days off.
Last night Stockman went 2 innings with 4 strikeouts at Richmond.
FREE PHIL STOCKMAN
I agree with all those, except I think the Cal-UT game will be a bit closer. I say 21-10 Cal. I’d love to see UT upset them though, and put another dagger into the Pac-10 lovers’ hearts.
i’n no vols fan, but i think they are gonna kill cal again
*i’m
I doubt Troy’s going to be that close to Arkansas.
Here’s my lone prediction for the day:
Georgia Tech 27, NOTRE DAME 10.
There, I said it. Here’s why I think so.
Notre Dame’s offense is a shell of last year’s, and I think they still have a questionable secondary. That could help the couple of inexperienced receivers that Georgia Tech has. Plus, I think Bennett can pick up being a starter.
Finally, Georgia Tech’s defense is the same as last year’s, and even though it was in Atlanta, they held Quinn’s offense to two touchdowns. Sharpley and Jones aren’t Quinn.
Also, no Reggie Ball.
Addition by subtraction, my friend. 😀
Yeah, but they still have Chan Gailey.
And go Cal!
Jeremy,
I think the offensive coordinator is still calling plays this year.
I’ve never been one to blame things on Gailey anyway. Sure, he’s not great, but he’s not bad. That’s fine with me.
ummmm,,,
Appalachian St is up 28-17 over Michigan right now
csg,
Michigan better get their act together, or that one’s going to be “The Legend of The Day The Wolverines Were Killed By The Mountaineers”
Or something.
I also think Tennessee will handle Cal. They’ll push ’em around.
yeah Michigan’s D looks real bad
Is it sad that I forgot that the Braves had a day game today, too much football going on right now
I see Neil Calloway is doing a great job with UAB.
45-3 in the 3rd, their defense looks like a slow high school team. UAB’s program could be dwindling away
c’mon appi-state!
csg,
No, it is not sad. The optimism of a fresh start each week of college football is much better than the day-to-day grind of mediocrity. Heh.
Julio better not get any starts over Tex.
No, Sam, it’s sad. It shouldn’t have come to a point where I don’t even bother to know the game time of a September Braves/Mets game.
Stu,
Suit yourself, but I don’t prefer to dwell on the bad for too long.
Ron,
Ha ha ha, very funny.
I’m not dwelling on anything, Sam, just pointing out how wrong you are.
Stu,
Well, I never said I was right about anything. It’s your view in saying that valuing college football more than a crucial September Braves game is sad. I don’t see it that way. If that is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
I mean, I have an opinion. It doesn’t mean that I’m right, but I’m not wrong. We’ll just have to live with the difference.
Besides, the Braves game starts after the GT-ND game, so I’m sure as hell not watching the Braves game.
csg said this:
Is it sad that I forgot that the Braves had a day game today
You said this:
No, it is not sad.
I said this:
No, Sam, it’s sad. It shouldn’t have come to a point where I don’t even bother to know the game time of a September Braves/Mets game.
My point was all about the Braves and had nothing to do with college football.
And, just so you know, opinions can be wrong.
The point—my point, anyway—had nothing to do with what I’d rather watch, but is about the fact that I’m not paying any attention at all to the Braves now.
Anyway, off to do a little tailgating of my own with the Vandy crowd. Good luck, SEC teams!
Woodward & Harris are starting today. I had to scroll through 20 posts of DOB arguing with the same old douchebags to find that nugget of information. Jeez…no wonder that guy is divorced.
Okay. That’s fine. That’s your decision not to pay any attention to the Braves. So there. *shrugs*
Lineups for today’s fresh hell:
steM YN:
seyeR ss
ollitsaC b2
thgirW b3
nartleB fc
uolA fl
odagleD b1
acuD oL c
egdelliM fr
yerfleP p
Braves:
Harris lf
Johnson 2b
CJones 3b
Teixeira 1b
McCann c
Francoeur rf
AJones cf
Delenda Est! ss
James p
Lou Holtz is getting excited and is spitting all over ESPN
Miohigan leading by 1, 32-31
And they got an interception.
Didn’t Escobar get plunked or hurt last night? I guess that’s why Waste of Space is starting.
appi on the move!
That’s my guess, too, Sam.
any news on sept call ups?
Mac… I noticed you picked all the home teams to win
F yeah! td APPI!
or maybe not
appi state 34-32 :28 seconds left
Frank,
Franco, Ring and someone else got called up. I don’t think any of the hot prospects are going to get a look, though. At least from what I heard.
make that 3pts…appi up by 2 with 30 seconds remaining.
Ouch. Got within field goal range in one shot.
#50, Pena was the somebody else.
Um… wait a minute… did App St. just win?
well it looks like appi just about blew it with 6 seconds remaining…but get the win!
appi state blocks FG to win
Ron,
Oh, yes, almost easy to forget about him. Nice to see him back. He should be the backup instead of Corky. 😛
Not too surprised to see no B. Jones or Lillibridge but no Devine or Prado (esp if Escobar is dinged) is surprising. Richmond plays through Sept 3 so we might see more in a few days.
Who got called up today, if anyone? Is there a list?
frank,
i can’t understand that either, i guess the front office is throwing in the towel squad.
Devine wasn’t sent down that long ago. Maybe no callup for him because he hasn’t been down the ten-day minimum?
Devine and Prado may not be eligible, since they were sent down less than ten days ago.
I think we’ll see Prado and Devine after Richmond finishes its season. I don’t think we’ll see Lillibridge or Brandon Jones. If B. Jones came in and did great, it might upstage Andruw a little. At least Andruw’s average is rising.
“If B. Jones came in and did great, it might upstage Andruw a little.”
Who cares? Andruw Jones will (unless the Braves somehow make the playoffs) play his last game with the Braves in about a month.
wouldn’t that be funny… there would be an A. Jones, B. Jones and C. Jones
I wish that the Braves would get on a roll all the way to the playoffs….but, if they are incapable of that, I wish they would just get swept by the Mets & Phillies so we can put the season to bed. I don’t want to be teased for another month.
The 10 day rule is a good call for Devine and Prado unless there’s no September loophole.
Thankfully no sign of Paronto (Cox would use him in the elusive quest for the DP groundball). To be fair though his Richmond stats are better than Ring’s (small sample but 5.68 ERA; 1.89 WHIP). Pena had an ok season for a catcher–.764 OPS–and looks Ruthian compared to the 3 Amigos of Futility (Woodward, Orr, and Thorman).
I’m kinda surprised about Paronto. He’s nothing special, but he rarely gives up homers.
James pretty solid so far.
Up to the offense to score off of a guy with a 5.68 ERA
Score? We can’t even get a hit.
The New York newspapers might as well get their “Pelfrey wins first game of the season” headlines ready.
Perfect through three. Oh that’s right, he’s ERA is around six. If it was at three-something, the Braves would probably be teeing off on him. This team just can’t beat up on bad pitchers for some reason.
So much for our vaunted #2 ranked offense
Hey, just think, we’re seeing the first no-hitter in Mets history.
“Hey, just think, we’re seeing the first no-hitter in Mets history.”
Oh well.
Ugh.
Break for Atlanta…..time to not cash it in.
Bingo
Good lord.
Deja vu
Tired arm? *Sneers*
You’re an idiot, Jeff.
Well, maybe that’ll wake them up.
At least James is likely to give us another inning or 2 today, with only 66 pitches so far.
Unless he’s pinch-hit for.
Even with only 66 pitches, I’d pull James if his spot comes up in the order. Need to break through offensively plus James tires faster than other pitchers.
… and with no one out yet, James’s spot will definitely come up this inning.
way to go, woodward…
3-1 count and you bunt for a pop-out on ball four. I hate you Woodward.
Kill yourself, Woodward.
Really? Thorman over Diaz here? I hope we’re pinch-hitting for Willie Harris too.
woodward strikes again
Oh great, the unmighty Thor.
Woodward … how F%^$ing useless.
I really think Bobby has money on the Mets.
why bobby?
3-1 to Thorman, looks like its bunting time.
if they let thorman swing at all i’ll scream
Good AB, Thor.
This inning would really be looking up if not for Woodward.
Diaz in for Harris? Pretty please?
Dan–I wonder how many other innings could be described the same way.
oh the train wreck that is atlanta baseball
Another out for Harris.
The Braves doing enough not to be shutout, but not enough to win.
probably most innings he bats in…
That was Francoeur-esque. He missed that pitch by a foot.
On the bright side, we sure got a lot of baserunners that inning considering we didn’t have any hits.
Current Braves’ baseball:
http://www.sapros.com/tmiaw/train_wreck.jpg
What more can Woodward show the Braves to get DFA’d? Most. Useless player. Ever.
Wait till next year.
Smoltz and Hudson pitch like they did this year, and we get another good starter in free agency or trade, we have a good shot
Bobby “Nero” Cox is eating shaved ice in the dugout right now.
why wasn’t that strike 3?
Nice kick save.
Heart of the order. Lets see if we can get anything.
Has anyone ever noticed that Chipper Jones can never lay off, and never hit, a high and away fastball? I wonder if that’s in the scouting reports.
lou holtz can slobber and spit on a camera at 20 yards, what is keeping this guy alive? how many times can his teeth come out in 2 minutes…sthuffering sthuchatath!
Wow. We’re getting owned by a pitcher that had an ERA over 4 in triple-A this year.
news flash!
braves still suck…now back to football
Another pathtic game. I’m out of here–date night with the mrs.
Look for a homer from Alou or Delgado next inning.
Not quite out of here–right call, wrong player. Still time for Alou and Delgado to make my call look good.
Braves delenda est.
That was predictable.
Mota is one of the worst relievers in baseball and he owns us.
I can’t stand to watch this team lay down and die for a pitcher who hasn’t even gotten a win this season.
Chris Woodward doesn’t deserve to put on a uniform of any kind with the exception of Burger King. Andruw Jones can’t leave soon enough. What the hell is Bobby doing to right this sinking ship?
“What the hell is Bobby doing to right this sinking ship?”
Eating shaved ice.
Please don’t walk this bum with Wright on deck.
We’re really good at pickoffs at 2B.
So there’s that.
Reyes is an idiot.
We need a $15-20 million increase in our payroll next season to lift our rotation out of mediocrity.
2 innings left and it still feels like we’re down to our last strike.
Huddy, Smoltz, and Hampton are definites and James is a “probably.” Who do you think they’ll go out and get?
Watch the Braves go into 2008 doing the same mistake they did this season: counting on Hampton as their third starter.
Barring some weird and extremely unlikely James trade, next year’s locks are: Smoltz, Hudson, James and Hampton.
Then what? It’s feeling like they’ll go into 2008 hoping for the same rotation they went into spring 2007 wanting.
The offense has just been putrid thus far this series: 2 runs & 6 hits (all singles) in 17 innings.
All that talk the Braves did coming into Friday, and when it comes time to put up they wilt on offense.
And Yates (where is Royce Ring?) is providing the icing on the cake. Oh well, just like yesterday it’s irrelevent, they aren’t coming down three runs down in the ninth.
The Professor says that the Braves have struck out 56 times in their last 5 games. That pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?
There’s no way to sugar coat it. This Braves team is a bunch of chokers.
This game is a replay of last night. It feel like we’re slowly bleeding to death.
The upside (if any): The Dawgs kick off in half an hour.
The talk is that the Braves will trade Renteria for pitching in the offseason.
It does.
I’m still baffled by the 6 total hits and ZERO extra base hits against John Maine and Mike Pelfrey.
Also, whoever puts the defense where it is for the Braves sucks. Their infielders and outfielders seem to never be standing in the right spots.
Yeah, I never understood why Corrales left the team. Does anybody know? Did Kasten lure him away with the promise of bigger paycheck?
Well that was an utter embarrassment.
To add insult to injury, Feliciano didn’t even know it was the ninth. Brilliant.
The worst of the year, and I think there were some comments about it here at the time, was either the first or second game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles earlier this season just before the all-star break.
With left-handed Juan Pierre batting, the Braves had the left fielder playing the line (yes, the left fielder), Andruw Jones standing pretty much in left field (extreme left-center) and Francoeur guarding the line in right. That left this huge gap in center and right field that Pierre almost perfectly split, leading to a triple.
Let’s scrape out a win for pride tomorrow. Right now, I’m too hungover to muster any level of embarrassment.
Until then…
Go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o Georgia Bulldogs!
Recap is up. I hope you guys appreciate what this team is putting me through.
Well, the two pickoffs at 2B are something of a consolation.