[bubba]

Not just because i'm a fan........ but I think the Pats have tools to get the job done.....another ring for Brady.

[paladin]

Grumble;206515 said:

Anyone care to put forth their choices of division winners, wildcards, conference champs and eventual Super Bowl Winners.

Sure..

AFC:
East: Patriots
North: Ravens
South: Colts
West: Chargers
Wildcard1: Bengals
Wildcard2: Broncos or Jets

NFC:
East: Eagles
North: Bears
South: Saints
West: Seahawks(This is the hardest one to call, year in and year out)
Wildcard1: Ready for a surprise? Detroit
Wildcard2: Dallas? Atlanta? Carolina? San Fran? St Louis? Take your pick

AFC Champ: Chargers

NFC Champ: Saints

NFL Champ: Chargers in a high scoring affair

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Ha! MIchigan lost to Appalachian State! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!!

[Binder of Demons]

I love the irony of the sportscasters all deriding the big college programmes for "padding " their schedules against lower grade opposition this year. And then they get one of the biggest upsets in college football history on the first weekend (I will grant that there were a number of blow-outs as well).

BTW, just how should you pronounce APPALACHIAN? I think I heard about 400 variations of the word from the ESPN reporters. One ESPN anchor said it 4 different ways in succession.
I say APP-AH-LAY-TCH-EE-ANN.

Looked like a great game though, and that campus party when the team got home must have been epic!

[Oceao]

Appalachian

App-ah-lay-shen.

[amphibian]

Binder of Demons;207112 said:

I love the irony of the sportscasters all deriding the big college programmes for "padding " their schedules against lower grade opposition this year. And then they get one of the biggest upsets in college football history on the first weekend (I will grant that there were a number of blow-outs as well).

BTW, just how should you pronounce APPALACHIAN? I think I heard about 400 variations of the word from the ESPN reporters. One ESPN anchor said it 4 different ways in succession.
I say APP-AH-LAY-TCH-EE-ANN.

Looked like a great game though, and that campus party when the team got home must have been epic!

That Michigan-Appalachian State game is probably the greatest upset in sports history and it may be the first peak in a movement that has significantly changed college football.

The borderline blue-chip players, half-heartedly recruited by the big schools and destined to be perennial back-ups, have been choosing more and more often to go play for smaller, less prestigious schools where they can get more floor burn and glory.

App State should wake everybody up to that reality and keep the trend going.

[Grumble]

Well I asked the question so I guess it's time to provide the answers on who will win the Super Bowl in Arizona.

In the AFC I think Paladin pretty much nailed it:-

East - Pats
North - Ravens
South - Colts
West - Chargers

Wildcards - Bengals & Broncos

AFC Champs - Chargers

In the NFC

East - Eagles
North - Bears
South - Saints
West - Seahawks

Wildcards Rams & Cowboys

NFC Champs - Seahawks

Super Bowl ~ Refs keep flags in pockets and their eyes open as Seahawks beat down Chargers. IMHO.

[paladin]

usc linebackers are great products arent they

[paladin]

amphibian;207134 said:

That Michigan-Appalachian State game is probably the greatest upset in sports history and it may be the first peak in a movement that has significantly changed college football.

The borderline blue-chip players, half-heartedly recruited by the big schools and destined to be perennial back-ups, have been choosing more and more often to go play for smaller, less prestigious schools where they can get more floor burn and glory.

App State should wake everybody up to that reality and keep the trend going.

I think that the work of schools like Boise State, Utah, etc over the past few years has begun to show that "mid-majors" can be a great place to play and to showcase your talent. This should help on the east coast, as most of the teams so far have been western(on top of whats already mentioned: San Diego State, San Jose State, TCU, etc are all regional teams that seem to play well in big games whether or not they win and make a name for certain players to get drafted in the NFL). The resurgence of the Big East will help the east coast as well, as those schools were mostly considered mid-major type teams until recently.

[Grumble]

paladin;207165 said:

usc linebackers are great products arent they

Possibly our greatest reach pick ever #51

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Ahhhh. FSU is getting whipped by Clemson. In keeping with my hatred of all Florida football programs, this makes me happy.

[amphibian]

paladin;207166 said:

I think that the work of schools like Boise State, Utah, etc over the past few years has begun to show that "mid-majors" can be a great place to play and to showcase your talent. This should help on the east coast, as most of the teams so far have been western(on top of whats already mentioned: San Diego State, San Jose State, TCU, etc are all regional teams that seem to play well in big games whether or not they win and make a name for certain players to get drafted in the NFL). The resurgence of the Big East will help the east coast as well, as those schools were mostly considered mid-major type teams until recently.

Part of what's been keeping the mid-majors competitive is that they scoop up the rejects - the kids who don't quite have enough talent to compensate for that long rap sheet or have terrible grades/test scores (ie. Randy Moss).

I think now that Boise State and Appalachian State have broken through, the mid-majors will get a bigger percentage of the "good" kids. Not everybody is going to be like Tim Duncan, spending the full four years of his eligibility at Wake Forest to polish his game into an unstoppable machine, but the practice will be much more prevalent in the near future.

[paladin]

yea, basketball has been doing this for years now.. since gonzaga started appearing year after year in the tournament. with usc starting the season with 10 bluechip prospects at runningback alone, its not surprising to see start seeing some of those people decide for a smaller school that is in the process of establishing a winning program.

i was looking for a smaller school to play in myself before i injured my knee. i wanted to make it as a fullback or a goalline type back and its difficult to get those kind of reps in a big college 10 deep at every position

[Binder of Demons]

Did you guys see the highlight of that USC wide receiver making a one handed catch in the endzone. A big stretching grab up over his head, running backwards while a guy was challenging him. Really, really impressive.

I found that more impressive than the couple of long distance runs for touchdown that also happened in various games last weekend. I really glad American football is back. Roll on the NFL.

[amphibian]

Binder of Demons;207270 said:

Did you guys see the highlight of that USC wide receiver making a one handed catch in the endzone. A big stretching grab up over his head, running backwards while a guy was challenging him. Really, really impressive.

I found that more impressive than the couple of long distance runs for touchdown that also happened in various games last weekend. I really glad American football is back. Roll on the NFL.

Dude, look up Tyrone Prothro's catch from last year. Actually, I just did it to see the catch again: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=53imC4zojfc. That is the single best catch ever, in my opinion.

It's too bad that Prothro broke his leg so badly he may never play again. Cracking your tibia and fibula in half will do that.

[Binder of Demons]

Hey Amphibian, You're right, that is a very impressive catch.

But I'm not sure any can match the ridiculous catch that Antonio Freeman made for Green Bay back in 2000 i think
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=co3tAV104bw
I remember watching that game and couldn't believe it when I saw it.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

FSN just ran a special highlighting the 50 best football plays ever. Pretty sweet. I think both of those plays were on it. It got me pumped.

[amphibian]

Binder of Demons;207335 said:

Hey Amphibian, You're right, that is a very impressive catch.

But I'm not sure any can match the ridiculous catch that Antonio Freeman made for Green Bay back in 2000 i think
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=co3tAV104bw
I remember watching that game and couldn't believe it when I saw it.

That catch nearly drove my high school history teacher to suicide (huge Vikings fan). But I still see it as a lucky bounce, rather than the outright "I'ma git dat ball"-ness Prothro displayed.

[Grumble]

Well a typical Week 1 in the NFL, upsets, shootouts, blowouts ..... WOW

Patriots as most predicted looked very good.

Green Bay beats Philly and make a certain Ray LY look a genius, Carolina upsets St Louis.

Dallas & Giants stage a Texas shootout.

Indy blowout the Saints.

Detroit look like they may have grounds for optomism ..... personally I think it's a little early to call yet.

Steelers start well but it was only the Browns.

I have to say from my own particular biased view that Seattle has stolen a march on many of the predicted top NFC teams (Saints,Eagles,Bears) ..... so far so good.

Seattle started slow but the defense stood firm until offense found its rhythm in the second half.

Lofa #51 & Peterson #59 Bammmmm !!!

[bubba]

it looks like he is going to be paralyzed for life from that hit.........ouch, he has my prayers