Friday Fistacuffs: 10/31/08

Peoria Pliers: How many points are scored tomorrow in the Metrodome?
Scoops McCracken: I think it's a lower scoring game....the Gophers aren't making mistakes, but they're not lighting it up either, and Bacher is out as is Sutton. I wouldn't go over 40 for an O/U. What do you think?
Peoria Pliers: 40 seems amazingly low for that game considering the offensive talent, but both teams have opprotunistic defenses...its either a 68 point day or a 30 point day, probably not much of a chance of middle ground there
Scoops McCracken: Will there be a taunting penalty in the Georgia/Florida game after a score?
Peoria Pliers: Heh. That's a very good question. I really can't see there not being one now that you said it. The real question is this: how many kids get suspended after the ensuing melee?
Scoops McCracken: Why? is the SEC saying that if anything happens, they're going to suspend guys?
Peoria Pliers: No, I'm just envisioning a worst case scenario like the South Carolina game a few years ago
Scoops McCracken: I don't think anything can happene because last year was a one time thing that had an affect. Anything now is just a copycat. Last year was so brilliant. It won't have the same affect this year. At least I think.
Peoria Pliers: Yeah, youre probably right, but a nice WHL-Style throwdown would be sweet with a bunch of SEC kids beating each others heads in. Fun times. Peoria Pliers says: So assuming that your pick is right and mine is wrong...and the Longhorns send the Mad Bomber packing, do they run the table the rest of the way?
Scoops McCracken: I think Texas does if they win....I still think Tech will trip up even if they win tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I think Tech is good and they're different than their usual Tech teams, but I just think Texas is a little better. And McCoy simply isn't making mistakes....the Texas defense will cause Tech to make at least a few. And the kicking situation will bite its ass in the form of having to go for a 4th & 7 from the 30 or 25.
Peoria Pliers: I agree that Tech probably doesn't have the depth to run the table, but it sure would be fun. OK, let's jump the gun two months early...who ya got in these potential BCS Championship game scenarios? Texas vs. Alabama
Scoops McCracken: Texas
Peoria Pliers: Texas vs. Penn State
Scoops McCracken: Texas
Peoria Pliers: Texas vs. Georgia
Scoops McCracken: Still like Texas. I like Texas over everyone right now. I think the big thing for them is Tech is really the last team of the big games the rest of the regular season, and the way they handled Mizzou, they can beat them again in the XII title game. Bama has to beat a very good Georgia again or a Florida team that seems to be cranking it up a bit. Your thoughts?
Peoria Pliers: So you think its a Bama/Texas championship game?
Scoops McCracken: I think it will be a Texas/Penn State title game. I think Bama slips either at LSU or in the SEC title game.
Peoria Pliers: OK, so let's say you are right...can PSU keep the Texas offense under 35 points?
Scoops McCracken: Probably not...I think both teams score in the 30s easily. You're looking at another 2006 Rose Bowl.
Peoria Pliers: Wow, that's a tall order. So then three years later are we looking at Colt McCoy being platered on the cover of SPIN magazine with coke up his nose and Daryl Clark blowing his brains out on an NFL sideline a la Leinert/Young?
Scoops McCracken: Nah, McCoy is too small town for that. And Daryl Clark will be a 3rd down back for the Chiefs.
Peoria Pliers: if that is the case, he will have the biggest cannon arm for a back of all time
Scoops McCracken: C'mon Pliers....you know as well as anyone: Afro-Americans can't play NFL QB. They can't read defenses. Did you see this? http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3674820. You can't make it up!
Peoria Pliers: Yeah I did see that...only in Georgia. The Education Commissioner must be proud.
Scoops McCracken: I'm sure Alabama is upset that they didn't think of this the Friday before the Iron Bowl. Any preditcions on the Gophers-MSU series this weekend?
Peoria Pliers: Hmm. Well I always pull for my Richfield boy Jutting, but I don't think they have a chance this weekend. I mean they did lose their best player Cole "The" Basset "Hound" a few years back so their program must be in pretty deep decline.
Scoops McCracken: Jutting's from Richfield?
Peoria Pliers: Oh yeah
Scoops McCracken: A cradle of hockey hotbed talent.
Peoria Pliers: We have our fingers in a surprising amount of hockey related things around Minnesota...Darby Hendrickson is the all-time leading scorer for the "Horrible Haircut on FSN North" series, Jutting leads a mediocre team an hour from the metro, and our hockey rink still houses Holy Angles. OH, and we have Hat Trick here too. Always a plus
Scoops McCracken: I guess I never thought of Holy Angels as "Richfield's"......they're kind of their own little world with tunnels to west Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie, & Prior Lake
Peoria Pliers: Hey, the school is in Richfield, and so is their hockey rink. I wish they would leave, but that's just me. Bunch of jerkoffs. So who is your pick for the first NCAA coach to jump to the NFL this year? Any worthwhile candidates, or is that influx of NCAA guys coming to an end with the Petrino disaster?
Scoops McCracken: I think the good college coaches are wanting to stay. I think Willingham finds himself on an NFL staff though. If someone did jump, I'd see it being a Richt or Meyer.
Peoria Pliers: I like Richt as an NFL guy, cool, calm, good hair. That didn't work so well for Mikey Nolan though. How long do you give Singletary before the entire locker room turns on him?
Scoops McCracken: His bit may be good for the fans, but it may wear out in another two weeks.
Peoria Pliers: especially if they don't win
Scoops McCracken: You know what I'm worried about with the Gophers tomorrow? This is always the point where the other shoe drops. This may be one of the most important games in the program, definitely since the 2003 Michigan game. They have expectations now and need to kick down the door.
Peoria Pliers: Yuuuup. See my picks and you can read how much I agree with you.
Scoops McCracken: Win and people will flock to the dome next week agianst Michigan....lose and it's "same old Gophers" all over again.
Peoria Pliers: I'm going to the Michigan game by the way. I just GOTTA see Threet!!!!
Scoops McCracken: Then again, it took Mason 9 tries to beat Purdue.
Peoria Pliers: HA! Let's just not ever compare anything to Glen Mason. Agreed? Unless it is fecal matter. Or Betamax. Both equally as worthless as Glen Mason coaching a football team.
Scoops McCracken: Also, at what point can Sam McGuffie's name be legally changed to "YouTube sensation Sam McGuffie?" That's all they talk about him regarding his HS youtube runs.
Peoria Pliers: That's a good question. Sounds like something The Sports Guy could spearhead...if he would watch anything other than the Pats, the NBA, and the BoSox
Scoops McCracken: Last Question: What 3 things are we talking about on Monday morning about what happened this past weekend over all else?
Peoria Pliers:
1. Some horrific injury in the Texas/Texas Tech Game
2. The future of either Mack Brown or Mike Leach and their impending contract extensions
3. The official "end of days" for West Virginia after they lose badly to UConn
Scoops McCracken:
1. Texas on track for BCS Title game after surviving in the west Texas plains.
2. Minnesota's turnaround conitnuing and possible New Year's Day bowl.
3. 1,456 people killed by empty bourbon bottles in Jacksonville, FL.
Peoria Pliers: That would be a great line in the Jacksonville Daily Newspaper: "Jack Daniels Murders 12 As Liquid Killing Spree Runs Rampant"