Thursday, August 31, 2017

The FMQ Is Off and Running!

It's finally HERE!  Real games begin tonight!!!
Oh NOOOOO….I Think These Are Gonna’ Suck….



Scratch that – They Do Suck….
Michigan, USC, domers, PSU, and maybe Bama.  Those teams NEVER, EVER have to wear a one-off uniform for a game as they easily have some of the classiest uniforms ever designed and color coordinated.  The Maize and Blue is a great look is incredible and the winged helmet is the most recognizable in ALL of football – College or Pro.  I have to admit that I LIKE the Hoopsters wearing all Maize, but the football team wearing all Maize…including shoes?   I dunno’, man.  I just don’t know.  Everyone says I’m becoming a grumpy old man, but I take this as kind of a “Let’s give in the alternate uni-craze….”  Of course, I’ve never really cared for the Road Whites, either. 
But they’re here and you’re going to be watching them Saturday….
A Deeper Dive Into the B1G
Again, I was informed that maybe – MAYBE – the PSS was a little light on the B1G teams and my take as to how the B1G would end up this season.  I blew it last season (but not by much for either division) when I had Michigan and Nebraska somehow winning it all.  Nebraska lost a close game in Wiscy in OT and was then embarrassed at osu the following week, but if they beat Wiscy, I think they still would have had a shot at the top of the division.  I can’t explain the Iowa loss, either…Wiscy wasn’t on anyone’s radar and frankly, PSU was an anomaly of what’s more commonly known as “regression to the mean”. 
Meaning, for as unlucky as Michigan was in close games last season (0-3 in 2 OT games and games decided by 3 points or less), PSU was just AS lucky to beat the Suckeyes and come back from a 3 score deficit in the 2nd half of the B1G Championship to nip Wiscy….
So, what’s the West going to look like at the finish this season?
1.     Wiscy
2.    Northwestern
3.    Nebraska
4.    Minnesota
5.    Iowa
6.    Purdue
7.    Illinois
That looks about right based on everything I’ve read and seen, but the entire top 5 could get shuffled and re-stacked along the way.  In fact, the only one I really can’t make a whole hearted argument with respect to winning the West is Iowa, but they could still pull it off.  There’s just too many missing pieces right now for Ferentz…..  Wiscy has suddenly gone from being (within a season) a team that people were writing off with Chryst at the helm to the unanimous favorite to win the West (no OSU or PSU on the schedule and Michigan HOME) and maybe have a shot at whoever comes out of the East.
I did say in the PSS that Northwestern will give people fits this season and they have an incredibly favorable schedule.  If they can knock off the Cheeseheads, they could sneak into the B1G Championship game, easy. 
Two seasons ago, Nebraska looked poised to make a return to the ranks of “Programs that Matter”.  Right now, Riley might be coaching for his job if he can’t get to 9 wins.  He really needs a breakthrough season or Nebraska will go shopping for another head coach…
Fleck could also be the fly in the ointment that manages to upset his way into the title game…but we need to see a couple of games to really get a feel for what he’s going to be able to do with the current crop of gophers.
What about the East?
Well, Everyone KNOWS that I have Michigan winning the whole thing, so might as well start there.
1.    Michigan
2.    Suckeyes
3.    Maryland
4.    Sparty
5.    Penn State
6.    Indiana
7.    Rutgers
I’ve decided, for no really good reasons, that the Nittany Lion’s were incredibly fortunate in several games last season.  And while they have the potential to be as good as advertised, I just don’t think they’re going to be the team a lot of the talking heads are making them out to be.  AND they’re going to be playing with the target on their backs, which always presents a different challenge.  So the East is a 2 Team race with Michigan and the suckeyes vying for the right to be in Indy.
Osu will be good, but I am still very seriously doubting whether or not they can get by the Wolverines this season in Ann Arbor
I’m calling Maryland the Dark Horse of the East that’s going to spoil some undefeated parties.  In fact, I circled October 7th on the calendar as a potential “trap” game for Maryland.  Only they’re the trappers when they go to osu.  Osu will probably be peeking ahead to Nebraska, PSU and to a lesser extent, Iowa, and may overlook Derkins Terps.  They also get Sparty and PSU late in the season when both those teams could already be sitting on 4 and 2 losses, respectively…And Sparty stadium will be empty and PSU is at Maryland.
I’ll state right now that sparty won’t go 4-8 again, but 5 losses is very realistic and frankly, probable given the schedule and where they have to play their toughest games.  @ Michigan, @ osu and @ Northwestern….
Little known fact:  Michigan didn’t even get to play against Coach Hazell while he was at Purdue.  The last coach Michigan faced was in fact Danny Hope who was the head coach immediately following Tiller
So that’s not a good thing.  Something has to happen so that there’s no more than 4 years between cross over games.  Go to 9 game conference schedules and figure out how to get a home and home with all the crossovers within 4 years of each other….When was the last time Nebraska was in town???
This is Cool…
And I’ve maybe seen the website before, but it is interesting to go through and put some different teams into the search.  In short:
Michigan (with the most wins and highest winning percentage in all of CF) has a winning record over every conference in existence.  I didn’t go through by team, but there’s a couple of teams that have an edge on Michigan that will be impossible to fix as they don’t exist or Michigan would never consider scheduling them again…
The link to the site:
Irish Eyes Are Crying….
I don’t get over to NDNation and the Message Board “Rock’s House” as often as I’d like to, because I do enjoy schandenfreude (Websters: pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misery or misfortune),  but I did get over there just recently.  The fan apathy and angst has to be at a new low/high.  Apparently you can now:
1.     Pay to “walk with the players” from the grotto to the stadium.  This was free for decades and now costs $10.
2.    Pay $20 to touch the PLACT sign coming out of the locker room.  (Play Like a Champion Today!)

3.    Pay more for season tickets than ANY OTHER TEAM IN THE NCAA!  The domer game against Wake Forest is going to cost a domer fan $130.  Clemson vs WF at Clemson is only $60….Other base ticket prices for the cheap seats are as high as $150/game
4.    If you’d like to have a nice polo shirt from the officially recognized ND supplier, it’ll cost you over $100
I could go on, but I hope you’re getting the picture.  The fan base is fast approaching where Michigan fans were in late 2014.  Apathy was thick and fans were simply pissed.  They were pissed at the AD for trying to make a buck on every aspect of the game and using every angle.  And they were pissed with the product on the field
Methinks the domers might be turning a page in the book this season, regardless of the record.  That kind of emotional combination is a bad brew and something has to give…But I oh so enjoy watching the domers and their fans roam the destitute wasteland in utter despair!!!
THE FMQ
Quick refresher – we start with a cool $1,000 clams and try to double up over the course of a season.  Betting Spreads, over unders, and a parlay or two.  Trying a different format this season with respect to reporting wins and losses….
Buffalo @ The Golden Gophers (-24.5  O/U:  50):  Fleck the Mighty Rower gets rolling early on a Thursday night kick-off before the big Labor Day Weekend Smorgasbord of games.   I like the Gophers in a rout in this game as Buffalo hasn’t fielded anything close to a decent team in years.  The Over is a hard bet and I’ll lay off that one…
Take the Gophers and lay the 24.5 for $30
Ohio State @ Indiana (+20.5  O/U:  58):  It’s hard to get a read on this game.  Wilson will be returning for the first time to the place where he was a pretty successful coach.  The sukeyes notoriously start out the season a little slow, and I’m not expecting a difference this season.  However, if Wilson has been given the reins to open up the offense, well, it might not bode well for the Hoosiers if Kevin is seeing this as revenge…But the Moneyline here is so intriguing…Indiana wins and the bettor would receive $1,285 on a $100 bet!!!  Still, can’t do 12:1
Take the Suckeyes and lay the 20.5 for $40
Maryland @ Texas (-18):  This spread surprises me a little.  Maryland isn’t a pushover and Texas has a new coach, albeit with a whole lot of returning starters.  Granted they weren’t that good last year.  I have a feeling that Maryland might be able to keep this game closer than 18 points.  And here’s another interesting tidbit:  the moneyline for the Texas:  -$1,100.  For Maryland:   $775.  I gotta put a little scratch on that!
Take the Terps and the 18 points for $30
Take the MONEYLINE for the Terps for $30
Temple @ the Domers (-17.5):  The teasers are always fun, aren’t they?  Temple played the domers close a couple of years ago losing by less than a TD and more or less getting now Baylor Coach Matt Ruhle several job interviews.  There still may be some holdovers from that game on Temple’s roster and they are convincing everyone else that the domers are beatable.  I’ll take a fired up road team and the fact that Kelly might not have everything on his offense figured out yet.
Take Temple and the 17.5 for $30
FSU vs. Alabama (-7):  I would have thought this was more of a 3-point game, but Vegas is smarter than me.  FSU played Clemson close last year and you can bet they were watching the National Championship game thinking, “We almost beat the team that beat Bama to win the National Title!”  I think FSU has been looking forward to this game for a LONG TIME.  Jimbo Fisher may unleash the dogs early and if Bama stumbles early…Chaos!
Take FSU and the 7 for $30
Florida vs. Michigan (-3.5):  This line has moved around a little and with the 7 suspensions at Florida due to ATM CardGate, McElwain has had some time to re-group and figure out what he’s going to do on the offensive line.  But I don’t think it’ll be enough and I think Michigan goes into Dallas in the Maize Unis and gives the SEC a lesson in “B1G Football…”
Take Michigan and lay the 3.5 for $40
PARLAY!
3 Team Parlay:   6-1

Michigan – FSU – OSU:   $20

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Getting Closer!!!

Has The Entire Civilized World Lost Their Mind?
Do you ever see something and think for a split second that, “This can’t be happening.  People are more intelligent than this.  We cannot believe for a second that people would really think something like this could possibly offend….anyone.”  Case in point:  Robert Lee, an ASIAN play by play guy for ESPN got moved from the Virginia game on opening weekend (where the Charlottesville Mess occurred) due to the fact that his NAME might trigger…something in someone.  In someone or some group that preaches tolerance above all else…And these groups are otherwise fine….As long as you agree with whatever it is they’re saying or believing!
That’s nuts, right?  Tell me it’s crazy because when I see and read stuff like this I think I’m losing my mind.  And I think PEOPLE CAN’T BE THAT STUPID!!!
And that’s not a challenge!  I’m not asking you to get “Stupider!”  Grow up and deal with stuff fergodsakes!!!
And what the hell is triggering?  I guess I get triggered all the time. Albeit by way MORE IMPORTANT STUFF… Go ahead.  Mention that the domers are a more historically important Football Program than the University of Michigan….
I DARE YOU!
That’s a trigger, or one of my main ones, I suppose…
And There’s This
Sent to me by loyal readers and it went viral on a lot of social networks.  I would have preferred the actual Wolverine and perhaps the guy that Spider-Man fought that looked a lot like an alligator, but I’ll give Marvel the benefit of the doubt here in that they were trying to portray the game in a good light.
Still…Something with these two on the cover may have looked a lot cooler….

Can Harbaugh Carry on 3rd Season Tradition?
I hate putting more pressure on a situation that’s already pretty full of pressure, but this is Harbaugh’s 3rd season in Ann Arbor.  The “Greats” who’ve won it all in their 3rd season?
Satan – Twice.  At LSU and at Bama
UM (that’s Urban Meyer) – Twice.  At Florida and at osu
The pressure’s on. And if I know Jimmy, the internal pressure he’s putting on himself is probably higher than anything anyone else or the media can put on him.  But the time is now.
I know it’s a pretty tall order, but Jimmy has some work and Championships to win if he wants to make this list:
And Yes, I’m a little ticked that somehow Leahy is above Yost on this list at 4….Yost was a WAY BETTER Coach than Leahy ever was.  Just sayin’….
Maybe the MMQ should put together his own top 25?
I Like This Idea…And It Won’t Go Away…I HATE IT When That Happens
Mostly cause I’ve done some research, figured out what it would cost, and it meets a several of the tailgate needs.  I’d really like to be able to sit down at times at the old tailgate, but there’s not a good way to seat EVERYONE.  But even if you could just sit for a few minutes at a time and then go over and toss your can for the “Can Game” and then grab a seat when one opened up, it would be nice.  Not only that, but the pain of having to replace tailgate tents would more or less go away.  I’m envisioning a heavy tarp or boat hoist type canvas as the cover.  And you’d have a built in crap containment system in addition to a nice grill at the tailgate vs. a portable cook top that sometimes takes a while to get everything cooked…
Going to discuss it with Tom the Parking Lot Guy as to whether or not it’s even legal to have in our parking lot as RV’s and “large vehicles” are no longer permitted.  If he blesses it, well, I just might have to take it upon myself to build this little sucker.  Would be nice to have a place in Ann Arbor to store it and then just shoot down early, haul it into the spot, and then haul back to the storage spot when the time came….
Imagine for a moment:  What would our lives be like without Bill Murray?
Seriously, I was getting antsy about the upcoming season and all the things were looking forward to seeing, developing and just getting back to playing (and watching) some football. And I stumbled on a Bill Murray quote and a post started to come together in my head.  All the classic Bill Murray one-liners uttered by some of the great characters he has portrayed throughout his career….And then I started thinking about the number of times I’ve used Bill Murray movie lines in daily conversation.  I have to believe that I use one on average at least twice a week…
But wait!
Listen – Do you smell something?
And I know that’s Dan Akyroyd, but Bill gave us the “normal humans wouldn’t stack books like that!”
I’m really not sure what I wanted to post about, it just seems like I need to get into the rhythm of writing again.  It does take practice and practice, of course, makes perfect…Look at the pointers Bill Murray gives the kids as the great Ernie McCracken!!!
Ernie McCracken As a Big Dad
And what’s football without leadership???  Leadership is critical in any endeavor and we learned from John Winger you don’t have anything if you don’t have leadership…and a Big Toe!
Seargent Hulka’s Big Toe
On top of that, but it seems like Frank Cross is running the advertising unit at ESPN marketing and wants to make sure we don’t miss any of this season’s “Games of the Century!”   After all…Your life may depend on it!
Frank Cross Makes a Commercial
We cannot forget about Bob Wiley and his incredibly “Sane” logic regarding his divorce revolving around your attitude regarding Neil Diamond.  I love this line as I have longed believe that there’s two kinds of people in this world:  Those that like the domers and those that absolutely HATE the domers (JEEZ I HATE THESE GUYS!!!)  And no matter how hot you look or how nice of a guy you are, if you like the Domers, we simply can’t be friends. 
What About Bob?
And let’s not forget that Carl Spackler showed us why there’s always Cinderella’s that come from out of nowhere and get to go to the ball for the first time!
Carl Spackler’s Cinderella Story
So yes, I guarantee you your life is funnier because of Bill Murray…

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

DPJ, Coaches Poll & Lazy Links

Read This About Your Newest Receiver Donovan Peoples Jones
And you can thank the MMQ and Brian Cook at mgoblog.com later….
Top 25 Review
So here’s the Coaches Poll for the 2017 Season, which is still a crock as this is all based on speculation and assumption.  I’m a firm believer that there shouldn’t be a poll until after 5 weeks of games have been played.  Not saying it’d change much of anything…just sayin’!!!



Biggest Surprises?
Let’s start with the teams that made it in that shouldn’t probably be there or shouldn’t be ranked as high as they are. The real question marks start from 6 on down:
I know PSU is bringing nearly everyone back, but #6 just seems a little high to me. Let’s talk reality, shall we?  They only gained 11 first downs and 191 yards in Ann Arbor a year ago.  When the Lions went on their run after that game, it was against the middle of the B1G and they were lucky to upset the suckeyes.  Yes, they won the B1G, and that’s worth something.  But I would have PSU right above (or right below!) Michigan at #8 or #10 and slide everyone else up one notch…
I can see the angst with Michigan being a single digit team at #9.  I would have personally had them (objectively) around #12.  (In my slappy fan head they’re a solid 3 or 4 at the END of the season!!)  But everyone respects the Harbaugh and when you look at Michigan’s schedule, it’s manageable. 
Auburn finished with an 8-5 record and Malzhan hasn’t done crap in the last two seasons. A #13 ranking is kind of nuts… I’m not sure why they’re getting this much love, but hey…SEC.  Auburn is my odds on favorite to NOT be in the Top 25 come January
Georgia at #15 is a bit high I’m not saying they’re not a top 25 team, but what have they done lately?  Kirby Smart hasn’t really shown me anything and it’s the SEC East for crap’s sake.  And to have Georgia above #16 Florida?  Seriously?  Cumon’ coaches….what are you thinking?
Speaking of Florida, I might have had the two-season’s SEC East champ a little higher than #16!  I mean, they could be better than last year and if McElwain can find an offense…look out!
The First – “What Were You Thinking?????” I personally think the Miami Hurricanes even making the Top 25 at #18 is a bit of a reach.  Their schedule is manageable, but I just haven’t seen the proof in the product yet out of Mark Richt.  Win a big game and we’ll talk.  Like Beat FSU…or Clemson.
Texas @ #24 went 5-7 last year and we’re supposed to believe they’re gonna’ right the ship and fix everything under 1st year Hermann?  8 wins is manageable, but Texas seems to find ways to lose to teams they shouldn’t…and they’re schedule doesn’t do them any favors with Maryland, USC and Oklahoma in the first half of the season.
The Biggest Snubs?
The Domers not getting the honorary 25th spot was kind of a big surprise for this fan.  I guess everyone thinks that last season’s 4-8 campaign wasn’t a fluke and is more like what we can expect from the Domers?  I still say that the Domers could have won 7 (3 more than they did win) if not for Kelly’s stupid game management decisions….
Colorado, after being in the Pac 12 Title hunt right up to the last game in 2016 and bringing a pretty good contingent of talent back is also a surprise…
Nebraska not getting any love from the coaches?  That’s usually a perennial name that makes it in, sort of like Oklahoma, and the Cornsuckers just aren’t cutting it with the other coaches, I guess…But they could certainly be in the Top 25 before the end of September and if they can squeak by Oregon @ Oregon, maybe even 5-0 before they play Wiscy and the suckeyes in back to back HOME games.  Win one of those and they’re cracking the top 25 at 6-1 (or 7-0?), easy... 
NC State returns 17 starters and nearly beat Clemson as everyone may recall...  Another surprise that could easily be in the top 25 or higher by the end of the season…
Northwestern will be good this seasonIf I was a gambler, I’d lay pretty close to even money that they crack the Top 25 at some point…
Iowa is another team that has a fairly manageable schedule with crossover games Penn State and Ohio State at home.  But they have to earn it, for sure.
HOT SEAT UPDATE
While this is interesting, I keep wondering when schools are going to start realizing that not everyone can go undefeated every season…Even Bama can’t seem to figure that one out.
Sports Betting Dime odds that certain coaches will be fired this season:
Here is the full list:
Jim Mora (UCLA): 9/1
Todd Graham (Arizona State): 15/1
Rich Rodriguez (Arizona): 15/1
Bret Bielema (Arkansas): 16/1
Gus Malzahn (Auburn): 17/1
Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M): 18/1
Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech): 18/1
Lane Kiffin (FAU): 25/1
Butch Jones (Tennessee): 30/1
Brian Kelly (Notre Dame): 30/1
Steve Addazio (Boston College): 30/1
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State): 30/1
Dave Doeren (N.C. State): 35/1
Lovie Smith (Illinois): 35/1
Willie Taggart (Oregon): 35/1

Pretty much agree with all of this except Dantonio (No way he gets canned for at least another season), Taggart – they just hired the guy fergodsakes!, and Lovie.  I think Lovie has a job at Illinois for as long as he’d like to have it.
Everyone might be thinking Chip Kelly is available to come back and coach Oregon which is why the odds on Taggart, probably.  But Chip will get lots of offers once people in the SEC start canning coaches…Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Auburn will get in a bidding war for him.  And the 49er’s will love that as they still owe Chip $6M annually for three more years.
Thankfully, Jed York is a boob… or Michigan would have never had a shot at Harbaugh, either!
QB’s And Centers Butts
I’d normally have a field day with this…But there are no words!
Stripper/Prostitute Bowl?
Apparently Ole Miss and Louisville will be playing in the Chick Fil A Kick-Off Classic in Atlanta on 2021.  So, who’s going to bring the strippers and who’s supplying the hookers? 
An oldie but a goody: 
What’s the difference between a stripper and a hooker

Well, it depends, but usually anywhere between $1 and a $100…..

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Yet One More Reason to Hate the NCAA and Links!!!

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