Crimson Red Sports

1.   The Hail Mary ending for MSU-WI was super but I thought WS coach made a stupid strategic decision by using his timeouts to extend the game while MSU had the ball with 1:30 left in the game. The MSU coach was content to run out the clock and send the game to overtime but CBB used his timeouts and allowed MSU to get close enough for the Hail Mary to the end zone. My reasoning – WS had come from 14 down to tie the game, QB Russell Wilson had hit his stride, WS was supposed to have the stronger team, and had all the momentum. Why not go into overtime where it’s a brand new game? I know CBB said he wanted to force a punt but WS would still have had to move the ball 40-50 yards with no TO’s. It would have been a good strategy if WS was behind but not when tied. Never give your opponent a chance to win late if you don’t have too.

2.   Most folks agree that Mark Richt needs to win Saturday to maybe save his job and Houston Nutt is as good as gone at Ole Miss. But I think AU’s Gene Chizik will start to hear rumblings if he loses to Ole Miss and/or Georgia and Bama. Chizik won lat year with Tubberville’s players plus “hired guns” Fairley and Scam. I know AU has supposedly had two great recruiting years but the AU sidelines don’t come close to looking like Bama and LSU, or even GA, FL, and AR. Malzahn’s offense has gone stale and he will probably jump at the opportunity to leave after this year. I suppose you have to reward a coach after a big year but I have to think some at AU may be having buyer’s remorse over Chizik’s deal.

3.   The Detroit Lions have come to earth after a hot start and are starting to get the reputation as a trash talking, dirty play bunch. Ndamukan Suh in particular has been one of the biggest offenders. My question is there any correlation between the dirty play and Nick Fairley joining the Lions’ defensive rotation two games ago?

4.   FL has dominated GA over the past 20 years but before that GA had FL’s number. When Spurrier came to FL, he arranged the schedule so FL would have an open date before the GA game each year. This year GA had an open date before this weekend’s game. All of us remember last year when 6 -7 teams had open dates before they played Bama. But I have to give GA credit, it only took them 20 years to figure it out.

5.   Stanford is an intriguing team. Basically they are Vanderbilt West in terms of academics but they have built a strong football team based not on some quirky offense but on fundamentals. Strong running game, 446 yards last week, combined with a great QB in Andrew Luck. The Cardinal has a big test in an improving USC at the Coliseum this week but so far they have looked more like USC than USC.

6.   Not much to say about Bama vs LSU yet. The off week should help both. LSU gets the suspended players back so both will be at pretty much full strength. 

1.  I agree.  I was shocked he was calling timeouts in those circumstances.  MSU was going to run the clock out.

2.  I think Cheese Whiz has a few more years before he hears any serious rumblings.  Auburn has actually done better than expected this year.

3.  Don't know about Suh, but Fairly is definitely a dirty player.

4.  Didn't know that one.

5.  Without Luck, I don't think Stanford is nearly as good.  I do like their style, though, and definitely will root for them against USC.

6.  Bama will win this one. 

Those are good observations KoKo and make for good reading and conversation.  #+

I agree that Wisconsin should have let the clock run out. There is no doubt in my mind that Wisconsin would have won the game in OT.

Coach Richt needs the win this week against Florida. I think UGA has the better team and will win the game. I also think UGA will with the SEC East. Hard to imagine UGA letting Florida have a bye before they play each other for 20 years without doing something about it.

Barn Coach Chizik is the same coach who was at Iowa State. He looked lost last year and Malzahn pulled his azz out several several times. I don't think Ole Miss can beat them but if they do, look out. They will lose to UGA and Bama. I think they will go 7-5. I just don't see it getting any better next year.

Another good one.  #+

5.  Stanford = Vandy west? 

Stanford's physics departments (alone) would knock Vandy's jocks off - in the dirt.

Vandy has jocks ?    ;D