Call Me Mr. Hare

Well, I haven’t blogged for two years but here I go again.  How time flies.  Since I last blogged, Obama was elected President (thankfully the world hasn’t ended), Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake, the world has seen a financial meltdown and the U.S. has been saddled with a bigger mountain of  debt than previously seen.  In the two years from the last time I picked up a pen (well, typed at my computer and blogged), Michael Jackson died along with GM and Ford, though the latter two have been given another chance at life.  Since 2008,  gold and silver have been on a tear, the Tea Party has taken center stage and pigs have flown.   That is, the New Orleans Saints have done the impossible and won the Super Bowl.  The point is, there has been plenty about which to blog.

I’m not sure why I stopped blogging, though.   Maybe  it got old.  Maybe I got busy.  Maybe it took too much precious time.  Maybe I ran out of things to say. Or maybe I just got tired of the process of blogging.

But then maybe I’m like the hare.  You know the story that,  in a nutshell,  goes like this.   Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Hare are in a race.  Mr. Hare sprints to a lead, takes a nap and wakes only to find that he was beaten to the finish line by the slow moving Mr. Tortoise.

I often find myself more like Mr. Hare.  I find it pretty easy to take hold of something and sprint all out and  even do really well at whatever the particular challenge is.  But then, in time, whether I’m distracted, tired, or just downright bored, I might just fade away into a nap of sorts, much like Mr. Hare.  Even so, after some period of time I wake up, only to find that I’m behind or that Mr. Tortoise has passed me by.

My blogging hibernation is  probably the result of a combination of things and is probably a good thing for me to reflect upon.   You see,  I can be very determined at times but that determination can wane into  laziness.  I can be very excited about something but  it can quickly become a bore to me as I become distracted by something new.  Sometimes I just have too many pots on the stove, too many irons in the fire.

I guess I could try and wax eloquent and be even more philosophical but alas, there’s something else calling my name.  So here I go again.  I’m off to the next project, the next distraction.  Who knows if I’ll be back blogging.  I’m sure I will at some point, maybe today or this afternoon even, as it seems I always come back to the things I leave behind.

SEC Game Predictions – Week 15

Well, well, well, the season’s not quite over.  Even my Bulldogs who got taken behind the wood shed by the Rebels are in the hunt for a good coach.  I have no idea who but Chris Petersen from Boise State is a hot rumor today.  Last week, some great games were played and I was shocked to see Arkansas, especially, beat LSU and to see that Auburn, Tennessee and MSU all are looking for coaches.

But let’s get down to it.

The SEC Championship Game

12/5/08

Alabama vs. Florida

This is the game of games in the SEC.  This should be one great game.  The winner should head on to the National Championship game.  It’s all up for grabs.  Florida’s coming on strong with Tebow at the helm, ever since losing by 1 to a very good Ole Miss team.   Florida really had no business losing that game but it may have been exactly what they needed.  They put it in overdrive after that game and have been playing lights out.

Alabama has been steady all year long and bring their number one ranking into the game.  Bear Bryant isn’t strolling the sidelines but you can bet there are people that finally feel like the Tide is back to its glory days.  John Parker Wilson has been about average as far as quarterbacks go, but the big thing is that he hasn’t made a lot of mistakes while his team manhandled their opponents.

As much as I’d like a back-and-forth-bruise-’em-up kind of game, this may just be decide by a couple of big plays.  Florida’s going to have to keep the ball out of Javier Arenas’s hands and cover Julio Jones tighter than a tick.  Alabama’s going to have to put the pressure on and blitz Tebow if they have a shot.  I think in the end, though, the Tide will be using a little tissue on this one as the Gators walk away with the win.

The only question after this game will be, “Should Alabama and Florida play in the national championship game against each other?”

Florida 38  Alabama 34

Last week 4-4

This year 70-26

SEC Game Predictions – Week Fourteen

Ahhhhhh.  There’s nothing like rivalry week in the SEC.  This time of year these are always great games filled with a lot of emotion and usually enough bitterness to last half of the teams until the start of the next year.  Not a whole lot will be decided this week as far as the SEC.  But Alabama and Florida do need to make sure they don’t stumble, otherwise any shot at the National Championship will be out the window.  I hope you enjoy the turkey this week and hopefully I’ll kill a few deer.

11/28

MSU at Ole Miss – Houston Nutt came to Mississippi and blew away 1st year expectations.  Nutt has his team looking right in the face of not just a bowl game but a good bowl game.  MSU’s offense finally decided to come out of the locker room and put up their best numbers of the year last week.  This game is always close and filled with a lot of emotion and will be this weekend.  MSU going to a fired up Ole Miss team and fanbase might just spell disaster, as much as I hate to admit it, though I still can’t pick Ole Miss.  MSU 24 Ole Miss 21

LSU at Arkansas – Both losers last week, these two come in to this game looking to salvage something.  For Arkansas, it’s a bowl game.  For LSU, it’s avoiding a lower tier bowl game and maintaining some semblance of pride.  Arkansas has been bright at times but I don’t think they’re much of a match for LSU.  Tigers 38  Arkansas 20

11/29

Georgia Tech at Georgia – I think this may be one of the most interesting games this weekend.  Georgia Tech’s had some really nice games this year and has the ability to get some yardage.  Georgia will be in another good bowl game this year, though not the one they wanted to be in when the season began.  There just might be a lot of offense in this game but ultimately, I’ll give the nod to Georgia Tech.  Tech 38 Georgia 35

South Carolina at Clemson – Clemson all but tanked this year, starting off ranked pretty high but sinking pretty quickly to the point of having to let Tommy Bowden go.  South Carolina has come on pretty steady this year and will come in to Clemson fired up.  South Carolina 28 Clemson 17

Auburn at Alabama – Speaking of tanking … Auburn is staring their worst season in while right in the face while their rival in-state is staring the National Championship game in the face.  This is usually a tossup game but I just don’t see Auburn having enough to roll past the Tide.  Alabama 27 Auburn 13

Florida at Florida State – This is not the game it used to be.  There was a time when this game was anyone’s guess.  While Florida State has improved, they’re not the caliber team that Florida is, even at home.  Tebow’s team has to be playing as good as any other team in the nation and they just seem to be running on all cylinders.  Florida State hangs for a little while but Florida’s superior players will eventually take over and wear down the Seminoles.  Florida 32 Florida State 21

Kentucky at Tennessee – Ouch, Tennessee faces a decent hungry Kentucky team coming in to Knoxville looking to rub it in as Tennessee’s laying back licking its wounds.  Vol fans don’t really know how to react and might just be out hunting deer instead of cats this weekend.  Their players may not be far behind either.  History wants me to pick Tennessee but heart wants me to pick Kentucky.  I’ve always had a weak spot for following my heart.  Kentucky 21  Tennessee 17

Vandy at Wake Forest – Wake Forest has had some decent wins as has Vandy.  This game feels like a tossup though Vandy probably should have one or two more losses than they do have.  Vandy’s going bowling in the first time in a loooooong time and are playing with some confidence.  Still I think Wake Forest at home might just be a little too much this weekend.  Wake Forest 34 Vandy 19

Last Week 2-2

This Year 66-22

SEC Game Predictions – Week Thirteen

I almost forgot to post my picks.  That’s what happens when your team keeps losing.  Last week, I was perfect in the predictions.  This week continues to bring a few interesting games as teams jockey for bowl position at the end of the year.

11/22

Arkansas at Mississippi State – This is the battle for last in the SEC West as the loser will probably wrap up that distinction.  But Arkansas still has a shot at bowl eligibility with a win today over my Dawgs.  MSU is fighting for ….  Hmm….  Well…. MSU 24 Arkansas 21

The Citadel at Florida – The Citadel will take a beating behind the woodshed but they’ll leave with some cash in the pocket.  For Florida, the important thing will be to not get anybody hurt as they push for a national title shot.  Florida 59  Citadel 0

Ole Miss at LSU – This should be a fun game to see.  At least I’ll have someone to cheer for today.  Ole Miss is bowl eligible and has a chance to have a good season if they beat LSU today and MSU next week.  But, the Tigers are the Tigers and the Rebels are the Rebels.  LSU  27 Ole Miss 17

Tennessee at Vanderbilt – When was the last time Tennessee and Vandy played and Vandy was in a bowl game and Tennessee home watching?  Vandy is actually playing for something while the Volunteers are watching the end of a legend as Fulmer leaves at the end of the  year.  Vandy 24  Tennessee 20

Last Week 6-0

This Year 64-20

SEC Game Predictions – Week Twelve

The season’s winding down and we’re getting a good feel of what the SEC Championship Game will look like.  It should be a great game and I’m confident it will be Alabama and Florida with the winner having a great shot at playing in the National Championship game.  There are a couple of interesting games this weekend.

11/15/08

Mississippi State at Alabama – Alabama ought to be paying money to MSU for this game.  On paper, this one’s a blowout.  State usually plays Alabama pretty well though.  They beat them once before when Alabama was #1 and Dawg fans are looking for a miracle win this weekend.  It hurts but I’m going with what’s on paper.  Alabama 37 MSU 13

Georgia at Auburn – This usually is a fun game to watch but it seems like this year there’s no fun on the plains.  Auburn is just about awful, at least from what Auburn’s put on the field the last decade.  This game has often been a big one but this year, well, it’s just another game.  Georgia 31 Auburn 12

South Carolina at Florida – The ‘Ol Ball Coach is coming back to the swamp.  Florida’s playing as well as anyone in the country.  This ought to be a real fun game to watch.  I think South Carolina will give it a shot and make Gator fans a little nervous but I just see Tebow coming out on top.  Florida 24 South Carolina 20

Vanderbilt at Kentucky – Vanderbilt is still on a quest for that elusive bowl-eligible win, sitting on 5 wins.  Kentucky’s at 6 and could really use another win.  This game’s really a tossup but the edge would go to Kentucky as Vandy as fallen down the last several weeks.  But … something tells me maybe the Commodores will dig deep here and surprise the Wildcats.  Vanderbilt 21 Kentucky 20

Troy at LSU – Ouch.  This won’t be funny.  Troy doesn’t have a chance in this one.  LSU’s been better in previous years but still will be a pretty tough opponent.  LSU 42 Troy 10

Louisiana Monroe at Ole Miss – Here’s another laugher.  As much as I’d love to see the upset here and see Ole Miss struggle coming down the stretch, this is just like guys on girls playing tennis. (Well, I did get beat 6-0 6-0 against a girl once and Billie Jean King beat what’s his name so I guess anything is possible but that’s a different story).  Ole Miss 45 ULM 13

Last Week 5-1

This Year 58-20