Tournament Time is Here! March 15, 2012
Posted by Matt in NCAA Tournament.Tags: basketball, Final Four, Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA Tournament, predictions
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If the NCAA Tournament isn’t the most wonderful time of the sports year, it’s near the top.
What’s not to like? You’ve got 68 teams from all corners of the country, from the small, vaguely familiar universities to the longtime juggernauts, battling it out in a winner-take-all tournament to see who will be crowned champion of the year. Where else can you find these levels of elation and crushing disappointment, of excitement and drama?
Granted, the absence of my team, the Arkansas Razorbacks, dampens things a bit, but given that we haven’t been a factor in the tournament since the mid-90’s anyway, it’s no big surprise.
I’ve filled out my bracket and entered our office pool, my perennial donation to enrich someone else for their good luck, but despite the fact that I pick too many upsets and always lose, it’s still a fun time.
My first round upsets include:
New Mexico St (13) over Indiana (4)
Long Beach St (12) over New Mexico (5)
Ohio (13) over Michigan (4)
Belmont (14) over Georgetown (3)
NC St. (11) over San Diego St. (6)
My Final Four:
Kentucky
Missouri
Ohio St.
North Carolina
Championship
Kentucky over Ohio St.
I do tend to go upset-heavy, which always spells doom for me in the office pool, but makes for fun watching. A few possible upsets I thought hard about, but ultimately declined include:
Baylor (3) over Kentucky (1)in the Elite Eight
Memphis (8) over Michigan St. (1) in the 2nd round
Kansas St. (8) over Syracuse (1) in the 2nd round
VCU (12) over Wichita St (5) in the 1st round
What do you think?
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year August 31, 2011
Posted by Matt in Football, Razorbacks.Tags: Alabama, arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi St., NCAA football, Ole Miss, predictions, SEC, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
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With wish lists in hand and hopes and dreams in our hearts and minds, we gather together with family and friends to usher in that magical time of year when all things seem possible, when optimism infects each and every one of us with a radical zeal that defies reality, when our belief in something greater than ourselves trumps all misconceptions. On this illustrious eve we wait with bated breath, our anticipation growing by the second as the time quickly approaches. What challenges, what joys, what agonies, what triumphs await us in the coming months.
Yes, college football season starts tomorrow.
Tomorrow evening, the iconic swine-covered orb will be kicked off, launched down the field with a jubilant yell like those first flights into outer space. The faithful will don their chosen colors, greet each other in a traditional manner, whether that be a “Roll Tide,” a “Hotty Toddy,” or, in our case, a “Woo Pig,” stand for their beloved fight song and cheer their team on to victory.
But all will not be victorious, for there are always some casualties along the way as each squad vies for dominance on 100 yard field of battle. Favorites will fall, heroes will rise, and the faithful believers will grasp tightly to each and every win, savoring the sweet taste of victory on the long march through the Fall season and into the frigid depths of winter. In the end only one team will stand as a champion, but today, on the precipice of another football season, we are all undefeated.
I sketched out my SEC predictions for my coworkers, so I thought I would share them with you as well. Let me know what you think.
SEC East
Georgia 9-3 (6-2)
South Carolina 9-3 (5-3)
Florida 8-4 (5-3)
Tennessee 6-6 (2-6)
Kentucky 5-7 (1-7)
Vanderbilt 2-10 (0-8)
SEC West
Alabama 11-1 (7-1)
LSU 10-2 (7-1)
Arkansas 10-2 (6-2)
Auburn 8-4 (4-4)
Mississippi St. 7-5 (3-5)
Ole Miss 5-7 (2-6)
Georgia: While many of their conference foes are starting off the year with what they deem to be surefire wins, the Bulldogs are launching their season with an always-tough Boise St. They have arguably the best quarterback in the league in Aaron Murray, and a favorable SEC schedule (their only away games are Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, with Florida at a neutral site), but the SEC is a meat grinder and they are not of the elite caliber to keep them unscathed. Their week 2 home game against South Carolina will set the tone of the season.
South Carolina: Last year the Gamecocks advanced to their first SEC Championship game on the sturdy back of running back Marcus Lattimore, and his return is the key to success for Steve Spurrier’s team this season. Their schedule is tough, with away games at Georgia, Mississippi St., and Arkansas, but, like Georgia, I think the week 2 matchup will either put them on track for a second straight East title or for another decent, middle-of-the-pack season.
Florida: The Gators suffered some growing pains last season as they tried to emerge from the shadow of Tim Tebow, faltering to an 8-5 record, but this season, with the addition of new head coach Will Muschamp, could see them rejuvenated down in Gainesville. They have a tough schedule, with away dates at LSU, Auburn, and South Carolina, not to mention home games with SEC West foe Alabama and in-state rival Florida St. I can see them pulling off an upset win (I’m looking at you, Bama), but not showing a great improvement in the win column this season.
Tennessee: The Volunteers struggled mightily under the tutelage of head coach Derek Dooley in 2010 and I expect more of the same this season. They are quite talented, but wins will be hard to come by in the SEC, especially when they are facing road games at Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas. Look for Tennessee to struggle again in 2011 before maybe sneaking into a lower-tier bowl.
Kentucky: Second year head coach Joker Phillips will have his hands full with this year’s Wildcat squad, which lost the majority of its notable players from last year’s 6-7 crew. Facing off against a league full of Goliaths, Kentucky may be able to muster their inner David once or twice this season, but I don’t expect them to make much of an impact. On a positive note, at least they have Vanderbilt to keep them out of the cellar.
Vanderbilt: First year head coach James Franklin has one of the most daunting tasks before him of any signal caller in the SEC: turning the Vanderbilt Commodores into a winning program. The Vandy football team have long held the title of annual patsy in the SEC, the automatic “W” on everyone’s schedule and this year will probably be no different, but it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the team.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide are only two years from their last National Championship and once again they are locked and loaded for another title run. Losing a Heisman-winning running back and adept quarterback may seem like insurmountable odds to most teams, but this is Alabama, where football runs through veins and all-American players seem to spring from the ground itself. Running back Trent Richardson is set to be the star on this year’s squad, which has the good fortune of playing Arkansas and LSU at home, but the tough task of facing the Gators in The Swamp. I think they’ll drop at least one game and, though I wish it were to my beloved Razorbacks, it seems more likely to occur against Florida.
LSU: Tiger faithful may tremble at the thought of facing #3 Oregon in their opener without starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson and the National Title implications held in that game, but the team is certainly talented enough to run the table. Always-entertaining coach Les Miles is certain to make some head-scratching tactical errors along the way that may lead to a few losses, but overall I expect the Tigers to fare fine in the SEC.
Arkansas: Coach Bobby Petrino has built a powerhouse in Fayetteville over the past three years and though last year’s 10 win squad set the bar high, hopes were in place that this would be the season when the Hogs would make an honest national push. That, of course, was prior to the season-ending injury suffered by star running back Kniles Davis in the first play of the first scrimmage game of the summer. Rushing has always been secondary in Petrino’s offensive plans, though, and this year’s passing attack looks to be one of the nation’s best. The Hogs face two tough road challenges in Alabama and LSU, as well as a resurgent Texas A&M in Dallas, but I expect them to win at least one of those games. Winning two could place them in the SEC Championship and that is certainly within the realm of possibility.
Auburn: The Tigers lost a host of great players, including Cam Newton, from last year’s National Champion team, and though that could cause feeling of foreboding among the Auburn faithful, they should again make some noise this season. Head Coach Gene Chizik and Offensive Coordinator extraordinaire Gus Malzahn return to lead one of the youngest teams in the conference. The role of underdog could prove to be just what is needed in Auburn. Perhaps more than anything, I’m looking forward to watching the ingenious playcalling of Malzahn again.
Mississippi State: Last year the Bulldogs took a big step forward under coach Dan Mullen, finishing the season with a 9-4 record and a resounding win over Michigan in the Gator Bowl. Though Mississippi State is quite good and should pull off a few big wins again in 2011, the SEC is awfully strong and more than 8 wins is most likely out of reach for a team that is on the road for Auburn, Georgia, and Arkansas. On a positive note, the Bulldogs kick off their season tomorrow night against our local team, the Memphis Tigers, who last year proved themselves to be among the worst in Division 1. It should be over by halftime.
Ole Miss: Times have gotten hard in the lovely town of Oxford, where coach Houston Nutt is wringing his hands and wondering how to succeed with the players he brought in. If the Rebels improve over last season’s 4-8 mark, it won’t be by much with the exceedingly difficult Western Division teams on their schedule. Their opener against BYU this Saturday should provide enough to know whether or not the Rebs will have a shot at postseason play.
Thoughts?
What Will It Take… September 1, 2010
Posted by Matt in Football, Razorbacks.Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks, BCS Championship, predictions, SEC
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…For the Arkansas Razorbacks to win it all in 2010? What needs to happen for Woo Pig to be the clarion call of the BCS Champions?
The Razorbacks return 9 offensive starters, including probably Heisman trophy candidate QB Ryan Mallett, one of the best groups of receivers in the country and a good stable of running backs, and 7 defensive starters who should show some improvement after a difficult 2009. That being said, this could be a huge year for Bobby Petrino’s Hogs.
Let’s take a look at their schedule for the upcoming season:
Sept. 4 Tennessee Tech
Sept. 11 Louisiana – Monroe
Sept. 18 @ Georgia (23)
Sept. 25 Alabama (1)
Oct. 9 @ Texas A&M
Oct. 16 @ Auburn (22)
Oct. 23 Ole Miss
Oct. 30 Vanderbilt
Nov. 6 @ South Carolina
Nov. 13 UTEP
Nov. 20 @ Mississippi St
Nov. 27 LSU (21)
The Hogs should be able to take the first two games without much of a problem.
Playing at Georgia could prove difficult, but the Bulldogs are not as good as they have been in years past. If our defense is truly better than last year, we should prevail.
Alabama is the returning national champion, preseason number one and has last year’s Heisman winner. On the other hand, the game is in Fayetteville and Mark Ingram is starting off the year with a knee injury. If Ingram is not back to full speed by week 4, this could be a decent contest and the Razorbacks could give them a run for their money and maybe, just maybe, hand them a closely contested loss.
Texas A&M has an excellent offense, but I still think Mallett will pick them apart.
Auburn is another potential roadblock on the way to BCS glory. They finished 2009 at 8-5, should be even better this year and the game is at Auburn. But, don’t forget that these are the Razorbacks we’re talking about! Win.
Nobody denies that this season will be a struggle for Houston Nutt’s Ole Miss squad, but the loss of probable starting quarterback Masoli is a dagger in the heart of the Rebel faithful. Hopefully we’ll put up at least 50 on them.
Vanderbilt is an almost automatic win.
South Carolina is another team that may be tough to crack, particularly since the game is at their home, but the Hogs should walk out of Columbia as winners.
UTEP: Win.
Mississippi State is poised to be the best team in the Magnolia State, but in reality that’s not saying much. Win.
LSU is overrated and Les Miles is an embarrassment to the coaching profession. Win.
If all goes according to plan, the Hogs will then finish the regular season 12-0, then face off against Florida in the SEC Championship, and waltz into Glendale, Arizona, undefeated. Yep, things are looking up for Hogs fans.
To tell the truth, I don’t really expect the Razorbacks to win out this season. My actual prediction for the regular season is 10-2, with a loss to Alabama and one more, probably to either Georgia or Auburn. Either way, I have high hopes that this will be a successful year for my Hogs.
Woo Pig Sooooiiiieeee!
So, you ask, what are my predictions for the entire SEC? Well, let’s take a quick look.
SEC East
Florida 11-1
Georgia 9-3
South Carolina 7-5
Tennessee 6-6
Kentucky 6-6
Vanderbilt 2-10
SEC West
Alabama 12-0
Arkansas 10-2
Auburn 9-3
LSU 8-4
Mississippi St 7-5
Ole Miss 5-7
Thoughts?
End of Days July 29, 2010
Posted by Matt in random.Tags: 2011, Armageddon, Harold Camping, May 21, predictions, rapture
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May, 21, 2011: What does that day mean to you? The end of another school year? Summertime, barbecues and beaches?
The end of the world?
Christian radio host Harold Camping has been acting as a veritable voice in the wilderness (well, if the wilderness includes 55 radio stations across America) for the past few years, warning everyone that the end is upon us. Using select Bible passages, Camping has come to the conclusion that this date, May 21, 2011, is the day of Christ’s return. This will then be followed by Armageddon, in which nonbelievers are destroyed by fire and believers are raptured into heaven.
Listeners across the country are being urged by Camping to get the message out by purchasing advertising space and proclaiming his prediction to the lost masses. Marie Exley of Colorado Springs was convinced and, though she is unemployed, paid $1,200 to post ads on bus benches that direct those passing by to Camping’s website.
Combine this prediction with assertion of Tim Lahaye and Mike Huckabee that Barack Obama is ushering in the apocalypse and it seems as though the end is officially nigh. Mark your calendars and make sure you use up your vacation days while you still have time…
Super Bowl Preview February 5, 2010
Posted by Matt in NFL.Tags: Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, NFL, predictions, Super Bowl
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Sunday’s Super Bowl offers an intriguing matchup between two high-octane offensive teams – the underdog, and first time Super Bowl contender, from a city on the rebound and the favorite featuring one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.
New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees has proven himself to be one of the better QBs in the league over the past few years throwing to Jeremy Shockey and Marques Colston, and their running game, led by Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, is effective. The Saints’ defense, led by Jonathan vilma, is decent, but not spectacular. The city of New Orleans, which is still rebuilding after the devastation of Katrina, has rallied around their underdog team and that support may be enough to push them over the top.
Indianapolis
Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL and a win on Sunday may push him into the top spot. He no longer has Marvin Harrison to loft balls to, but that didn’t stop him from putting up great numbers once again. The defense is good, but the condition of Dwight Freeney is a major concern. If he is able to play near full strength, it may propel the Colts to victory. Indy has the advantage of having won the championship in recent years (2007), so they are accustomed to the media attention in a way that the Saints are not.
My prediction:
If Dwight Freeney is not able to perform near his normal level, the Colts will have trouble stopping the Saints. I expect both quarterbacks to play well in a high-scoring, entertaining shoot-out, but in the end, my prediction is:
New Orleans 31 – Indianapolis 27
What do you think?
NFL Conference Champion Predictions January 24, 2010
Posted by Matt in NFL.Tags: NFL playoffs, predictions
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Minnesota 31 – New Orleans 20
Indianapolis 27 – New York Jets 13
Thoughts? What’s your prediction?
The Birth Myth – Part 3: The Role of Prophecy December 15, 2009
Posted by Matt in Christian Beliefs, Christmas.Tags: Bethlehem, context, historical narrative, Isaiah 7:14, Jeremiah 31:15, Jesus, judaism, Marcus Borg, messianic prophecy, Micah 5:2, nativity, predictions
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One of the major components of the birth narrative, and one that is regularly called upon by nativity apologists, is that of predictive prophecy and its role in foreshadowing the birth of Jesus. There are three major prophecies surrounding the birth and all of them come from the book of Matthew.
The first of these prognostications comes from an angel who is speaking to Joseph about the upcoming birth.
Matt 1:23 (quoting Isaiah 7:14)
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, “God with us.”
This is an interesting scripture to use, especially given the context of this lone sentence. This passage was probably not meant at that time to point ahead to some distant day, some 700 years later, when a savior would be born of a virgin. Rather, when placed in its context, scholars agree that Isaiah 10-17 was dealing with King Ahaz, the ruler of the southern kingdom of Judah, who was being threatened by two invading kings (those of Damascus and Samaria). To again quote Borg:
Within that historical context, Isaiah tells King Ahaz that God will give him a sign – namely, a young woman already pregnant will give her child the symbolic name Immanuel. Isaiah then tells Ahaz that before this child is old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, the crisis will be over. In its eighth-century context, the passage promises deliverance to Ahaz and Judah: they will be safe.
The second is spoken by the chief priests to King Herod after he asks them where Christ was to be born.
Matt 2:6 (quoting Micah 5:2)
But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you will come a ruler
Who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.
Micah goes through the first four chapters telling of upcoming destruction and captivity and skewering the Jewish leaders for their oppression of the less fortunate. It is against this backdrop that chapter 5 arises, telling of this Davidic leader who will arise from Bethlehem and lead his people with violent force against those who hold them back. Given that David was born in Bethlehem, it makes sense that they would look to that town as the source for their next great leader. This is widely regarded as a messianic prophecy and it also makes it quite understandable why the Jews of Jesus’ time expected a mighty warrior messiah. Some scholars suggest that this may have been more of a plea from Micah to God for help in their situation at that time, rather than a prediction for what would come hundreds of years later.
The third and final prophecy that will be mentioned in this entry has to do with Herod’s slaughter of babies in order to get Jesus.
Matt 2:17-18 (quoting Jeremiah 31:15)
Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
And she refused to be comforted,
Because they were no more.
The problem with assuming that this single verse was related to an incident that possibly occurred hundreds of years later is that the context around this verse gives no indication of it referring to such an incident. This passage in Jeremiah is dealing with the horrors of the Babylonian captivity. In addition to that, the action of Herod slaughtering babies seems to be an obvious allusion to the situation that faced Moses as a baby in Egypt. Thus, this particular aspect of the story adds to the mystique surrounding Jesus and signifies him as an important person to the Jews, one that is even on the level of Moses.
So, if these are not truly predictive prophecies, why did Matthew see fit to include them in his account?
It helps to remember that the book of Matthew was written to Jews who knew the Hebrew Bible, so naturally it was written to fit their particular context. So, in talking of Jesus and his significance, the writer echoed language from the Hebrew scriptures and this allowed him to show the continuity from their history to Jesus. In doing this, Matthew created a historical narrative, one that bridges that gap.
It’s Time for Some Football! September 1, 2009
Posted by Matt in Football.Tags: Alabama, arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Football, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, predictions, SEC, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
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The turning of the season from Summer to Fall brings with it a host of happenings – the leaves change colors, the temperatures cool, the holidays grow nearer, and, perhaps greatest of all, its time for football. There is no region of the country that reveres the game like the South, for it is here that mere men become gods and epic gridiron battle become pieces of cultural mythology passed down from generation to generation.
I’m a lifetime Arkansas Razorback fan, one who sticks with them through the good and the bad, so my attention usually remains focused on that greatest of football conferences, the SEC. Below you will find my predictions for the SEC in the coming season. Let me know what you think.
EAST
Florida 12-0
Georgia 9-3
South Carolina 8-4
Vanderbilt 6-6
Tennessee 6-6
Kentucky 4-8
WEST
Alabama 11-1
Ole Mis 10-2
LSU 9-3
Arkansas 8-4
Auburn 5-7
Miss State 3-9
SEC Title Game: Florida def. Alabama
Florida – With QB Tim Tebow and all 12 starters returning on an incredible defense, the Gators look unbeatable…and they just might be. They are the favorites to repeat as national champions for a reason.
Georgia – Despite the losses of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, the Bulldogs will field another excellent squad in 2009. If they can effectively replace those two former stars and improve on defense, Georgia could make some noise this season.
South Carolina – Despite the fact that they have had one of the most highly touted coaches of the past 2 decades, the Gamecocks have not been able to raise themselves out of slightly-better-than-average mediocrity and I don’t expect that to change this season.
Vanderbilt – The Commodores came out of nowhere last season to earn their first bowl trip in more than two decades and, though they will not be an elite team by any stretch of the imagination, they should again play well enough to earn or at least come close to earning a lower-tier bowl invitation.
Tennessee – Lane Kiffin. There’s not much else to say and virtually nothing to be excited about in Knox-Vegas in 2009.
Kentucky – The Wildcats are perennial bottom-dweller in the SEC East and there is nothing that is going to change that this season.
Alabama – They may not do quite as well as last season, but make no mistake about it, the Crimson Tide are an excellent football team. Never doubt the dark powers of Nick Saban.
Ole Miss – It’s no secret that, as a longtime Arkansas fan, I have little regard for the coaching abilities of Houston Nutt. Though the Rebels have been granted one of the easiest schedules around, look for Nutt to mess it up along the way and lose a couple of games at least.
LSU – The Tigers have a good team and could definitely make some major noise this year in the SEC West, perhaps even challenging ‘Bama and Ole Miss for the division, but 8-9 wins seems much more realistic.
Arkansas – In their second season under offensive mastermind Bobby Petrino, the Hogs look to take a big step forward from last season’s underwhelming 5-7 finish. This time around the team will be led by heralded Michigan transfer Ryan Mallet and last year’s top rusher, Michael Smith. Write it down, the Hogs will be bowl game bound…even if its just the Independence Bowl.
Auburn – Head Coach Gene Chizik, along with his career 5-19 record, take the reins of the Tigers this season as Auburn attempts to revive its once-strong program. There isn’t much to cheer about player-wise and not much hope for 2009, but the hiring of offensive guru Gus Malzahn was a good move and could pay nice dividends in the future.
Mississippi State – Sorry State fans, the Bulldogs are just terrible. Again. And nothing is going to change that.
NCAA Tournament Mascot Fight 2009 March 17, 2009
Posted by Matt in basketball, random.Tags: fight, March Madness, mascots, NCAA Tournament, predictions
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I love March Madness.
For the past few months (especially since the end of football season), I’ve had some interest in college hoops, catching games here and there when the opportunity presents itself, but never following it with an intensity similar to that of football. The Tournament, though, is another matter altogether. Like many Americans, I will fill out a bracket and enter into more than one pool with the hopes that my limited knowledge will somehow, someway, propel my picks to the pinnacle of basketball success for the non-athletic nerdy type of person that I am.
Now, I could do some in-depth analysis of each game in an attempt to show that I know what I am talking about, but what is the fun in that? Instead, let’s scrutinize these teams in a different way, a way that is a bit more primal. Let us answer the question that plagues us all – which team mascot would win in a fight?
Midwest:
Round 1:
While Louisville’s basketball team may be the best in the nation, their mascot, the Cardinals, does not exactly strike fear in the heart of anyone. The Eagles will make short work of them in round one.
Morehead St. def. Louisville.
A buckeye is a nut from a buckeye tree – give it to the Saints.
Siena def. Ohio St.
A Ute? Really? Take the claws and teeth of the Wildcats.
Arizona def. Utah.
A demon deacon sounds like some fearsome, otherworldly creature, while Vikings wear funny, spiked hats.
Wake Forest def. Cleveland St.
Normally a Mountaineer, armed with a rope and pickaxe, would not seem like a choice, but against a paper advertisement I’d take them.
West Virginia def. Dayton
Sorry, but a Jayhawk doesn’t stand a chance against a Bison.
North Dakota St. def. Kansas
Eagles have talons and sharp beaks, but I’d still take the Trojan warriors of old.
USC def. Boston College
A colonial person would have little hope against a Spartan warrior.
Michigan St. def. Robert Morris
Round 2:
A saint has a halo and the blessing of God.
Siena def. Morehead St.
Don’t mess with a Demon Deacon who can summon the powers of the dark side.
Wake Forest def. Arizona
The Mountaineer may land a few blows with their pickaxe, but eventually the brute strength of the Bison will be victorious.
North Dakota St. def. West Virginia
This rematch of the ancient Trojan War may be the most intriguing matchup of the second round. Will the Spartans again be able to resort to some form of trickery to gain victory or will the Trojans defeat their ancient enemy? I think history will repeat itself. Michigan St. def. USC
Sweet Sixteen
A battle that goes back even farther than the Trojans and Spartans, the fight between good and evil has been played out for unimaginable eons. But, as the Saints and the Demon Deacons meet, we know that the power of God will always win out.
Siena def. Wake Forest
The Spartan warrior may be heavily armed and well trained, but they would still be dwarfed by the mighty Bison.
North Dakota St. def. Michigan St.
Elite Eight
On first glance, the battle between a saint from God and a lumbering bison seems almost laughable – I mean, what sort of creature would challenge God’s chosen? Well, it must also be remembered that Bison are also the mascot of my alma mater, Harding University and the Church of Christ does not recognize the saints. Therefore, as they prepare to stand against each other, the saint ceases to exist, leaving only the Bison.
North Dakota St. def. Siena
West
Round 1:
Pitting a Husky against a Water Moccasin is a tricky thing, for, while the Husky is far mightier in strength, one bite from the snake will take it down. Go with the Mocs.
Chattanooga def. UConn
An Aggie is someone who attends and agricultural college. A cougar is a vicious, wild animal with sharp teeth and claws.
BYU def. Texas A&M
No offense to my friends Patrick and Ryan, who both have some affection for Purdue, but a Boilermaker is a lame mascot. Give this one to the Panthers.
Northern Iowa def. Purdue
Huskies vs. Bulldogs. No, this is not a night at Michael Vick’s house, instead this dogfight is our next Tourney matchup. I’d take the Huskies.
Washington def. Mississippi State
More Aggies? Take the Golden Eagles.
Marquette def. Utah St.
Let’s see, should we choose the Tigers or what I imagine is a stick of cinnamon-flavored Big Red chewing gum?
Missouri def. Cornell
When it comes to a mascot fight, there are few teams worse than the Terrapins. Take the Golden Bears.
California def. Maryland
While not specifically trained for this type of beast, I would reckon that a matador could handle a tiger, just as they do a bull.
Cal St. Northridge def. Memphis
Round 2:
A cougar may even be quick enough to handle a striking moccasin.
BYU def. Chattanooga
Pitting a panther against a husky could be quite interesting, but I think the quickness of the panther would come out on top in the end.
Northern Iowa def. Washington
Though the golden eagle may be valiant and will no doubt land some tough blows against a tiger, if it let’s down its guard for a mere second, the tiger will pounce.
Missouri def. Marquette
Again, if the matador can take a bull, it can probably take a golden bear as well.
Cal St. Northridge def. California
Sweet Sixteen:
The catfight may be entertaining, but a panther will easily overpower a cougar.
Northern Iowa def. BYU
Another tiger? The Matador with his sharpened sword glides through this round with relative ease.
Cal St. Northridge def. Missouri
Elite Eight
Though it may seem almost unfair to employ his arms against this array of beasts, the matador again easily dispatches of his panther opponent and advances to the final four.
Cal St. Northridge def. Northern Iowa
Political Predictions November 3, 2008
Posted by Matt in President 2008.Tags: Barack Obama, electoral college, John McCain, predictions, president, vote
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Get out your pen and paper (or your keyboard for those of you “modern” types) and ready yourself for the following prognostications of what you can expect to see tomorrow, some “words of wisdom” if you will.
In Senate elections, the Democrats will expand their current 51-49 majority somewhat, but not quite enough to reach the fillibuster-proof 60. I expect them to pick up 7 more seats: Alaska, Colorado, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia. There is a slight possibility that the Dems could also take Kentucky, where candidate Bruce Lunsford is trailing incumbent Rep. Mitch McConnell 44-50%, and/or Georgia, where Democrat Jim Martin is trailing incumbent Saxby Chambliss 44-49%. Unless something completely unexpected happens, the Republicans will probably not pick up any seats from the Dems. So, after tomorrow, expect a Senate split 58-42 in favor of the Democrats.
In the most anticipated and most closely-watched contest set for tomorrow we will finally (hopefully) witness the climax of this nearly 2 year presidential campaign and its endless supply of unfounded accusations and surname-less blue collar workers. And this election cycle’s top prize will go to…..I know the suspense must be killing you….could this be any more anticlimactic?….the one….the only…Barack Obama!
My Electoral Vote Prediction:
Obama/Biden: 353
McCain/Palin: 185
Popular Vote Prediction:
Obama/Biden: 53%
McCain/Palin: 45%
That means that Obama will pick up 8 states that the Dems lost in 2004: Colorado, Florica, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.
What do you think? Any predictions out there in blog land?
