Friday Links: Will A.J. Green Be The No. 1 Pick?

Friday is here and that means the 'Lady' will take a break from writing about sports, but not before I drop a few interesting links to buffer your morning web wandering.

Could A.J. Green go No. 1?

According to Adam Schefter, a noted NFL Insider, A.J. Green is considered by many to be the "top-rated player in the draft". Does that mean he could go No.1 overall—defying the opinion of some pundits who felt that Julio Jones' great combine, coupled with Green's bizarre pro day, made the former Dawg slip down many a draft board. We shall see what happens with this one, but it sounds to me like Green is still in a very good position.

Domonique Wilkins in brawl.

Apparently someone didn't give this man the memo. Didn't he know that Wilkins is known as the "human highlight reel"? Surely, he didn't think he was going to get a punch in on this former Bulldog great—tsk, tsk. According to this publication, Wilkins was attacked by a former NBA ref seeking to collect a debt of $13,000 from 'Nique.

Jakar Hamilton and Shawn Williams: dueling safeties.

Neither Jakar Hamilton, nor Shawn Williams, were better than true freshman Alec Ogletree last season. Now, on 2011, with Ogletree moving to linebacker, these same two players are hoping to do what they couldn't do last year—win the starting safety job and play it well. I hope that they both are committed to getting the job done, Georgia's options here are relatively slim.


Could the Bulldogs run the table in 2011?

This mailbag question by a college football fan prompted this response from a Rivals writer, "...
even if Georgia did go unbeaten in the regular season, it still would have to play in the SEC championship game, where Alabama or LSU likely would be looming. Your optimism is respected, but I cannot share it." Read the whole response here.

What's next for Auburn after the HBO report?

"The NCAA would need more than just allegations made by these players to bring a case against Auburn. But it’s enough for it to start asking questions." I don't know if the NCAA will ask questions that actually lead them anywhere, but perhaps they'll do their due diligence—you recall how they handled the Cam Newton situation, right? They'll just ask. 'did you cheat'? to which Auburn will reply, 'no'. Okay, carry on then.

Not everyone is convinced Cam Newton will be successful at the next level.

"Newton has only been exposed to basic coverages in the SEC due to the nature of the Tigers' offense, leaving scouts and coaches diligently working to determine his football acumen in workouts and meetings." So, what you're saying is, Newton looks good in person, not on paper? Well...who didn't know that?!?

Oh, I get it now, it's okay for Auburn to pay players—if they did. 

Funny, I don't think this guy would have this opinion if Alabama were the school on the proverbial hot seat for running an elaborate pay-for-play scheme, "...It's time to say, yes, Auburn paid players. And that did everyone else does too." So, as long as everybody else is doing it, Auburn shouldn't be penalized. Well, I'll buy that convenient logic for $1.


Steve Spurrier is unimpressed with his quarterbacks—as usual.

This is hilarious. I love the part where Spurrier says the mediocre play of his quarterbacks is likely why they'll be "running the ball about 50 times a game with Marcus". You hear that, SEC? Focus on the run!

(h/t GamecockAnthemTube)




HBO Roundtable With Rich Rodriguez, Jason Whitlock, etc. 

Steve Spurrier: Giving New Meaning To The Word "Procrastination"

So, Stephen Garcia is suspended again for something, assuredly stupid, and will likely find himself embroiled in yet another position battle this spring.

However, less interesting than Garcia's suspension—because let's face it, it would be more interesting if Garcia actually didn't get into trouble—is the fact that it took so long in the first place.

According to James Kratch of The Daily Gamecock, the suspension is as a result of something Garcia did in December when the Gamecocks played Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. Coach Spurrier stated it was something they "...were finally getting around to handling".

Honestly, waiting until now to announce Garcia's punishment only guarantees more unneeded publicity for your team. If you knew he was going to be punished, why not say as much shortly after the bowl game and not months after it—at least that way it's not a surprise.

Whatever Spurrier's intentions, he hopes the suspension will make Garcia a better man for his team as the season progresses. Honestly, it sounds to me like Garcia isn't Spurrier's only problem heading into an expectation-filled 2011.

I found this comment particularly interesting, "...it’s not fun not being on a team, from what I understand. Hopefully, all these guys will understand if they want to be on our team, just follow the few simple rules we have and everybody will be happy.

Sounds like they might be ripe for the SEC East picking in Columbia if Spurrier's players continue to get the big head.

We shall soon see.

Steve Spurrier: Oversigning is a "Helpful" and "Ticklish Situation"

The Wall Street Journal discussed the practice of oversigning with three SEC coaches—Steve Spurrier, Houston Nutt, and Bobby Petrino—and the general consensus among them was that it's not a big deal. Quite frankly, all felt the it was something that was both necessary and helpful during the recruiting process.

For those that aren't aware,"oversigning" occurs when a coach knowingly brings in more players than  allowed in order to account for the unforeseen consequences of attrition, transfers, or the inability of a player to academically qualify.

It's a practice that is largely frowned upon yet, for some reason, continues to go unchecked.

What I found interesting about the statements made by the above-mentioned coaches is how well they have managed to justify their actions.

Spurrier claims that he is forthright with all the guys who stand the chance of being let go, but somehow you get the feeling that's not always the case. Spurrier even went so far as to criticize conferences that don't utilize the option—specifically the Big Ten—said Spurrier, "I think that really hurts them a lot...they end up giving scholarships to a lot of walk-ons."

Bobby Petrino echoes the sentiment saying, "I don't see it as a bad thing unless you're being dishonest or waiting until the last minute, which eliminates their visit opportunities with other schools".

However, its hard to believe that coaches are being as clear and concise about this matter as Petrino or Spurrier would have us all believe and, after all, the victim in this process isn't the coach or the football program, it's the athlete who gets cut after being promised a scholarship.

Do any of these coaches really expect us to believe that a prospect would still offer their comittment if they knew their name could end up on the cutting-room floor? It just doesn't seem likely, particularly when many of them have the option of signing elsewhere—and, the guys who are entertaining that conversation and saying they are still willing to take that chance, lets be honest, probably aren't the ones most likely to see their walking papers.

You think Spurrier would cut Jadeveon Clowney? Not likely. The coaches can pick and choose and the player is left at a huge disadvantage. 

It's a process that needs to be cut out completely by the NCAA, but something tells me it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Read the full article here.

Related articles

• SEC Coaches Defend 'Oversigning' (online.wsj.com)

Dan Snyder: The Washington Redskins Bust of The Decade

Today the Washington Redskins suspended Albert Haynesworth—a guy they signed under much fanfare just a season ago.

He was supposed to be the catalyst behind a burgeoning Redskins' defense that was going to be built for stopping the run and making opposing quarterbacks miserable.

Unfortunately for the Redkins, Albert Haynesworth proved to be just the guy that many thought he was—a 'take the money and run' guy (or in his case, a take it and sit on your backside one).

Haynesworth hasn't been effective at all this season, and his explanation is that he's better suited for a 4-3 defense than the 3-4 that Shanahan tried to force him into when he took over the head coaching job.

Haynesworth was uncomfortable playing nose tackle (a key position in the 3-4) and refused to be pushed into a spot he didn't feel built to play. After all, the Redskins knew what they were getting when they acquired him—their decision to change schemes and coaches a year after he signed was on them—Albert wasn't going to let anyone tell him how to play the game of football.

And, to be honest, with that kind of money going into his bank account, he had no reason to concern himself with things like conditioning, practice, or attending team meetings. He had better things to do with his valuable, and expensive, time. Most understood that Albert was about Albert. He wanted a big payday and he played to get it. Once he did, he became a useless pile of flub—fair or unfair—that's what happened.

Now the Skins' fans are forced to suffer through another idiotic move by their clueless owner—Dan Snyder.

Make no mistake, the most egregious mistake the Washington Redskins franchise ever made was in allowing a rich hack like Snyder to take over their team. He's done nothing but make bad decision after bad decision since his arrival.

Just to name a few: there was Steve Spurrier (the overpaid college coach who played more golf during the regular season than most people do in an offseason), Jason Taylor (just...wow), Deion Sanders (one-year blunder),  Jason Campbell (three draft picks and a lot of losing), Brandon Lloyd (bust with an attitude), Jeff George (Seriously?!?), DeAngelo Hall (No, really...he's not good), etc.

The list is long, and uncomfortable, and Dan Snyder has his 'John Hancock' on most of it—that makes him the biggest bust of the decade and, unfortunately, unless he decides to cut bait and move on, Washington is stuck floundering under his gross incompetence.

If the Redskins are ever going to return to their glory days, Dan Snyder has to go—soon. Otherwise, you can expect to see more pink slips in the near future...any bets on how much longer Donovan McNabb will be taking up residence?

Related articles

• Redskins suspend Albert Haynesworth for remainder of season (sportingnews.com)

Alshon Jeffery on Auburn: They Aren't Great...It Was Just Their Day

Talk about having sour grapes.

South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery skipped the normal, sportsmanlike, commentary and simply decided to let the world know how he really felt after his team got spanked by the Auburn Tigers this afternoon—56-17.

When asked what he thought about Auburn, Jeffery stated that "...we could have won that game. I wouldn’t say they were a complete team. It was just their day." And, if that weren't enough, he had this to add "...I wouldn’t say they’re a great team. To me, ain’t nobody a great team."

It would be nice to see what a great team looks like in Alshon's world because, in the world of the real, Auburn comes pretty darn close. They completely dismantled South Carolina's defense—simply picked it to pieces. 


The Tigers defense was on point from snap one and they made it difficult for the South Carolina offense to find it's rhythm at any point during the game.


As for their offense, Cam Newton was Cam Newton—just as he's been all season He went beast all over the Gamecocks tonight—contributing 407 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. The Gamecocks had absolutely no answer for him or his favorite target all season, Darvin Adams. 


His performance tonight all but puts a guarantee on him winning the Heisman in a matter of weeks. There is simply not a better player in the nation than him right now.


As for Jeffery, his comedy didn't end with those comments about Auburn's lack of greatness. No, he had the good grace to explain away his ineffectiveness by stating that we should "talk to Coach about that."

Wonder how the ol' ball coach will feel about that one? Last we checked, it wasn't Spurrier who was out there running routes and getting punked by Auburn's secondary. If anything, Jeffery might have thought he was in for a big game again based on the success he had in their first meeting. 

Unfortunately, Auburn had a plan for him this time and it worked to perfection. 


Don't worry, Alshon, there's always next year. 


*All quotes courtesy of Wes Rucker.

College Football ATS: Can South Carolina Defeat Auburn This Time Around?

After a 13-7 haul last weekend, the 'Lady' finally was able to get above that elusive .500 (79-76) mark. So, with that goal met, and only a few games left to go before championship football and bowl season begin, this site now shifts to picking ATS winners for the next few weeks—every game, every match-up.

The slate this weekend will be a small one, but the biggest one, for those of us who live in the southern part of the country, is likely to be tonight's game between Auburn and South Carolina. South Carolina nearly pulled the upset over the Tigers in their first meeting, but the Cam Newton show took over late in the game—with a little help from a mistake-laden Stephen Garcia—and sealed the win for the Tigers.

So, the natural question this weekend has to be, can Auburn do it again?

At stake for them is a trip to the BCS National Championship game, while South Carolina is hoping to win its first ever SEC Championship. If either feat takes place, both coaches will be lauded as pure genius as it only took one player to make their teams come to life.

For Steve Spurrier, his capture of South Carolina's biggest in-state running back prospect since George Rogers—Marcus Lattimore—has been the catalyst behind the Gamecock's resurgence. Popular opinion has always been if Spurrier could ever find a good back, he might be able to make a little more noise in the SEC East. Lattimore not only exceeded expectations but, in week two, he made his glorious presence felt against a Georgia Bulldog team that often got the better of their match-up.

However, it was his 212-yard, three touchdown performance against Florida that really made heads turned. The Gamecocks had finally arrived and Steve Spurrier has found his man for, presumably, the next three years.

As for Gene Chizik, Cam Newton has been the difference. The SEC's best player has been a menace to all opposing defenses, scurrying and passing his way into record books on his way to leading Auburn to an undefeated season.

If he can make it happen one more time, the Tiger faithful are likely to see their season end with a championship—a national one.

That said, let's jump into the picks for this week:

1. Miami (OH) at Northern Illinois: Northern Illinois (-14.5)

The Huskies enter this game on a nine game winning streak and, during that time, they have been absolutely dominant at home. By contrast, the Redhawks have played many of their games close to the vest and often only manage to win in the final minutes. That said, the Redhawks are prepared for a battle, if need be, even against the No. 1 ranked scoring offense in the conference. This should be a tight one. 

The Lady's Pick: Miami (OH) to cover.

2. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: Cincinnati (-1.5)

Pittsburgh was embarrassed by West Virginia last week, while the Bearcats were summarily dispatched by Connecticut. Both teams were thought to be Big East factors at the start of the season—neither has impressed. So, this game is about who has enough motivation to come on the field and salvage a disappointing season.

The Lady's Pick: Pittsburgh to cover.

3. Rutgers at West Virginia: West Virginia (-21)

West Virginia is on a roll and Rutgers has been terrible—against just about everybody. It's time for the Scarlet Knights to go back to the drawing board. By contrast, the Mountaineers will just be approaching this game with a win on their mind.

The Lady's Pick: West Virginia to cover.

4. UConn at South Florida: South Florida (-2.5)

The Huskies have been hard to peg this season. They are either lights out or awful. However, South Florida has been equally enigmatic—particularly B.J. Daniels. If the big quarterback, with the talented arm, and fluid mobility can find his groove, he can be the most dangerous man on the football field for the Bulls. That said, if he gets rattled or fails to hit his marks, he can be every bit the disaster.

The Lady's Pick: South Florida to cover.

5. Utah State at Boise State: Boise State (-43)

Clearly, the better team on the field will be the Broncos. However, 43 points just seems ridiculous given the fact that the Broncos are no longer playing for much. Will they have enough energy or motivation to shellac another bad football team?

The Lady's Pick: Utah State

6. Nevada at Louisiana Tech: Nevada (-7.5)

The Wolfpack are coming off a huge win against Boise State and this game may be just an after-thought to them at this point—usually a dangerous mindset to have. However, Colin Kaepernick is not likely to let the Bulldogs break his team's stride.

The Lady's Pick: Nevada to cover.

7. Southern Cal at UCLA: USC (-6.5)

Lane Kiffin will be on the hot seat before too long as it will take a miracle for him to explain how this Trojan team isn't at nine wins—considering the perceived ease of their schedule to start the year. Either way, the Bruins are either as bad as they've looked all or just playing possum. No clue if it's the former or the latter but, in this game, it's probably just safe to go with USC.

The Lady's Pick: USC to cover.

8. Oregon at Oregon State: Oregon (-16.5)

The Beavers play very well at home and they won't be looking to lay down against these Ducks—no matter how good everyone says they are.

The Lady's Pick: Oregon State to cover.

9. Florida State at Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech (-3.5)

The Hokies are a better football team, overall, than the Seminoles. Their experience and the leadership of Tyrod Taylor will be the difference here.

The Lady's Pick: Virginia Tech to cover.

10. Auburn at South Carolina: Auburn (-5)

The Auburn Tigers are nowhere near the same team that the Gamecocks nearly defeated back in week four. Nick Fairley has become a dominant force on the Tiger's defensive line and, despite the ineptitude of Auburn's secondary, the front seven of Auburn can wear down an offensive line like nobody's business.

If that happens, Garcia will be in trouble as his best games seem to happen when Marcus Lattimore is finding space and being effective—Auburn shut Lattimore down the first time. Can they do that again?

The game will come down to line play and Auburn simply has the best of that match-up on both sides of the ball.

The Lady's Pick: Auburn to cover.

The Lady's Luck Picks:

11. Washington over Washington State (NL)


12. Idaho (-13) over San Jose State


13. UNLV (+34.5) at Hawaii


14. Florida Atlantic (-4.5) vs. Troy


15. Middle Tennessee (+5) at Florida International

16. Central Florida (-9) vs. Southern Methodist


17. Oklahoma (-4.5) vs. Nebraska

College Football ATS Picks: Can South Carolina Seal The Deal Against Florida? (UPDATED WITH SCORES)

The Lady is getting tired of losing. Last week's 8-7 haul was okay, but, more will need to happen to get the site anywhere near the goal of finishing above .500 on the year.

So, no more chatter, just straight to 15 more picks—against the spread—this week. Find all lines at VegasInsider.com and, again, for clarification, these are spread picks only.

Here we go:

1. Connecticut vs. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh (-5.5)

The Huskies are undefeated at home this year but the Pitt Panthers not only come in on a three-game winning streak, but are going for their third straight over Connecticut as well.
I like the Huskies to play the Panthers close tonight.

The Lady's Pick: Connecticut to cover. 


Final: UConn 30, Pitt 28—The Lady Wins!

A close one, just as I expected, with a thrilling finish by the Huskies late in the fourth quarter. The Big East is no longer Pitt's to win—it just got interesting. 

2. Boise State at Idaho: Boise State (-34.5)

It's Boise. They've been bored all season playing the mediocre talent of the WAC and the Idaho Vandals will offer them no respite from that trend.

The Lady's Pick: Boise to cover.

Final: Boise 52, Idaho 14—The Lady Wins! 

Boise State beat up on another under-manned opponent. Yawn. 

3. West Virginia vs. Cincinnati: West Virginia (-7)

The Bearcats lost Zach Collaros to a leg injury a couple weeks back, but he is set to return this week against the Mountaineers. Cincy's offense is far more productive and dangerous with Collaros at the helm and the Mountaineers have struggled to find their footing the last two weeks.

The Lady's Pick: Cincinnati to cover. 

Final:West Virginia 47, Cincinnati 10—The Lady Loses

Wow, way to NOT show up Cincy. Geez—miss Brian Kelly and Mardy Gilyard much?


4. Auburn vs. Georgia: Auburn (-8)

More than a clinch of the SEC West is at stake for the Tigers in this one. Georgia currently holds a four-game win streak over the Tigers as well. Add to that, an angry Cam Newton, and you have an Auburn team that looks set to rout the Bulldogs on Saturday.

That said, Georgia is playing for every bit as much as the Tigers. They want to end the season on the upswing and what better way to do so than to beat the No. 2 team in the country—at home?

Georgia has a good defense, some solid playmakers, and a golden opportunity. Expect them to be in this one til the bitter end.

The Lady's Pick: Georgia to cover. 

Final: Auburn 49, Georgia 31—The Lady Loses

It looked promising for Georgia, early, but the Newton train proved too much to contain in the end. Now the Bulldogs will have to scare up win number 6 in their final game of the season—can they handle the pressure?

5. Florida vs. South Carolina: Florida (-6.5)

Okay, so the Gators are feeling groovy after two straight wins and, despite their three-game losing streak, they still have a shot at the SEC East title if they win—at The Swamp—this weekend.
Steve Spurrier's group has had their ups and downs this season with big program wins over Alabama and Georgia, but heartbreaking losses to Auburn and Arkansas. However, they can sweep all that under the rug if they can upend Urban Meyer's team.

Expect the Gamecocks to make a game of this one.

The Lady's Pick: South Carolina to cover. 

Final: South Carolina 36, Florida 14—The Lady Wins!

This was kind of like watching a horror film. I didn't want to see a good outcome for either team, but settled on Spurrier because he was the lesser of two evils. Still, it was great to see Chris Rainey be rendered a non-factor.

6. Alabama vs. Mississippi State: Alabama (-14.5)

Mississippi State lacks a lot in the offense department. Chris Relf isn't a very good quarterback and Vick Ballard has had good games against midling run defenses. The Bulldogs are where they are in large part because of their defense—period. So, a hat tip to their defensive coordinator, former Middle Tennessee head coach, Manny Diaz is in order.

That said, don't look for Alabama to run all over MSU this weekend. They have struggled mightily against physical front sevens and the talent in the secondary can be opportunistic when they are on their game.

14.5 points is too much to give to an Alabama team that has not shown much dominance this year.

The Lady's Pick: Mississippi State to cover. 

Final: Alabama 30, Mississippi State 10—The Lady Loses. 

Now the Tide play like winners. Hope they have a plan for Auburn next week—personally I hope they decimate Cam Newton and ram road the heck out of Nick Fairley.

7. Iowa State at Colorado: Iowa State (-2.5)

This is a tricky one because Colorado has been every bit the atrocious team we thought they would be to start the season—culminating in their embarrassing loss to Kansas last week. By contrast, the Cyclones beat Texas and have an under-rated leader in quarterback, Austen Arnaud.

So, the Cyclones should easily cover that 2.5, right? Wrong.

This is exactly the sort of game that just screams for big performances out of the Colorado players who just saw their coach get fired and want to save face. Plus, to be clear, Iowa State is not as good as their win over Texas seemed to allude.

The Lady's Pick: Colorado

Final: Colorado 34, Iowa State 14 —The Lady Wins

Ah yes, the coach gets fired and the Buffs play one of their best games of the season—who could have imagined that?...oh yeah—ME. 

8. Notre Dame vs. Utah: Utah (-5.5)

The Irish are just trying to get out of the season and into full recruiting mode. They lost their top quarterback for the season and don't seem to have much life left.

Plus, Utah is mad as a hornet after being trounced by the Horned Frogs last week. They're looking to do some trouncing of their own on a bruised and battered Irish team.

The Lady's Pick: Utah

Final: Notre Dame 28, Utah 3—The Lady Loses 

Ouch, TCU took Utah's pride AND their will to live. 

9. North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech (-3.5)

The Hokies have gotten back on the winning track in a big way since losing to James Madison in week two—rattling off seven straight wins.

Butch Davis' Tarheels have rebounded well, too, playing themselves into bowl eligibility after many left them for dad following an agent scandal that, all but, decimated their defense. Can they keep up with Tyrod Taylor and upset the Hokies this weekend?

The last loss the Tarheels suffered was at the hands of Miami—Virginia Tech has a much more balanced team.

The Lady's Pick: Virginia Tech. 

Final: Virginia Tech 26, UNC 10—The Lady Wins!


Oh those Heels' sure made a game of it for a little bit, but Virginia Tech woke up and remembered they still had plenty to play for and closed this one out before it got too out of hand.

10. Purdue vs. Michigan: Michigan (-13)

Michigan's defense is terrible and no one can feel confident that Denard Robinson is capable of finishing any game in which he takes a big hit. That said, Purdue has a halfway decent defense—despite their record—and they are playing at home.

For some reason, I like the Boilermakers chances to make a game of it on Saturday.

The Lady's Pick: Purdue

Final: Michigan 27, Purdue 16—The Lady Wins!


All I can say is, whew.

The Lady's Luck Picks:

11. Kentucky (-14) vs. Vanderbilt

Final: Kentucky 38, Vanderbilt 20—The Lady Wins!

12. Colorado State (+6.5) vs BYU

Final: BYU 49, Colorado State 10—The Lady Loses. 

13. Penn State (+18) at Ohio State

Final: Ohio State 38, Penn State 14—The Lady Loses.

14. Illinois (-21) vs Minnesota

Final: Minnesota 38, Illinois 34—The Lady Loses.

15. Kansas State (-13) at Missouri 

Final: Missouri 28, Kansas State 38—The Lady Wins! 

Final tally: 8-7...just great *sarcasm*

Steve Spurrier Gets Cocky and Cat's Go Wild: Kentucky Steals Big Win Over Top 10 Foe (VIDEO)

Remember all that chatter about Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks suffering a letdown this week over the Kentucky Wildcats, after defeating the former No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in Columbia last week? Well, that came to fruition tonight as the Kentucky Wildcats and, new head coach, Joker Phillips, got their first signature win over a ranked opponent.

The Gamecocks were leading the game with less than 1:00 minute to go in the fourth-quarter, but then Kentucky quarterback, Mike Hartline connected with Randall Cobb for a 24 yard touchdown reception—followed by a two-point conversion—making it 31-28 Kentucky with less than :15 seconds to play.

Stephen Garcia took over on his own 31 but, two big completions to both D.L. Moore and Tori Gurley placed the Gamecocks within striking distance of a field goal. Then, the unthinkable happened, Spurrier used his final timeout to draw up a play for one last shot at the end zone—he likely should have just gone for the tie but, for whatever reason, he decided to try and go for the win instead.

His gamble ended up being a poor one as Stephen Garcia was intercepted in the end zone—Wildcats win:



So close...yet, so very far away.

Nice win for the Cats' though, after the close loss to Auburn last week, they were bound to come out on the winning end of one of these eventually.

College Football Odds Week 4: 10 ATS Winners for Saturday (9/25)

The Lady is stuck being average—for the second week in a row—thanks to giving a little too much respect to Notre Dame and my beloved Georgia Bulldogs. However, a new week beckons and, although the season record stands at an unimpressive 13-12, there is a chance that redemption isn't far from probable as we head into week four.

So, getting back on the horse, yet again, here are ten against the spread (ATS) picks for the Saturday slate of college football.

All lines are courtesy of Vegas Insider. 

1. Michigan vs. Bowling Green: Michigan (-20)

That embarrassing display of football the Wolverines played last week has likely scared off a few people for this week. However, the Falcons lost their starting quarterback and will once again trot out the sophomore, Aaron Pankratz, who led them to victory against the Thundering Herd. Pankratz will be expected to perform well again in Schilz absence, but Michigan isn't Marshall and the Big House isn't anything like home.

The Lady's Pick: Michigan

2. Boston College vs. Virginia Tech: Boston College (-2)

The Hokies have lost their aura of invincibility and, despite their home win over East Carolina last week, I'm not convinced that they are any better of a team now than they were at the start of the season. By contrast, the Eagles have played well (against lesser competition) and look to be hitting their stride defensively. Virginia Tech will be without starting tailback, Ryan Williams, this week as well—leaving the ground game in doubt.

The Lady's pick: Boston College

3. Ohio State vs. Eastern Michigan: Ohio State (-42)

There is something very scary about giving that many points to any team, but the way Ohio State has played this year, you have to feel pretty confident about their chances to cover. It also doesn't hurt that Central Michigan was able to thump the Eagles by 38 points last week—just saying.

The Lady's pick: Ohio State 

4. Georgia Tech vs. NC State: Georgia Tech (-9)

The Yellow Jackets don't seem to be excelling in Al Groh's 3-4 just yet and that has given teams an opportunity to stick around a bit longer in games than Paul Johnson might like. NC State is 3-0 and Russell Wilson will be a challenge to cover because of his ability to scramble. I like the Wolfpack's chances to keep it close.

The Lady's pick: NC State

5. Tennessee vs UAB: Tennessee (-14)

The Volunteers should be able to control the Blazers on offense without too much static and the offense shouldn't have too much trouble scoring on the Blazers defense. This match-up will be a welcome respite for the Vols after the last two weeks of play.

The Lady's Pick: Tennessee

6.  Kansas vs. New Mexico State: Kansas (-23)

The Aggies defense is deplorable—no really—it's bad. Kansas may not be anywhere near the team that Turner Gill expects it to be in the very near future, but they have a lot more going for them than the Aggies who not only find scoring difficult (15.5 ppg), but can't seem to stop anyone else from scoring either (giving up more than 40 ppg). The Jayhawks are by no means prolific, but they should be more than capable of putting points on the board against New Mexico State.

The Lady's Pick: Kansas

7. South Carolina at Auburn: Auburn (-1)

Steve Spurrier's team is 3-0 so far this season but they haven't really been that impressive in getting there.  Auburn struggled against Mississippi State and almost lost to Clemson last week, but you have to believe that the Tigers defense is more than capable of handling whatever Stephen Garcia has to throw at them. The Gamecocks get their first loss here.

The Lady's Pick: Auburn

8. Alabama at Arkansas: Alabama (-4)

I know that a lot of people are drinking the Bobby Petrino/Ryan Mallett Kool-Aid but, the fact is, this will be the first time the Razorbacks meet a team with this much talent this year. Georgia, honestly, wasnt playing with a full deck last week and they almost engineered the comeback. Alabama has all of it's offensive players back in play and Dareus is back too—on defense—so if the Tide can contain Mallett, you have to like their chances to win it here.

The Lady's Pick: Alabama

9. Nevada at BYU: Nevada (-4)

The Wolfpack won a big one against Cal last week, 52-31, and you have to wonder if they will be due for an emotional letdown this week against a BYU squad that just named its true freshman as the full-time starter. Everything points to a Wolfpack win and that is precisely why I am skeptical.

The Lady's Pick: BYU

10. Oregon State at Boise State: Boise State (-16)

This is the upset pick of the week—crazy right? Listen, the Beavers gave TCU all they could handle early this season and they are looking to make a statement against the Broncos as well so expect this game to be competitive.


The Lady's Pick: Oregon State

Steve Spurrier Reacts To The Passing of Former Gamecock, Kenny Mckinley (VIDEO)

Kenny McKinley has died. The cause of death has not been officially released but speculation is that it is the result of a suicide.

McKinley was a member of the Denver Broncos at the time of his death, drafted by the team in the fifth-round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

However, fans of the SEC remember him best as being a standout wide receiver for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He, along with current Minnesota Viking, Sidney Rice, formed a talented duo for Steve Spurrier from 2005 to 2006.

After Rice's departure, McKinley continued to light up the field with his big play ability and sure-hands. He never let up, despite his tussle with injuries in his final season, and by the time he closed the chapter on his college career, he held numerous records.

He was not expected to be a major factor in the Bronco's offense this season but, said McDaniels, "

"Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room".

McKinley was only 23-years old. 

McKinley's former coach, Steve Spurrier, was surprised to hear the news of his death. Spurrier stated that McKinley was present at the Gamecocks' game against Georgia a couple weeks ago and seemed in good spirits. Spurrier was visibly shaken by the news and seemed genuinely perplexed at what might have prompted McKinley to take such a drastic measure.  (h/t TheBigSpur)

Highlights from McKinley's 2008 season with the Gamecocks:

Mckinley speaks on his future with the Denver Broncos shortly after being drafted in 2009.

Steve Spurrier Advised Richt To Take UNC Job—The Lady's Friday Links (9/10)

Before Mark Richt was hired as the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, he was simply a Florida State assistant with an important career-decision to make. So, what did he do, he asked a fellow Florida native for his opinion—that fellow native's name was Steve Spurrier.

Spurrier, who was coaching the Florida Gators at the time, advised Richt to take the North Carolina job. Luckily, for Bulldog fans and Mark Richt, he decided to pass on Spurriers advice.

Speaking of Steve Spurrier, he's got problems of his own. The NCAA (an organization that has been busy spreading its goodwill this offseason) has alerted the South Carolina football program that it's next stop will be Columbia.

Auburn managed to hold off the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday night as they escaped Starkville with a 17-14 win. That said, Cameron Newton has a ton of work to do in selling the play action—he's going to fool absolutely no one this season.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are, of course, the favorites to win the game over Penn State this weekend. Joe Paterno doesn't seem intimidated by the prospect of entering Tuscaloosa, with a true freshman quarterback, and an unproven set of linebackers. I guess he knows something that Nick Saban doesn't—*shrugs*.

Florida Gator center, Mike Pouncey, is doing all he can to fix his center-to-quarterback exchange issues—including asking the good Lord for help.

According to this article, 40 percent of the ten loudest college football stadiums reside in the Big Ten—30 percent are in the SEC (Florida's Ben Hill Griffin pops in at No. 1).

Former UNC Tarheel football player, Chris Hawkins, says he's "not an agent". Somehow I doubt the fans who cheer for the Georgia Bulldogs will give a damn.

Bill King echoes the sentiment of many when discussing the A.J. Green situation: A.J. was wrong, but the NCAA is being a bit too harsh.  

Another author who is critical of preseason polls and the unfair advantage they give to the big boys—preaching to the choir, my man.


As if the Oregon Ducks didn't look good enough last week—winning 72-0—now they get back their star running back to boot. LaMichael James is done serving his suspension and will be with the team on Saturday when they square off against the Vols in Knoxville.

Videos: Interesting commentary and plays from the last week

Dan Patrick does his Lou Holtz impersonation...pretty funny:



Lou Holtz does his Lou Holtz schtick—not nearly as entertaining. Dr. Lou?...More like, Dr. Poo.



The Tim Tebow love train rolls on:

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Mark Richt to Bulldog Nation, "There's No 'I' In Team"

After the disappointment of the A.J. Green suspension set into the minds and hearts of Georgia Bulldog fans, an alarming trend began to take place—suddenly, Georgia became a mediocre team. That's right, all of a sudden, Georgia became incapable of winning the game on Saturday.

Well, hopefully, that's not the message the fans in Bulldog country are trying to send to the rest of the players on the Georgia Bulldog roster who will travel to Columbia—ready to play—on Saturday because if it is, it's an awful one. 

Look, here's the fundamental problem with the "we can't win without A.J." theory, it doesn't take into account that other players on the roster are every bit as skilled in the areas necessary to win the game as Green is—the difference being that Green had it all in one pretty package.

That said, at last check, Georgia has other wide receivers who are capable of running fast (Tavarres King), catching the ball (Kris Durham and Marlon Brown), stretching the field (Rantavious Wooten and Israel Troupe), and getting into the end zone (Aron White, Orson Charles...etc, etc)—that trait is not specific to A.J.

While there is no denying the fact that Green is a dynamic player who brings a lot to the field by simply being there. There is also little doubting this fact: Georgia has won without him...six times. Trust this much, Richt isn't somewhere crying in his lemonade (neither is Todd Grantham) over A.J's loss. Similar to last season, Georgia will look to other players to step-up and fill in the blanks. 

And, another thing, this game won't mirror the 41-37 shoot-out of 2009. The 2010 version will be won in the trenches. Georgia isn't going to try and go tit-for-tat with the Steve Spurrier, they will try and run it down the throat of the questionable South Carolina defensive front.

That said, it would have been a far greater loss to the team if running back, Washaun Ealey, were forced to sit on the sidelines. Ealey will be counted on to use the energy he saved by missing game one to run over and through the Gamecock's defense in game two.

If he can do that, quarterback, Aaron Murray's job will be that much easier in the passing game.
Furthermore, in those critical third down situations that Green is so money in, Murray will likely look to the hands of Kris Durham, Orson Charles, or Aron White (expect to see the tight ends on the field a lot more this week) to fill the void—all of them are capable of making solid plays in that situation.

The point is, Georgia is anything but done for this week so fans should be conceding nothing—unless, of course, you are one of those who already penciled this as a loss (with or without A.J.). If that's the case—carry on.

Green's suspension is a setback, no doubt about that, but to intimate that his absence is going to turn the team into a pushover is not only a slap in the face to the defense, but a mockery to an offense that is going to look a bit different with Murray standing under center.

Hang in there, Bulldog Nation, there is still plenty of fight in these Dawgs!

GATA!

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About The South Carolina Gamecocks

After an impressive win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, the Georgia Bulldogs will start to find out how "for real" they really are this season when they face-off against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday—at high noon.

Steve Spurrier's team looked impressive in their victory over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (a team considered by many to be one of the best in their conference this season) last Thursday, and the team hopes to continue their winning ways against Mark Richt's team this weekend.

Despite what the polls say (the Gamecocks were left off the coaches' and AP preseason polls), the feeling in Columbia is that this will be the year that Spurrier will finally take his team to an SEC Championship.

Most Bulldog fans can tell you plenty about their rival to the north, but here are ten quick points anyway—just for kicks.

1. They may finally have found their running game. 

For years the Gamecocks have lacked an adequate run game to compliment the passing attack. This has been a familiar sticking point for Spurrier, for as long as he's been in Columbia, because he hasn't been able to field a phenomenal passer in that time either. As a result, his offenses have stalled more often than he'd like, and his teams have performed disappointingly in the process. Marcus Lattimore may be the cure to what ails them at the tail spot—opening up a plethora of possibilities on offense.

2. Marcus Lattimore is the real deal. 

It was just a Conference-USA team, but it was hard not to recognize the talent that Lattimore will bring to the field this season. The true freshman has the size, speed, and hands to be a big-time threat out of the backfield. Furthermore, it is clear that he offers a legitimate goal line option for the Gamecocks this season—his 6'0", 200+ pound, frame makes him a load to bring down at the line.

3. Ace Sanders needs to be accounted for because he's a playmaker. 

The speedy receiver out of Bradenton, FL had one very impressive run on Thursday night. On a clear reverse, Sanders took big advantage of the Golden Eagles lapse in defensive concentration as he sprinted down the field for 31-yards. Sanders is only 5'7", but he is just the type of player that Steve Spurrier likes to have fun with on offense—he will definitely find his way onto the field.

4.  Stephen Garcia is still a significant running and scoring threat. 

The much-maligned quarterback didn't overly impress with his arm, but he's still got plenty of scoring ability as a scrambler. The junior was responsible for two rushing touchdowns in the win—one of which was a 22 yard scamper. Garcia has good instincts as a runner and he isn't afraid to use those instincts if he sees an opportunity to gain some positive yardage or score six.

5. Alshon Jeffery isn't showing any signs of a "sophomore slump".

Jeffery accounted for 106 yards on seven catches (15.1 ypc average) and he was clearly the go-to guy for Garcia. He's going to pose match-up problems for any secondary with smallish defensive backs because of his size. In order to disrupt him, a team is going to have to do it off the snap—otherwise he's as money as they come on the football field as a receiver.

6. Connor Shaw will be pretty darn good this year in his backup role. 

Shaw didn't get very many snaps (6), but in his limited appearance, he showed he is not intimidated by the SEC spotlight. He appears, from the outset, to have a run-first mentality. However, he's an effective runner too and he doesn't seem bothered by making plays with his feet. He keeps his eyes downfield at all times and he's a definite weapon if the Gamecocks decide to run a little wildcat this season—particularly with Ace Sanders and Marcus Lattimore in tow.

7. The offensive line still needs tweaking.

The Southern Miss defensive front didn't have much trouble handling the South Carolina offensive line early in the game. That said, the line is still likely one of the best Spurrier has had since he arrived at South Carolina and any inconsistency is likely due to a new line coach—the talent is there.

8. The secondary...well...it's not very good—yet.

South Carolina didn't impress early with the play of its secondary. The Golden Eagles, despite the loss, moved the ball very well against the Gamecocks and, if not for a couple of busted plays in the redzone, the end score might have looked very different. The team was without its star corner, Chris Culliver (moved from safety to corner during the spring), and there is the possibility that the shuffling of the secondary was the main issue behind a lackluster pass defense (Akeem Auguste also switched positions this past spring).

9. The defensive line is still searching for its identity.

South Carolina didn't shut the Eagles down, as mentioned earlier, so much as the Eagles shot themselves in the foot with crucial turnovers on potential scoring drives. Overall, the Eagles were effective when faced with a third down (10/19), and quarterback, Austin Davis, was able to elude the pass-rush most of the evening. He fumbled on a run play early in the first, but the pressure of the front seven led to only one sack—midway through the second quarter. Does that mean the defensive line at South Carolina is not up to par? No, but they have yet to find the answers for the departed Clifton Geathers and Eric Norwood.

10. They do a lot of damage on first and second down—third downs...not so much.

Again, this is only the first game of the season, but the Gamecocks struggled to complete third downs against the Eagles (4/10), while the Eagles converted better than 50 percent of theirs. Does that have to do with the playcalling, the confidence of Stephen Garcia behind his, still-jelling, offensive line, or just first game jitters?
We'll find out soon enough.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Will The Bulldogs Cover?...Who Will Shine Against Louisiana?

The beginning of the college football season began with a bang last night as one ranked team fell (Pitt)—unceremoniously—and another unranked one made a case for why they, maybe, should have been (South Carolina).

As we edge closer to the Georgia Bulldogs first official game of the year (12:21 EST on ESPN3), just a few final thoughts on the season opening match-up against the Louisiana Cajuns.

Georgia needs to come out ready to play this Saturday. There is already plenty of buzz going the way of South Carolina as Steve Spurrier took his offensive playcalling to old heights Thursday night—pummeling the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 41-13.

In doing so, he sent a strong message to both the national media and the SEC east that his team is  ready to compete for a title this season.

True freshmen, Ace Sanders and Marcus Lattimore, look like they will be key contributors this season as the Gamecocks offense looked more balanced in the run game than they have been in years past. Also, despite the absence of 2009 standouts, Clifton Geathers and Eric Norwood, the Gamecock's defense did a fairly decent job of keeping the Eagles from accomplishing anything they wanted to—by ground or air.

That said, it will be up to Georgia to do something big against the Cajuns to show that they too are ready to reclaim a spot at the top.

Murray won't have the luxury of Hutson Mason to spell him (a la Connor Shaw for Stephen Garcia), so he will need to be poised and ready every step of the way.  He should make few, if any, major mistakes against this Cajuns defense.

So, who will shine on Saturday:

1. Georgia Bulldog wide receivers

If Green is out, then you have to look at Brown or Rantavious Wooten. It doesn't matter who it is, the Bulldog receivers match-up well against the undersized Cajuns secondary.

2. Carlton Thomas, RB

It would be easier to pick Caleb King, but many expect him to take the load for Georgia in Ealey's absence. It's far more likely that this will be the game to see what Thomas can do as well. Look for him to get some space against a Cajuns front that isn't nearly as aggressive as a unit and is often prone to giving up huge yards on the ground. 

3. Justin Houston, LB

Chris Masson will see a lot of Sanford Field on Saturday—unfortunately he'll be on the ground when he does. Look for Houston to make life hectic for Masson who will be working behind a less experienced offensive line. 

4. Orson Charles, TE

It wouldn't surprise to see Orson get in the end zone a couple times on Saturday with some big catches that turn into big gains. The conservative play of the Cajuns secondary leaves a lot of holes in the middle of the field and often leads to receivers being able to get behind the defensive backs—Charles and White will take advantage.

5. The Georgia offensive line

The defensive front of Louisiana houses a couple of playmakers, Grant Fleming for one, but not enough to disrupt the passing game of the Bulldogs. Expect the offensive line to dominate from the snap and control the line of scrimmage for the entirety of the game.

Will Georgia cover?
The Bulldogs are notorious for being awful against the spread but, this game more than other, they need to come out and make a solid statement about what they're made of this season. The fans won't be okay with them just winning this game, they will need to do it in convincing fashion and Mark Richt will likely oblige their request.

Georgia will cover the -25.5 and, hopefully, head into Columbia with some solid momentum for their first SEC match-up of the year. 

It Must Be "Let The Village Idiot Loose" Week in SEC Land

I saw this little bit of foolery from Paul Finebaum:

5. Mark Richt (Georgia): Everyone loves Mark Richt (blah, blah, blah), but can the guy coach? That's a strong question to ask for someone with two SEC titles and a glittering résumé. However, Georgia fans have stuck their heads in the sand recently, giving Richt a blank check while blaming everyone else.

Okay, I get it, Paul Finebaum has set a goal this off-season and it involves setting a huge flame to anything Georgia Bulldog related. Well, to each his own.

After all, I've said it once and I'll say it again, no self-respecting Georgia fan should allow anything Paul Finebaum has to say, ruin his/her happy place.

This man makes his living as a pot-stirrer and whenever he needs to find a way to draw more listeners and readers into his tawdry web, he says the most outrageously stupid thing he can imagine. That's his thing.

That said, I still find that lists (particularly those with rankings) irk me. My philosophy where those types of lists are concerned is if you're going to put yourself out there, do so with intelligence.

Don't be a moron.

Here is an example of me taking a moronic list to task. 

So, while I have no problem with Finebaum's decision to release another list ranking SEC coaches, I do take issue with his decision to place Richt at No. 5—particularly when neither of the two guys he ranks before him have 1) won an SEC Championship this decade, 2) have a winning record against Richt, or 3) have played in a bowl game of any significance—specifically a BCS bowl.

Bobby Petrino is 13-12 in two season's at Arkansas. That's it. His team went 8-5 last year and, barely—and I do mean barely—beat East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.

As for Steve Spurrier, he might have been the "Ol' Ball Coach" at Florida but he's just an OLD ball coach at South Carolina where Richt has gotten the better of him eight times in nine years.

So, I  am willing to go out on a limb and say that Mark Richt is a better coach than both Bobby Petrino (whose done nothing yet) and Steve Spurrier (whose done nothing yet at South Carolina).

Try again Paul Finebaum.

You know, he''d be funny if he weren't such a prick...just saying. 

My advice to Georgia Bulldog fans where Paul Finebaum is concerned: change the station, there's nothing to see here, folks.

The SEC East Could Crown A New Champ in 2010—Will It Be Georgia?

"In the SEC, Florida will also go through a transition period as Tim Tebow can no longer be the savior. A number of other seniors from last year have moved on up as well. LSU should be ready for a rebound, but maybe not a BCS-type rebound while sportsbook odds makers probably won’t consider Georgia much of a BCS threat unless a quarterback quickly emerges." (FootballGamblingFreaks.com, 6/23/10). 


I read this statement and nearly laughed out loud as it's comical to me how much goodwill a national title grants you. Aaron Murray's inexperience aside, neither Florida nor LSU have a bonafide answer at quarterback in 2010.

John Brantley hasn't proven himself in an SEC contest—yet. The appearances he can tout to the Florida faithful amount to "garbage-time" blow-outs left for his pleasure by Tim Tebow. Not to mention, Florida lost more than half its offense to the NFL. Bye-bye Aaron Hernandez. Sayonara, Riley Cooper—so sad to see you go.

Furthermore, it matters little how phenomenal that 2010 signing class was, defensively, those guys haven't done a thing yet. Add to that, the man behind the plan—Charlie Strong—changed zip codes. If you don't think that matters—you are nuts.

So, when people just hand the SEC East over to the Gators simply because Urban Meyer is their coach and they've won it before, I find myself pausing a bit for station identification because—seriously—even Florida is bound to come back to earth a bit this season and that could mean a shift in the powers that be.

As for LSU, Jarret Lee and Jordan Jefferson combined make up one-half of a decent quarterback for the Tigers. LSU may have beaten Georgia last season but they too have lost a very significant chunk of their offensive production—including every significant carry in their running back corp.

In the West this year, it will be all about AAA—Alabama, Auburn, and Arkansas—LSU will not rebound nearly as well as most believe and that will have a lot to do with the lack of a running game to offset their schizophrenic production at quarterback.

In the East, South Carolina is a feared commodity but, honestly, until I see Steve Spurrier giving more love to his quarterback, no team in the conference should be skeered' of what he's bringing to the field. He's been shaky for the better part of his career and this offseason is showing that those shaky ways are far from over. I can't wait to see how he handles the expectations that have been placed on him this season—something that, prior to now, he hasn't truly had to deal with.

Either way, no matter what South Carolina does against Georgia, they will not win the East—there I said it. They have never won the SEC, have never had an opportunity to try, and without a running game they are no closer to doing either than the were ten-years ago.

South Carolina is cocky—not good. They are a .500 team wanting to be better and that will remain the case no matter what happens in Columbia this season.

Which brings me back to the original reason for this diatribe, this is a new season and there isn't a team in the SEC East that can boast enough experience at every spot to say they can or will win the division. 2010 is a crapshoot—despite what Dennis Dodd has to say.

Georgia may not have a proven quarterback when the first whistle blows but here's my no-holds take on the teams in the East who supposedly will:

John Brantley: He'll have time behind that line but who is he going to throw it to...no, really...who? There's not a receiver returning who will have any significant history of making an impact. Plus, other than Tebow, have the Gators really tried establishing a run-game? This IS the SEC, right? At some point, that cute little spread Urban runs will need some tweaking.

Stephen Garcia: Georgia helped make him relevant in 2009 but he's not done enough to warrant  much respect. After all, he's barely important to his own team so why should anyone else in the East care? Just saying...

Larry Smith: He and Warren Norman will be about as relevant as Rafael Belliard was for the Atlanta Braves—pity.

Matt Simms: Unless Tennessee is going to do something about their lack of an offensive line, running game, or defensive playmaker, no one will be worried about Simms leading the Vols anywhere—particularly not to another big win over Georgia in Sanford Stadium.

Kentucky: I intentionally failed to name their quarterback because, no matter who it is, he'll be irrelevant. Georgia did what no other SEC team could last season—make Morgan Newton look good. That lightning won't strike twice—trust me.

If Georgia plays even a modicum better in the secondary this season, they have a better than average shot of winning the East—not competing for it—winning. That's a fact.

So, all the disrespect they have gotten based on the nightmare defensive woes of last season need to go precisely where they make the most sense—the trash can—because this is a new team with a new plan. It's time people start to recognize that point and give Mark Richt and company something that only Phil Steele seems to want to—r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

73 days and counting, Dawg fans, are you ready to sic' em yet?

Pete Carroll Is Lying and Everybody Knows It—Shame On Him!

In the wake of the sanctions placed on the USC Trojans football program, former head musketeer, Pete Carroll released a video statement to the Trojan family. In the video, he states that he is "absolutely shocked and disappointed" and goes on to say that he "knew nothing" and this was just another case of outside forces tampering with a student-athlete.

Yeah, and see, it's that kind of bologna that will make him a prime candidate to run for political office someday—or at least give it some heavy consideration—because clearly his name is mud in college football if the NFL doesn't work out for him.

For those of you who didn't know, Pete Carroll is lying through his whitened teeth. That's right, I'm saying it: He's lying!

I don't believe for one minute that he had no idea what was going on with Reggie Bush—his star player. No, Hollywood Pete not only knew what was going on, he turned a blind eye to it because he wouldn't dare jeopardize the greatness that was USC football from 2004-2005—he figured, no harm, no foul as long as everything remained status quo.

Don't ask. Don't tell.

The first clue to his knowledge was his decision to leave Southern California for Seattle—no offense to the great northwest, but who does that? Seattle may be beautiful and bountiful but Pete had it made at Southern Cal. He was a rock star and the team was his band—they always played to a full house and everyone bought the record.

Furthermore, of all the NFL teams in the league, Seattle is in need of the most repair. Building an NFL team is nothing like the college ranks. It's going to take a lot more than a smile and a shuck and jive for him to sell big time free agents on his dream.

He's going to be sleepless in Seattle for sure and the reality of his mistake will hit him much sooner than many think. However, I digress.

The NFL will offer nothing close to the lifestyle or the environment that he built for himself at USC. He may feel like a hot commodity right now, but, just ask Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban how long that lasts with an NFL fan once their team starts losing.

He'll be looking for a new job in about four years, if that long, and he will find the pickings much slimmer after this debacle.

Secondly, the lackadaisical atmosphere he introduced to the sideline of USC was tailor made for slime. No one was outlawed—heck, I could have gotten in there if I wanted to—the more the merrier. He liked the spotlight and so did his players.

That said, how on earth would he expect anyone to believe that he "knew nothing"? He knows an agent when he sees one and he has been around long enough to know when they are lurking and trying to make a deal.

If Reggie Bush was doing deals, you can be sure that people knew about it—the players, coaches, and even the administration had some idea and Pete Carroll was likely in on that memo.

"Knew nothing?", give me a break, he can barely look into the web cam and say that with a straight face.

Pete Carroll should change his name to Pinocchio, but, then again that would give the impression that he's just about ready to become something that he hasn't proven to be so far in this situation: a real man.

Honestly, Pinocchio deserves better company.

Stay Classy, Pete.

See the full Associated Press (AP) video statement below and judge for yourself: