-I really liked working on the random thoughts post from a few weeks ago, so I'll be continuing that trend in posts without a title. If I need to post something in more detail, I'll properly title it.
-I've had trouble sleeping recently. Probably due to stress and my genes (curse you genetics). This isn't the first time it's happened, but it's proof that I really could use a vacation day. Alas, I need to survive this next week.
-My dad had knee surgery the other day. He's doing well, recovering and resting as far as I can tell. Also, my mom has took away his laptop to prevent him from working. Good call, mom!
-Put together a poker tournament the other night. It went surprising well. No real complaints (a couple of minor issues and things I could have done better, but oh well).
-Well, the MSU-Penn State game is finally upon us. Right now, I give the Spartans a 25% chance to win. Not great, but I've seen worse. I think we can win if our defense plays like it did against Purdue, if our receivers can catch the ball, if Ringer plays like the Heisman hopeful he was toward the beginning of the year, and if Hoyer doesn't play like he did against Ohio State this year or in the bowl game last year. 25% chance of all that happening, in my opinion.
-And now it's time to dedicate this part blog to the wonders of the Michigan Wolverines. Well, sort of. As you should be aware, I almost always want Michigan State's arch-rivals in Ann Arbor to lose. But this is a rare situation. Michigan has an opportunity to help their "little brother" make the big game. All they have to do is beat their arch-rival, Ohio State. Likely? Probably not. But it is a heated rivalry, so you can usually throw records out the window. And all but 1 coach won against Ohio State in their first game against them. And it is college football, which recently has had a tendency for bizarre upsets. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm not completely ruling it out.
-Most of my Michigan fan friends response when I told them I was rooting for them this week. "Sure, just use us and throw us away again. We only matter to you when you can do something to us." Well, when it comes to football... yeah. Deal with it ;).
-Catchphrase (much like other "party games" like Apples to Apples) is only fun when you have a certain group that is playing them. As in, people who aren't ashamed to go to the most random details in order to win. We used an electronic Catchphrase game, and there were arguments about throwing and avoiding the machine at the buzzer. We also had some great descriptions that sounded dirty out of context. And then we had this description of a very famous movie. See if you can guess what it is. "The movie with the midgets, and the dog, and the midgets, and the dog and the scarecrow guy."
-It's been a few weeks since the election, and let me tell you, I don't miss any of the political junk at all. Still glad it's over, so we can move on with our lives. By the way, to President-elect Obama. As much as I want a college football playoff, government should work on more pressing issues than college football. Hopefully you'll figure that out.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
A far-fetched bowl scenario?
Look at this scenario, and see how far-fetched this is. In order to do this, we need to make the following assumptions, none of which are terribly ridiculous.
1) All BCS rules are followed to the letter. This means that only two teams in each conference are allowed in the BCS. This also means that 1 non-BCS conference gets an autobid if they are in the top 12, and that the Big East and ACC still get their autobids, even though they suck.
2) USC wins the Pac-10. They don't control their own destiny thanks to Oregon State, but based on Oregon State's schedule, I'd call this very likely.
3) We beat Penn State, with Ohio State winning the Big 10 just so I can make a point. I realize that the likelihood of us beating Penn State isn't very good, but let me have my moment a second.
4) The polls reflect MSU's win and Penn State's loss.
So, this would give us this selection for the BCS (Note: 10 overall bids for the BCS).
ACC winner- Doesn't matter who.
Big 12 winner- We'll give it Texas Tech for now, but it really doesn't matter.
Big 10 winner- Needs to be Ohio State as stated above.
Big East winner- Doesn't matter who.
Pac 10 winner- Needs to be USC, as stated above.
SEC winner- We'll give it to Alabama, but it won't matter if Florida wins.
This leaves us with 3 autobids left. We'll base the teams taken off of current BCS rankings.
#3 is Texas. They would take a bid. I fully expect a second Big 12 team, whoever it is, to make a BCS bowl.
#4 is Florida. They would take a bid. I fully expect Florida to make a BCS bowl.
#5 is Oklahoma, they cannot take a bid because 2 Big 12 teams are already in the BCS. Same with #10 Georgia (for SEC), #12 Missouri and #13 Oklahoma State.
This leaves these top remaining at large teams, based on rankings for right now. #10 Boise State, #14 Ball State and #15 Michigan State! Yes, that's right, we'd be third in line for a BCS bowl. But, if we beat Penn State, we'd certainly pass Ball State. And is it completely unreasonable that we couldn't move past Boise for the #10 spot, or something like that. Especially if it is convincing! Yes, I am suggesting that, if we beat Penn State, there is a good chance that we would make a BCS bowl game. Even without winning the Big 10. What does this mean?
1) All this is moot without us beating Penn State. We must win. We must root for us to win, and pray that it happens.
2) It'd be so much easier just to make the Rose Bowl, so let's also root for Ohio State to lose. It'd help quite a bit. Yes, this means that if OSU didn't lose to Illinois, we need to root for Michigan.
3) Root for USC and against Oregon State. We need USC to take that autobid. USC would certainly take an at large bid above us.
4) Root against Utah and Boise State. Yeah, I know you like to see the little guy to make it. But, it'd be so much easier if one of them is out of the picture (keep in mind, if Utah loses and Boise State wins out, they take an autobid that I described earlier).
5) Expect that we'll probably lose to Penn State anyway and accept the Outback bowl. It's nice anyways. New Years Day bowl, after all
1) All BCS rules are followed to the letter. This means that only two teams in each conference are allowed in the BCS. This also means that 1 non-BCS conference gets an autobid if they are in the top 12, and that the Big East and ACC still get their autobids, even though they suck.
2) USC wins the Pac-10. They don't control their own destiny thanks to Oregon State, but based on Oregon State's schedule, I'd call this very likely.
3) We beat Penn State, with Ohio State winning the Big 10 just so I can make a point. I realize that the likelihood of us beating Penn State isn't very good, but let me have my moment a second.
4) The polls reflect MSU's win and Penn State's loss.
So, this would give us this selection for the BCS (Note: 10 overall bids for the BCS).
ACC winner- Doesn't matter who.
Big 12 winner- We'll give it Texas Tech for now, but it really doesn't matter.
Big 10 winner- Needs to be Ohio State as stated above.
Big East winner- Doesn't matter who.
Pac 10 winner- Needs to be USC, as stated above.
SEC winner- We'll give it to Alabama, but it won't matter if Florida wins.
This leaves us with 3 autobids left. We'll base the teams taken off of current BCS rankings.
#3 is Texas. They would take a bid. I fully expect a second Big 12 team, whoever it is, to make a BCS bowl.
#4 is Florida. They would take a bid. I fully expect Florida to make a BCS bowl.
#5 is Oklahoma, they cannot take a bid because 2 Big 12 teams are already in the BCS. Same with #10 Georgia (for SEC), #12 Missouri and #13 Oklahoma State.
This leaves these top remaining at large teams, based on rankings for right now. #10 Boise State, #14 Ball State and #15 Michigan State! Yes, that's right, we'd be third in line for a BCS bowl. But, if we beat Penn State, we'd certainly pass Ball State. And is it completely unreasonable that we couldn't move past Boise for the #10 spot, or something like that. Especially if it is convincing! Yes, I am suggesting that, if we beat Penn State, there is a good chance that we would make a BCS bowl game. Even without winning the Big 10. What does this mean?
1) All this is moot without us beating Penn State. We must win. We must root for us to win, and pray that it happens.
2) It'd be so much easier just to make the Rose Bowl, so let's also root for Ohio State to lose. It'd help quite a bit. Yes, this means that if OSU didn't lose to Illinois, we need to root for Michigan.
3) Root for USC and against Oregon State. We need USC to take that autobid. USC would certainly take an at large bid above us.
4) Root against Utah and Boise State. Yeah, I know you like to see the little guy to make it. But, it'd be so much easier if one of them is out of the picture (keep in mind, if Utah loses and Boise State wins out, they take an autobid that I described earlier).
5) Expect that we'll probably lose to Penn State anyway and accept the Outback bowl. It's nice anyways. New Years Day bowl, after all
Friday, November 7, 2008
Random Thoughts I Think I Thought- 11/07
- Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama. I may not agree with some of his policies, but the fact is that he is the person in charge of our country. Because of that, I think it is important that, whether you like him or not, to accept this and more importantly, submit and pray to God for him that he makes good, Godly decisions. And with that, I go back to not caring much about politics. Thankfully, by the way.
- I can't be more excited for Michigan State football right now. Worst case scenario, we're remembering the Alamo in the Outback bowl. And we still have a shot to go to the Rose Bowl (and get the opportunity to be blown out by USC). How many people would have called that? I didn't. I would have been happy with barely getting into the Outback bowl, or simply back to the Champs Sports Bowl.
- Along with that, look at some of the stereotypes that MSU football has started to change. Since we got blown out by Ohio State, we've won a road game against a rival we haven't beaten in 7 years. We've had two 4th quarter comebacks. We've won a game we were severely outplayed in. It's a good feeling.
- Speaking of MSU sports, it's hard to complain when MSU's basketball team beats up on Northern Michigan. They won by 61 points! 61! Hard to find complaints in a game like that, but it is hard to tell what your team is like after just Northern Michigan. We shall see, we shall see.
- Lots of interesting conversations I've had over the last few weeks. I've debated the most important topics: most influential bands, best Bond movies, most influential video games, why I love sports, sense of humor. As I said, the most important topics. Some of them I should probably comment on in this blog, but we'll have to wait and see.
- Finally, just more evidence that God provides. After a rough day in my chemistry lab, I was overwhelmed. I had so much stuff to do and I wasn't really confident after some interesting mishaps in the lab. That was, until I saw a letter on my desk. I never get mail, and it didn't look like spam. So I open it up, and there is a little card signed by my church's youth group back home. Never expected it, but it was what I needed. Even in doubt, God cares and provides.
- I can't be more excited for Michigan State football right now. Worst case scenario, we're remembering the Alamo in the Outback bowl. And we still have a shot to go to the Rose Bowl (and get the opportunity to be blown out by USC). How many people would have called that? I didn't. I would have been happy with barely getting into the Outback bowl, or simply back to the Champs Sports Bowl.
- Along with that, look at some of the stereotypes that MSU football has started to change. Since we got blown out by Ohio State, we've won a road game against a rival we haven't beaten in 7 years. We've had two 4th quarter comebacks. We've won a game we were severely outplayed in. It's a good feeling.
- Speaking of MSU sports, it's hard to complain when MSU's basketball team beats up on Northern Michigan. They won by 61 points! 61! Hard to find complaints in a game like that, but it is hard to tell what your team is like after just Northern Michigan. We shall see, we shall see.
- Lots of interesting conversations I've had over the last few weeks. I've debated the most important topics: most influential bands, best Bond movies, most influential video games, why I love sports, sense of humor. As I said, the most important topics. Some of them I should probably comment on in this blog, but we'll have to wait and see.
- Finally, just more evidence that God provides. After a rough day in my chemistry lab, I was overwhelmed. I had so much stuff to do and I wasn't really confident after some interesting mishaps in the lab. That was, until I saw a letter on my desk. I never get mail, and it didn't look like spam. So I open it up, and there is a little card signed by my church's youth group back home. Never expected it, but it was what I needed. Even in doubt, God cares and provides.
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