Lucky 13 brings us to the final three games. And you thought there was just tonight’s Orange and Thursday’s BCS match-up. Nope. Do not forget about tomorrow’s all important GMAC Bowl, but I digress because it is time to Hook ’em!
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: #10 Ohio St. (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. #3 Texas (11-1, 7-1 Big 12). Even if the Buckeyes did not have a recent history of … cough, cough … poor play in Bowl games, would you take them and 7.5? Heck no! Texas is the pick!
Record to date: 17-11.
I may start this as a semi-regular feature. All observations are from my backyard, unless otherwise noted.
So why take up bird watching? It was sort of an accident. I have always had feeders, and of course have enjoyed the birds that frequent the yard. Then of course came the squirrels … err tree rats. Adult airguns in form of a Beeman R7, Beeman R1, and Beeman R1 Carbine quickly followed.
As I have gotten more into the airgun hobby it was natural to stumble across sites, forums, and blogs that discuss defending cavity nesting birds from such non native species as European Starlings. Sparrows are also a favorite pest species to “remove” from one’s property. Ah, but which sparrows? One sparrow looks like another until you take the time to properly identify your intended target. As I said, one accident (misidentification) sort of led me into this potential new hobby.
It should also be noted that according to the 2008-2009 Georgia Hunting Regulations:
COYOTES, ARMADILLOS, GROUNDHOGS, BEAVERS, STARLINGS, PIGEONS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season. No limit.
Now onto my observations …
Today (01-04-09)
Cardinal (male)
Carolina Wren
English Sparrow (male)
House Sparrow (male and female)
Mockingbird
Mourning Dove
White-throated Sparrow
*Unidentified: Mostly drab grey (maybe olive green), with yellow tip tail feathers. Medium sized ~8-9″ long; 3-5 in a group.
*Unidentified: Mostly drab grey; maybe slightly blue-ish tint. Small sized ~5-6″ long. Eating berries in the palm tree?
01-03-09
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Cardinal (male and female)
House Finch (male)
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse
White-throated Sparrow
*Unidentified: Canada Goose? Flying overhead in “v-shaped” formation (~25 birds).
01-02-09
Brown Thrasher
Carolina Wren
Cardinal (male and female)
English Sparrow (male)
House Sparrow (male)
Mourning Dove
01-01-09
Brown Thrasher
Carolina Wren
Cardinal (male and female)
English Sparrow (male)
House Sparrow (male)
House Finch (male)
Mourning Dove
Pileated Woodpecker
White-throated Sparrow
Or the Go Falcons! Edition. How can I be so right, yet so wrong? The Red Raiders proved that they were not so hot, getting handily corralled at the hands of the Rebels from Oxford. Kentucky showed me that I should not pick against the SEC, and that they where not in the same piss poor category as the Fighting Chickens. Finally, WTF happened to the Elephants? Seriously, I thought they would win, but I did not like the point spread. Did anyone really think they would lay down for Utah? The end result was a 2-1 day.
I am surprised that we are going Bowling today since today is all about the Falcons and the NFL playoffs, but duty calls, so I am obligated to make a selection.
International Bowl: Buffalo (8-5, 5-3 MAC) vs. Connecticut (7-5, 3-4 Big East). Not sure if they get any harder to pick or watch than this one. I am going to go with the points and take Buffalo with the 6.5, but I am not sure why anyone is bothering to play this game.
Record to date: 16-11.
Yesterday was a solid 3-2 day with a healthy serving of Bulldogs and another Big Ten whipping. Today we get three more games …
Cotton Bowl: #25 Mississippi (8-4, 5-3 SEC) vs. #7 Texas Tech (11-1, 7-1 Big 12). Ole Miss is getting 4.5, and this is the game where Texas really goes “WTF happened?” The Red Raiders will leave no doubt that the Oklahoma drubbing was no fluke.
Autozone Liberty Bowl: Kentucky (6-6, 2-6 SEC) vs. East Carolina (9-4, 6-2 C-USA). If I thought the Fighting Chickens were a piss poor representation of the SEC, I am not sure what the kitty cats are doing in this game. They are getting 2.5, and it pains me to pick against them, but the Rum Runners are the pick. Still going to pull for a Kentucky upset.
Allstate Sugar Bowl: #6 Utah (12-0, 8-0 MWC) vs. #4 Alabama (12-1, 8-0 SEC). I think the Tide will win, just not by 9. So in the spirit of picking against the spread, Utah is the pick.
I have a feeling that I may be going 0-3 today, but who cares? The Bulldogs won yesterday, so all is right with the world.
Record to date: 14-10.
Or the Happy New Year Edition! Yesterday was a banner day, as I got 3 out of 4 picks correct, moving me back over .500 for the first time in a while. Thanks to Houston for covering, Oregon St. squeaking by in a (good grief) 3-0 game, and congratulations to Vanderbilt for winning a bowl game for the first time in pretty much forever. The one game I lost, begrudgingly taking the Bumble Bees over the LSU Tigers, restored my faith in the SEC. Thanks to the Tigers for beating the shit out of Tech!
Today gives us a tasty serving of games to go with black-eye peas, thick chops on the grill, and a bunch of cold ones. Let’s get down to business!
Outback Bowl: South Carolina (7-5, 4-4 SEC) vs. Iowa (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten). Are you kidding? Hawkeyes are favored by 3.5 over one of the more piss poor SEC teams to land a Bowl game? Iowa is not Georgia Tech, so don’t expect me to go on a run against SEC teams. The Fighting Chickens are the pick.
Gator Bowl: Nebraska (8-4, 5-3 Big 12) vs. Clemson (7-5, 4-4 ACC). I am sorry but Big 12/ACC match-ups are just not very compelling. The ACC sucks (see Georgia Tech last night in Bowl formally known as The Peach Bowl), but Nebraska is luck to get out of the cold and visit the Sunshine State. The Tigers are laying 2.5 to the Corn Huskers (WTF kind of nickname is that?). I cannot stand Clemson, but those farm boys from Nebraska are not ready for the tobacco road boys from Carolina. Oh this pains me to do this, but Clemson is the pick.
The Rose Bowl: #8 Penn St (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. #5 USC (11-1, 8-1 Pac-10). This is where everyone comes back to earth and realizes that the Big Ten really does suck. No one except the media cares for this outdated brand of football. USC will completely embarrass Penn St., and the 8.5 points the Nittany Lions are getting will not be enough. Besides, how can you pick against great looking cheerleaders in tight fitting sweaters? Mmmm … yum.
FedEx Orange Bowl:#12 Cincinnati (11-2, 6-1 Big East) vs. #19 Virginia Tech (9-4, 5-3 ACC). The last Bowl game of the day happens to be the worst offering. Hopefully I will be inebriated by the time this one rolls around. Who came up with the bight idea of letting the Big East into a big boy game? How did a 4 loss ACC team even manage to land a big pay day? Since I have to pick someone, I am going to take the points (2) and the Hokies because everyone wants to hear Vick references all night. Not really, but most of these announcers are just too damn predictible. Seriously, this is Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech. What else are they going to talk about?
Capital One Bowl: #15 Georgia (9-3, 6-2 SEC) vs. #18 Michigan St (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten). I am not sure why anyone thinks that the Spartans can hang with the Bulldogs. Obviously Vegas does not because the Dawgs are laying 7.5. Funny thing about this one is that the snow birds are happy to be in this Bowl (probably any Bowl), while Georgia is bitterly disappointed because they had National Title inspirations at the beginning of the year. Alas, injuries and poor defensive play made being #1 a mere wet dream. Still, the Dawgs will rebound, much in the same way that LSU kicked the snot out of Georgia Tech (man that was beautiful). Go Dawgs!
Happy New Year!
Record to date: 11-9.
We will talk more about the Falcons/Cardinals game as we pull closer to Saturday. Before we get to that point, back in August did anyone figure that Atlanta would be included in Super Bowl XLIII discussions?
If history is any indicator, Arizona almost certainly will bow out of the postseason in a hurry, and the odds are very long for either the Vikings or the Chargers to win it all. It also says Carolina, Atlanta, the Giants, Philadelphia, Miami, Tennessee or Indianapolis most likely will end up hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.
In other Falcons news, Matt Ryan ran away with the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, landing 44 out of 50 possible first place votes. Ryan has had a remarkable year, but of late, has not played all that remarkable.
Go Falcons!
Yesterday was another .500 day. Hopefully today I can finally push back forward. Most of today’s games, with the exception of the Sun Bowl (who wants to watch Pac-10/Big East crap) are fairly entertaining. Should be a fun day of football, boozing, and hopefully a chance to get laid to bring in the New Year!
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: Houston (7-5, 6-2 C-USA) vs. Air Force (8-4, 5-3 MWC). The Cougars are favored by 3.5, but I love watching the Falcons run the option. I think I want Air Force to win, but I am going to go with Houston.
Sun Bowl: Oregon St (8-4, 7-2 Pac-10) vs. #20 Pittsburgh (9-3, 5-2 Big East). Yuck! The Beavers are favored by 2, but the Panthers are actually the ranked team. Go figure. Big East football sucks eggs, so Oregon St. is the pick.
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: #24 Boston College (9-4, 5-3 ACC) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6, 4-4 SEC). I think I was 12 the last time the Commodores made a Bowl trip, and I am pretty sure my dad was 12 the last time they actually won a Bowl game. How can you not pull for Vanderbilt? They get 3.5 in this one, so go Commodores!
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: LSU (7-5, 3-5 SEC) vs. #14 Georgia Tech (9-3, 5-3 ACC). This one is tough. As a UGA fan I cannot stand the Bumble Bees; they are giving up 4 to the Tigers. How can I go with an ACC team over the SEC? The Tigers do not want to make the trip to ATL, and the Ramblin Wreck is just happy to finally make some progress. I hate doing this, but the Yellow Jackets are the pick.
In continued protest of Charter and the NFL Network not playing nice, I am going to take the Insight Bowl off the board, but I am pulling for Kansas (7-5, 4-4 Big 12) to beat the snot out of Minnesota (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten). Not because I think Kansas is all that, but because I have an absolute dislike for Big Ten football.
Record to date: 8-8.
Yesterday I went .500. North Carolina St. kept Rutgers out of the endzone in the closing minutes, and while Missouri got the win, they did not cover. So today we get another helping of three games, but two of the three are some what interesting match-ups. Too bad I do not have the NFL Network; no Texas Bowl for me.
Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland (7-5, 4-4 ACC) vs. Nevada (7-5, 5-3 WAC). They should have just called this one the “We want some teams to play on the blue field bowl.” OK, not very clever, but neither is the match-up. As much as the ACC sucks, I cannot believe that a WAC team is giving up 1.5 points. I am taking the turtles and the points.
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: #13 Oklahoma St (9-3, 5-3 Big 12) vs. #17 Oregon (9-3, 7-2 Pac-10). This one is interesting to me because next year Georgia opens up on the road against the Cowboys. The pokes are giving up 2.5, but I expect them to win by 9. Should be an entertaining game.
In protest of Charter and the NFL Network not playing nice, I am going to take the Texas Bowl off the board, but I am pulling for Rice (9-3, 7-1 C-USA) to beat Western Michigan (9-3, 6-2 MAC)
Record to date: 7-7.
Another day, two more games. At least the night game is somewhat interesting.
Papajohns.com Bowl: North Carolina St (6-6, 4-4 ACC) vs. Rutgers (7-5, 5-2 Big East). I doubt I will match much of this one. I mean, what is the point? A Big East vs. ACC pairing is just not very inspiring, especially when it is so beautiful outside. I am going to take the Wolfpack and the points (6.5).
Valero Alamo Bowl:
#21 Missouri (9-4, 5-3 Big 12) vs. #23 Northwestern (9-3, 5-3 Big Ten). I think the Tigers will win, but 12.5 points is a lot to give up to the Wildcats. I say the Big Ten sucks, so I am going to stick with the Tigers in a ran away victory.
Record to date: 6-6.
Off to the game in a few minutes, and keeping my fingers crossed for a Falcons victory, a Carolina loss at the hands of the hated Saints, and a home playoff game.
It should be fun scoreboard watching, but I am a little worried about the Falcons own game. Not because the Rams are any good; they are not, they suck. Atlanta is favored by 14.5, so this is a game they should not only win, but they should win big. Hope all the playoff excitement does not go to their heads.
New Orleans plays host to Carolina today; Panthers are favored by three. I can only hope that New Orleans wants to crash the Panthers playoff party, and Brees goes after Marino’s single season passing yards record. The Saints have nothing to play for, so I do not see them winning, but one can hope.
Not planning to tailgate today; looks to be poor weather in Atlanta with rain and thunderstorms ruling the day. The boys are excited because they get to wear their new Ryan and Norwood jerseys. Should be a good time, except for the $7 beer.
Happy Sunday!
Ouch. Scored a skunk yesterday, going 0-3, which is further proof (as if I needed any) that I do not need to wager anything on college football games.
Today we get the Independence Bowl: Northern Illinois (6-6, 5-3 MAC) vs. Louisiana Tech (7-5, 5-3 WAC). Is anyone actually going to watch this against the Denver/San Diego game in the same time slot? That is what I thought, but I said I would pick ’em, so I am taking one for the team. The Huskies are giving up 1 to the Bulldogs, so I am going to take the point and go with the underdog. Why not?
Record to date: 5-6.
Owls, Chippewas … who really gives a rat’s ass? So the Chppewas did not cover and lost the game to boot, which takes me to 5-3. There is always today’s not so delicious serving of bowl games. The agony! These games suck!
Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virginia (8-4, 5-2 Big East) vs. North Carolina (8-4, 4-4 ACC). Who do you pick if you think the Big East sucks on the same level as the ACC? I am going with the Tar Heels and the 1.5 they are getting from the Mountaineers.
Champs Sports Bowl: Wisconsin (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten) vs. Florida St (8-4, 5-3 ACC). Would you believe the payout for this one is $2.125 million? Of the three games today, this one may be the most interesting match-up, but I do not care much for the Big Ten, and well, the ACC sucks. I do not like the line at all; Seminoles are giving up 5.5 to the Badgers. I think the Seminoles win by 3, but fail to cover, so begrudgingly Wisconsin is the pick.
Emerald Bowl: Miami (FL) (7-5, 4-4 ACC) vs. California (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10). Another post Christmas suckfest. I am going to go with California, even if they are laying 8 to Miami.
Notre Dame helped me right the ship and recover from a two game skid. My record against the spread is now 5-2, but today we have a stinker of a game to pick.
Motor City Bowl: Florida Atlantic (6-6, 4-3 S. Belt) vs. Central Michigan (8-4, 6-2 MAC). The Chippewas are favored by 7 and I am really struggling with this one. I think they will win, but giving up 7 is a lot. Their 4 losses were to good teams: at Georgia (#2 at the time), at Purdue, Ball State (#17 at the time), and Eastern Michigan. The Owls dropped 3 of their 6 games in the Sun Belt. Not so good. Holding my nose … Central Michigan is the pick.
Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas. Santa was pretty good from me, bringing me a smorgasbord of goodies. Everything from some airgun accessories (targets, pellets, and a Straight Shooters Gift Certificate), the Hardball Times 2009 Annual, a Texas Longhorns Sweatshirt, and 2009 Falcons season tickets. Heck, Santa even left a case of Yuengling. Does it get any better?
Merry Christmas!
Not sure if I can say it any better than Linus Van Pelt …
Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
Linus Van Pelt: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'”
Linus Van Pelt: That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
And there you have it. Merry Christmas!