Blog Poll Roundtable

I'm like the last person to join the discussion over on ParadigmBlog, but EDBS was late too - so I can't be too bad.

1. We are now 1/3 of the way through the season and things are starting to shake out. With that in mind, who are your picks to win each of the BCS conferences, as well as your choice for an at-large berth from a non-BCS league (none is an option)?

ACC - Florida State. I'm just not sold on VT's offense at all, their inability to run the football scares me. F$U can't throw, but at least they can run - and they've already toppled Miami and BC, there isn't much left for them between now and Jacksonville. VT should make the championship game, but I think F$U wins in a brutal 9-7 game with 2 defensive TD's and a safety.

Big XII - Texas. Everyone else in the Big XII is horrible, and nobody from the Big XII North should even be allowed to go to a bowl. When Kansas State has one of the tougher schedules in your division because they played on the road against a truly awful Marshall team, it's a sad, sad world.

Big 11 - Yoikes. Purdue isn't very good, but they got an easy road left. I don't trust Michigan State or Minnesota to not melt down. Ohio State or Wisconsin wins this thing, and I have no idea which one.

Big East - Worse than the Big XII, so I'll go out on a limb - UCONN wins it. It's not like they're worse than anyone else in that conference, and they had a nice little football team last year. If not this year, they are going to win that conference soon.

SEC - Tennessee would be the favorite here if Phat Phil had gone with Clausen one game earlier. I still think they are, just too good on both lines and with Riggs - but it means Florida has to lose twice ... it can happen.

Pac 10 - USC

At Large - Notre Dame. Unless they lose 4 games, they will be in. Even with 3 losses, I can't see them being left out. Let the Irish lovefest begin again. UTEP is a nice team, but they got no prayer against the money machine that is ND.


2. What team currently out of the Top 10 (AP or Coach's, doesn't really matter), has the best chance of ending up in the title game?

'bama is getting way too much love here. It's UCLA - who has a legit shot to go undefeated before the game against USC - if they win that, it's Rose Bowl for them and a crazy season in LA. Wonder how fast those crimson t-shirts are replaced with blue and gold if it happens, it'll be fun to watch. (Not going to happen though).


3. When you're watching a game, what type of fan can you absolutely not tolerate being around?

The fan who knows better than the coach, and disagrees with every play called, every player recruited and every step the administration takes. He always loves the previous coach more, even though he said the same thing about him before he left and became some glorious memory. And yes, I think this describes 75% of the internet GT fanbase. I disagree with directions the program takes at time, but I don't think Gailey is Elmer Fudd, he's not stupid and he's frankly not doing that bad of a job - but every game and every message board is filled with ranting about it. Guess what? Only 1 team can win a national championship each year. That means 116 teams lose. Get used to it.

Bonus: A sizable portion of Michigan fandom is in full meltdown mode (myself especially). Some have chosen to sequester themselves for this weekend's game against MSU to avoid scaring children, causing long-term psychological damage to those in the near vicinity, and most especially to avoid jail (I'm not saying this is me per se). Anyways, we need some help. Give us some ideas for replacements for LLLyd Carr (3 L's for the number of losses per year, and no O this year either). Assistant coaches, head coaches elsewhere, etc. Please, give us something to look forward to.

You've won a handful of Big 11 titles in the past decade and a national championship, and you wan't something to look forward too? Stop your whining and take your 7-4 season like a man, it happens to even the best of them every once in a while.