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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Ty's Ten: Final Week Picks

There won't be ten picks, but here is my take on a few championship games this week:

Auburn vs. South Carolina
Auburn managed the biggest comeback in school history Friday with a win in the Iron Bowl over Alabama. South Carolina has played its best football the past month, with the only exception being the meaningless game against Arkansas. I honestly and unbiasedly believe that South Carolina will win this football game. Something tells me that Auburn will finally succum to the law of defense, which has to be met in order to be champion in this league. Just ask Urban Meyer.
South Carolina 38 Auburn 35

Oklahoma vs. Nebraska
Oklahoma, as they have done for the past ten years, again received benefit of the doubt in the polls at the end of the season. This is the second three way tie that the polls have given them a victory in for the past 4 years. Nebraska is back in the Big 12 title game once again, though this will be their last, as they will be in the new Big 10 next year. Bo Pelini gets the win over Stoops and finishes out the Huskers' road in the Big 12 on top.
Nebraska 27 Oklahoma 23

Florida State vs. Virginia Tech
Jimbo Fisher, in his first season as head coach of the Seminoles, destroyed archrivals Florida and Miami by at least 3 touchdowns each. Nice start. Tech, after starting 0-2 against Boise St. and coughcough James Madison coughcough, has realed off 10 straight wins and has not been beaten by a BCS automatic qualifier this season. That changes this Saturday. FSU will return to prominence officially with a trip back to the Orange Bowl after a 5 year drought.
Florida State 21  Virginia Tech 20

My last prediction says that Alabama will end up playing in the Outback Bowl vs. Michigan State or Iowa.

Ty's TV Time

A youtube link to see myself and Rachel on CBS while McElroy is being escorted to the sideline following his concussion. We are wearing camouflage jackets. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT8h_2jG64c

Friday, November 19, 2010

A Game for the Ages

Though the luster for this game is not as bright as it could have been had Alabama beaten LSU, one cannot take away from the fact that this Alabama-Auburn game is HUGE. For the first time in my life time at least (22 years, 23 football seasons), both teams will be ranked in the top ten. # 10 Alabama (9-2,5-2)  will host #2 Auburn (11-0,7-0) at Bryant-Denny Stadium one week from today. As a matter of fact, in exactly one week, we will have the new Iron Bowl champion (though this is not the Iron Bowl any more). Each year, I try to dissect this game objectively, which is hard to do. But here goes.

Position Advantages
Coaching - Alabama, though Auburn is earning its stripes this year
Quarterback - Auburn, though Alabama's QB is undefeated at home and has a national title ring
Running backs - even. Talent wise, Alabama is better, but the scheme for Auburn makes theirs just as effective
Offensive Line - Auburn. Alabama is solid, but there may not be a better line in the country than the veteran group on the Plains
Wide Receivers - Even. same situation as running backs
Defensive Line- Alabama gets the slight edge against the run, but Auburn's pass rush is much, much better
Linebackers -  Alabama
Defensive Backs - Alabama, though both groups are the weakest link of their respective teams. Alabama's are better coached.
Punter - even
Kicker - Auburn. By far. Experience helps here.
Intangibles - This one is interesting. Cam Newton has alot going on right now, at least from a perception standpoint. Alabama is nearly unbeatable at home. Auburn is trying to go undefeated in a season that actually means something for them. It's senior day in Tuscaloosa. I'm not sure who this goes to, but my gut feeling is Alabama has the intangibles advantage.
This one is tough to put my finger on in terms of who wins. Alabama is still waiting to play a complete game this year. Auburn has yet to play a tough road game this year. It's a rivalry game; they say throw the records out the window for games like this, but don't- the records are very much what makes this game this year SPECIAL. The two teams that beat Alabama lost to Auburn by a touchdown in Auburn. This game is going to come down to the fourth quarter, and who's defense can get off the field on third down. If this was in Auburn, I would say this game is easily Auburn's. But its in Tuscaloosa, and Alabama's defense has played much better at home this year.
My prediction is this: If Alabama cold hold Cam to under 150 yards and cause two turnovers, and they don't turn it over more than once, they will win, 34-31. If they are unable to stop Cam on the ground, they will lose, and it won't be pretty, at least to watch. It will in the 24-38 range. Having said this, I think it will be somewhere in between. Look for this game to be in the high 20's to low 30's. I feel like Alabama, on senior day, will find its focus and pull out an epic win over a very good Auburn team.
ALABAMA 34 AUBURN 31

Friday, November 12, 2010

Ty's Ten: Week 11 Picks

Short and sweet this week. I have alot to do:


Georgia @ Auburn 2:30 pm on CBS
Auburn 42 Georgia 31


USC @ Arizona
USC 34  Arizona 37


Oregon @ California
Oregon 55 California 27


Mississippi State @ Alabama 6:15 pm on ESPN2
Alabama 20 MSU 17


South Carolina @ Florida ESPN
Florida 27 South Carolina 21


Ole Miss @ Tennessee 11:00 am on CBS
Tennessee 34 Ole Miss 27


Penn State @ Ohio State
Ohio State 27 Penn State 17


I may come back with 3 more games later.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Peru Trip is All But A Done Deal

    After much prayer and thought about this, Rachel and I have decided that we are going to go to Peru, South America, this summer. It will be a trip of a life time, but it will NOT be a vacation. We are going there for mission work, and there will be many things come our way while we are there that will test our faith, patience, and perseverance. Please pray for us as we begin the application process, that it goes well, and we are able to go. There is no better reward than the gratification received from serving the Lord, and I am ready to feel that at a new level.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

PRAISE REPORT!!!

Melissa Duncan told me today that her grandmother got a good report today. Her cancer is still present, but it HAS NOT spread to her brain, which is what doctors feared was going to happen. Though there is still cancer, it appears that her grandmother has been, so far, spared of it spreading to an area where little to nothing can be done. So praise God, and continue praying for her.

Alabama vs. LSU: Just Another Big Game Between the Two

Let's look at the past 10 years of this rivalry, and what has transpired as a result.

2000 @ LSU: Saban beats Alabama in a thriller. The Tide loses for the 1st time in 25 years in Baton Rouge.
2001 @ ALA: Saban and the Tigers destroy Alabama's defense, setting a Bryant-Denny record for most  
                       offensive yards accumulated by an Alabama opponent.
2002 @ LSU: Alabama dominates from the start, destroys LSU 31-0.
2003 @ ALA: Saban returns the favor, beating the Tide 27-3 and going on to win the BCS title.
2004 @ LSU: The Tide get screwed on a pass interference no-call. The momentum gives LSU a 30-14 win
2005 @ ALA: Bama is 9-0, LSU is 8-1 under new coach Les Miles. Bama loses in overtime, 13-16
2006 @ LSU: This game never really got interesting, even though the score said otherwise. LSU won 28-14
2007 @ ALA: Saban is now coaching Alabama. Tigers get their revenge,winning 41-34 and a BCS title
2008 @ LSU: Saban returns to a furious Baton Rouge. Julio Jones in overtime. Nuff said. Bama won 27-21
2009 @ ALA: Bama wins because of Julio, again, 24-15. They go on to the BCS title and win.
2010 @ LSU: Both teams are 7-1, and both still have a shot at going to the SEC title game. 

In case one hasn't noticed, Nick Saban has been an icon in this rivalry for the past ten years. It will be no different this year, only I don't think the players really care about the whole "Daddy left us for another woman" mentality anymore. LSU's players are Miles' players. All but a few players on Alabama's team are Nick Sabans. The game will come down to this: Who will make the big play when the opportune time arrives, and who wins the turnover battle. I'm betting my right pinky toe that whoever wins the turnover battle wins the game. My pick: Alabama 31  LSU 17.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Prayer List

There are many people in my life that need everyone's prayers, including myself. Here is a list of people that I hope everyone visiting my blog will make time to pray for this week:

Melissa Duncan - my coworker and friend; her Grandmother has cancer and the outlook is not good right now
Meghan Lawlor- my coworker and friend; her friend died of cancer this morning

Betty Myrle Gibbs - my Great Aunt; several health issues

Emily Couch - Rachel's roommate; has been diagnosed with several health issues, including pre-diabetic 

Mission Trip to Peru - Rachel and I are pondering a mission trip to Peru this summer, and have pretty much decided its what we want and need to do. It will be a two month excursion. 





Ty's Ten: Week 10 Picks

I think it is fair to say that my predictions were, for the most part, close. I went a pathetic 6-4 last week, but the ones I did predict correctly were very close. The Georgia game, had they won, would have been that way as well. Without further complaint, I am going to give out my predictions for this week.


Chattanooga @ 2 Auburn
Uhhh...no analysis.
Auburn 65  Chattanooga 3


5 Alabama @ 10 LSU  CBS 2:30 pm
Alabama is poised to get into the BCS National Championship if they can win out. They have as good a defense as the Tigers, and a much better offense. They will take care of business on the Bayou.
Alabama 31  LSU 17


3 TCU @ 5 Utah   ESPN College Gameday 8:00 am
The Utes are good. The Horned Frogs are better.
TCU 34 Utah 23


15 Arizona @ 13 Stanford  ABC 7:00 pm
Cardinal toughness is key in this game. They will win easily.
Stanford 31  Arizona 20


18 Arkansas @ 19 South Carolina ESPN 6:00 pm
This one is tough. It's really a coin flip. Will Carolina look past Arkansas, knowing that the game in Gainesville next week is gonna determine the East champion anyway? Mallet will have a tough time on the road against this Gamecock defense. I will give Spurrier's crew the nod, but not confidently.
South Carolina 28 Arkansas 27


Oklahoma @ Texas A & M  6:00 pm
Kyle Field has not been kind to the Sooners over the years, at least when you consider that OU wins pretty much every where else. The Aggies will pull an upset, though this team is much better than the record shows.
Texas A & M 37   Oklahoma 31


21 Baylor @ 17 Oklahoma State
This one is very interesting. Baylor, yeah, the bears, controls its destiny in the Big 12 South. That's over Oklahoma, Texas, and everyone else. A win over Okie State would go a long way toward the title game, but I don't see it happening. Still, this Baylor team is pretty good. (and Texas is that bad)
Oklahoma State 35  Baylor 27


Hawaii @ 4 Boise State  ESPNU  2:30 pm
Hawaii has the best passing offense in the country, and they will give the Smurf Turf blisters running up and down the field. Unfortunately, their defense will likely stay at home in Hawaii. Kellen Moore will be unstoppable.
Boise State 63 Hawaii 37


Illinois @ Michigan  ESPN 11:00 am
RichRod vs. Ron. Ron has fewer letters, so Ron gets the nod. Michigan just can't beat anybody that actually plays sound football; not that Illinois does. But at least Illinois has some momentum.
Illinois 42  Michigan 31


Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech  Thursday, 6:30 pm ESPN
This game would have meant alot more, had Georgia Tech lived up to expectations and Va Tech not lost their first two games to non-BCS schools. However, Tech has rebounded in dramatic fashion, having won six straight. Make it seven.
Virginia Tech 38  Georgia Tech 17