Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Week That Will Be (09.05.09)

Last Week: 0-0 ATS 0-0 SU
For the Year: -- (.) (-$) ATS - (.) SU


All the dreams, all the hopes for the national championship come down to this play…Young from the Shotgun….back to throw, Vince looks, under pressure, he’ll tuck it and RUN….Vince to the FIVE….Young….TOUCHDOWN TEXAS!! TOUCHDOWN VINCE YOUNG!! He’s done it again! Vince Young has given the Longhorns the lead with 19 seconds to play in the game.

The longest 19 seconds of my life.

It’s hard to believe that that fateful night was now three and a half years ago, but it was. But I still remember driving around that night, unable to sleep because I didn’t ever want that night to end, and thinking to myself, “There is no way that the next one could be as special. We can never have that moment again.”

I’m here to tell you, I was dead wrong that night.

I’m as hungry as ever to tell the nation that they were wrong about our Longhorns. Again.

I don’t have to remind you of the events of last year, beating Oklahoma in Dallas and thinking that destiny was ours, only to lose on a last second play in Lubbock and then have the dominoes fall to knock Texas out of the Big 12 Championship Game and then the National Championship game in Miami. And of course we all knew that Oklahoma was going to lose to Florida, which they did, and Texas fans were left to wonder, what if?

Well, fast forward 8 months and now the Longhorns have their shot at getting what they think was theirs. They can not only win their fifth national championship, but can show the nation that perhaps they had it wrong in 2008, as well.

And, just like in 2005, they are a prohibitive favorite to make it to the championship game. Heisman Trophy candidate Colt McCoy (his start against Louisiana Monroe will be his 40th as a Longhorn) is back to lead the offense, as are 4 of the 5 offensive linemen. Quan Cosby is gone, but there is more than enough talent at wide receiver to make up for it, with Jordan Shipley, James Kirkendoll, Brandon Collins, Malcolm Williams, Dan Buckner and QB turned WR John Chiles at Greg Davis’s disposal. The Longhorns will once again take the running back by committee approach this season, with Vondrell McGee, Cody Johnson, Fozzy Whitaker and Tre Newton all seeing significant playing time.

On defense, Texas must replace NFL first-round draft pick DE Brian Orakpo and third-round pick DT Roy Miller, but there is raw talent there to reload. Returning starters Sergio Kindle and Lamarr Houston will be asked to anchor a defensive line where Sam Acho, Alex Okafor, Eddie Jones and Kheeston Randall will also get significant playing time.

Jared Norton and Roddrick Muckelroy return at linebacker, looking to bolster a defense that at times was soft against the run last season.
But the most promise in the defense lies with the secondary, where a lot of guys had to learn on the job last season and hope to benefit from that experience this year. Aaron Williams could very well be the next great defensive back at the University, while Chykie Brown is more than capable of holding his own on the other side. Earl Thomas has been named by Coach Muschamp by name plenty of times this training camp (which if you know Muschamp is a high honor), and is said to have had the best camp of any player on that side of the ball.

But it won’t be easy. Although there are no Ohio States on the schedule this year, the Longhorns still must navigate a Big 12 schedule that tripped them up last year. Road games at Oklahoma State and Missouri could be tough, and although they get Texas Tech at home, they will be led by senior quarterback Taylor Potts.

And of course there is always Oklahoma. Which is in 45 days. Not that I’m counting.

In 2005, the Longhorns were told by a certain actor alumnus to “Get your goal, go on to Pasadena and live the dream.” The Longhorns adopted “Live The Dream” as a late season motto.

This year, it isn’t a dream. It is an expectation.

And I want Florida. And Tebow. Hell give him the Heisman again.

The season of redemption starts on Saturday at 6:00 PM.

Get your Horns up.

FACEBOOK STATUS MESSAGES

T Boone Pickens is rethinking that hundy thou he put on the Pokes in Vegas…
Pete Carroll is thinking hell, the Cardinals aren’t using Matt Leinart, can we have him back???
The Michigan Football Team wants their mommy.
Sam Bradford is wondering why that big guy I threw passes to is now snapping the ball to me.
Houston Nutt is wondering just how in the hell I’ll screw this up this time.
Tim Tebow has saved a baby from a burning building, walked an old lady across the street, performed heart surgery and hasn’t had sex. What’s for lunch?
Lou Holtz is going with Beano Cook to the nursing home and mumbling incoherent phrases, who is with me?

On to the games...

LSU -17.5 @ Washington:

Washington figures to be better this year with new coach Steve Sarkisian and QB Jake Locker back under center, but it is going to take some time, and LSU isn’t an opponent to get healthy against. LSU is looking to rebound from a disappointing year themselves, and will have no trouble with the Huskies in the great Northwest.

LSU 45 Washington 14
ATS – LSU
SU – LSU

Miami @ Florida State -6:

What was once a classic is now a game where both teams are trying to regain national respect. This one likely comes down to which quarterback can perform the best, Miami’s Jacory Harris or Florida State’s Christian Ponder? Ponder is the more seasoned choice, but like a lot of Miami/FSU games this decade, expect a low scoring, sleep inducing game.

Florida State 17 Miami 13
ATS – Miami
SU – Florida State

Virginia Tech v. Alabama -6.5:

Speaking of sleep inducing games, this one could also be a game where only amateur gamblers bet on the over. Bama will have the home crowd, but Tyrod Taylor is 13-2 as a starter and one of those games was a loss at FSU where he left the game in the first quarter. I see Alabama winning, but VT keeping it close.

Alabama 16 Virginia Tech 13
ATS – Virginia Tech
SU – Alabama

Missouri v. Illinois -6.5:

Nobody really knows that to think of Missouri right now. They lost Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman. Replacing Daniel is sophomore Blaine Gabbert, who has a nice pedigree, but is raw. Illinois returns QB Juice Williams and WR Arrelious Benn.
Illinois has yet to win a game in this series in St. Louis, but this will be the year.

Illinois 45 Missouri 27
ATS – Illinois
SU – Illinois

BYU v. Oklahoma -22.5:

I could see this game going two ways. I see OU blowing out BYU, or I see BYU outright winning. So which is more likely? Probably OU blowing them out.

Demarco Murray is out with his annual injury, but the Sooners have plenty of offensive weapons to exploit the weaknesses on BYU’s defense. Bobby usually has his teams ready to go in September, and I don’t see this one being any different.

Oklahoma 48 BYU 24
ATS – Oklahoma
SU – Oklahoma

Louisiana Monroe @ Texas -41:

This week you had the annual Mack Brown talking up the opening opponent speech, and Louisiana Monroe might even be improved this year from their 4-8 record of a year ago, but from all accounts, the Longhorns have been hitting on all cylinders all camp, and are ready to get the season underway.

They aren’t going to take this one lightly.

Texas 52 Louisiana Monroe 3
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas

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