A SHE SHE / ACC PICKS THAT ARE SURE TO BE AS BAD AS THEIR CONFERENCE

Ok, I'll be honest...I haven't had the time I wish I had to dedicate to the blog over the past week to week and a half. We're moving stuff around at work, odd hours, and we've picked up in business.

It's not an excuse...it's just tough trying to sneak in an hour of putting picks together for your blog and get work done at the same time. Also, it's the ACC...so I can't really get excited to dedicate time, ya know?

With that said, HERE WE GO!

Duke @ FIU - I hate Dook. I mean, this is a pathetic game. You thought last week was bad...gee golly whiz it's going to be hell on earth for anyone watching this game. Over/under on attendance.... 8,293. This may have just as many TV viewers. I'm taking the home team here...simply because you don't have to be good in the ACC...you have to be DOOK GOOD. Pick: FIU

UNC @ ECU - Well, well, well...it looks like Western Carolina got left out of the "get to know your other non-relevant directional schools in NC week". This one will be a squeaker, and it could go either way. ECU has an explosive offense, and UNC on defense..is well...UNC on defense. Pick: ECU

Bethune Cookman @ Miami - This can't be real, can it? Are we being serious? Get your act together ACC and try to play at least someone relevant for out of conference tune ups...but my Lord this is setting a new standard. I'm sure the joke here is "how much did Miami pay these guys"....so I'll leave that to your imagination. Pick: Miami

Clemson @ Virginia Tech - For the love of God and all that is holy...please Virginia Tech, show up and destroy Clemson on Saturday. We all know they are not that good of a team...and you are the last line of defense against a great season for them. Please don't let them have to go through the gauntlet of UNC, NCSU, Dook, Maryland, (insert all other ACC schools here). Pick: Virginia Tech

Georgia Tech @ NC State - So outside of the state fair gearing up in a few weeks, look for this game to provide about the only excitement to the triad area for some time. Georgia Tech looks like they are the kind of team that would win the ACC again and have to give up the title due to NCAA allegations...but we'll just have to see. I'll be upset if the Yellow Jackets don't SWARM all over the Wolfpack. (yea, I went there) Pick: Ga Tech

Idaho @ Virginia - Wow, what do you think the kids getting off their flight at Charlottesville Regional will have to say about this game? It's got to be a vacation, I mean hell...any one will tell you that "Charlottesville is quite lovely in the fall". I don't see this as being an entertaining game at all...and I promise you that some jackass has already tried to tie in a Vandals/Rich People/Not in my neighborhood referance....so I'll just let it slide. By the way... DID YOU SEE WHAT SO MISS DID TO THE HOO'S LAST WEEK? That's right...I called that.
Pick: UVA

Towson @ Maryland - So I'm assuming this was another great team to play that doesn't really count as a road trip. Again, way to go Maryland...let's schedule someone awesome like...TOWSON. Also, way to poop the bed last week against Temple. Normal teams would have crapped themselves, got up, took a shower, and cleaned off. You however....decided to make it a point after defecating to roll around in it like you had flames coming off of you. What a Terrpible (see what I did there) school, what a terrpible conference. Pick: Maryland

Wake Forest @ Boston College: Easily the showcase game of the weekend. The flying high Eagles are coming off of a big win against UMass (don't make fun of the kid eating glue...let them have their moment) to host the Demon Deacons. I don't really care for either one of these teams, but I'll have to give it to the home team. After all, Bahston has to have something to follow this time of the year sports wise. (oooohhhh take that RED SAWKS!) Pick: Bahston College

-Gamblin Boss

Week 5 SEC Picks (Aaaand FIU and Air Force)

(I hate Jack Black, but do you get it anyway??)

Texas A&M vs Arkansas (Irving, TX):  Remember whatever I write here today, cause next year when this is an SEC West game, I’ll just cut and paste this.  I’m still unhappy that A&M will be joining the SEC next year.  Partly because I’m the “old man in the barbershop” as current ESPN great, Scott Van Pelt would say.  But mainly because I just don’t see what they bring to the conference.  They had a phenomenal year last year and still might have a phenomenal year this year.  If that’s the case that would represent the only two years in the last 17 that A&M has really, truly been relevant.  At any rate, most people think this will be an offensive shootout; A&M has NFL caliber players at QB, WO, and RB.  The Hogs have NFL players at QB and WO.  I disagree however, I think A&M’s 3-4 defense is improving under second year DC Tim DeRuyter and I think they will have enough to slow down Arkansas.  The Razorbacks, conversely, still are struggling on defense especially with their starting DE Jake Bequette missing this game.  OUR PICK:  Aggies win

Mississippi St. @ Georgia:  Bulldog on Bulldog crime!  When will the senseless violence end?!?!  One thing comes to mind when I think about Bulldog on Bulldog hatred…Rodney King (move to the :55 mark for Mr. King’s immortal words).  Last week, we went over how ridiculously bland Mississippi State’s opponent nicknames have been.  Well this is the last week.  More to the point, we all knew Georgia wasn’t going to stay down.  They’ve beaten two bad teams (our favorite coach and his Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and Ole Miss/Aunt Kathy) but Mark Richt’s boys have been resilient and will continue the charge this week.  I said it after week two’s Auburn/MSU game; sorry Dan Mullen, I don’t have to pay attention to you for the foreseeable future.  OUR PICK:  Uga/Russ (he’s just an interim Uga apparently) and the bag of ice for his testicles should win.

Herp Derp Nation @ LSU:  Generic nickname game #2!!  Oh god this one is gonna be gross.  Kentucky fans, please stop with the reminders of 2007 when y’all upset LSU while they were #1.  Seriously, you only serve to embarrass yourself in front of everyone.  YOU WILL NOT WIN THIS GAME!  Stop being a fan, and honestly ask yourself why you think you can win?  Is it the fact the game is played in Death Valley?  Yeah that’s an easy place to win.  Cause y’all have a better mascot?  Oh really??  WHAT WOULD THE BOYS FROM THE HANGOVER SAY ABOUT THAT???  Or is it LSU’s defense?  Ya know, the one that has shut down far better offenses than yours multiple times this season.  Personally, I think y’all are in line for the upset because of dominant inside play from DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson.  Those guys are a double-double every night.  Sorry Herp Derps, I’m just tryin to show you the light at the end of the tunnel.  OUR PICK:  Louisiana State

Buffalo @ Tennessee:  Ok, so my upset special of the week last week didn’t come to fruition.  So what?  I went out on a limb for goodness sakes.  I can assure you, though, that Tennessee will not be involved in an upset special of the week for the second straight week.  These are not the 2008 Buffalo Bulls!  (Or maybe it’s 2009…I don’t know.  Whatever that ONE season that Buffalo was good...EVER).  Tennessee has way too many good players, even without the services of WO Justin Hunter, to lose this one at home.  It will be interesting to see how that injury impacts the Vols moving forward.  OUR PICK:  Tennessee

Auburn @ South Carolina:  As former ABC announcing great, Keith Jackson used to say “Whooaaaaa Nelly!”  This could go either way.  Auburn couldn’t do me a favor and beat tOSiSC two weeks ago, so now we all have to hear about how “good” that team is.  I just don’t know what to expect from Auburn.  They seem sneaky don’t they?  I would not be at all surprised if Auburn wins this game.  Highly disappointed, and a terrible person to be around after the game?  Certainly, but I wouldn’t be surprised.  Carolina, I have no idea what’s going on under center.  We have a top 5 QB coach in the history of college football and yet, the best QB we’ve had under him is Blake Mitchell (wow…remember him??).  For all those fans cheering for/hoping for Connor Shaw last week vs Vanderbilt, I simply ask why?  What has he shown that has lead you to believe he can play well?  I know Garcia is about as confusing as a Rubik’s Cube, but at least he has shown he can do some good things.  I’m not confident at all in my pick but I’m going to make it anyway.  OUR PICK:  South Carolina

Alabama @ Florida:  I’m going to the Auburn/South Carolina game, but man do I wish I was gonna be at this one.  I mean if you are a fan of offensive football then you will probably not want to watch this one.  Saban and his “F@#k you, I’m playing two QB cause I want to” system, hasn’t resulted in a dominating offense yet.  Florida is improved but still has holes on offense.  No every down back and no real dominant WO are probably the top two issues.  If you are a defensive football fan however, this will give you a chubby.  NFL caliber players litter both defenses.  Alabama’s secondary is outstanding.  They will be missing LB CJ Moseley but they should be able to overcome.  Florida has a very good defensive front seven, which should make it slightly more difficult for Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy to run wild.  This might be a DVR game, just to watch it on Sunday.  OUR PICK:  Alabama

Aunt Kathy @ Fresno State:  I feel like this is the fifth time in five weeks I have wanted to completely ignore the Aunt Kathy Rebels.  They lost to Vandy and Georgia in back-to-back weeks and now travel all the way to Fresno, CA.  Yeah Houston Nutt’s boys should be fired up over this one.  If anybody can motivate them it’s him right?  I mean he’s done it so much this year.  Hell, fans are starting to threaten physical violence against Nutt, the AD, and the school president unless Houston is fired.  Come on folks, that’s a BIT over the top don’t you think?  That notwithstanding, the chickens are getting restless in Oxford, MS.  The slow bleed to put Houston Nutt out of his misery continues this week.  OUR PICK:  Fresno State, UPSET SPECIAL of the WEEK!!!

Sun Belt Game of the Week Presented by The South Florida High School Sports Show; Dook @ FIU:  Are you shittin me FIU??  We give you love here.  ESPN starts givin you love.  You are in the “Others Receiving Votes” section of the polls for the first time in program history and you go out and drop a home game to Louisiana hyphen???  I don’t care that they are the Fightin Jake Delhomme’s!  I don’t care!  That is assanine!  I like you, I really do, but Jesus tits I can’t do this if you are not going to be committed, ok?  Now I’m sorry I had to go off on you like that, but you hurt me last week.  Don’t do it again.  This is a home game.  Richmond beat Dook.  More importantly though, Dook “has a track around their football field” as the Gamblin Boss said.  Don’t lose this game.  OUR PICK:  FIU, but I swear to you…(insert hand raised like you’re going to backhand slap FIU)

Service Academy Game of the Week Presented by my brother, Capt. Richard Harr (USAF); Air Force @ Navy:  So my brother was deployed again on Monday.  He was lucky enough to get the last eight months off to enjoy his wife, Mikki, and the birth of their son Cohen and (and this is only slightly less important) to see me get married to Mrs. Munnerlyn in June.  They are stationed at Hurlburt Field (that’s tough to say haha) in Pensacola, FL, but for the next two months he will be busy dominating the enemy “elsewhere.”  Due to Air Force regulations, he is not allowed to tell us where he is going.  Kinda bad ass that he can’t tell us, I’m not gonna lie, but it’s mainly sucky.  Oh well, such is life right.  Anyway, he will be the presenting sponsor for the remaining service academy game picks for the duration of his deployment.  Just wanted to give everyone some background so we all understood why his name would be up there each week.  OUR PICK:  Air Force…of course.  -Major Munnerlyn

Braves, Red Sox join Royals, Marlins for Golf this morning

 Let's be honest, as baseball fan, it doesn't get any better than last night.

With four teams dead even after 161 games, the stage was set for some dramatic events. What we witnessed was unscripted, unbelievable, and unexpected.

Let's rewind to September 2. The Red Sox were cruising right along with a NINE game lead in the final month. They could have forfeited a week and still had enough room to win the wildcard. It was literally handed to them. But mind sore after mind sore happened, and they kept finding ways to lose.

The same could be said with the Atlanta Braves, an 8.5 game cushion had David Puder ready to purchase postseason tickets (true story). The month was over, the playoff matchups were set, and we were all ready for the postseason to start. You're supposed to roll over and die. Just like the San Fran Giants.

Except in St. Louis and Tampa. Everyone in America thought "oh it's cute. Look, they feel they have a shot."

Fast forward back to Game 162. It took that many games to set this stage. With four games to watch at once, the news started fast.

The Cardinals put up 5 runs in the first. The Yankees hit a grand slam. The Braves take a two run lead. The Red Sox lead Baltimore in a rain delay (which I wonder how close it was to be called). Yup, seen this all before. We're headed to the proverbial 163.

In three of the four games last night, the potential losing team came within ONE OUT of winning the game. The Yankees had never blown that big a lead that late in a game since the 1950s. The Red Sox had not lost a game all season with a lead entering the ninth inning.

But the unthinkable happened. Tampa kept bombing shots off Yankee relief, Braves bullpen kept being the Braves bullpen, and Robert Andino kept raping the Red Sox.

At 11:45, the Phillies knocked off the Braves in 13 innings to finalize the greatest September collapse in Baseball history. 25 minutes later, Evan Longoria's solo jack broke that record. The last time a walkoff homer to send a team to playoffs? Bobby Thompsons in 1951.

Unbelieveable. The past four seasons, Joe Maddon has a World Series appearance, 2 Division Titles, and last nights Wild Card Championship.

Meanwhile the Red Sox has thrown $340 Million into the pot and wound up with as many playoff games as the Kansas City Royals (no offense Pat).

Even Ricky Henderson Thinks Jose Reyes Is Self-Centered

(That's all me dog!!  All by myself!!!)

So today Jose Reyes might have single handedly redefined the term "self centered athlete."  In case you missed it (and seeing how it was the final regular season game between two teams long eliminated from playoff contention, I'm assuming that's all of you) Jose Reyes pulled himself out of the game...after his first at bat.  He wasn't hurt.  He wasn't retiring like John Kruk (scroll down to the "Chicago White Sox" section and read about by far, the pimpest way an athlete has ever retired).  Oh no, Jose took himself out of what very well might be the final game of his Mets career (he is a free agent...did I mention it was after his first at bat??) because he got a hit in that at bat.  Before the game he asked Terry Collins, the Mets manager, to pull him out if he went 1-1 because he was trying to protect his lead in the race for the NL Batting Crown.

("Ooooooo Jose, even I wouldn't have done that homey!  Well...maybe not.)

You read that correctly.  A guy, who has been the face of a franchise for at least the last five years, and perhaps the last 10, sought out his manager before the game to tell him he wanted to be removed in his final game, after one at bat.  Forget wanting to simply play for the love of the game; we all know that goes out the window when 85% of these guys get to the big leagues.  Forget wanting to play for the money; god forbid a player wants to actually earn his enormous paycheck.  How bout doing it as a way to say thanks to all those Met fans, Jose??  Good stuff bud.  That's ok, the fans can take solace in all those championships you helped them win.  No wait, that's not right.  He is also going to throw himself a party tonight at his house so he can watch Ryan Braun of the Brewers (who is his only competition for the batting title) and see if he will fail.  And frankly, Reyes deserves it doesn't he??  A guy that gives that kind of effort, you really hope good things happen to him.  I'll wrap it up (that's what she said) on this note:  In 1941, Ted Williams played BOTH games of a doubleheader on the final day of the regular season.  Williams was hitting .39955 entering the day, an average that would have been rounded up to .400.  Williams wanted to earn the distinction of hitting .400 and didn't want it handed to him (You hear that Jose?  He wanted to EARN it).  How did Teddy Ballgame do?  He went 6-8, no big deal, don't worry about it.  Finished with a .406 average, the last time a player has hit .400 in a season.

Wait, wait, wait. Guys I got one: Sid...Bream!

(Former Pirate Great)

Many of you out there reading this on the world wide web (or on Prodigy for you fans of 1995) are obviously fans of Sid Bream.  He is the greatest baseball player in the history of Liberty University.  (Ok maybe he isn't but I challenge you to name me any other baseball players from Liberty.  Anyone.  Go ahead, I'll wait.  Thought so).  Following his stellar career for the Flames, hee was a great first baseman for the Dodgers, Pirates, Braves and Astros.  Always known for his raw power (90 career home runs in 11 seasons) and overall athleticism, he also sported one of the better mustaches in league history.  And this was during a time when damn near everyone had a mustache, especially on those early 90's Pirate teams.  Most of you probably knew him from his days as an Atlanta Brave great, and specifically one particular play in Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series.

(Skip to the 2:00 minute mark for classic Bream)

Now, a lot of people like to point out the fact that Barry Bonds (pre-steroids...allegedly) couldn't throw out Sid Freakin' Bream from left field.  I choose to focus on Bream's incredible speed and unmatched baserunning ability.  Watch it again and tell me, with the way he cut third base, it would be a near impossibility to throw "The Flash" out.

(Does this look like a man YOU could throw out from left field??)

Before I get too far off track, I'll get to the real point of this post.  And that is the drinking game, named in Sid's honor, that several of us invented at an IndyCar race in Richmond, VA (stop laughing, the race seemed like a good idea at the time).  Looking for a way to ratchet up the drinking, but in a friendly, non-aggressive manner.  Da U and I began a game we play from time to time, in which one of us picks a baseball team and we go back and forth trying to name as many former players from that team as we can (with the exception of the Marlins; his favorite team, and the Yankees; my favorite team).  In this round we decided to include all members of our IndyCar tailgating party, including the Gamblin' Boss.  The game started out slowly until someone chose the Atlanta Braves as the team.  Well, the floodgates opened and names began to flow like the Mighty Mississippi!  Names like Steve Avery, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz.  Followed by former Atlanta legends, Jeff Blauser, Mark Lemke, and Ron Gant.  Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, the Gamblin' Boss dropped the bomb that is Sid Bream!!  BAM!!  That...just...happened!  Finally, after a few more rounds, GB had to bow out as he said he no longer had any names.  Even more rounds and several more minutes went by, when the following exchange took place:

Me:  Hmmm, Lemme think, gimme a minute.  I'll come up with one.  Ummmm...

GB:  (interrupting) Wait, wait wait, guys I got one; Sid...Bream (insert confidence and arrogant hand gesture)

Me:  Really dude?  He was said like 5 rounds ago.

GB:  Really?

Da U:  Um, yeah he definitely was.  I think you actually said his name.

GB:  Ah shit.  Well then I'm out.

Once the euphoria (or novelty) of our "baseball name game" had worn off.  We decided to play odds and evens.  As I said, we had no cards, or dice, and didn't want to just drink the beer.  We came up with the following rules:

1)  Take turns who calls out "odd" or "even" before each turn (we suggest rotating around the circle) we will call him "The Dealer."

2)  Everyone throws out 0-5 fingers after counting "1, 2, 3, shoot"

3)  Add up everyone's fingers and if the number is odd and the dealer called odd, all other participants drink.  If the number is odd and the dealer called even, then the dealer must drink.  And vice versa.

Here's where the magic and awesomeness of Sid Bream comes into play

4)  If the number ends in a '0' and the dealer called even, all participants must FINISH their drinks.  If the number ends in a 5, and the dealer called even, he must finish his drink.  And, of course, vice versa.

Example:  Dealer calls even.  Players' fingers are 1, 2, 4, 3.  Add them up, it =10.  Therefore, all participants must finish their beer because the dealer called even, and the total ended in 0.

It's a great game to play whenever you are bored, or you are looking for a way to take you're drinking up a notch, but don't have any necessary materials.  

Now we were left to figure out a name for our game.  We couldn't think of anything.  And then like a brick falling from the sky, it struck us all at once.  We had a name...