Closing the Book

Welcome to the time of the year that every Kentucky basketball fan dreads. Yes, it's the time of the year where March Madness turns into March Sadness. It's been nearly 24 hours since the roller coaster game that is sure to haunt many fans for the rest of eternity. Today, let's celebrate a memorable season, and begin to look ahead to the next. 

At the beginning of the season, it was nearly a sure thing that the Wildcats were poised to be there at the end. The only other sure bet was Duke (HaHa!). Aside from close losses to UCLA and Louisville, Kentucky looked like a dominant team that could very well win it all. 

Then, the late-January skid happened. Losing three out of four that late in the year is usually a death sentence for any team. A 26-point loss to Florida was the breaking point for many fans when they began to write off the team and look ahead to the 2017-18 campaign. Following the stretch, they struggled initially. They would find their groove again and avenge losses to both Tennessee and Florida. The Cats ran off 11 straight wins and sealed up both the SEC regular season and tournament titles. 

Kentucky came into the tournament playing some of their best ball of the season. They were one of the hottest teams in the country before they sizzled out in the Elite Eight on Sunday. In a game that had the back-and-forth action and atmosphere of a National Championship game, Kentucky ended up on the short end of another remarkable late game shot that decided the game. This being the most recent incident, it is bound to sting for quite a while. 

If you are like me, the NCAA Tournament ended last night. I find myself far less interested each year after Kentucky makes it's exit. Today, for the Cats, is the start of a new season. The 2017-18 season has tipped off as we prepare for our next run. In the coming days and weeks, we are going to get you ready for next year. We are done looking back. Go Big Blue. 

-Dug

@chansm1th

Antonio Brown Is Being Robbed And Will Not Remember It

Antonio Brown is without question a top 2 receiver in the NFL and the league has been more pass heavy than ever. Yet he isn't even cracking 15 million/year. The NFL is easily the most violent professional sport, unless you're LeBron running on a fast break and run into a really mean Draymond. Running across the middle is child's play. Antonio Brown makes 15 million/ year while only having to deal with linebackers trying to eat his soul. 

Reggie Jackson makes 16 million/year and is mediocre at best when compared to other NBA players. This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen. If I'm an NFL player, I'm super pissed at our CBA and I'm going to lose my mind. The most vicious sport that has the shortest lifespan and they aren't making the money that basketball players or baseball players are. 

Professional football is the most watched sport, followed by baseball. Waaaaaaaaay down the list, you'll find the NBA (just behind NASCAR). It's bonkers that these salaries are able to happen. Yes, they make a ton of money and they make more in a year than I ever will in my life. I have come to terms with this, so please stop reminding me. But I'll be able to count to 5 when/if I make it to age 50, so I've got that going for me. These NFL deals coming through never cease to amaze me at the difference in them and NBA ones, but I only see the gap getting bigger in the years to come. We'll see how it goes though. Just remember Antonio, I had your back. Feel free to hook a brother up with some of that signing bonus.

All my love,

@corbeech

Smith Bros Pick Panel: Week

Rough week for our "experts" as we combined to go 38-32. Not good, not good at all. This week, we strive to do better for you, our readers. 10 games shall we pick from the ESPN College Pick 'Em. You think you're better than us? Comment below your ten picks, and you might just gain that "expert" status with us. Let's look at the overall standings.

Standings through Week 2 (Week 2):

1. Trey 15-5 (7-3)

2. Pop 13-7 (4-6)

T-3. Alty 12-8 (6-4)

Estep 12-8 (6-4)

T-5. Jarred 11-9 (6-4)

Dug 11-9 (5-5)

Dead Last. Corbeech 9-11 (4-6)

Like I said, not a good week

Florida State vs Louisville

Florida State: Corbeech, Dug, Jarred, and Alty

Louisville: Trey, Estep, and Pop

Miami vs Appalachian State

Miami: Dug, Alty, Corbeech, Jarred, and Pop

Appalachian State: Trey and Estep

Oregon vs Nebraska

Oregon: Pop, Alty, Coreech, Jarred, and Trey

Nebraska: Dug and Estep

Alabama vs Mississippi

Alabama: Everyone

Mississippi: No One

Pitt vs Oklahoma State

Pitt: Corbeech, Estep, Jarred, and Trey
Oklahoma State: Pop, Alty, and Dug


Texas A&M vs Auburn

Texas A&M: Everyone
Auburn: No One


Michigan State vs Notre Dame

Michigan State: Trey
Notre Dame: Corbeech, Pop, Jarred, Alty, Estep, and Dug


Ohio State vs Oklahoma

Ohio State: Pop, Corbeech, Estep, Jarred, and Trey
Oklahoma: Alty and Dug


Southern Cal vs Stanford

Southern Cal: Alty
Stanford: Trey, Pop, Estep, Corbeech, Jarred, and Dug


UCLA vs BYU

UCLA: Dug, Alty, Pop, Corbeech, Jarred, and Estep
BYU: Trey

College Football Week 3

Week 3! It is the time of season where we begin to see some separtation at the top and weed out the pretenders from the contenders. This week, we have the complete opposite slate that we did a week ago. We have top teams playing this week; something that we didn't see at all last time around. Here are three games to watch, and also our picks for the other games.

1.) Heisman Candidates Clash

At noon, we will be treated to a game that might decide the ACC race as Florida State travels north to take on the Fighting Lamar Jacksons. It will be a faceoff between two of the top three players in the conference featuring Jackson of Louisville and Dalvin Cook from Florida State. While the Seminoles have knocked off Mississippi and FCS Charleston Southern, the Cardinals have essentially had a cake walk with the likes of Charlotte and Syracuse. Lamar Jackson is putting up unheard of numbers. Can he keep it up as the Cardinals face their first real test?

Florida State 28, Louisville 24

2.) Will Lightning Strike Thrice?

If Nick Saban has lost to a team in back-to-back years, I haven't seen it. But a team to beat him three straight? That is unheard of! The last two meetings have each been decided by six points each with Ole Miss coming out on top. When the two teams face off tonight, it will be in Oxford where the Rebels have not lost hosting a ranked team since Auburn came in ranked 3rd in 2014. Alabama looks to hold onto their top ranking and control of the SEC West. Mississippi hasn't won a conference championship since 1963. Since that year, Alabama has won 19. It's obvious where the SEC runs through, and the Tide will run through Ole Miss tonight as they exact their revenge.

Alabama 38, Mississippi 21

3.) Second Best, or Last Chance?

Tonight in Norman, Ohio State travels to Oklahoma as two of the nation's best teams will face off. Both sides stand to benefit from a win that could shape the playoff race. If the Buckeyes pick up the win on the road, they might be stealing some first place votes from Alabama. If Oklahoma can pull it off, they will be right back in the talk for the playoff. Oklahoma stands to benefit the most. A loss here would all but assure that they will be missing out on the playoff. 

 Oklahoma 31, Ohio State 28

Other Games

TCU over Iowa State

Tennessee over Ohio

New Mexico over Rutgers

Marshall over Akron

Bowling Green over MTSU

Clemson over South Carolina State

Temple over Penn State

Memphis over Kansas

Iowa over North Dakota State

Wisconsin over Georgia State

Miami over Appalachian State

Georgia Tech over Vanderbilt

Connecticut over Virginia

Washington State over Idaho

Tulsa over North Carolina A&T

Kansas State over Florida Atlantic

Toledo over Fresno State

Central Michigan over UNLV

Ball State over Eastern Kentucky

UMass over Florida International

Michigan over Colorado

Nebraska over Oregon

San Diego State over Northern Illinois

Kent State over Monmouth

Western Kentucky over Miami (OH)

Virginia Tech over Boston College

North Carolina over James Madison

Oklahoma State over Pitt

South Florida over Syracuse

Kentucky over New Mexico State

East Carolina over South Carolina

Colorado State over Northern Colorado

Wyoming over UC Davis

Western Michigan over Illinois

Oregon State over Idaho State

Eastern Michigan over Charlotte

North Carolina State over Old Dominion

Georgia Southern over Louisiana-Monroe

Wake Forest over Delaware

Army over UTEP

Texas A&M over Auburn

LSU over Mississippi State

Texas Tech over Louisiana Tech

Southern Mississippi over Troy

Maryland over Central Florida

Navy over Tulane

SMU over Liberty

South Alabama over Louisiana-Lafayette

Notre Dame over Michigan State

Arkansas over Texas State

Florida over North Texas

Georgia over Missouri

Stanford over Southern Cal

Washington over Portland State

Duke over Northwestern

Nevada over Buffalo

UCLA over BYU

Utah over San Jose State

Texas over Cal

Arizona over Hawaii

Season Record

124-33 (.790%)

Picks Panel at Noon

-Dug

@chansm1th

Smith Bros Pick Panel, Week 2

Last week, we brought you the first part of our weekly Pick Panel. We call these guys our "experts" seeing as anyone who talks sports is deemed one. Our experts last week went an astounding 45-25. We're a joke, who are we kidding? Lets look at the standings, then get our week two picks in.

Standings through Week 1:

1.) Pop (9-1)

2.) Trey (8-2)

T-3.)Alty (6-4)

Dug (6-4)

Estep (6-4)

T-5.)Corbeech (5-5)

Jarred (5-5)

As you can see, Pop is already running away from the field with Trey nipping at his heels. Everyone lost the LSU game, and poor Jarred is the lone wolf who thought USC stood a chance against Alabama. Difficult schedule to pick this week. Only 4 of the 10 matchups have a ranked team involved. Let's see how everyone weighs in.

Penn State vs Pitt

Penn State:Pop, Jarred, Corbeech, and Trey

Pitt: Dug, Estep, and Alty

North Carolina State vs East Carolina

North Carolina State:Dug, Alty, Estep, Corbeech, Pop, and Jarred

East Carolina: Trey

Wake Forest vs Duke

Wake Forest: None

Duke: Dug, Pop, Estep, Corbeech, Trey, Alty, and Jarred

Arkansas vs TCU

Arkansas: None

TCU: Dug, Trey, Estep, Alty, Jarred, Corbeech, and Pop

BYU vs Utah

BYU: Pop, Corbeech, and Alty

Utah: Dug, Jarred, Estep, and Trey

Iowa State vs Iowa

Iowa State: None

Iowa: Dug, Corbeech, Estep, Trey, Jarred, Alty, and Pop

Virginia Tech vs Tennessee

Virginia Tech: Dug

Tennessee:Trey, Pop, Estep, Alty, Jarred, and Corbeech

Texas Tech vs Arizona State

Texas Tech: Dug, Estep, Corbeech, and Pop

Arizona State: Jarred, Alty, and Trey

Washington State vs Boise State

Washington State: None

Boise State: Dug, Corbeech, Jarred, Pop, Trey, Estep, and Alty

Virginia vs Oregon

Virginia: None

Oregon: Dug, Corbeech, Estep, Pop, Trey, Alty, and Jarred

If you want to participate, leave your picks in the comments. Happy Football Saturday!!

College Football Week 2

As exciting as the first weekend of college football was, the second is equally as terrible. Of the 22 ranked teams in action, there is not a single game between two of them. I was literally struggling to find my three points for this post, no joke! While there may be a lack of marquee games, there is no lack of games in general. We have a fully stocked slate of games to pick, and ten of them will be from our "experts" just before the action gets started. So let's dive in!

1) The Battle at Bristol

Although I have love for neither team, you'd have to not register a pulse to say that you aren't excited for this game. Football in the middle of a racetrack? I think the idea is great, This is definitely a game you will want to turn on should you find yourself bored in the middle of a Saturday evening. The most people to witness a college football game saw Michigan take on Notre Dame in 2013. The attendance that night was 115,109. Bristol is expected to smash that record on Saturday night. Officials are expecting over 150,000 people in attendance! Now about the game; Tennessee will have to play better if they hope to win. After last week's near scare with Appalachian State, the Vols dropped from Top 10 to barely Top 20. Virginia Tech is no Appy State. If Tennessee has the same troubles that plagued them on opening night, they will not enjoy their trip to the World's Fastest Half-Mile. I'm thinking upset.

Virginia Tech 24, Tennessee 17

2) TCU Welcomes Arkansas

TCU handled FCS foe South Dakota State last week, but not as easily as they had hoped. The Horned Frogs won 59-41 but allowed 461 yards in the victory. Not many teams last week can say they gave up that many yards and still won by three scores. Arkansas edged out Louisiana Tech in it's opener 21-20 in a game where they had a fourth quarter drive to take the lead. Despite TCU giving up so much on defense, Arkansas will have a hard time putting up those numbers on anyone. Cue "the SEC is overrated" talk.

TCU 48, Arkansas 10

3) I Warned You about the Schedule

Since there aren't many other games I will watch, you're stuck with me being a homer for our last topic. Kentucky travels to Florida for the SEC opener for both schools coming off a very Kentucky-like" collapse. After leading 35-10 with under a minute to go before the half, the Cats took the rest of the game off last week and lost to Southern Mississippi 44-35. Unacceptable! Coming off the upset, they face a tough hill to climb when they face the Florida Gators in the Swamp; a team they haven't beat in their last 29 tries. Florida hosted UMass last week and by no means showed off any offense in the 24-7 win. One could say that their defense showed up, but come on, it's UMass. This game will be focused on the run offense. Whichever team rushes for the most on the ground should win. Take it for what it is worth.

Kentucky 28, Florida 24

Other Games

Oklahoma State over Central Michigan

North Carolina State over East Carolina

Pitt over Penn State

Michigan over UCF

Cincinnati over Purdue

Houston over Lamar

Rutgers over Howard

Minnesota over Indiana State

Army over Rice

Boston College over UMass

Georgia over Nicholls State

Texas A&M over Prairie View A&M

Wyoming over Nebraska

Florida State over Charleston Southern

Clemson over Troy

Temple over Stony Brook

Georgia State over Air Force

Southern Cal over Utah State

West Virginia over Youngstown State

Ohio over Kansas

Georgia Tech over Mercer

Bowling Green over North Dakota

Navy over Connecticut

Northwestern over Illinois State

Ohio State over Tulsa

Miami (OH) over Eastern Illinois

Duke over Wake Forest

Appalachian State over Old Dominion

Wisconsin over Akron

Nevada over Notre Dame

Alabama over Western Kentucky

Baylor over SMU

Mississippi over Wofford

Indiana over Ball State

Colorado State over Idaho State

Marshall over Morgan State

Elon over Charlotte

Kent State over North Carolina A&T

Miami over Florida Atlantic

Georgia Southern over South Alabama

Louisiana-Lafayette over McNeese State

Oklahoma over Louisiana-Monroe

Vanderbilt over MTSU

Western Michigan over North Carolina Central

Toledo over Maine

South Florida over Northern Illinois

North Texas over Bethune Cookman

Louisiana Tech over South Carolina State

Southern Mississippi over Savannah State

Texas over UTEP

South Carolina over Mississippi State

Auburn over Arkansas State

Iowa over Iowa State

Utah over BYU

Missouri over Eastern Michigan

LSU over Jacksonville State

North Carolina over Illinois

Tulane over Southern

UCLA over UNLV

New Mexico over New Mexico State

Fresno State over Sacramento State

Texas Tech over Arizona State

Boise State over Washington State

San Diego State over Cal

Oregon over Virginia 

Arizona over Grambling State

Hawaii over Tennessee-Martin

Check back at noon for Smith Bros Pick Panel

-Dug

@chansm1th

Week 1 in Review

The first week of college football has come and gone. We have already had our share of surprises and disappointments. Before we get into predictions for the two games tonight, let's take a look back at an exciting first weekend with our Quick Three.

1) Alabama is still the team to beat

Alabama absolutely destroyed Southern Cal on it's way to a 52-6 win to open the season. With the main questions about the Crimson Tide being who will start at quarterback, it was freshman Jalen Hurts who would get the nod. The freshman threw for two touchdowns while running for another pair. The Tide outgained the Trojans to the tune of 465-194. Looking at the scores from the rest of the Top 5, who will be their biggest challenger? Clemson won their road game at Auburn, but only by six. Oklahoma was rolled by Houston in a surprise upset (if you can call it that) in a game of two ranked teams. Florida State outlasted Mississippi on Labor Day behind the phenomenal play of another freshman at quarterback. LSU, predicted to be Alabama's main road block in the west, fell to unranked Wisconsin and has question marks everywhere aside from Leonard Fournette. Maybe another week will give us a better idea. 

2) Welcome back, Nick Chubb

For anyone thinking that Nick Chubb might be a bust because of last year's injury (not I), you might have just been proven wrong with his performance against North Carolina on Saturday. Chubb carried the ball 32 (!) times while rushing for 222 yards and a pair of scores. With this type of performance against a team that some thought would beat them (guilty), you have to believe that he is out of the gate first in the race for the Heisman.

3) Upsets, Upsets, and More

We said that it was a wild weekend, but for some, it is one that they will want to forget quickly. Four teams lost to FCS schools with three of them coming from the Power 5 conferences. In all, seven teams from the major polls were upended. The SEC combined to go 7-7, while the Big Ten and the ACC went 12-2 and 11-3, respectively. Take that how you want, but again, we will have a better idea as the season goes on.

Looking at tonight's games we only have two on the slate. Combined last week, this blog went 66-19 (.776). Take those odds to Vegas!

Maryland over Florida International

Louisville over Syracuse

Be sure to check back tomorrow for game previews, the Smith Bros Pick Panel, and continuing coverage throughout the day. Debuting on Tuesday, we will have the Smith Bros Top 25. No other poll should matter!

-Dug

@chansm1th