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

Mike D'Antoni in the News Again

Just One More Chance

What year is it? Who knew that Mike D'Antoni was still alive? Not me! D'Antoni has apparently accepted the position of head coach of the Houston Rockets. Yeah, Houston. For those of you who are too young to remember, or too old that you have forgotten, let's remind you of who he is.

D'Antoni began his NBA coaching career in Denver with the Nuggets. He was the head coach during the lockout season of 1998 and was fired shortly after due to poor performance. One year in Denver with a record of 14-36. Not too bad for a first time head coach with a joke of a team. He wouldn't coach again until 2003.

In 2003, he was hired as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns in the middle of the season. He coached 61 games and led the Suns to a 21-40 record. Despite the low win total, he was given the benefit of a doubt due to the multiple injuries his team had encountered and was brought back for the next season.

In 2004, Phoenix acquired then free agent Steve Nash. This is where it gets fun. The Suns would post a record of 62-20 en route to a division title. "Seven Seconds or Less" was born. The Suns ran an offense quite similar to that of Loyola Marymount did in the late 80's-early 90's. It was a ton of fun to watch. 

The first two of four consecutive trips to the playoffs, Phoenix lost in the conference finals. In 2007, they fell in the conference semifinals. 2008, the first round. After that season, D'Antoni would bolt for the New York Knicks. That is where things fell apart.

After posting a 253-136 record in the desert, the Big Apple came calling. The bright lights seem to attract every moth that can see them. D'Antoni's first two seasons were losing seasons. Missing the playoffs both seasons with a combined record of 61-103, it was time for a change. Amar'e Stoudemire reunited with his old coach as a free agent signing, and in February, Carmelo Anthony was acquired via trade. The team would make the playoffs only to swept in the first round. The following season, D'Antoni would resign midway through the season due to his ongoing conflict with Carmelo Anthony. His total record in New York was 121-167.

The following season, D'Antoni was pinned to lead the Los Angeles Lakers. He joined the team 10 games into the season while recovering from knee surgery. Former coach Phil Jackson was reported to be the Lakers first call, but before they did, D'Antoni was hired. (This is why the Lakers suck today.) D'Antoni was reunited with Steve Nash. He also inherited a roster that consisted of Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard. Halfway through the season, D'Antoni benched Gasol for Earl Clark because he thought that Clark was better fit for the style of play he ran. Shortly after, he abandoned any offensive strategy and just told his team to do their own thing. After starting the season 17-24, the Lakers went on to make the playoffs with a record of 40-32. However, they would be swept in the first round. 

In his second season, the Lakers would finish with their second worst (at the time) record. Howard had left and Kobe was riddled with injury. Steve Nash was also frequently missing. After the season, D'Antoni would resign. His record for LA was 67-87.

Flash forward to now. Houston thinks that D'Antoni is the best man for the job. With stars like James Harden and the before mentioned Dwight Howard, how can he control the locker room? In Phoenix, he turned players into household names. In New York and LA, he turned household names against him. He doesn't have a good track record with big name players. For the past few seasons, D'Antoni has been an assistant head coach for The Philadelphia 76ers. What does it tell you that even their ownership didn't want him as their head coach? 

I really hope that he does well. I really enjoyed his run with the Suns nearly a decade ago. However, I do not think that Mike D'Antoni will have much success in Houston considering both the star power on the team and the other teams that he must compete with inside of his conference. 10 years ago: Slam Dunk Hire. Present Time; What the Hell??

-Dug

@chansm1th

Possible Big XII Expasion

The Big XII lost huge teams in the last 6 years. Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Missouri. Then they lost Colorado. Dropping the conference down to just 8 teams. West Virginia and TCU were added to try and stop the bleeding (which are two perfect additions by the conference).

Here in 2016, conference champions have an easier path to the College Football Playoff. The Big XII does not have a conference championship game because the NCAA requires a conference to have 12 teams to hold a championship game. Oklahoma suffered from not having a conference game this last year. Oklahoma held the #3 spot in the Playoff rankings going into week 14. After week 14, conference championship week, Michigan State jumped Oklahoma and the Sooners dropped to #4. Just ask TCU and Baylor how great being named co-champions back in 2015 helped their College Playoff chances.

Rumors have been swirling about who the Big XII plans on adding to the conference. Houston and Memphis have been the 2 teams most media outlets are reporting to join the Big 12. There are also some rumblings about Cincinnati, UCF, BYU, and Colorado State.

All of these teams make sense. Houston would add another team in Texas, but that could end up being a good rival for Oklahoma or Texas. BYU is a football team that always gives P5 teams problems. The Cougars have had at least 8 wins in the past 5 seasons. They're crazy Mormon but a good team with a good rival in Utah. Cincinnati would get the Big XII into Ohio, which surprisingly has a lot of football talent. The Bearcats would give West Virginia a natural rival. UCF gets the Big XII into Florida. The Knights have been up and down in the last few years, but Orlando is central to a lot of talent that would help the conference. Finally, Colorado State, this seems like a way to get the state of Colorado back. Colorado State has had some recent success, and getting out of the Mountain West would improve the Colorado-Colorado State rivalry. Any wins over the Pac 12 in Big XII country is a win in recruiting for the conference.


I would love for the Big XII to call up Boise State to add the Broncos. How awesome would it be to see TCU and Boise State battle it out every year after the battles in the WAC and MWC?! But honestly, I just want to see that beautiful blue field on TV more.

Who else do you want to see in the Big XII? Hit me up in the comments below.

Alty
@ericaltenhof