Baylor University: Defense need not apply

As much as I personally like Baylor head football coach Art Briles and his defensive coordinator, Phil Bennett, what happened today in Morgantown, West Virginia is not exactly new.

Baylor gained 700 yards on offense and lost.

West Virginia gained 807 yards. The Mountaineers passed for 656 yards. WVU QB Geno Smith pulled an RGIII and finished 45 of 51 for 656 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. His QB rating was 3,343,355.34. Or something like that.

Since Briles took over at Baylor he has executed one of the most amazing coaching jobs in America by making the Bears a winner, and Baylor football nationally relevant. He has done so by scoring, and then simply praying the other team does not.

Briles arrived in Waco in 2008, and the numbers have risen on both sides of the ball ever since.

2008: 4-8. Baylor 28 ppg, opp. 29.3 ppg.; Baylor 376.4 ypg; opp. 393.2 ypg.
2009: 4-8. Baylor 20.8 ppg., opp. 27.2 ppg; Baylor 342.9 ypg; opp. 405.6 ypg.
2010: 7-6. Baylor 31.2 ppg., opp. 30.5 ppg.; Baylor 475.3 ypg., opp. 435.4 ypg.
2011: 10-3. Baylor 45.3 ppg., opp. 37.2 ppg; Baylor 587.1 ypg., opp. 485. ypg.
2012: 3-1. Baylor 54.3 ppg., opp. 39.8 ppg; Baylor 601.5 ypg., opp. 571.3 ypg.

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Speaking of Ed Wesley - former TCU RB headed to Buffalo for a tryout

A few days after I wrote this column on former TCU running back Ed Wesley's whereabouts (click here) he has popped up.

Wesley's agent, Jordon Woy, confirmed today that Wesley is flying to Buffalo for a workout with the Bills. This is the chance Wesley needs to land an NFL gig.

The Bills' running back situation is less than ideal as C.J. Spiller (shoulder) and Fred Jackson (knee) are listed as questionable on the injury report, but are not expected to play.
According to the depth chart on BuffaloBills.com, that would leave former Dallas Cowboy Tashard Choice as the starter and Johnny White as the primary backup. 

Wesley was unselected in the NFL supplemental draft in the spring, but he signed a free agent deal with the Cowboys. He was with the team for a few weeks in camp, but was cut the morning of a walk through because he was late.

 

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Lamar Odom wants to apologize because it's not his fault

Not that this will change a thing about the trade that brought Lamar Odom to the Mavericks, which turned out to be a lemon, but the new member of the L.A. Clippers apparently wants to apologize to the Mavs and team owner Mark Cuban.

On Friday during the LA Clippers' media day, ESPN NBA guy Ric Bucher tweeted: "Lamar Odom, unprompted, told me he'd like to apologize to Mark Cuban and Mavs fans for not being himself. Felt it was beyond his power."

What a great line - "Hey, sorry - but the reason I robbed the bank is because of something beyond my power."

BTW: Odom averaged 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds with the Mavs last season; both career lows.

Odom's meaning, while likely sincere, would be fine and a very nice and sincere olive branch had Odom had the sense to just stop and not add the, "Felt it was beyond his power" line of crap.

 

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Fearle$$ football predictions: Missouri +2.5 at Central Fla. is enticing

The Big Mac Blog returns with more football predictions. When we last left this segment I was bathing in imaginary riches. I began the 2011 season with $50 of Monopoly money, and by season's end I was plus $100. Cash. 

Last week's results: 1-4. I am now at $0 for the season.
1. Kansas at Northern Illinois (-9.5). UNI. LOSS
2. Virginia at TCU (-18). Cavaliers. LOSS
3. Kansas State at Oklahoma (-14.5). Wildcats. WIN
4. Houston Texans (-2) at Denver Broncos. Broncos. LOSS
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (-4) at Oakland Raiders. Steelers. LOSS

Time to get healthy. This week's picks:
1. Texas (-2.5) at Oklahoma State. HORNS. Not feeling the T. Boone's this year.
2. Baylor at West Virginia (-11.5). BEARS. I see garbage points at the end.
3. Wisconsin at Nebraska (-11.5). HUSKERS. Badgers are down.
4. Missouri at Central Florida (-2.5). TIGERS. Just a feeling.
5. Cincy Bengals (-2.5) at Jacksonville Jags. BENGALS. Andy Dalton, don't let me down.

An exciting new addition to this post: A long time bookie and once big-timer named "Zliff" is giving me his lock, or two, of the week. He was 1-1 last week.

1. Texas Tech (-2.5) at Iowa State. IOWA STATE.
2. Arkansas at Texas A&M (-14). HOGS.

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Quote of the day

Jack Burton: Everybody relax, I'm here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Aggies better not blow this SEC game against the Hogs

Texas A&M v. Arkansas has recently been a spot of great soreness and disappointment in Aggie Nation. If A&M somehow loses this version of Aggies v. Hogs it's time for a rebellion. It will be time to destroy Kyle Field, relocate to Reliant Stadium for a full year, and just start over with a new stadium that does not house so much underachievement.

The Aggies are favored by 14 points.

On Saturday at 11 a.m. CT, the 1-3 Hogs visit Kyle Field to play the 2-1 Aggies in an "SEC" game. There are quotations simply because neither of these team look like your typical SEC power. This will be Arkansas' first visit to Kyle Field since 1991.

Arkansas has one of the worst defenses in the nation, and right now I am guessing they would take Bobby Petrino back under any condition. The Hogs have lost three in a row, all at home, against La-Monroe, Alabama and Rutgers.

The Aggies only have two more guaranteed losses on their schedule - vs. LSU and at Alabama. But games at Auburn and at Mississippi State don't look encouraging.

If A&M is going to reach a bowl game, it can't lose games like this one.

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Nerds rise - Dark Knight Rises coming soon to DVD/Blu Ray/Betamax/VHS

Big news, Bruce Wayne lovers - the good people at Warner Bros. have you in mind when it was announced that the Best Picture of 2012 will be available for home viewing in December. That's right - the Dark Knight Rises, which is actually still in theaters, is already scheduled for its home release. Click here for more.

According to this report exclusively given to Entertainment Weekly, The Dark Knight Rises is going to be avalailable on Dec. 4.

RISE!

 

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Only the Cowboys - they are opening a Victoria's Secret store at Cowboys Stadium

From the Things I Can't Make Up dept.: The Dallas Cowboys are opening a Victoria's Secret shop at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

No. Seriously. I'm not kidding.

The team announced this afternoon that they will have a ribbon cutting ceremony at Cowboys Stadium on Oct. 1 at 4 p.m., a few hours before the Cowboys play the Chicago Bears on Monday Night football. Scheduled to attend the event at Cowboys Stadium are Victoria's Secret Pink models Elsa Hosk and Jessica Hart.

The Cowboys are parterning with Victoria's Secret to open a PINK store, a first for a professional sports stadium/arena.

What the Cowboys are lacking are more opportunities to make "they are soft" jokes. Because selling bra and panties won't fit into that line of thinking at all. But it will neat to be able to buy an official Jerry Jones lingerie outfit for that special someone at Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This former Texas Rangers should win the Cy Young in New York

Never easy to see a former Texas Ranger go out and kill it for a different team, especially after the original employer spent so much time and money to see it through, but it is really hard not to be happy for R.A. Dickey.

Goes to show you what a good knuckleball can do.

The New York Mets' season has once again been a stinking pile o' cat stuff, but Dickey has been fantastic as a starter. He is likely going to win the NL Cy Young award. His closest competition is going to be Gio Gonzalez of the Nationals and Johnny Cueto of the Reds.

On Thursday against the Pirates, Dickey improved to 20-6.

This season, Dickey has thrown a league-high 227.2 innings and 20-6 with a 2.69 ERA. How he won 20 games on that Mets team is amazing. The Mets are 72-84.

Dickey leads the National Leauge in innings, games started, wins and strikeouts. 

There simply is not a nicer guy in the bigs than R.A. Dickey.

 

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NFL players reaction to "real" refs returning does not match the outrage at their absence

IRVING, Texas - As much outrage as had been expressed by fans and the players over the NFL lockout of the referees you would think upon learning the news that "real" crews are returning would be cause for Mardi Gras II.

Nope. The general response from some of the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys is the return of the real crews is no big deal.

"I didn't let it dictate anything I do. They are out there doing the best job they can, whether they get it right or wrong is inconsequential to me," Dallas Cowboys center Ryan Cook said. "I have enough to worry about with my job whether they are doing their job."

"I know how important it was for us to get regular officials back. They are professionals and they administer the game," Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said today on a conference call to FW/d reporters. "That would make the game better. But for us, the Cowboys are occupying our thoughts."

I actually liked this answer the best from Chicago Bears WR Brandon Marshall. I asked him if he was relieved this ref lockout was over.

"When I think about that situation I have compassion for the replacement refs. They took a lot of heat," he said. "To be criticized and talked about by the world week in and week out is tough. Those guys are trying to get it right but it's tough to be thrown into the fire like that. I am sure they did the best they could. I'm glad this is behind us, but I have a lot of compassion for the replacement refs."

Now we can return to complaining about the real crews, and their screwps.

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