Anyone cocktail party it up?  I did.  Wasnt planning on going to the game but got a free ticket.  In the gator section unfortunately but cant pass up free!  Was a fun weekend.  And the weather was perfect for tailgating.  after the game hung out at dos gatos for awhile before all the young people and/or wannabe hipsters started showing up in droves.  good times.  I always love cocktail party weekend in Jax.  Usually I stay down at the beach but the way to do it is to stay at the Hyatt or Omni.  Dont have to worry about drinking too much.  Can walk everywhere.  I noticed the Hyatt was passing out bracelets to hotel patrons this year.  Was kind of wondering what you would do as a young guy who tries to bring back a girl to your room.  Alas....  as for this upcoming week.

 

Vandy at UF - ya know I think Vandy has a shot at this.  UF coming off a tough loss. SEC East hopes officially in the toiled.  And may be looking ahead to the following week against SC.  Its a noon kickoff.  Not to mention UF just isnt as good this year.  If this was last years Vandy team, Im pretty confident they would win.  But this years team has struggled some on defense and will probably be going with their redshirt freshman QB.  He played well in the win over UGA but struggled against A&M.  first time in awhile I wont be at this game in Hogtown.  usually Vandy gets rolled but this one might actually be a bit of a game.

 

App St at UGA - have a friend coming in from Jax who is part of the Gator Bowl association coming in to scout the Dawgs.  So Ill probably be in Athens for part of the day.  Game itself should be ugly.

 

other games... great weekend...

 

Oregon at Stanford - game of the week.  and will be the only show on as its the later thursday night game.  Stanford doesnt seem quite as good this year.  Not sure what they are missing from years past but they dont seem as physically dominating.  Although they certainly seem to have the recipe for slowing down the Ducks.  Im kind of rooting for Oregon.  Good chance Im at the Stanford-Southern Cal game the following weekend.  And it'd make my life much easier if its the 12:30-1 PT kickoff as opposed to 5PT.  And I think the odds of it dropping to an earlier slot are greater if the Cardinal lose.

 

OU at Baylor - another thursday nighter.  the early game.  Baylors first real test.  OU still has to be upset after getting trucked by Texas.  I've tried watching some of Baylor's games to see their offense but havnet been able to watch much.  Definitely will this weekend.

 

LSU at Bama - With the Bayou Bengals having two losses this game loses a little cachet. If you dont want to see another SEC team in the championship game this may be your best hope.  Auburn and the SEC title game wont be gimmes but I think LSU may be the best remaining team on Bama's schedule.

 

Houston at UCF - defacto conference championship game.  At least if UCF wins.  If Houston wins theyll still need to knock off Louisville... which will also be on the road.  Tough two game stretch for the Cougars.  Should be a very entertaining game.  Only other night game of real intrigue is the Bama-LSU game so will be able to watch a good bit of this.

 

BYU at Wisconsin - Badgers quietly having a good year.  got hosed against ASU.  and suffered only a seven point loss to the Buckeyes.  BYU has been up and down but their QB is fun to watch.  they can put up some yards and points.

 

Nebraska at Michigan - this is a sneaky good game. Both teams out of the top 25 which seems hard to believe. Nebraska still with a legit shot for conference championship game.  

 

VaTech at Miami - Tough loss for Miami... thought they played FSU well but offense just sputtered.  And VaTech has had a strange year.  Coulda shoulda lost to East Carolina and Marshall.  Good win against GaTech which I was at. Bad back to back losses to Duke and BC.  Not sure if Miami is overrated enough to lose a VaTech team underachieving as much.

 

Arizona St at Utah - Utes got Stanford earlier and almost got UCLA.  been a tough place for opponents.

 

UCLA at Arizona - loser is probably out of Pac12 South race.

 

 

as far as conference races....

 

SEC West - looks like its Bama's to lose.  Although the Iron Bowl matchup at end of year may be a defacto semi-final game.

SEC East - Mizzou's chance got a boost with UGA beating UF this weekend.  A three way tie between Mizzou/SC/UGA will go to Mizzou(assuming their extra loss isnt against UK which it wont be).  SC needs Mizzou to lose twice or UGA and Mizzou to lose once.  UGA needs Mizzou to lose twice.

 

Pac12 North - Oregon and Stanford game will decide it

Pac12 South - Will get a lot more interesting if ASU loses to Utah this weekend.  they currently have one loss with Arizona, UCLA, and USC have two.  Zona/UCLA loser this weekend will probably be out.  Lots of games remaining between this bunch.

 

Big10 whatever1 - Its Ohio Sts to lose... theyll have to lose twice for the Badgers to jump them.  not happening.

Big10 whatever2 - Michigan St in the drivers seat but they still have a big game against Nebraska the following weekend.  game is in Lincoln

 

ACC whatever1 - Its FSU's

ACC whatever2 - Miami with one loss while GaTech, VaTech, and Duke with 2.  Miami has already beat GaTech and they play VaTech this weekend.  Win that game and you have to like their chances.  Ironically it could come down to their game against Duke the following weekend.

 

Big12 - wide open.  Texas and Baylor undefeated.  OU and Okie St with one loss.  Among these 4 teams, there is only one game played between them so far.  Texas beating OU.  Anything could happen this next month.  Im really looking forward to Baylor/OU this thursday

 

American - UCF wins it if they beat Houston this saturday.  If Houston gets the victory, then theyll need to win at Louisville the following weekend.  If they beat UCF but lose to Louisville, it becomes wide open.  Cincy still hanging around with only one loss.... but they havent played Louisville or Houston.

 

MWC West - Its Fresno's to lose... the last game of the year against San Jose st may decide it.

MWC Mtn - Boise has the tiebreaker against Utah St.  cant see them losing to any of their remaining teams.

---