Wednesday morning buffet

A warm buffet for a cold morning.

• I’d say stay classy, Auburn, about this, but what’s the point?  (UPDATED: Spencer Hall has some advice about dogs for Auburn players.)
• More from the annals of stay classy.
• Want a pretty good tell that a kid isn’t going to commit to your program?  This is one.
• Here’s a look at Georgia’s 2015 signees on the offensive side of the ball.
• Year2 checks out luck in the SEC, 2014 edition.
• Kansas is going to experiment with the use of impact-sensing mouthguards to monitor concussion risks.
• Phil Steele projects Georgia to crack the preseason AP Top 10.  (And you can click here if you want to listen to Steele and Schlabach discuss preseason Top 10 lists.)
• Will the pop pass survive the new downfield blocking rules?  Ian Boyd says yes, somewhat.

Baby, even the losers…

Since we’ve had a little underachievers chatter on one of the comment threads this morning, you might find this Phil Steele blog post timely.

Only five teams were favored in every one of their games this year: Oregon (15), Alabama (14), Marshall (14), Georgia (13) and Oklahoma (13).  [Emphasis added.]

Let’s give thanks to Big Game Bob.

The biggest underachievers were (lost more games than they were favored to win) were: Oklahoma (favored to win 13 games, won 8) Pittsburgh (favored to win 10 games, won 6) and Akron (favored to win 9 games, won 5)

2015 returning starters

Phil Steele has what is probably a way-too-early list for the SEC programs here.  It’s going to be subject to adjustment, obviously, as we start to hear about early entrants for the NFL draft, but it still gives some indication of who next year’s more experienced teams may be.

The other thing to keep in mind is the-rich-get-richer factor.  ‘Bama may be losing starters, but it subs liberally and it’s not like what’s waiting in the wings isn’t talented.

Tuesday morning buffet

It’s getting closer.  So eat.

• If anybody deserves to have a great 2014, it’s Keith Marshall.
• Like he has any choice.
• This is one helluva story.  Hope he makes it back to the field without problems.
• Nick Saban’s idea of not interfering with his offensive coordinator sounds like it might be different from most folks’.  Can’t wait to see how Junior takes his advice.
• Phil Steele ranks homefield advantage.  Georgia is tied for ninth.
• If you like busy looking pie charts, this review of conference affiliation over the last five years is right up your alley.
• First call of the year on Paul Johnson’s radio show wasn’t exactly filled with praise.  Fire the screener!

Saturday brunch buffet

Slide up and load a plate.

• Fans get to vote on where the Goodyear Blimp shows up opening weekend.  Georgia vs. Clemson is one option.
• Groo has some thoughts about the Star position.
• Phil Steele, the New York Times and conference predictions.
• Paul Myerberg has Auburn at #9 on his preseason preview list.  (He thinks Kansas State is more likely to beat the Tigers than Georgia.)
• It sounds like Ramik Wilson’s coaches are trying to send him a message.
• John Sununu thinks it’s time to tax college athletics.
• It’s a sign of what people think of the NCAA that some thought Oklahoma’s request for a waiver for Dorial Green-Beckham to play this season might be approved.  It wasn’t.
• Think there’s much of a talent gap in the ACC?  One conference coach does: “According to one ACC coach, FSU is so stocked with talent across its depth chart that he believes about half the league’s teams do not have one player who would start for Florida State this year based on what he’s seen on film.”

Wednesday morning buffet

Jump right in, peeps.

• I guess this ESPN piece is saying that Mark Richt’s played a lot of freshmen because he’s lost control of something.
• While you’re reading Myerberg, here’s his preview of #15 Clemson.
• Speaking of the Tigers, their defense is preparing for Todd Gurley.
• Here’s Bovada’s list of regular season over/unders on wins for SEC teams.
• Phil Steele gives us his list of teams overrated and underrated in the AP preseason poll.  Georgia shows up at #5 on the underrated list.
• The AB-H guys are also on Dawg Sports Radio.  Their first offering is worth a listen, if only to hear Chad Simmons talk about Jeremy Pruitt’s recruiting style.  (Dial it up to the 20:20 mark for that.)
• Check out Mark Richt’s winning percentage on the road after a bye week.
• “If you’ve got a quarterback, you’ve got a chance.”

Wednesday morning buffet

Buffet away.

• Berry Tramel hints pretty strongly that Big Game Bob cut a deal with Dorial Green-Beckham that the kid would indeed play a season with Oklahoma before going pro.  Of course, there’s not really much Stoops could do other than complain if Green-Beckham reneged.
• Penis.
• Cringeworthy comment from Bobby Petrino:  “With the experiences I’ve had, I can help young men with the obstacles they are going to be presented with off the field, with the situations that are going to come up; to be able to help them and give them a second chance.”
• Saban’s not above throwing a few players under the bus.  Wonder which of them made the call to kick the field goal in the Iron Bowl.
• Bert has his moments.
• Patrick Garbin finds that during the Richt era, Georgia has made a habit of failing to track Phil Steele’s forecasting statistics.
• And John Pennington shows that in the case of defensive points allowed, Georgia followed a general conference trend.