Welcome to the 2009 Rod's Rejects, where we pick the losers of college games each week. Been doin' this for years, hit somewhere around 70%, and have a lot of fun. Many games are gimmes (Charleston Southern at Florida, for example), but some of 'em are tough. Either way, I hope you enjoy the picks - and I hope your team wins.
Let's get this thing started for 2009. Remember, the Reject is the loser.
ACC Games
Northeastern at Boston College
Rocky Hager's Huskies take a little walk across the city to Chestnut Hill to try to gnaw some feathers out of the Eagles, but the pups will quickly find out that they ain't gonna be able to get a good sniff at the Big Birds, much less inflict any damage. Frank Spaziani's flock will be a short-feathered this year compared with other years, but it ain't gonna matter Saturday, 'cause the Eagles will quickly take the bark out of the Huskies' bite.
Rod's Reject - Northeastern
William & Mary at Virginia
The Tribe from Williamsburg marches over to Charlottesville Saturday night to try to sling a few arrows at the Cavaliers, and I wouldn't be surprised if this one is closer than you think. Al Groh and his Sword Toters hope to make the home crowd happy, but it will be well into the night before that happens.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - William & Mary
Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech
Ol' Clemson Coach Jack Crowe will herd his Gamecocks up to Hotalanta Saturday for an early afternoon tilt with a Bunch of Bumbles, and the Yard Birds will know quickly that this will be more than the regular coop fight. Paul Johnson's got the Yellow Jackets buzzin' alright, but they're stayin' low to the ground and swarmin' folks with the runnin' game, and the J-State Birds won't be able to put up much resistance, and they'll head back to Florida fully plucked.
Rod's Reject - Jacksonville State
Richmond at Duke
Mike Landon and the Spiders creep down to Durham Saturday, fully expecting to put a deadly bite into some Blue Devil tail. Scary thing for the Dukies, though, is they just might do it. David Cutcliffe is slowly turning the Duke Football Program around, and the fans will patiently watch Saturday, hoping the building continues...but it won't be easy.
Rod's Reject - in another close one - Richmond
Baylor at Wake Forest
The Grizzles from Waco pounce into Winston-Salem Saturday, hopin' they can find a honey-hole and a win against the Demon Deacons. And last I heard, there might be a chance of them finding one against Jim Grobe and his Preachermen. Last year, the Deacons held a revival in Waco and thumped the Bears 41-13, but it ain't gonna be that easy this year.
Rod's Reject - Baylor
Maryland at California
Ralph Friedgen and the Ground Crawlers mosey out to Berkeley Saturday, lookin' to make a two-game sweep of Jeff Tedford's Golden Bears. Ummm, don't hold your breath. The Terrapins shocked California last year, but lightnin' ain't gonna strike twice. The Terps will be headin' back to the East Coast Sunday afternoon, with a dented shell and some bruised egos.
Rod's Reject - Maryland
Miami, Florida at Florida State - Monday Night
Bobby Bowden and the Seminoles have battened down the hatches in Tallahassee, waiting for Randy Shannon's Big Wind blowin' up from Coral Gables. What will ensue when they get there will be full-blown dust-up. It's still odd seeing these two rivals play right out of the gate, but you better believe the players will be ready. The Seminoles will look to hold down the fort, and will, but not without losing a few of their tee-pees to the wind.
Rod's Reject - Miami, Florida
Southeastern Conference Games
Kentucky at Miami, Ohio
Rich Brooks and the Blue Cats go Bird Huntin' Saturday, and will find plenty of food when they head up to Oxford to take on Mike Haywood and his flock of RedHawks. The Cats may lose one or two lives early in the game, but will have plenty left in the end to de-claw the birds.
Rod's Reject - Miami, Ohio
Western Kentucky at Tennessee
Don't look now, but the Lane Kiffin show kicks off in Knoxville Saturday as the Volunteers will try to get the new-coach era started on the right foot. David Elson and his bunch of Hilltoppers didn't climb too well last year, barely clearin' two little hills in a season full of mountains. It ain't gonna get any better Saturday and they will find that good ol' Rocky Top will be another one that's too steep to get over.
Rod's Reject - Western Kentucky
Western Carolina at Vanderbilt
The Purple Cats from Cullowee head west to Nashville on Saturday, hopin' to put a few claw marks in the big Vandy Ship, but Bobby Johnson's bunch of Ship Steerers have built this ship too well, and it will be able to withstand any pouncing that the Cats intend to do. Vandy might struggle to get back to a bowl this year, but that ain't gonna have to worry about this one on Saturday.
Rod's Reject - Western Carolina
LSU at Washington
The West Coast will be the scene of this intersectional game as Steve Sarkisian and his Huskies look to be purebreds Saturday night, but its kinda hard to keep your pedigree when you're 0-12 like they were last year. It will take Les Miles and the Bengal Pride a few minutes to get over the jet-lag, but after that, the Purple Pups will be on the run for the rest of the night.
Rod's Reject - Washington
Mississippi at Memphis
The Jevan Snead Air Show makes a visit to Bluesville Saturday, and he and the rest of Houston Nutt's Rebels will be ready to capture the town. But Tommy West and the Tiger Pride won't be in a mood to give everything away, and will make things tough for the Pride Fighters for a while. Somewhere along the way, though, the Rebels will fire the fatal shot - and Dixie will be theirs for the takin'.
Rod's Reject - Memphis
Georgia at Oklahoma State
Mark Richt and his Athens Dawgs venture out to the great midwest for an afternoon battle with the Cowboys, and I'm not sure they're gonna be able to dodge all the bullets that Mike Gundy's posse will be shootin' at 'em. The Bulldogs always play well on the road, and they're gonna have to in Stillwater to have a chance...but it ain't gonna be enough.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - Georgia
Jackson State at Mississippi State
The Dan Mullen era begin in Starkville, and odds are the Bulldog fans will like what they see, at least for this game. Rick Comegy's Tigers will fight hard, but will end up losing lots of fur in this fight. Watch out...Mississippi State starts the season at 1-0...and the Dog Fans go home happy.
Rod's Reject - Jackson State
Alabama vs Virginia Tech @ Atlanta
Talk about the big boys dukin' it out early! Frank Beamer and the Hokey Pokes look to represent for the ACC in this slobber-knocker, and Nick Saban and the Tide will hope to do the same for the SEC. Hard to tell who will have the edge in this one, as the story line changes every day. Bama will probably squeek this one out, but it won't be easy.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - Virginia Tech
Other South Carolina Schools In Action
The Citadel at North Carolina
The banged-up cadets head to Chapel Hill Saturday, with a few soldiers short of a troop, but they will take a lot of fight with them and hope to de-horn the Blue Billies. Kevin Higgins and the Bulldogs are building a future in Charleston, but trying to pull off an upset of Butch Davis and the Tar Heels will be a bit much to ask.
Rod's Reject - The Citadel
Wofford at South Florida
Mike Ayers and the Terriers get on-the-hop to Tampa and will try to win the Bull-In-The-Ring game, but Jim Leavitt and his Steers will be up to the challenge. The T-Dogs will give max effort, but will come up a little short Saturday, but will make the state proud.
Rod's Reject - Wofford
Charleston Southern at Florida
Honey, hide the young'uns. This one's gonna get ugly - fast. Urban Meyer and the Toothy Crew have high hopes for another National Crown, and will be off to a good start after this game Saturday. Jay Mills and the Buccaneers will need more eye patches...quickly. And the Buc Ship might as well be a one-man raft. Gotta give 'em credit for going down to Gainesville to do work, though.
Rod's Reject - Charleston Southern
The Big Two
Middle Tennessee at Clemson
Rick Stockstill and his Blue Raiders invade Death Valley Saturday, hopin' to steal away with a win. But Dabo Swinney and the Pickens County Pride defend the home turf pretty well, and that won't change any on Saturday. The Orange-clads will be relaxing by the 2nd half, watching anxiously to see how much of a dent C.J. Spiller can put into the Heisman Trophy...odds are, Spiller will please the home crowd in a big way.
Rod's Reject - Middle Tennessee
South Carolina at N.C. State - Thursday Night
The Yards Birds from the Poultry Plant in Columbia head up Tobacco Road Thursday Night, and what they find when they get there might ruffle their feathers some. Tom O'Brien and the Wild Dawgs were kinda mangy to start last year, but don't expect them to have repeat performance of that nighmare. Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks have a lot of talent...and plenty of questions, and I'm not sure a season-opening, Thursday night gig in Raleigh is the place to sort out the problems. Fur and feathers fly, but there will be more feathers than fur on the ground when the final horn sounds.
Rod's Reject - South Carolina
Other Rejects
Navy will lose to Ohio State
Utah will lose to Utah State
Akron will lose to Penn State
Montana State will lose to Michigan State
Northern Iowa will lose to Iowa
San Jose State will lose to USC
Nevada will lose to Notre Dame
Western Michigan will lose to Michigan
Samford will lose to UCF
Louisiana-Monroe will lose to Texas
Brigham Young will lose to Oklahoma
Florida Atlantic will lose to Nebraska
Northern Colorado will lose to Kansas
Louisiana Tech will lose to Auburn
Missouri State will lose to Arkansas
New Mexico will lose to Texas A&M
Weber State will lose to Wyoming
Central Arkansas will lose to Hawaii
Nicholls State will lose to Air Force
Sunday, August 30, 2009
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