Author: boom booms room staff

Abby Roux Takes Down Vegas Part IX

Posted on by boom booms room staff

Thanksgiving has come and is nearly gone.  That means Rivalry Week is upon us.  It starts Turkey Day night with the Egg Bowl.  Abby has no egg on her jowls however.  A difficult week to wager nicked her just a bit.  Her won/loss record is dead even at 18-18-1.  We give thanks that her bones wagered is gravy at 55%, with 50 of 91 buried.  The hunch bet is no leftover cranberry either.  That record is a strong 7 up and only 1 down.

Rivalry Week can be tricky.  Who is motivated?  Who has mailed it in?  Whose coach is mashed potatoes?  Abby is ready for her just desserts.   The picks follow.

Under 61.5 Miss St. at Ole Miss- The Egg Bowl might put you to sleep even if the trytophan doesn’t.  Miss State’s D is legit.  Abby thinks the front four is only behind Bama, Michigan, and Clemson.  Ole Miss has a legit O.  But D beats O like rock beats scissors.  Abby think this one ends under 50 total points.  Two bones.

UCF -14 at USF-  South Florida is reeling, losers of four in a row.  This Interstate rivalry is separated by only about 80 miles of I-4.  But, the teams are much further apart than that on the field..  Abby expects UCF to put their foot on the gas and not let off.  Two bones.

Florida St +6.5  v Florida – An outright win makes Florida State bowl eligible for the 30th year in a row.   A loss ushers in their promising basketball team’s season.   Willie Taggert and Dan Mullen’s first year as head coaches at the two programs have had some ups and downs.  Both are looking up at UCF in the state for now.  The Gators win and the Seminoles cover.  One bone.

Under 56.5 Michigan at THE OSU-  The legend that Urban is might, Might, MIGHT be winding down at THE.  Ohio St. has a leaky defense.   Michigan has a shut down defense.  Because the game is at THE Horseshoe we think OSU gets a few stops and the game only gets into the low twenties.  A playoff spot for the bespeckled Jim Harbaugh essentially hangs in the 60 minute balance.  Three bones.

Texas A&M -2.5 v LSU- Abby knows that A&M is 0-7 in the SEC v LSU.  Abby knows that A&M can play run D and has a qb that can run.  That’s two big legs up when facing LSU.  A field goal separates the winner this time.  A&M is healthier and has circled this game on it’s schedule since, well, last Thanksgiving weekend.  One bone.

On a hunch take Washington and Washington St. under 48.5 total points.  Like last week’s Iowa St. v Texas low o/u line, we think Vegas is begging you to take the over.  Abby thinks begging is an unbecoming trait for pure breds.

There you have it.  Three unders, two favorites, and one dog are the picks.

Warm pecan pie and a scoop of Blue Bell Vanilla Bean ice cream sounds mighty fine just about right now.

Woof!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Posted on by boom booms room staff

We have much to be thankful for.  Realize that.  Embrace that.  And, take a moment today to embrace someone or many and tell them how thankful you are to be able to enjoy your time with them.

If someone or something has you down, remember that the situation could always be worse.  Brighter days are just ahead.   They always are.  Look for them, work towards them, and you will find them!

Remember, Father Time is undefeated.  But, you can give him a hell of a game with the right attitude.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Boom Boom’s Life Lessons #8

Posted on by boom booms room staff

One of the many gifts that Boom Boom gave us was the torrent of quips about how one leads one’s life.   He could say so much by saying so little.   A statement at just the right moment resonated in my young, eager eardrums.  How I interpreted or applied it was up to me.  No more words were spoken because no more words were needed.

Boom Boom lived a healthy and vivacious life for a full 80 years.   In his late seventies he was still regularly riding his bike, walking a mile or so, and maintaining his lawn and gardens to their pristine condition.

He began to suffer from a condition that negatively affected his sciatic nerve in his left leg.  I drove in to visit him not long thereafter.  As I pulled into the driveway his neighbor of nearly 40 years waved at me and walked over to say hello.  After pleasantries were exchanged he mentioned to me that Boom Boom had recently began walking backwards for a substantial portion of his mile plus journeys.  He rightfully expressed concern about him falling due to some of the unevenness of the sidewalk.

Dad greeted me at the door.  I went inside, unpacked, and grabbed some chow.  Then I asked innocently around what Mr. Lambert had expressed to me.   “What’s up with the new walk Dad?”  “I’ve been walking the same way for a long time son.  And, now, I’m facing a challenge.  I decided to tackle this ailment head on.  I need to find a solution.”  “Good Dad, good.  How is it going?”  “It’s too soon to tell.”  But, he said, “if you don’t challenge life, you won’t change how you live it.”

That afternoon, he put on his “walking” shoes, put on the dog’s leash, and was headed to the front door.  He asked if I wanted to join him for walk.  “Sure,” I said.  ‘Backwards,’ I wondered?

Much later in life I learned that in China older folks make walking backwards a daily habit for multiple health reasons including the relief of leg and joint pain.

Whether you walk forward or backwards I suppose that if you don’t challenge life, you won’t change how you live it.

Hair Ye, Hair Ye!

Posted on by boom booms room staff

We continue today exploring the meaning of phrases that we use in everyday life.  A couple of weeks ago we confirmed that it was better to butter someone up than to eat humble pie.  We do our best below to give you another hair-raising experience.

When one gives maximum effort, whatever the endeavor, it is always appreciated.  If you do your best you may succeed, or you may not.  But, its hard to find fault with someone who gives it their all, or one who “goes the whole nine yards.”  But, did you know that going the whole nine yards is a term derived from World War II, nearly 80 years ago?

Meaning: To try one’s best
History: World War II Fighter pilots received a 9-yard chain of ammunition. Therefore, when a pilot used all of his ammunition on one target, he gave it “the whole 9 yards.”

Those of us of the male persuasion have tried our best to be patient waiting for our significant other to put the finishing touches on their makeup, dress, and hair.  Sometimes it takes a bit longer than desired.  But, that is no time to relax.  In fact, it’s the exact opposite of that.  It’s no time to “let your hair down!”  That’s a phrase that is actually centuries old.

Meaning: To relax or be at ease
History: Parisian nobles risked condemnation from their peers if they appeared in public without an elaborate hairdo. Some of the more intricate styles required hours of work, so of course it was a relaxing ritual for these aristocrats to come home at the end of a long day and let their hair down.

You actually might feel centuries old as well by the time your better half is finally happy with how her hair looks for an evening out.  But, we have a few words for the wise men.  Since she has gone the whole nine yards working on it an immediate compliment is highly recommended.

 

Ten Piece Nuggets-CFB

Posted on by boom booms room staff

Week 12 thankfully has come and gone for college football.  We say thankfully because many games looked like mismatches prior to Saturday and their scores looked liked mismatches after the game ended Saturday.  There were a few notable exceptions though.  Looking ahead rivalry week is upon us.  Many games look like good matchups.  We give thanks this week for many things.  Good football is one.  Enjoy the Ten Piece Nuggets first.

  1. The latest AP Top 25 rolled out yesterday.  The top 10 of the top 25 saw little change from the week prior.  Why? Well, the top 10 beat down their opposition by a combined score of 424-198.  The top six in that order remained unchanged.
  2. The 424-198 score gets more lopsided if you remove the leaky Oklahoma D that surrendered 40 to Kansas.  And it tilts further if you remove THE Ohio St. (desperately looking for a place to lie down) D that gave up 51 but easily could have given up 53 to Maryland.  How does 317-107 for the other eight games sound?  Bad.
  3. Kansas, yes Kansas, made headlines this week.  First, their “all name” running back Pooka, yes Pooka, Williams ran for 252 yards on 15 carries and two TDs against the sieve that Oklahoma calls a defense.  He threw a td from nine yards out as well.   But, the bigger news is that they named Les Miles as their head coach for 2019 and beyond.  Who cares about Kansas basketball when you have a Mad Hatter coaching a Pooka?
  4. THE D is not good for Urban Meyer’s health.  Urban was tired of defending Zach Smith.  He is now more tired of watching THE D.  Maryland blew the try for two in OT.  And, Urban’s legend grows for at least another week as they survived 52-51.  One wonders where it all goes from here.  Well, Saturday it goes into THE Horseshoe to add one more chapter to the Michigan v. OSU rivalry.  The two midwest state schools first met in 1897, and the rivalry has been played annually since 1918.  Much is at stake including a birth into the Big 10 Championship Game as well as a possible probable CFB playoff berth for Michigan and a probable possible birth for THE.  The loser is out of both.
  5.  The Citadel attempted zero passes but was tied 10-10 at halftime to no. 1 Alabama.  That didn’t last too long as Bama scored repeatedly in the second half and won 50-17.  Next up is the annual Iron Bowl v. Auburn.  Auburn slowed Alabama’s roll last year in this contest. Of course Bama still won it all when it mattered.
  6. Notre Dame deserves it’s just due.  The Fighting Irish have plenty of fight.  In spite of their bad unis last week in Yankee Stadium they took the fight out of the Syracuse Orangemen, 36-3.  A season ending contest on the left coast v. not yet bowl eligible USC stands between them and a CFB playoff spot.  USC seems to have little fight left in them after a loss to 3-8 crosstown rival UCLA Saturday.  Hundreds of fans poured into The Coliseum to watch UCLA score 13 unanswered in the fourth quarter to down USC 34-27.
  7.  Kudos to UCF.  College Game day descended onto their Orlando campus and the Golden Knights did not disappoint.  The 24th ranked Cincinnati Bearcats came calling and went home soundly beaten as 38-13 losers.  No “big name” school one wants UCF in a bowl game.  There is no upside.  You win and you were supposed to or you lose and you weren’t supposed to.   USF v. UCF is but five days away.  The UCF win streak, dating back to January 2016 is alive and well.  Orlando loves a good parade.
  8.  West Virgina lost 45-41 at Oklahoma State.  Their national title hopes are vanquished.  They play Oklahoma this week.  Their prize, if they win, is a rematch with Oklahoma a week later in the Big 12 Championship Game.  If they lose, three-loss Texas likely slides in to the game.  That would give Oklahoma a chance to avenge the State Fair/Red River Rivalry Shootout loss to Texas several weeks back.   If Oklahoma beats #12 WVA and no. 11 Texas in back to back weeks they will have positioned themselves well to slide into the final four discussion should Georgia lose to Alabama and Michigan lose to THE.    Anyone confused?
  9. Utah St. is ranked 14th.  Who?  Northwestern at 7-4 is ranked 20th and has clinched the Big 10 West.  How weak is the Big 10 West?  Army is ranked 23rd.  A win over Navy in two weeks gives them a strong 10-2 record.
  10.  Some surprising early lines are out.  Okla at WVA is a pick um.  WVA has to pull up their boot straps.  Washington is +3.5 at Washington St.  Mike Leach has coached a long time and had much fun getting to this moment.  Michigan travels to THE and is favored by four.  Jim Harbaugh is very close to doing it his way yet again.  LSU is a one point dog to Texas A&M.  The previous seven SEC meetings between these two all have gone to the Tigers.  Finally, Auburn is plus a tall 24.5 v Alabama in the aforementioned Iron Bowl.  Nick Saban doesn’t even know Thursday is Thanksgiving.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Week, Turkey Day itself, and some great games after the yawn festival of the week gone by.

 

Abby Roux Takes Down Vegas Part VIII

Posted on by boom booms room staff

Boom!  Abby lit up Vegas last week like fireworks on the 4th of July.  One bet (Indiana -2) pushed while the four others that had bones wagered went off like roman candles.  Her hunch bet popped yet again as well.  Last Saturday night the sky was quite bright.

For the season Abby’s bark is piercing.   Her won/loss bets are 17-15-1.  Her perfect week of 10 of 10 bones buried puts the important count at 47 of 83, or 57%.  The hunch bet stands at six fine wins v. only one loss.

Week 12 is here.  It’s a week that has several top teams playing out of conference creme puffs.  It’s a week that she has sniffed longingly and turned her nose up at most matchups.  The pickings are slim.  Madame Roux’s choices follow.

Syracuse +10 v. Notre Dame -Abby has been long on the Orangemen all year.  It’s paid.  She hopes that this is not one time too many going to the same well.  The game is in Yankee Stadium and the snow will be piled high by Saturday.  ND wins a thriller.  The Orangemen play well for 58 minutes.  One bone.

Wisconsin +4.5 at Purdue – Abby has been long all year on the Badgers.  It hasn’t paid.  She hopes that going to the well too often finally pays off.  Purdue is a good Big 10 team that somehow just got worked by Minnesota 41-10.  Maybe they have the ugly, week ago, Kentucky like letdown?  Three bones.

Stanford -2 at California – Yearly this is called The Big Game.  How original is that?  There isn’t anything too big about it this year.  Cardinal pride gets it done, though Cali is tough at home.  Two bones.

Michigan St. -1 at Nebraska -The Cornhuskers are scoring a lot and playing better of late.  The Spartans aren’t scoring a lot and aren’t playing better of late.   Did Abby ever tell you that she likes to zig when others zag?  Two bones.

Wake Forest+13 1/2 over Pittsburgh and Oklahoma St. plus 11 1/2 over West Virginia – Abby is buying 7 points for each home dog for a two team parlay that pays even bones.  Pittsburgh has the ACC championship game well within its sights and might be looking a tad ahead.  West Virginia has the Big 12 championship game well within its sights and might be looking a tad ahead.  Two bones.

On a hunch take under 46.5 points when Iowa St. squares off in Austin v. Texas.  The line seems way low.  It seems so low that we think Vegas is trying to get some of Abby’s bones back.  They’ll need to dig deeper.

No. 16 Iowa St. v no. 15 Texas aside, the marquee matchups this weekend are few and far between.  Take for example USC v UCLA, please.  USC and UCLA have 13 losses this season between them.  It is the most combined losses ever in this 88 years old rivalry.

Often overlooked UCF hosts College Gameday’s broadcast this week.  Looking at the available alternatives one can see why.

Woof!

 

 

 

Chad, Ima, and the Florida Swamp.

Posted on by boom booms room staff

Do you remember Chad?  They say that everyone is famous for 15 minutes.  Chad was that and then some.  Hanging around for days, Chad was no dummy either.  He chose warm south Florida in mid November just eleven months after we celebrated the year 2000 and the 21st century replacing 1999 and the 20th century.  So just who was he?  Or better yet, what was he?

A “chad” is the fragment or fragments of paper left over when you punch a hole in a card.

In the 2000 United States presidential election, many Florida voters used Votomatic-style punched card ballots where incompletely punched holes resulted in partially punched chads: either a “hanging chad”, where one or more corners were still attached, or a “fat chad” or “pregnant chad”, where all corners were still attached, but an indentation appears to have been made. These votes were not counted by the tabulating machines. The aftermath of the controversy caused the rapid discontinuance of punch card ballots in the United States.

And what an aftermath it was.

On election night, no clear winner emerged. Print and broadcast media cited often contradictory exit-polling numbers, and the races in Oregon and New Mexico would remain too close to call for several days. Ultimately, the contest focused on the great state of Florida. Networks initially projected Gore the winner in Florida, but later they declared in favor of Bush. Gore called Bush to concede the election, but in the early hours of the following morning it became apparent that the Florida race was much closer than Gore’s staff thought.  Fewer than 600 votes separated the candidates, and that margin appeared to be narrowing.  About 3:00 AM Gore called a stunned Bush to retract his concession.

The aforementioned Bush would be one George W. Bush, then governor of Texas, and son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush.  Papa Bush was prez no. 41. The aforementioned Gore would be one Al Gore, then VP to impeached, but not removed, two term President William Jefferson Clinton. Clinton was prez no. 42. The winner of this undecided race would be prez no. 43.

That Gore won the popular vote wasn’t contested.  The final electoral college vote count, however, was left hanging by hanging chads.  The race in Florida was so tight that a miniscule difference of 537 votes sent the nation into a tizzy.  And, it sent Florida into a mandatory recount per state voting law.  As it stood prior to any recount, the red Republican Bush states amassed 271 electoral college votes to 266 for the blue Democrat Gore states.

Democrats embraced the recount.  But the Florida Secretary of State declared Bush the winner in mid recount.  Lawsuits, rulings, appeals, and reversals kept the finality of the outcome at bay for five weeks.  A few counties that still voted by using punch cards began their recount at the outset of the legal back and forth.  Was it a vote or was it the dreaded pregnant chad?

In the end the process(mess) reached the US Supreme Court.  By a five to four margin the highest court of all ruled that no timely resolution could be reached other than the original one.  This effectively made George Bush no. 43.  Chad’s fifteen minutes were up.

Indeed Chad’s fifteen minutes were up.  But meet Chad’s cousin, Ima Contest.  She surfaced last week for her fifteen minutes of fame.  She showed up in, of all places, warm south Florida in mid November.  Give that family three things-they know just where, when, and how to make an entrance onto the political main stage.

Incumbent Democrat Senator Bill Nelson and former Governor Republican Rick Scott engaged in an expensive and hotly contested mid-term race to represent Florida in the Senate.  The results are inside of 0.50% points difference.  It’s deja vu mandatory recount time.

Oh, and meanwhile in the governor’s race, unofficial results show Republican former Rep. Ron DeSantis leading Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by 0.41 percentage points.  Gillum, identically to Gore(the inventor of the internet) called DeSantis and conceded.  But as Lee Corso (Floridian himself)has said a few times, “not so fast my friend.”  Then Gillum, identically to Gore (the world’s most respected authority on climate change) retracted his concession.  He wants to monitor the mandatory recount too.

Ima contests the two elections because, of all things, not all of the votes supposedly have been counted when they were supposed to be by law.  These include 266 absentee ballots that arrived Sunday at the Miami-Dade election office.  Sunday was a full five days after the law mandates all votes be counted by 7 pm on the night of the election.  But, laws be damned apparently as the incumbent Senator Nelson contends that not counting these votes will disenfranchise(remember when you had thankfully never heard of that word before?)  voters and has filed a suit accordingly.

Some recently displaced hurricane evacuees voted by email.  The county commish in that area admits that this isn’t within approved voter guidelines. Will those votes be allowed?  Palm Beach and Miami have now failed to get the recount done in a timely manner as well.  Lawsuits, allegations, claims of voter fraud, and more lawsuits from both sides have further muddied the murky waters.

How about a request for removal from office?  Even former Governor Jeb Bush had a few words for that swamp near The Everglades.  “There is no question that Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes failed to comply with Florida law on multiple counts, undermining Floridians’ confidence in our electoral process,” former Governor Jeb Bush said. “Supervisor Snipes should be removed from her office following the recounts.”

Of the 4,687 US statewide general elections held between 2000 to 2015, 27 were followed by a recount, and only three resulted in a change of outcome from the original count.  So, the odds are slim to none that anything becomes of any of this other than lawyers making bank.

Yet, recount deadlines have been missed and missed again.   Apparently the educational system in a few counties in the great state of Florida isn’t too good.  Some folks can’t count, while others can’t tell time.

Eighteen years ago, after five weeks of back and forth, it all wound up in the US Supreme Court.  This time we stand at a week plus and counting.  This mess of a messed up process might end up in the highest court as well.  If it comes to that, shouldn’t newly appointed Judge Kavanaugh cast the deciding vote?   That would read like a movie script, and Oscars for all.

Chad and Ima and Florida are unfortunately forever linked and riding on this Groundhog Day, post-election merry-go-round.  And around it goes.

 

Ten Piece Nuggets-CFB

Posted on by boom booms room staff

Week 11 has come and gone in college football.   Most teams have played ten games.  Most teams spent Saturday reaffirming their positions in walk overs as another regular season end draws nearer.  The latest AP Top 25 poll is out and it looks a lot like a week ago.

  1.  Alabama rightfully remains the unanimous no. 1.  The Tide rolled over Mississippi St 24-0.  That’s two straight shutouts of SEC West opponents.   The Bama D began the year with eight new starters on defense.  “Scary good” is a phrase that comes to mind.  The Citadel is up next.  Their enrollment, per their website, is 2,349 for 2018.  Ironically that is nearly the same amount assistant coaches, strength coaches, staff, tutors, and analysts that Nick Saban has on staff prepping Bama for ballgames.  We wish the best of luck to this fine military academy come Saturday.  Yawn.
  2. Spots 2,3, and 4 remain in the hands of Clemson, Notre Dame, and Michigan.  They overwhelmed Boston College, Florida St, and Rutgers respectively.  Clemson knocked out the Eagles QB and are playing complementary football.  ND heads to the Big Apple for a tussle with a motivated Syracuse team in Yankee Stadium.  Michigan hosts Indiana in the Big House.  Yawn.
  3. One loss teams Georgia, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Washington State, and THE Ohio St. are slotted 5-9 ready to stake their claim to a top four playoff spot should one get cracked open.
  4. Georgia is a more complete team than the other four.  Oklahoma survived a two point conversion attempt by Oklahoma St. with one minute to go to hold onto a 48-47 win.  The Sooners don’t play much defense.  They have surrendered 45 or more points in three of their last five contests.
  5. THE’s punter Drue Chrisman’s punts, in a tight defensive struggle, forced Michigan State to start its first five drives after halftime from its own 5, 6, 3, 1 and 2-yard line.  It wasn’t a work of art, but they emerged victoriously from that Big 10 snooze fest.   Yawn.
  6. Washington St. continues to roll.  Ranked 8th now, they have earned their way into the national discussion.  Their conference’s weakness, real or perceived, is doing them no favors however.
  7.  Just outside the top ten is a litany of interesting stories led by UCF at 11.  Speaking of no favors, they did none in surrendering 24 to Navy and winning by 11.  Syracuse is at 12 with two losses.  A win over ND in the Bronx would be a crowning achievement for a team that usually looks to Jim Boeheim by this time of the year for sports entertainment.  Texas survived Lubbock and is at 13 with three losses.  At 14 is a 9-1 Utah State team that no one knows a thing about.  They lead the Mountain West Conference and call themselves the Aggies.  Who knew that there two Aggie teams in these United States?
  8.  Kentucky woke up late in Knoxville, gave up an almost uncontested Hail Mary pass at halftime, trailed 17-0 at intermission, and lost to the Tennessee Volunteers 24-7.  The last minute win at Missouri, then the hangover from the Georgia loss has the Wildcats running on fumes.  That lethargy was on display for 60 full minutes Saturday.  Meanwhile, after a wobbly start, Jeremy Pruitt has the Vols playing hard.  Kentucky plummeted to 20th with loss number 3.
  9.  In the AP top 25 there is no such thing as being ranked no 26.  But, in the usually dreaded “others receiving votes” section Army gets the most votes and is this week’s best of the “others.”   What a job Jeff Monken has done in five years there.  They won ten last year and have a shot at that again in 2018.  The last time that Army won 10 games was 1996.
  10.  Some early lines are out for this week and if you like big dogs or big favorites this is your week.  We’ll spare you those for now and focus on Syracuse +9.5 v. ND, and Mich St. is -1.5 at Nebraska,  while WVA travels to Okla St as a 5 point pick, and Oregon -4 hosts Arizona St.  Can the Orangemen box with the Fighting Irish?  How is Nebraska only a small dog sporting a 3-7 record?  Can WVA win another Big 12 road game in a tough environment?  After a 3 point win over downtrodden UCLA, Herm Edwards announced that the six win Sun Devils are now bowl eligible.  Hmm.  Can they make it seven in Eugene?

The Targeting Punishment Misses the Target!

Posted on by boom booms room staff

Targeting, as you know, is a rules infraction in college football that has gained a lot of attention this season.  It actually became its own rule 10 years ago.  However, the ejection of the offending player was added in 2013.  It’s intent is worthy.  It’s intent simply is to reduce head injuries.  Who could be opposed to that?  No one.

However, for a few weeks now we’ve been vigorously debating what exactly defines targeting and the subsequent punishment.  Our disdain for its gross inconsistency reached 212 degrees when Devin White got the heave-ho with five minutes remaining before he and his LSU Tiger brethren could celebrate a 19-3 homecoming victory over Mississippi State a few weeks back.

We definitely advise that if you haven’t, you read the excellent SBNation article that explains the crime quite well.  In fact, it does it so well that we will only further their thoughts by diving a bit deeper with our comments on the inconsistencies of the punishment.  We believe that the only thing worse in how the rule is written and called is how the penalty is assessed.

Targeting is a 15 yard penalty in college football and an automatic first down.  It’s identical to a personal foul penalty in its punishment in that sense.  However,  it also is subject to immediate review.  If the infraction called on the field is upheld, the player guilty of the targeting is ejected for the remainder of the game if the play took place in the first half of the game.  If the act occurs in the second half of the game, the player also is forced to miss the first half of the next game his team plays.  Below are some very plausible examples of how grossly inconsistent that doled out sentence can be.

  1. If you are ejected for targeting in the first half of a game, you might be out a total of 59 minutes if you illegally contact your opponent in the first minute of the game.  If you hit him with a minute to go in the half, you miss a total of 31 minutes.
  2. If you are ejected for targeting in the second half of a game, you might be out 29 minutes of the remainder of that game and the first 30 of the next for a total of 59 minutes.  If you hit him with a minute to go in the game you miss only 31 total minutes inclusive of the first half of the next game.
  3.  If you apply opposition team strength to point one above you could miss 59 minutes down to 31 minutes against a weaker or stronger opponent than you might face the next week.
  4.  But if the next game’s opponent was much stronger than the game you were tossed from you don’t miss any of it if you are guilty in the first half against a weaker opponent.  Yet, you miss 30 minutes of it if you are guilty in the second half.

The above four scenarios might be a bit confusing.  But suffice it to say when you get thrown out, who you are facing when you get thrown out, and who you will face next week all factor into how severe the loss of playing time is to you and your teammates.  One might say that referees are blind to who is playing now and who is playing next week.  That likely is correct which makes the inequity all the more real.

The targeting rule and it’s penalties(yards, auto first down, and ejection)are the most severe on the college rule books today.  Yet, if you pass interfere on defense 50 yards down the field, unlike the spot foul in the NFL, you only are penalized 10 yards and an auto first down.  This seems like the exact opposite of the harshness of the targeting infraction, though we recognize they differ from a safety point of view.  But, where is the middle ground?

What about a 20 yard penalty(that would be a first) for targeting and an automatic first down.  Any other personal foul by the same player of any sort results in a suspension of the next 60 consecutive minutes of football from that moment.  It’s but one suggestion.

The NCAA rules committee needs to take a long look this offseason.

We may not have the answers, but we do have the questions.

 

 

Abby Roux Takes Down Vegas Part VII

Posted on by boom booms room staff

Abby has spent the last five days licking her wounds from last Saturday.  She also has barked incessantly about two half point bad beats that could have flipped the juice in her favor and sent her to the pay window.  But, bottom line, as Jim Mora once infamously ranted, “we couldn’t do diddly poo!”

Abby’s 3-5 win/loss week took her down to 13-15 against the spread this season.  In the more important bones wagered she has still buried more than she has given, 37 of 73.  And, she recommends that you start paying close attention to her hunch bets.  Vegas is.  Her hunch bet is now a gaudy 5 up and 1 down.

Out of the dog house and into the moola she goes.  This week’s wagers are just below.

Indiana -2 v Maryland -The dumpster fire that is Terrapin football and the entire AD office takes flight to the heartland for an early kickoff.  Anywhere is better for them than College Park, MD.  Indiana at home is better than Indiana on the road.  Two bones.

UCLA +13.5 at Arizona St. -Have the Sun Devils played well enough to be favored by two touchdowns against any PAC 12 team?  The convincing win over Utah was quite nice, but……. Meanwhile, UCLA has lost two in a row while Ariz St. has won two in a row.  Abby loves the spot.  Two weeks ago, in the conference turned upside down, all dogs won straight up on Saturday.  Abby expects more left coast madness.   The Sun Devils should certainly win, but……….  Three bones.

Tennessee +5.5 v Kentucky -Abby loves home dogs.   Abby really loves home dogs playing a team that got pummeled by a Ga Bulldog a week ago.

Smokey loves the checkerboard endzone.

Does Kentucky get up off of the floor and play for 60 minutes?  Or, did last week take the fight out of the Wildcats?  Abby likes the team with the blue tick hound in this one.   Three bones.

Ohio State -3.5 @ Michigan St -THE Ohio State U. is looking for a place to lie down it seems.  However, THE has only one loss and is much maligned for their season to date performance.  Expect this to be back and forth for 50 minutes but THE covers late.  They are going to lose to a team from Michigan soon, but Abby thinks it’s not this week.  Two bones.

Two SEC teams are big 13.5 point underdogs this week.  The Auburn Tigers(+13.5) travel to Georgia while Arkansas(+13.5) host the bruised Tigers of LSU.  Abby is buying seven points for Georgia to get the line down to -6.5.  She is putting them in a two team tease with Arkansas bought up to +20.5   It’s essentially a parlay of sorts that pays even money.  Combine Georgia -6.5 with Arkansas +20.5.   Two bones.

Ole Miss and their high-powered pass offense whistle stops in College Station.  On a hunch Abby is barking about under 66 and 1/2.  She likes to zig when others zag you know.   There must be something about A&M’s Reveille and whistles that makes this game an itch that Abby must scratch.

The college football regular season is growing short.  Enjoy the games.

Woof!