You will respect my authority

2020 Bowl Season Schedule Released

College football bowl schedule was released from Bowl Season on Twitter.  A few things of note.  

No Holiday Bowl this season due to the pandemic.  Curious also with cost to run a bowl in a stadium barely being used how much longer it can last at Qualcomm or what ever its called now.  I know Iowa-USC drew a decent crowd but maybe they need to look at moving it to the MLS park that will be built there.

A few new bowls are popping up in Myrtle Beach, Frisco Texas and Sofi Stadium.  

The one of note here is the LA Bowl.  It is in the brand new Rams stadium, a 5 billion dollar stadium.   How soon till that stadium is a player in the major New Years Day 6, and along with the Las Vegas Bowl.  These stadiums aren't going to sit out from having not being a major player in the college football world.  

The Cotton Bowl moved from the Cotton Bowl on the grounds of the Texas State Fair to the Billion dollar stadium of Jerry World.  The Rose Bowl is an epic setting but could something be moved to SoFi that upstages the Rose?  

Las Vegas is just to much of a gold mine money pit for everyone involved to not be throw in there.  It does get an upgrade soon with the SEC/BIG Ten partnerships.  

I think we could see these New Year 6 expand to a New Years 8 with those 2 venues.  

Campus Town

2020 Week 9 Predictions

We've made it to Week 9, there have been game casualties and cancellations, but its 2020, we'll take it.  Here are this weeks picks:

This week brings the first ever match-up of Mike Leach and Nick Saban.  Will the Bulldogs swashbuckle the Tide?

Week 9 Picks

Coastal Carolina vs Georgia State

Memphis vs Cincinnati

Colorado State vs Fresno State

Virginia Tech vs Louisville

North Carolina vs Virginia

Kansas State vs West Virginia

Iowa State vs Kansas

TCU vs Baylor

Texas vs Oklahoma State

Oklahoma vs Texas Tech

LSU vs Auburn

Mississippi State vs Alabama

Arkansas vs Texas A&M

Last Week : 7-5

Season : 44-38

Campus Town

2020 Week 9 Big Ten Predictions

Covid in week 2 has made its self known in the Big Ten.  Wisconsin's is infected.  Quarterbacks, head coach and others.  That game has been ruled a no contest.  No word yet on what will happen with their week 10 match-up with Purdue.  To compete in the Big Ten title game they must compete in 6 games.  Interesting times ahead.  Politics has paved its way into covid, how will they affect the Big Ten now.

Week 10 Picks

Minnesota over Maryland

Michigan over Michigan State

Purdue over Illinois

Iowa over Northwestern

Indiana over Rutgers

Ohio State over Penn State

Last Week : 3-4

Season : 3-4

Campus Town

Saved By The Bell Reboot Official Trailer

This still looks awesome!  And Zach and Kelly make an appearance.  

 

2020 Week 9 Big Ten Power Rankings

 

Big Ten Power Rankings

1.  Ohio State

2.  Michigan

3.  Wisconsin

4.  Indiana

5.  Penn State

6.  Northwestern

7.  Purdue

8.  Iowa

9.  Minnesota

10.  Nebraska

11.  Rutgers

12.  Michigan State

13.  Illinois

14.  Maryland

2020 Week 8 Big XII Awards

Team of the Week : Kansas State : With a lot of the focus in the conference on the showdown in Stillwater, the Wildcats showed up and did what was expected; they DESTROYED Kansas.  K-State was helped along with 2 punt returns for scores by Phillip Brooks.  55 yards in the first quarter and then 52 at the end of the first half.  The Wildcats are no 4-0 in the Big XII and along with Oklahoma State have big jump ahead of the rest of the conference to get to Arlington and the Big XII Title Game.  With the 55-14 win the 'Cats have won 12 straight Sunflower State Showdowns.  The longest by either school in the battle for the Governors Cup.

One heartbeat

Game Highlights vs KU ⤵️

#KStateFB ⚒ pic.twitter.com/hsli0l6XaY

— K-State Football (@KStateFB) October 24, 2020

Game of the Week : Oklahoma State 24 - Iowa State 21 : The showdown in Stillwater felt more like a Big Ten Game rather than a Big XII shootout.  With these 2 teams defenses I'm not really shocked though.  The Cyclones scored first, but after OSU scored to tie it seemed they had control of the game.  The Pokes in the second half etched out a 10 point lead early in the fourth quarter.  The Clones scored late with 49 seconds left, but couldn't recover the onside kick to make it more interesting.  Oklahoma State along with K-State now are jockeyed ahead of everyone in the conference for the bids to the title game.  The Cowboys needed this one more though with their next 3 games vs Texas, KState and Oklahoma.  Don't count Iowa State out of anything either.  They own the tie breaker over Oklahoma and get Texas and K-State coming up.

Player of the Week : Phillip Brooks - PR - KState : Brooks set school records for KState for Punt Return yardage and scores in a game with his 2 scores vs Kansas.  Brooks 4 returns totaled 189 yards for the Wildcats.  His first return of 55 yards put KState on the board first.  His other score closed out the first half, essentially putting the nail in the coffin for the Jayhawks.

Brooks does it AGAIN!

He returns his SECOND punt for a TD in the first half for @KStateFB 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UGfYuj8Ezq

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 24, 2020

Big XII Scores

Oklahoma State 24 - Iowa State 21

Oklahoma 33 - TCU 14

Texas Tech 34 - West Virginia 27

Texas 27 - Baylor 16 

Kansas State 55 - Kansas 14

2020 Week 8 Big Ten Awards

Welcome back Big Ten Football!  It wasn't the same with out you!  Week 8 (1) brought quarterbacks going on crazy completion streaks, a rivalry trophy game, a few upsets and a shocker in Bloomington.  

Team of the Week : Rutgers : The Schiano-effect hitting full power in the Scarlet Knights first game in East Lansing. This could have gone to Indiana (upset of Penn State) or Michigan (a hot pick to be upset-see weekly picks) but this is going to a team that ended a 21 game conference losing streak in a DOMINATING fashion.  Rutgers forced 7 Spartan turnovers; 7!  One coming on the 1 yard line and setting up a 14-0 1st quarter lead.  The game wasn't as close as the 38-27 score, felt more like a 30 pt lead.  Congrats Rutgers on breaking the streak.  Next up, the newly ranked Indiana Hoosiers.

7 Takeaways 🪓 pic.twitter.com/GTlKU5OVfR

— Rutgers.Football (@RFootball) October 24, 2020

Game of the Week : Indiana 36 - Penn State 35 (OT) : Going into Saturday the Hoosiers were 22-1 vs Penn State all time.  They only gained 211 yards and gave up 488, but got it where it mattered most, on the scoreboard.  They got it by the closest of margins too.  The game went back and forth in spite of the yardage difference.  The Hoosiers raced out to a 17-7 half time lead behind Stevie Scott's 2 touchdown runs.  Penn State owned the 2nd half and got out to a 28-20 lead late in the 4th.  Indiana went 75 yards then in a 1:20 and a 2 point conversion tied the game.  After a short kick and good return, Penn State had a chance to kick a field goal at the end of regulation but missed the 57 yarder.  In overtime, Penn State QB Sean Clifford hit Parker Washington for a score, and added the PAT.  Five players later Michael Penix Jr hit Whop Philyor for the score.  The Hoosiers than opted to go for 2 and well they got it by the closest of margins.  

UNREAL ENDING IN BLOOMINGTON! 😲

The OT 2-point conversion came down to the closest of margins, and @IndianaFootball gets its first Top 10 win since 1987! pic.twitter.com/Zo6Mty0RpK

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 24, 2020

We ❤️ you, coach! #LEO pic.twitter.com/nk3x7GUr6J

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) October 25, 2020 

Player of the Week : Grahm Mertz - QB - Wisconsin : The Wisconsin QB made his first career start Friday night vs Illinois, and made it one he won't forget.  Mertz completed his first 17 throws vs the Illini.  That tied a program record.  He also tossed 5 touchdowns among his 20 completions, also a program record.  He finished the game 20/21 with 248 yards.  This was all possible due to the Badgers original start Jack Coan.  Mertz's efforts helped lead the Badgers to a 45-7 win in their conference opener.  

Freshman QB @GrahamMertz5 sure lived up to the hype in his first career start 😎

Watch his program record-tying 5 pass TDs in @BadgerFootball's opening night win against Illinois ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pA44wjThIK

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 24, 2020

Word did come down late Sunday afternoon that Mertz did test positive for Covid-19.  Here's wishing him a speedy recovery!  This also creates another question in the Badger backfield though. 

Week 8 Big Ten Scores

Wisconsin 45 - Illinois 7

Purdue 24 - Iowa 20

Ohio State 52 - Nebraska 17

Indiana 36 - Penn State 35

Northwestern 43 - Maryland 3

Rutgers 38- Michigan State 27

Michigan 49 - Minnesota 24

College Football Fix - 80 MAP

 

2020 Week 8 College Football Picks

There is a reason I only bet money on the Big Ten games, the SEC games last week I picked for upset didn't happen. The upsets that did happen I lost. That cost me and the won-loss record was 5-4 for the week. 

From last week it is clear that Clemson and Alabama are the top 2 schools playing right now. The dominance by Clemson is amazing. It also shows the huge gap between them and everyone else in the ACC. I don't see the Irish putting up any fight and they should roll into the playoff. 

Alabama looked like they were in for a battle in the first half verse Georgia, then after halftime the Tide Rolled.

Ohio State will have some say in the title picture but the rest of the landscape of the 2020 College Football Empire belongs to the Tide and Tigers.

This week the game of the week is in Stillwater. Oklahoma State is unbeaten and hosts Iowa State who is undefeated in conference play. Iowa State has tiebreakers over TCU and Oklahoma right now. The Cowboys over West Virginia. The winner of this game will jump out in front as the clear leader in the race to Arlington. A Cowboy win would be huge with their slate of Texas, K-State, and Oklahoma all coming up. Iowa State still has a game with Texas, K-State and West Virginia coming up so this would be a commanding win for the Clones. 

Week 8 Games / Picks

Louisiana vs UAB

Georgia Southern vs Coastal Carolina

Cincinnati vs SMU

Florida State vs Louisville

Notre Dame vs Pittsburgh

Auburn vs Mississippi

South Carolina vs LSU

Baylor vs Texas

West Virginia vs Texas Tech

Kansas vs Kansas State

Oklahoma vs TCU

Iowa State vs Oklahoma State

Last Week : 5-4

Season : 37-33

Also check out the website I have going, articles will link to the blog.

Campus Town

2020 Week 8...or 1 Big Ten Predictions

It's finally here!  Big Ten football season.  Damn that was a long wait.  Let's enjoy it while its here, never take this for granted.  

The league is going to be playing 8 straight weeks and then add on a fun Championship weekend so these teams can't take any weeks off.  Every week is going to have a bunch of big games.  Week 1 starts out with the Little Brown Jug up for grabs!

Season Record : 0-0

Week 1 Picks

Wisconsin over Illinois
Ohio State over Nebraska
Michigan State over Rutgers
Penn State over Indiana
Iowa over Purdue
Minnesota over Michigan
Northwestern over Maryland

Join the Big Ten only pick'em on CBS Sports

Jedi Fallen Order

I really like the concept of Google Stadia and online gaming rather than spending $600 on a console.  (Post coming soon) and FINALLY Star Wars is coming to Stadia.  Jedi Fallen Order will arrive on 11-24-2020.  

Check it out below.

More announcements today at 11 AM featured a PacMan demo and Hello Engineer.  
Here's to hoping family share is coming as an announcement this week!

Mandalorian Special Look Teaser & Reaction

Star Wars released a special look at the Mandalorian on Monday Night Football.  Take a look below for at the teaser and reaction.  10 more days to wait.

Special Look

Reaction

A Family First

Back when the kids were very little, our family vacations were pretty simple.  Clear Lake to play in the sand and in the water.  A drive up to the Dells and some time there at the water parks.  There were other road trips that maybe one of the kids went on but nothing huge with all 4 of us.  We hadn't really got to go out and see the world.  I was waiting for them to be close to all being old enough to enjoy the trip, and also where I could afford it and plan it.  

My goal with our vacations is to get them out to see things that I never saw as a kid.  My vacations where like theirs.  Clear Lake, had a trip to Chicago, Mt Rushmore and Florida a few times in there.  So we kinda mapped out places we wanted to go and that were drive able.  Our first destination would be St. Louis in 2015 and the Gateway Arch.  We had picked out places to go see such as the City Museum, the Zoo, Science Center, and of course the Arch.  I also checked the calendar out to see if we could hit up a Cards game too.  Lucky enough, they were in town hosting the Reds.  (Was hoping for the Cubs - that will come later)

We packed up the family truckster and shot down early in the morning.  In all our vacations I request that there aren't any electronics brought along.  They read, journal or do activity books in the car or just enjoy the ride and do what i did, watch out the window.  For the most part it has worked well.  Along the way we hit up roadside stops of the American Gothic House, Lover's Leap and Tom Sawyer's Cave.  The game was the first night of our trip, so I wanted to give us time to get there early to walk around the Arch and Busch Stadium.  

The area around New Busch is pretty cool, and this is coming from a Cubs fan.  Ball park village was fun venue to grab some kind of a supper.   It reminded me of Power and Light District almost in Kansas City, but more indoors.  The Cardinals have had a lot of legends pass through St Louis and you see that with all the statues around the outside of the stadium.  Jack Buck, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Dizzy Dean, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson and Rogers Hornsby. Shockingly in 2020 2 of those have passed on.  (Brock and Gibson).  It's always cool to see the history like that around the stadiums.  

The view with the Arch in the background is one of the better ones in a stadium I've been too.  The way it opens up right to that view.  I never was at the old Busch, but the cookie cutter stadium seemed like you couldn't see the Arch as clear.  

My son had already been to a MLB game with me, but as a family and for the girls, this was their first baseball game.  Sadly about the game I really don't remember a lot of the details.  I think we picked the hottest night, and it seems on vacation that happens.  The kids went through big drinks and ice cream.  I think I spent most the night just trying to take in their reactions.  The area we were in seemed to have a lot of families too, which I thought was a good pick for the kids first game.  There were a couple of moms that had brought their kids to the game and we talked to them for a few innings.  As for the game play, the Cards won 4-1 on a Kolton Wong grand slam.  They really didn't do to much but for that.  

The rest of the trip included our trip up to the top of the Arch, a full 8 hours in the City Museum and then a trip to the zoo and the Science Center.  I think that the kids favorite stop was probably Fitz's on the way out of town for root beer floats the size of their heads.  

That was my first trip to St Louis along with the kids and something must have clicked on that vacation because Ryleigh has since asked to go back to St Louis and to the Arch every year since, and also to a game.  This past July her and I were supposed to have a little get away vacation there and had tickets to watch the Cubs in St Louis; Covid-19 and 2020 cancelled that.  I have promised her that we will get it done in 2021.  

Up Next : An Unforgettable Father's Day

2020 Big Ten Predictions

I've had this post created before the cancellation of the season with the original schedule that was to be played.  Most of my thoughts on the conference games are about the same.  The players that have opted out and come back did change a few thoughts, and you can see that list linked below.  

This is a weird season, I'm hoping the conference has enough to get through.  Every week is going to have big games, enjoy it while its here and lets get through to a fun Championship weekend.  

Big Ten Championship

Ohio State over Wisconsin

I'm going chalk.  Ohio State is the best team in the conference.  The only team that can beat them, is them.  I don't expect you'll see a 2017 Iowa or 2018 Purdue happen.  This is the best team to give Alabama or Clemson a fight in the playoff.  

Other Bullets

• Justin Fields will most likely be the player of the year, but Rondale Moore will be the most exciting.
• Adrian Martinez is the starting QB for Nebraska, but for how long.  Luke McCaffrey can't be off the field.  He creates too many good things for Nebraska
• I have Indiana going 4-4 but wouldn't be surprised if they knock off Penn State or Michigan in the East.  
• Will Jim Harbaugh's seat warm up more if they don't get 2nd in the East? 
• How will social turmoil at Iowa affect the team?  It seemed like it was over until just recently.
• Minnesota had a great season last year, but lost 2 trophies.  Can the get the Ax back and break a 5 game losing streak vs Iowa?
• Most importantly for the conference, can they win another playoff game?

Opted out, then back in.  And those who stayed Opted Out

The Right Stuff

The Right Stuff on Disney+ is right now one of my favorite shows on TV.  I'm still watching the Boys Season 2, but this is a great series.  Love the history of the missions to get to space.  Bringing back the names everyone knew back growing up.  Now seeing the relationships of the pilots out on the screen and how they all acted and interact is fun.  Glenn and Sheppard competition with each other and the way that they acted, completely 2 different people, love it 3 episodes in!

Also I love the way that Disney+ is releasing their series 1 at a time every week.  Great idea  

2020 Week 6 Big XII Awards

Well this post is gonna be an easy one.  With another postponed game this week (Oklahoma State at Baylor) the Big XII was down to 1 game again this week.  Kansas heading to Morgantown to take on the Mountaineers.  

Team of the Week : West Virgina : It took a little bit for the Mountaineers to get going, but late in the first quarter, took the lead in the 2nd quarter and then Leddie Brown hit the turbo button for an 87 yard touchdown scamper and the Defense clamped down on the young JayHawks.

Game of the Week : West Virgina - 38 Kansas - 17 :  Well it didn't have any competition so this is the game of he week.  Kansas came out swinging early to get up 10 nothing then reality set in.  West Virginia would have made Pat McAfee proud by clamping down down on the Jayhawks allowing only 157 total yards while putting up over 544.  The Jayhawks did score late to give any betters a bad beat if you took the Mountaineers at +22.5

Player of the Week : Leddie Brown - WVU - RB : Leddie Brown WENT OFF.  The Mountaineer back rushed for 195 yards, added 5 receptions for 36 yards and had 2 scores.  The later coming on a 87 yard dart where he was shot out of a cannon like Mario after scooping up a star.  After that score the Jayhawks were officially done. 

Leddie Brown. The baddest man in Morgantown! @___lb4#HailWV pic.twitter.com/H8kQYyY9Yp

— WVU Football (@WVUfootball) October 17, 2020

The Night Wrigley Shook

I remember this night vividly.  I was in Ankeny at Jake's watching with a bar full of Cubs fans.  A few LA fans had trickled in and were well outnumbered.  

Along with the beers, the game was going really good up 3-1.  Then the momentum shifted with the Dodgers tying it up at 3.  

As talked in the video, the Cubs got the bases loaded and Miggy went up bat.  It's interesting to hear the scenario on how Madden was going to play it out.  

As soon as the ball hit the bat, I think the bar reacted the way the Cubs dugout did.  Instant celebration.  I started hugging this older man that was standing to my right, and we were jumping up and down together.  I think Jakes shook that night too.  We were all whooping and hollering and smiling after that hit that along with the Cubs, we didn't know that Fowler hit a homer too the next at bat.  

Alas the Cubs won, Miggy was the hero of Game 1.  I ended up crashing at a friends house that night after celebrating into the night.  One of my favorite Cubs games I watched, and I still bring this video up to watch every so often just to watch Wrigley shake.  

Brayden 13

Happy 13th birthday Brayden!

You made it a bakers dozen!  Lotta good memories even in a pandemic year. Hopefully the next 365 we can get out more and make more!

Love you buddy...

2020 Week 7 College Football Picks

This weekend is a slim weekend of games, and looks like it will be the last slim weekend with the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Mountain West starting to come back.  There are some good games to look out for though, especially in the SEC, ending with a colossal battle in Tuscaloosa with Alabama hosting Georgia.

I will rant here a little bit.  While I'm excited to watch this game with Georiga vs Bama, the SEC needs to change up their scheduling to get 9 conference games so fans get these epics, and others with cross division opponents.  I would love to see all conferences go to 9-10 games, get rid some of the lesser games that do not enhance the game.  Alas, end rant...on with the picks.  

Week 7

BYU vs Houston

Pittsburgh vs Miami

Kentucky vs Tennessee

Auburn vs South Carolina

Southern Miss vs UTEP

Duke vs North Carolina State

Central Florida vs Memphis

Mississippi vs Arkansas

Texas A&M vs Mississippi State

Georgia vs Alabama

Last Week : 6-4

Season : 32-29

Postponed Games

Cincinnati vs Tulsa

LSU vs Florida

2020 Week 5 Big XII Awards

Game of the week : Oklahoma 53 - Texas 45  4OT :  The Red River Shootout was all that on Saturday.  The first half was tug here and tug there, OU going up by 10, Texas tying the game, and then the 2 entered halftime at 17 a piece.  The 3rd quarter and most of the 4th quarter it looked like OU had a 14 point win locked up and ready to head to Norman.  Then Sam took over and lead the 'Horns to 2 touchdowns in the last 3:28.  Both scored TDs in the first OT and then again in the 2nd OT with the Horns scoring on a great 25 yard scamper by Ehlinger.

Ehlinger AGAIN! @TexasFootball gets the TD to send the Red River Showdown to 3OT pic.twitter.com/MIrJof3rwr

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 10, 2020

In the third quarter both teams missed field goals. Texas had their's blocked by the Sooners and OU shanked it like one of my golf shots.  Then immediately in the 4th OT, the Rattler hit Drake Stoops in the endzone for a score, and added a 2 pt conversion.  

🗣 SPENCER RATTLER PUT THAT ON A DIME@OU_Football bounces back with the TD in 4OT 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ul9A6gpWPy

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 10, 2020

Their D then sealed the win with a pick of Ehlinger.  Both teams now have 2 conference losses early in the season.  

Team of the Week : Iowa State : Could we be looking at the best team in the confernce even with a loss to Louisiana.  Take away 2 special teams gaffs and the Cyclones might be unbeaten.  The D did whatever it wanted to vs Texas Tech, a team that put up 500+ yards on Texas.  This week though they could only muster up 270 total and 95 through just the first 3 quarters.  Take away another special teams play the Red Raiders would have been held to 8 points.  Brock Purdy looked like Brock Purdy of what we remember.  He threw for 302 yards and 2 scores.  

The All-American @charliekolar_ with his first TD of the season to put the Cyclones up 21.

🌪️🚨🌪️ pic.twitter.com/iRn3jHPfWR

— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) October 10, 2020

Breece Hall, the ISU back, may have taken the lead of Big XII Player of the Year too with another solid outing of 135 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Iowa State gets a week off before a matchup with Oklahoma State in which the winner gets way out in front of everyone in a trip to Dallas and the Big XII Title Game.

Player of the Week : Breece Hall - RB - Iowa State : If there has been a model of consistency, its the Cyclones Breece Hall.  The Cyclone back has tallied 4 straight 100 yard games so far, racking up 8 touchdowns in the process far.  Saturday he added 135 and 2 vs the Red Raiders and made the running look effortless.  The way he is running reminds me sort of like another back from the state of Iowa in 2008 (Shonn Greene).  If Hall keeps posting the 100+ and multiple td games, he SHOULD be a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and that will most certainly keep Iowa State near the top of the Big XII all year long.

TD No. 7 for No. 28. #TheBeast

🌪️🚨🌪️ pic.twitter.com/xGOOsWDhJU

— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) October 10, 2020

War With Grandpa

This looks hilarious and looks like something the kids would love.  Add in DeNiro, Walken, Cheech, Rob Riggle and Uma Thurman.  Good time to get some laughs in during the Halloween month. 

The War With Grandpa

Fatman Trailer & Reaction

 Ho Ho Ho....He has a gun too

Fatman

Trailer

Reaction

The 355

5 gals team up to take on Cyber Warfare Jason Borne style.  This looks really good.  I'm a big Chastain, Kruger, Nyong'o and Stan fan.  Great trailer, looks like great action.  The 355 you're on the watch list.

If Covid is beat or tempered down, 2021 could be a good year for movies.

Free Guy

This looks pretty funny.  Almost Ready Player One ish mixed with Pixels on the graphics.  Think if it doesn't get pushed back I'm in for this.   FREE GUY

2020 Week 6 College Football Picks

Last week was ugly week.  5-5 Overall and 1-0 on the extra Big XII game.  Moves my season record to 26-15.  Not the worst week I've had on this season.  I was close to pulling the trigger on Iowa State but thought that Oklahoma wouldn't lose 2 in a row going into the Texas game.  Other losses were Texas, Kentucky, Navy and Auburn.  Let's see if i can do better this week.

Week 6

Virginia Tech vs North Carolina

Texas vs Oklahoma

Florida vs Texas A&M

Duke vs Syracuse

Texas Tech vs Iowa State

Tennessee vs Georgia

Florida Atlantic vs Southern Miss

Kansas State vs TCU

Pittsburgh vs Boston College

Miami (FL) vs Clemson

Last Week : 6-5

Season Record : 26-15

2020 Week 4 Big XII Awards

Team of the Week : Iowa State - This was a close one with TCU, BUT when you get a win over a team for the first time on your home turf since 1960s you get the nod.  The game, played in front of some 15,000 fans, went back and forth after the first quarter.  OU marched down easily their first drive but the Cyclone D held them to a field goal.  Back and forth in the second half, with late in the 4th quarter OU recovered a Purdy fumble and went up 30-23.  Iowa State responded with a long kick return and scored 2 plays later to tie it up.  After a 3 and out from OU, the Cyclones and Breece Hall ran on the Sooners to go up 37-30.  Spencer Rattler then threw a pick sealing the ISU win.   OU is now 0-2 going into the Red River Shootout.  ISU moves to 2-0 in conference play with their only blemish being the loss to Louisiana in the opener. 

For the lead ⤵️

🌪️🚨🌪️ pic.twitter.com/k5jfKTAGLS

— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) October 4, 2020

Game of the Week : TCU 33 - Texas 31 :  The Big XII had really 3 good games this week and it could be easy to say the Iowa State - OU game, but I'll give the nod to TCU vs Texas.  For the second week in a row the Longhorns played from behind.  TCU started the scoring and from the play of Max Duggan and 2 turnovers took a 23-14 lead at Campbell-Williams Field.  Sam Ehlinger did his best to gun sling the Horns back for a second week in a row tossing for 4 scores but in the end was bested by Duggan and his legs.  Duggan threw for 231 yards, and added 79 on the ground with 2 scores.  If the Horns are going to compete for the Big XII they need to shore up the defense and get to where they aren't playing from behind.  Fun fact, the Horned Frogs are 7-2 vs Texas since joining the Big XII.  The state is turning purple from its burnt orange and maroon colors.

Chromecast with Google TV

Ever since the first chrome cast came out I've been a big fan of it.  Being able to show YouTube and Google Photos on TV via the HDMI port.  When I had my first house and cut the cable cord I used it quite a bit.  

When I had my townhouse I cut the dish cord and went to YouTube and bought Roku's for the interface and guide like option with YouTube TV instead of having to cast channels.  Especially with kids being home when I wasn't home, this was a great option.  They could hit the home button and go to all the apps.  My chrome cast was still there to show photos, but used it much less.

Since buying the Stadia, I have used it quite a bit more and getting things more integrated all the way around with the Google/Nest Wifi and the homes and using the assistant and routines more.  

Then Google announced the new Chrome cast with the redesigned Google TV and with remote it has taken the streaming wars to a new level and come from behind and taken the lead from Roku.  The remote is universal and can replace your regular remote, can tie to volume, power and input buttons.  It also syncs to soundbars if you have that.  

Being able to search throughout all your apps on one screen is a game changer.  It's nice to not have to go from Disney+ to YouTube TV to Netflix to Hulu.  It's all there in one screen.  Add in the search with google assistant and the ability to hold a button and just speak it into the remote is great feature.  Search for all Batman movies it brings back everything you can watch.  

The guide for YouTube TV dwarfs that of Roku's version too.  When clicking around different times on the same network there is a very slow response.  On the Chrome cast its quick and very responsive and shows on the screen more than an the hour available.  You can move to the next hours in seamlessly too.

I haven't been upgraded to the Google TV app (formerly Google Play Movies) but it looks like it will be a great feature to tie to the Chrome cast.  Some features seem available already on the web searching movies and shows already.

Google does need integrate Stadia with the Chrome cast yet, but that update is coming in early 2021.  That would be one of the big negatives if you are a Stadia player.  There are ways to backload it that have been documented but may cause some game play latency.

Roku still has a market on TVs they built and are selling.  I've been a fan of those and recommended those to friends.  I also own one in my bar.  There are been some rumblings that Google would be interested in buying Roku.  This would be a HUGE play in the streaming wars vs Apple TV and Amazon with the Fire Stick.    

Chromecast with Google TV in the Google Store

Android Central Chromecast With Google TV Review

Cobra Kai Season 3 Teaser

Netflix released a Teaser for Cobra Kai on social media and then also that Season 4 is in development.  This has been a huge hit when it was on YouTube Premium, I'm surprised they let it get away to Netflix.  Since moving to Netflix it has been a top 10 trending show.  

Enjoy the trailer below.  January 8th seems like along way away, hopefully its not that long till season 4.  

Star Kid

Proud dad moment. Ryleigh came home with the Star of the month award. So proud of her!

SpiderMan 3 gets another (familiar) Villain

News broke late yesterday that Jamie Foxx is signing on to bring back Electro to the big screen in the Spider Man Home 3 movie.  Rumor is that it will also have Kraven in Spidey 3, and with Vulture showing up in Morbius, the MCU and the Sony Spidey Verse look to be blending.  This for us fans is a good thing.  We get to see our favorites all interacting together.   It looks like this will all come with them all coming together with the Sinister 6. 

It will be curious to see the version of Electro we get.  I can't see the version we saw on screen in The Amazing SpiderMan 2 showing up.  I'm guessing it will be something Stark related, tying back to the arc that has worked throughout the MCU.

Check out the News : Foxx returning

Don't Let Social Media Run Your Life

 Not gonna lie after watching this documentary, twice, I've taken control of my social media feed and activity.  Give the link a read and check out the video

https://www.humanetech.com/take-control

Commentary from Russell Brand.  Yes I actually posted this

Mandalorian Season 2 Poster

Released from Disney+ & Star Wars on social media sites is the new poster for Season 2 of the Mandalorian. Cool shot of him and the child on a speeder bike.  29 Days!

How to Bring Back EA Sports NCAA Football!

Every July I would take a day off in the middle to play the new college football game that was released every year. That hasn't happened since 2013.

I've owned every version of the game since Bill Walsh College Football. From SEGA to PS1, PS2, XBOX, and XBOX 1. I wish I had them on PS4 or now Stadia also. But EA Sports hasn't made any since the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit, and its something college football fans all over the place are ready for it to return. Especially after the NIL laws have passed through most states and the NCAA.

How long could it take to build it? I have a plan that could speed it up.

Build it on Madden Engine -- The Madden Engine is pretty fun, it could use some tweaks on the sliders but for the most part its pretty good. They are high quality graphics and game play. Remove the Face of the Franchise mode and add in the Career Mode and Dynasty Mode with the features it had before but add in the Playoffs. The stadiums they had on 2013 are mostly all the same with few updates. It shouldn't take as much effort to create more of the missing stadiums.

Dummy Rosters -- When the game comes out it usually has rosters filled in with players that would be very similar to that of who's on the team. Stats, abilities and profile that make you think that Clemson QB #16 would be Trevor Lawrence except for the name. When you buy the game it should come out with dummy rosters that make it look like the real players. This would avoid any likeness that came out of the Ed O'Bannon Case.

Roster Load -- On previous systems with systems connected to the internet there was roster sharing that was allowed. Users would download updated rosters from users that spent time updating names and filling them out to what the actual teams are. QB #16 would now be Trevor Lawrence when users turned on the game. The roster loads would be free from users. If I were EA I would keep out the roster share portion of the game. As a replacement I would have a file that would be available for purchase (or tied to a bundle) that would be able to be loaded to the game with the rosters already filled out. Tie a cost of $20 to this file and generate some money. Most users I know of this game would easily pass over the money.

Opt Out / Opt In -- Send an opt out/opt in letter to all players that are on the rosters to be able to include the players and their likeness on the previous mentioned roster load. Along with this would come some form of compensation depending on the number of people that opt in and how many files would be sold. That is about 70 players per roster. Since players can now benefit, who wouldn't buy in to this?

Athlete Offer -- Along with the Opt In option to pay the college players for use of their likeness, send each user a copy of the game, this would be a $60 dollar value for each player. Most games now are downloaded to a platform or played via stream but still purchased. They all don't need to be sent a actual package, but could rather be sent a code to download the game.

Payment -- Now how to pay the players. The athletes on average would be in the game for about 4 years. Each player would get an account that would keep accumulating money for each year of the game. Most game players move on to the new version the July it comes out. For players that leave for the pros or graduate they would be able to receive their check for compensation after that July. This would allow the accounts a chance to accumulate some interest and bank as much as possible rather than that of smaller chunks of money. More interest accumulated = more available for image and likeness.

The Numbers -- EA sold 500,000 copies of NCAA 13 and 1 million copies of NCAA 14. I'll run the numbers on the low end. Not a bad little check players could receive, along with a free copy each year of the game they are "In The Game"

EA Sports, what are you waiting for?

Realignment | Scheduling | Post Season | Video Game