Beer and Football - nothing Better

Sales tip of the Day:  Learn to ask great questions.  All great salespeople know how to ask the smart questions that establish rapport and help build a solid business relationship.  Practice, Practice, Practice. 

 

Beer of the Week:  Chimay Trappist Ale.  Monks know how to brew some good beer.

 

I am missing a fantastic annual birthday party tonight where the main course is always Brats and Kraut.  Bummer.  If you want good comfort food, go find the best country pork ribs you can find, rub them with dry mustard, black pepper, salt, brown sugar and a little whiskey.  Slow cook them with some kraut.  Enjoy. 

 

 

Games of the Week

 

ACC

 

The ACC is the wackiest FBS conference.  Virginia’s the only undefeated team in conference play, Florida State is 1-3, the entire Atlantic Division has 2 or 3 conference losses, Miami throttled Ga Tech, Va Tech throttled Miami and Ga Tech beat Va Tech.  No team wants to step up and win the ACC.  Amazing. 

 

Georgia Tech vs. Virginia.  Tech secured the big win over the Hokies last weekend.  Can they give Virginia their first conference loss?  I’m not sold on the Cavs.  Their wins are against mediocre teams.  Tech should roll in this game, 31-14.

 

Big East

 

This is movement weekend in the Big East.  Four of the top five teams play each other.  Pitt squares off against South Florida and UConn plays West Virginia.  The Pitt/S.Fla game is probably the better game, but the more interesting story is how the Huskies will play after dealing with Jasper Howard’s death last Saturday.  WVU owns the series and should win a close game, 27-21.

 

Big Ten

 

After OSU’s collapse at Purdue last weekend, the Iowa Hawkeyes sit alone the conference standings.  This week, the Hawkeyes travel to Michigan State to battle a much improved Spartan team.  MSU is 3-1 in the Big Ten and looking to stay in the race for the conference championship.  This will be a close game, but I like Iowa to squeak out the win, 24-20.

 

Pa St travels to Michigan.  Penn State never plays well at the Big House, but the Lions need this win to stay in the Big Ten race.  Tough game to call.  I’ll call for the mild upset.  Wolverines win a shootout, 38-35. 

 

Big 12

 

After beating Oklahoma last weekend in a very ugly game, Texas is in the driver’s seat for the championship.  Don’t blow it is the motto.  The Longhorns first test is at Missouri.  The Tigers have a pretty good team, but should not pose any real threat to Texas.  Game is close, but Texas opens up a comfortable lead late in the 3^rd quarter.  Texas 38-18.

 

Oklahoma travels to Lawrence to take on the Kansas Jayhawks.  Kansas was rolling until last weekend when the Colorado Buffaloes pulled the upset.  I think the Jayhawks were looking ahead to this game.  Is it possible that Oklahoma, a legitimate preseason BCS championship contender, could have four losses midway through the 09 season?  Losing Bradford hurts, but this team should be better.  Oklahoma wins a very close game, 24-21.

 

PAC 10

 

Oregon sits alone at the top of the PAC 10 standings.  How long will they stay there?  Not long.  Oregon travels to Washington this week.  Can the Huskies catch the Ducks looking ahead to USC next week?  Yes.  UW wins a surprisingly low scoring game.  21-17. 

 

USC’s 2008 championship hopes went down the drain in a loss to Oregon State.  Think Pete Carroll has been reminding the Trojans all week about that devastating loss?  Of course.  USC might be looking ahead to the Oregon game too so don’t expect a blow out.  Trojans win 27-17. 

 

SEC

 

I’m tempted to say the Alabama vs. Tennessee game is the game of the week in the SEC, but I think the LSU vs. Auburn game has more ramifications in the SEC West race.  The loser is essentially out of contention; though the way the Bama’s playing, both teams might already be out of the race.  The last five LSU/Auburn games have been decided by a total of 19 points.  The game is in Death Valley so I’ll give the Bayou Tigers the edge, but this will be another close game,17-14. 

 

Besides Auburn, Bama’s closest mortal enemy is Tennessee.  These two schools hate each other, and that is good for the fans.  The Tide spanked the Vols last year in Knoxville.  Expect more of the same this year.  The Tide rolls 28-10. 

 

Non-Conference

 

TCU vs BYU.  If TCU wants to make it to a BCS bowl game, they have to beat BYU in Provo.  Both teams are playing well.  This will be a mild upset.  BYU wins, 31-27. 

 

The Catholic Bowl.  ND vs. BC.  Don’t be fooled.  The series is evenly split, and BC’s won six straight.  The Irish are playing at home and should get a fairly comfortable win, 35-21.