College football Week 1 running thread.

Matt, When I typed it, I actually meant "horrible" in the sense that it killed that team and their season went downhill after that, but it was a horrible call just in the sense of that being a stupid rule that wasn't uniformly enforced. They don't call that penalty when actual excessive celebrations take place sometimes. This was NOT one, no matter what the rule says. The guy scored what would have been the game-tying TD (with the PAT) on a scramble with two seconds left and before hugging all his teammates he threw the ball over his shoulder. He didn't throw it 50 feet in the air. He didn't do it in a taunting way. He was just getting rid of it. He just tossed the ball and jumped into a teammate's arms. And they threw the flag. There was nothing premeditated. No taunting. Just a huge moment in a football game, in which they spontaneously celebrated a TD, the same way EVERY team does when they are about to tie a game with no time left.

Here is how it played on TV, for others to judge for themselves. The commentators immediately were saying, WTF? Maybe they didn't know the rule, but they are right. Common sense dictates that the officials had more impact on that game -- for a stupid reason -- than the players did. Sports shouldn't be played that way.

They blew the kick. But it was a PAT that was turned into a 35 yarder. Do they have to hit that 35 yarder after that? Yes. They blew it. But that game was purely in the hands of the officials. And football should never be decided that way. Not when the kid spirit of the rule, which really should be "don't excessively celebrate or taunt the other team."

You make it sound like I presented some distortion or that I have a rooting interest with your "At least you mentioned," comment. I really don't.

Objectively, I will say that Washington got screwed by a DUMB penalty call, in which that ref should have eaten the flag. And it should have kicked a normal PAT. That was NOT an excessive celebration. And if they had hit it, that game would have gone into OT. All I said was that Washington had some heartbreaking losses last year and that game was at the top of the list.

 

I like your picks, except Nebraska and Alabama. Nebraska would give me major pause. I don't like them favored by 21 or 22. That is a lot of points to cover by a Nebraska. This isn't one of the spread, high-flying Big 12 teams. And Florida Atlantic can usually play with anyone in the country. At least hang tough. They are probably the only team that can challenge Troy in the Sun Belt this year. Schnellenberger can still coach and the QB Rusty Smith is healthy this year. They disappointed last year, but they opened the season 1-5 when he was hurt and then the second half of the year when he came back they were a hot team. They went 5-1 after that and won their bowl game against Dan LeFevour and Central Mich. That is just a game I wouldn't touch. On Alabama/VT, it's a coin flip if you ask me. And you'll be laying 6 1/2 or 7 points. Who in league play do you think is going to be better than Virginia Tech, which is a legit national title contender? The only teams on Alabama's schedule that ares arguably as good, or better, than VT are Ole Miss and LSU. And I could argue that VT is better than either (although I think they are all on par until the season plays out). Definitely not Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee or Auburn.