Ok, now it's 4:30 am and that's even more bizarre than it was a few hours ago Welcome, to the Twilight Zone..... (weird music in background)
Nope. Not sarcastic. I don't like how pre-game analysis has just become about predicting a winner. It bothers me that media analysis has become mostly about this, and that it has leached into popular discussion as well. There are simply better, and more productive, ways to discuss an upcoming game. No one even remembers the predictions, and they don't remotely help other people understand or enjoy the game.
Does Tennessee beat Florida? I would like to see TN beat Florida to make the east real interesting, but I don’t think TN has the horses to keep up with Florida – I pick Florida. Does Kentucky beat Louisville? I’m picking Kentucky – this is the best chance they have had to beat Louisville. Does Arkansas beat Alabama? Well they are both in our division – this is like picking the Mich/ND game – you would just a soon both of them lose. I think Bama fans are going to experience some tense moments before it is over, but someone will have to win it so I pick Bama in a close one.
This is a discussion board, and I see no problem with a predictions discussion. Is that a soapbox you're standing on?
With all due respect, how would you personally discuss the upcomming games in a "better, more productive" way? I mean if you are talking about comparing two teams players, stats, coaches, strategies, etc, then that leads to the inevitable conclusion that one is better than the other one or one could beat the other... i.e. a speculation... funny how that works... Or we could all sit an talk about how pretty their uniforms are I guess, but I don't see that as helping anyone understand or enjoy the game.. It's a discussion forum about upcoming games.. what did you think would be posted here?
I have simply never believed that discussion of upcoming games necessarily required a prediction of who would win. I especially dislike it when game analysis is entirely replaced by game prediction. I find them entirely uninformative and unhelpful. I don't even really see the purpose. The model as currently is in vogue is to analyze the game as follows: 1) State who will win. 2) State what factors will bring about the result in #1. I prefer the following model: 1) State the key matchups within the game (for example, MSU's LT Michael Brown against Auburn's right DE Quentin Groves) 2) State how various outcomes of this matchups may impact the course and flow of the game. It's a much more productive model of analysis that a) doesn't force you to predict the unpredictable and b) if done right and read by someone who knows football but is unfamiliar with the teams involved, would actually aid that person in enjoying and understanding the game that unfolds before him on Saturday.
Whatever creams your twinkie... For the record, here's my unpredictable predictions... Florida over Tennessee Louisville over Kentucky (though I'd like to see otherwise) Alabama over Arkansas (though I'd like to see otherwise) My reasons behind these predictions? I woke up this morning and got out of bed on the left side instead of the right. :thumb:
I understand what PP is saying, we had a pretty in depth discussion on Blake Mitchell and South Carolina earlier on this year. The thing is...you don't have a lot of fans that follow the teams (other than their own) close enough to make comparisons between say...the DT's vs OT's. Unless, it's two highly regarded players. I haven't watched Florida or UT this season. I will, but not as of this date. I do, however, have 70-80 pages of notes on the teams in SEC saved. Based on the inconsistency UT has demonstrated, I want to say UF in this game. With UK and Louisville, it's going to be an explosive offensive matchup. It's the kind of game I usually avoid watching considering I'd much rather see a good defensive game. No doubt, it'll be two the best QB/WR combinations in the country on both teams.
I didn’t realize this was a statistics class. :shock: I thought it was an internet LSU fan discussion site. The good thing is that most of us just like to talk LSU sports since we haven/t figured out a way to make a living at it. ldskule: ldskule: ldskule:
