The Pagentry Begins

Whoa nelly, there may not be another Keith Jackson, but there is certainly another college football season. You can smell it in the air (actually that's just pollen, hay, and ragweed). If you love low-grade higher education institutions smacking around schools of enlightenment, then Saturday mornings and afternoons are just the ticket for you. (Michigan football practice schedules will be available after class.) For all that is wrong with our minor league football system called the NCAA, I can't help but get excited each season. Hope springs eternal for somewhere around 85% of Division I schools that might just make the pete'sblog.com bowl or the Used Canned Goods Classic.

That is why I love college football and continue to grow an overwhelming collection of Athlon Sports preseason publications. I know my school has no chance at winning a national title or even a Big Ten title this year, but I do know that we might get to face Baylor in mid December for an ugly trophy. Most of the folks that favor a playoff either don't really enjoy watching college football and its regular season or have no real school to support. So by all means continue to bitch about the voting system and why your adopted team from the west coast got screwed because their games are on late. No my friend, they're not in the title game because their non-conference resume included Toledo Tech, Sisters of the Poor, and the School for the Deaf and the Blind. I called Jeff Sagarin and they're all in the bottom half of his ranking system. So to complete this semi-rant, leave my sport alone and hurry back to cover the WNBA and watch Blue Jackets hockey.

For at least half of the Division I schools that will take the field this weekend, you'll be able to watch hard working student-athletes live out their childhood dreams. If you've paid attention the past two years, you know that every single Saturday brings us a wondeful upset. Most of these games are televised and will bring you more enjoyment than the Raiders/Chiefs clash on the following day (unless you invested a high fantasy fb pick in Run DMC). So make sure to start the football season off right with a Saturday full of bad non-conference college football. That's the first sign of fall my friends.

Dear Mr. Fantasy

The fantasy football drafts are upon all of us at this point. If you've already participated, hopefully you didn't find your way to Matt Cassel, Torry Holt, or Brandon Marshall. Cassel is hurt and bad, said best by a rival coach "I don't know why the Jags signed Holt; he's got nothing left," and you're familiar with the predicament that Mr. Marshall finds himself in. These three are some of my worst investment grades for the upcoming season along with any running back in a three way timeshare as I've mentioned before. Don't be afraid to snatch up some of these touchdown vultures in late rounds like LeRon McClain, Greg Jones, Peyton Hillis, and maybe even Edgerrin James. With that said, only invest a pick on a guy that gets less than 3 touches a game when all the flex players are off the board. I'm talking about Bradshaw, Sproles, Washington, Felix, and Norwood. Please, please, please (don't go on me...PJ reference anyone?) don't draft a player that gets cut on Saturday. It is a big day, so check those updates. This year is a big year to get a #1 RB, WR, and QB in every redraft league. You need one of the top 6 or 7 receivers, 5 or 6 quarterbacks, and 10 or so running backs to make your roster balanced. Don't be grabbing Clinton Portis and wonder why your #1 WR is Chad Ochocinco. If you're really desperate and haven't paid attention, buy the Sports Illustrated fantasy fb mag, print out an updated top 200 right before your draft, subscribe to Rotoworld's draft guide, and talk as much crap as you can at the draft in case you don't get another chance during the season. Good luck to everyone.

Roto baseball players should be dropping anyone who has struggled for the past two weeks or more. These guys will not turn it around in the final month, unless by turn it around you mean the U-Haul to get the H out of town.