We got sports!
Fri-Day! Yes! And as you roll into the weekend, here’s a quick guide with a few things worthy of your precious free time…
Underdogs?
In my humble opinion, Ole Miss has been the most impressive college football team in the country this season. They not only won a neutral site game against a very good Louisville team, but then last weekend they outlasted a very good LSU team in what was the most highly-anticipated game in a while.
Calling Ole Miss impressive isn’t really quantifiable statistically via team numbers, at least not this early in the season. My feeling is more based on the eye test, which after all is how we rate most college football teams. To me, Ole Miss has the best player in college football in quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who leads the SEC in passing and plays with an unmatched confidence and skill. I think we can all agree that Ole Miss is a great team, maybe even the best team in the country.
Which is why it’s so weird to me that this week, Ole Miss is favored to lose. Sure, Ole Miss is on the road. Sure, they’re playing at Florida, who are among the conference leaders in offensive numbers. Sure, they have running back Jadan Baugh, who is second in the country in yards per game, averaging over 8 yards per carry. And like Ole Miss, Florida enters this game 3-0, on the heels of a win at Auburn.
Florida is currently favored by 3 points in this game. I’m apparently not the only person who saw this line and thought it weird—according to some experts, one of the most popular bets this weekend is people wagering on Ole Miss.
Which seems logical, right? Ole Miss just beat LSU, they’ve got a quarterback nobody can get a hand on, and they’ve got experience in big games on the road. Florida outscored Auburn, but they also allowed 39 points. What kind of numbers will Ole Miss put up against them?
It’s a weird situation, so confusing that the fans involved have decided to just respect each other this week instead of talking trash. I think Ole Miss will win this game. But I bet on Florida, since that’s where the value is.
My eyes may tell me one thing, at least my brain knows it doesn’t know everything.
October in September
The MLB Playoffs begin on Tuesday, with a few huge matchups lining up, such as Red Sox versus the Yankees, and the Braves against the Phillies.
Postseason baseball is probably the best version of the game, with every pitch scrutinized, every swing dissected. The crowds are locked in from start to finish, and the tension rises to a level that’s palpable for even the casual fan.
But why does it feel like nobody’s talking about the MLB Playoffs being around the corner? I get it that we’re in the midst of college football, the NFL, hockey preseason, with NBA preseason around the corner (more on that in a minute), but this is the culmination of the MLB season! It’s why we’ve sat through 162 games. This is the best version of baseball.
I can wait on watching NFL teams figure things out. Right now, I’m fired up for baseball. Chop on, Braves.
We Back
As I mentioned, on Monday morning the Memphis Grizzlies return! Well, they’re going to return long enough to take a bunch of pictures and talk a little bit.
Monday is Media Day, when the Grizzlies all show up with fresh haircuts and raring to go for the new season. It usually feels like the first day of school, getting the chance to see everyone for the first time after a long summer. I enjoy the day because it gives us a chance to hear from everyone, about where they focused in the offseason, about what their goals are heading into the new season.
And you, too, can ride through media day alongside us—Grind City Media will be broadcasting live all day long, featuring interviews and analysis. Tap in with us!!
Odds and Ends…
- This week I learned that there’s a group of scientists out there actively searching for Noah’s Ark…
- Also in academia, chimps are teaching their kids how to use tools. This is definitely setting up for a Planet of the Apes-style showdown…
- On this site you can play Solitaire alongside strangers on the internet. It’s really much more comforting than it sounds…
- Can you draw a perfect circle?…
- Make some barbecue chicken this weekend…