Football Future-see 2014: Week One ***OPENING WEEK!***

August 28, 2014. The day college football truly returned to our television sets and radios. Okay, technically, the top tier season beginsAugust 27, but no one’s really looking at that particular game, considering the opening week slate we have before us from the “Power 5” conferences. 

Texas A&M visits South Carolina in the first ever live game broadcast on the SEC Network. Boise State and Ole Miss tangle in the Georgia Dome. And that’s just Thursday. It gets even better on Saturday. 

Penn State and Central Florida kick off the day from scenic Dublin, Ireland. Then we get West Virginia against Alabama, Clemson visiting Georgia, defending national champions FSU take on Oklahoma State in Jerry’s World, and LSU greets Wisconsin in a neutral site game in Houston. 

By now you know how this works. I predict the winner of the game, and I throw in a final score, just for fun. Last season was definitely not my best, finishing 82-41 on the year, a correct percentage of .667. I’ll pick at least five games every week. Opening week, Championship Week, and Bowl Season always get more. There are a couple weeks this season that will see more than five games picked. I’m aiming for .750 this season. 

For the rankings, I’ll use the AP Top 25 Poll until the first College Football Playoff Selection Committee (CFPSC) poll comes out in late October. So let’s kick off the seventh edition of The Right Wing’s Football Future-see! 

Record
Week 1	7-2
Week 2	0-0
Week 3	0-0
Total	0-0	1.000

The Games: 

UPDATE: After nine games I'm 7-2, missing on South Carolina and Central Florida. And How impressive was Georgia in dismantling Clemson? Todd Gurley put on a Heisman caliber display against a Clemson front seven that was greatly hyped in the preseason. Gurley tallied 198 yards on 14 carries, scoring three rushing touchdowns. He also returned a a kickoff over 100 yards. The Dawgs defense played much improved ball under the leadership of new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.

21 Texas A&M at 9 South Carolina (Thursday, 6:00pm, SEC Network) 
The SEC Network’s coverage of conference play roars to life with the Aggies visiting South Carolina on Thursday night. What can the Aggies do in life after Johnny Football? South Carolina is a much more known commodity than A&M. The Gamecocks are breaking in a new QB, much like almost everyone in the SEC. Dylan Thompson got some playing time last year behind Connor Shaw, but he’s taking the reins this year on a team that should be pretty good. RB Mike Davis is among the best in the conference, if not the nation, and the O-Line should give him plenty of room. We’ll learn about A&M as we go, but South Carolina looks alright. Gamecocks win going away. 
Final Score: South Carolina 31, Texas A&M 17   INCORRECT

Boise State vs 18 Ole Miss (Thursday, 8:00pm, ESPN - Atlanta, GA) 
The first of two kick-off classic games in the Georgia Dome features a Boise State team that has just replaced its head coach against an SEC team with the most experienced QB in the conference. Ole Miss, led by QB Bo Wallace, went 8-5 last year with wins over LSU, Texas, and Georgia Tech in the Music City Bowl. They were shut out by Alabama but played both Auburn and Texas A&M close. They’re expected to be better this year. Boise State, meanwhile, will be seeking to re-establish themselves as the top non-Power-5 school. Ole Miss, though, will see the Broncos to an early season loss. 
Final Score: Ole Miss 30, Boise State 23    CORRECT

Penn State vs Central Florida (Saturday, 8:30am, ESPN2 – Dublin, Ireland) 
Every so often an attempt is made to take American sports to the European audience. A year or two ago, Notre Dame played Navy in Dublin, Ireland. This year, the storied program of Penn State makes the trip to Dublin, but their opponent is the not-so-storied University of Central Florida. I’m not meaning this as a slight against UCF, who played great football last season. But if you want to take the game of American college football to Europe, you would usually try to send the programs with the most history (Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, Alabama, etc.). Not Central Florida. Like basically every program playing college football this year, Central Florida is breaking in a new QB, but rumor is their new guy is very much a suitable replacement for the now Jacksonville Jaguar Blake Bortles. This game should be fun…after all; it is James Franklin’s debut as Penn State’s head coach. How he transitions to the Big Ten should be a fun watch all season. Close game, but in the end, UCF by a field goal. 
Final Score: Central Florida 27, Penn State 24    INCORRECT

West Virginia vs 2 Alabama (Saturday, 3:30pm, ABC / ESPN2 - Atlanta, GA) 
The second kick-off classic game from the Georgia Dome features perennial championship contender Alabama against a West Virginia squad coming off a 4-8 season that included a 37-point loss to Maryland and a mere 7-point victory over lowly William & Mary. Alabama, like basically everyone else in the SEC not named Ole Miss, is breaking in a new QB. It looks like FSU transfer Jacob Coker will take the starting job in Tuscaloosa. Currently taking a break from burning couches, the good fans of West Virginia are currently face-palming over head coach Dana Holgorsen’s comment that “lying to recruits” is simply part of the process. Meanwhile, Nick Saban is chuckling in his office. ‘Bama rolls. 
Final Score: Alabama 37, West Virginia 14     CORRECT

Arkansas at 6 Auburn (Saturday, 4:00pm, SEC Network) 
This game might get ugly in a hurry. See, Auburn was lucky a lot last year. They got the Prayer in Jordan-Hare to knock off Georgia, and then got a miracle in the form of Nick Saban forgetting how to coach for the span of 35 seconds, leading to a 109-year field-goal return for the game-winning touchdown. Then again, Auburn flat ran over Missouri in the SEC Championship Game and took the mighty Florida State Seminoles (whose average game score last year was about 115-7) to the wire, forcing FSU to require a last-minute TD to win. And Auburn should be even better this year. If Nick Marshall is anything close to what he was last season, then Auburn should exceed last year’s margin of victory over the Hogs (35-17). The Plainsmen War Eagle Tigers win. 
Final Score: Auburn 45, Arkansas 13     CORRECT

16 Clemson at 12 Georgia (Saturday, 5:30pm, ESPN) 
Both teams are, technically, breaking in new quarterbacks. Georgia’s Hutson Mason is a fifth-year Senior who has played under the same head coach and offensive coordinator his entire career while backing up SEC record-setter Aaron Murray. Clemson will start Senior QB Cole Stoudt, who has a career completion percentage above 70%, with 8 TDs to 1 interception, though he did not see any playing time against Georgia, South Carolina, or Ohio State last year. Georgia’s offense is possibly capable of putting up 40+ points per game. RB Todd Gurley will have a stable of solid backs around him, as Keith Marshall returns from injury and Sony Michel and Nick Chubb join the stable. The defense is still a bit of a head-scratcher, though. New Defensive Coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, fresh off a national championship with FSU, comes to Athens and will look to outdo former DC Todd Grantham…which probably won’t be too hard to accomplish. This won’t be as good a game as last year’s version, but the outcome will be different. Dawgs win. 
Final Score: Georgia 35, Clemson 24     CORRECT

Fresno State at 15 USC (Saturday, 7:30pm, FOX) 
The last time USC played Fresno State, the Trojans won 45-20 in the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl. Fresno State is, like so many others, breaking in a new QB (are you noticing a trend here?). Former QB Derek Carr has fled for the greener (money) pastures of the NFL. Replacing him will be either Brandon Connette or Brian Burrell. For some reason, I think this game will be closer than the Las Vegas Bowl, though I’m not sure why. The Steve Sarkisian era in Southern California begins with a win. 
Final Score: USC 27, Fresno State 21     CORRECT

1 Florida State vs Oklahoma State (Saturday, 8:00pm, ABC – Arlington, TX) 
The Saturday night prime time game, and this season’s first ESPN College Gameday, comes to us from Jerry’s World, aka the Death Star, aka The Palace in Dallas, aka AT&T Stadium. Defending national champion Florida State battles Big XII contender Oklahoma State. Florida State is one of the few teams in college football that is not replacing its QB. Jameis Winston, fresh off a national championship and a crab leg extravaganza, looks to repeat as Heisman winner and champion. The beating FSU will lay on Okie State will be a good first step for him. 
Final Score: Florida State 38, Oklahoma State 20     CORRECT

14 Wisconsin vs 13 LSU (Saturday, 9:00pm, ESPN – Houston, TX) 
One of the bigger nonconference games of week one pits LSU against Wisconsin, from Houston. Given the relative proximity to LSU, this might be a de facto home game for the Tigers. LSU, like Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Alabama, is breaking in a new QB. Freshman RB Leonard Fournette could be a huge addition for LSU. Wisconsin meanwhile brings a lot of conference pride for the Big Ten into a match-up with rival SEC. Wisconsin will contend for the Big Ten conference title, but they won’t get past LSU. Tigers win. 
Final Score: LSU 31, Wisconsin 21     CORRECT

Miami at Louisville (Monday, 8:00pm, ESPN) 
The big ACC conference game of week one is Miami visiting Louisville on Monday night. Miami is trying to claw their way back to the top of the conference. Louisville is looking to make an impact for their new conference. Guess what Louisville is doing? That’s right, replacing their QB. They’ve already replaced their head coach and defensive coordinator. Of course, Miami is replacing their QB, as well. The last time Miami played Louisville, the Cardinals won by 27. I expect this one will be closer, but I think Louisville wins at home. After all, Bobby Petrino knows how to win. 
Final Score: Louisville 31, Miami 24

Breaking Down the SEC

It’s pretty clear from reading this blog that I’m a huge fan of the Southeastern Conference. I’ll watch any SEC game that’s on, even if it’s Kentucky vs Mississippi State, a game that’s not very likely to impact the conference championship. 

Here’s a rundown of predicted order of finish (reverse order, starting with the bottom of the standings) of how I think the SEC will play out this year. It’s basically the Right Wing guarantee that these predictions will go horribly wrong. 

SEC West 
Arkansas Razorbacks 
It’s easier to tell you what games Arkansas wins, rather than what games they lose. The Razorbacks will beat Nicholls State, UAB, and they’ll win on the road over Mississippi State. Bret Bielema hasn’t yet instilled Big Ten values into an SEC program. The Razorbacks are the punching bag of the SEC West this year. 
Predicted Record: 3-9 (1-7) 

Texas A&M Aggies 
Losing Johnny Football means a huge step back for the A&M program. Sure, I think they’ll play .500 football, just not in the conference. They’ll probably go to a bowl, just because they’re in the SEC and they have a rabid fan-base. 
Predicted Record: 6-6 (2-6) 

Mississippi State Bulldogs 
Mississippi State was, just a few years ago, talked about as a team on the rise. The other Mississippi school has surpassed them. Going 7-6 last year was alright. They played Auburn tough, A&M tough, never really let Alabama run away, and they beat Ole Miss. Things go differently this year, though the record is the same. 
Predicted Record: 6-6 (2-6) 

Ole Miss Rebels 
The SEC West will see a big disparity between the bottom three and the top four. This is the cut-off point. Ole Miss will be a solid three games better than Mississippi State overall. The Rebels have the most experienced QB in the conference. They were 8-5 last year, including a domination of traditional powerhouse Texas. Once they beat Boise State to start the season things will go well. Ole Miss will even beat 'Bama. But it won’t be enough to break into the 10-win club in the regular season. 
Predicted Record: 9-3 (5-3) 

Auburn Tigers 
From 0-8 in conference play to national championship runner-up to third place in the division in a three year span. That’s a rollercoaster ride if ever there was one. Auburn will reach 10 wins in the regular season. They’ll win a close one at Georgia. But they’ll lose to the two teams ahead of them in the standings, keeping them from returning to the SEC Championship Game. 
Predicted Record: 10-2 (6-2) 

LSU Tigers 
A boatload of freshmen players does not daunt Les Miles. He has the best freshman running back in the country. The LSU defense is usually quite good. LSU will have a shot, but back-to-back losses to Ole Miss and Alabama will keep the Tigers from the SEC Championship Game. 
Predicted Record: 10-2 (6-2) 

Alabama Crimson Tide 
Alabama will stagger out of the unholy three-way scrum atop the SEC West to play for the SEC Championship. Sure, the Crimson Tide are breaking in a new QB, but by the end of the season it will be business as usual for Alabama. The Tide should roll in most of their games. The early games might be nerve-wracking, as Jacob Coker gets into the swing of the offense. 10 wins, including wins over Auburn and LSU, will get the Tide back to Atlanta.
Predicted Record: 10-2 (6-2) 



SEC East 

Kentucky Wildcats 
Kentucky went 2-10 last year, so I think they’ll actually be better this year. They still won’t win a conference game, though. Stick to basketball, Wildcats. Football may just not be your thing… 
Predicted Record: 3-9 (0-8) 

Vanderbilt Commodores 
9-4 was the high-water mark for Vanderbilt last year. They’ll take a step back, seeing as the architect of their rise, James Franklin, departed for the Penn State job. They brought in Stanford DC Derek Mason to be the new head coach. They have an easy go of things, since they don’t have to play ‘Bama, Auburn, or LSU, and their toughest road test is at Georgia. Still, I think Vandy alternates wins and losses all season, leading to a 6-6 record. 
Predicted Record: 6-6 (2-6) 

Tennessee Volunteers 
Tennessee very nearly knocked off Georgia last year. They did knock off South Carolina. Things won’t go that well this year. I think Tennessee has “mark ‘em down” losses to Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. They’ll win 6 games, but they’ll only be 2-6 in conference play. 
Predicted Record: 6-6 (3-5) 

Florida Gators 

Anything less than .500 means Muschamp will be looking for a new job. The Gators have to finish with more wins than losses. They have to, and I think they will. Florida will lose to Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, and Florida State. The one that will hurt the most, though, is when Georgia hands them a 4th consecutive loss in the World’s Largest Outdoor Non-Alcoholic Fun For The Whole Family Football Game in Jacksonville. Can Muschamp survive 4 straight losses to rival Georgia? 
Predicted Record: 7-5 (4-4) 

Missouri Tigers 
Missouri surprised everyone last year by winning the SEC East and reaching the conference title game. This year, though Missouri comes back down to earth a bit. They’ll still be good, and still win 9 games. But there are only two teams involved at the top of the SEC East… 
Predicted Record: 9-3 (5-3) 

South Carolina Gamecocks 
The looming battle between Georgia and South Carolina for control of the SEC East is going to make for some great television. The Gamecocks open with Texas A&M at home. On September 13, the Dawgs come to Columbia for an early season power struggle. The winner of that game takes control of the division. I think Georgia wins a close game. The Gamecocks will stumble in late October at Jordan-Hare, but should finish 10-2. 
Predicted Record: 10-2 (6-2) 

Georgia Bulldogs 

Last season Georgia opened at #8 Clemson, home for #6 South Carolina, and home for #6 LSU. That’s an ugly opening schedule if I ever saw one. This season things are better. Clemson is not as dangerous as they were last year. Georgia gets a week off to prep for South Carolina while the Gamecocks have potential spoiler East Carolina at home. The biggest threat to UGA this season is Auburn, and the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry is always a close game. Georgia, though, should play well enough to go 11-1 and face Alabama for the first SEC Championship of the College Football Playoff Era. 
Predicted Record: 11-1 (7-1) 

Leading Them Astray

I'll preface this blog post by saying that several of my readers will probably not like this. Understand that this is how I feel about this subject. I believe that scriptural evidence backs up my belief. If you take a different position than mine, that's your prerogative. I'll gladly talk about this with anyone.

That said, Joel Osteen is defrauding millions of people and leading them astray.



Just watch the video. (Please note, I do not necessarily support Wretched.tv. I'm using the video mostly for the interaction of Osteen and Oprah. In fact, you can pause the video after their segment, if you like. Though the host does go on to reveal what Romans 5:17 actually says.)

They quote Romans 5:17 as a statement that God sees us as kings and queens who are supposed to reign. They use the term reign in the sense of us having power over the things around us. That's all well and good (even though it's not) until you realize that it is not necessarily the will of God that everyone be rich and famous. In fact, Jesus more often than not told those with wealth to give away all that they had, to deny their connections to this Earth, and follow after Him.

But according to Osteen, and the preachers of the prosperity gospel, we're supposed to be wallowing in worldly goods and materialism as part of God's blessing. They twist the words of the Bible to fit their theology. They claim that Jesus was rich on this Earth, as that was the only way He could travel about and carry out His ministry. You know who else is free to just wander about? Homeless people. If Jesus was rich, why did He say "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."(Luke 9:58)

Here's the problem with the idea of prosperity gospel teaching...what if you don't get rich? Does that mean that God didn't bless you? No. In fact, the Bible is pretty clear that a Christian life is not an easy one. It's clear that we won't always have great wealth. It makes it abundantly clear to followers of God's word that, if we lay up our treasures in Heaven, then that's where our heart will be. If we lay up our treasure on Earth, as the prosperity gospel teaches, then our hope lies in Earth. And through Peter's writing we're taught that the Earth is set aside to an eventual destruction with a "fervent heat," to make way for a new Heaven and a new Earth.

But Osteen and the other prosperity preachers have brought a message about declaring their desires, a "name it, claim it" faith, which is ridiculous when propped up against the gospel as presented in the Bible. They uphold the prayer of Jabez as a symbol to Christians that we should all have great wealth, but they seem to avoid the precursor scripture that claims Jabez to be a righteous man. If those with wealth, as Jesus so plainly put it, will hardly enter into Heaven (a point of calling out desire to hang on to worldly gain, which will separate us from God), then how can that person be righteous. Wealth and righteousness are often, not always, but often, at enmity with each other.

These preachers claim that they're telling us what God's will in our lives is, but the scriptures tell us that it is God's will that "none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)." How do you teach someone about the necessity of repentance when you're so busy telling them that all God wants to do is shower them with worldly gain?

But that's the Osteen style, I guess. One of his most popular books is titled "Your Best Life Now." If you have any understanding of scripture, then you know that there is no way at all that our life on this Earth can be considered our "best life," seeing as better things are awaiting us in Heaven. If this is your "best life now," then you must be bound for Hell.

According to a 60 Minutes interview, the idea that God is seeking to bless believers with Health, Wealth, and Happiness is the "centerpiece" to every Osteen sermon. He claims that his is a "message of hope." Yet Paul, in delivering instructions to Timothy, stated that he should "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2). Of the three key points Paul lists, two of them are "reprove" and "rebuke." Why? Because even as saved Christians we are still living in a world of sin that we have to constantly be aware of. Even after salvation we can be turned away by the lusts of the world. Just look at the list of all those who abandoned Paul. Most striking in that list is Demas, who turned away "having loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).

Osteen has been on Oprah's television show multiple times. He even once found himself in a discussion in which Oprah questioned him on how to get to God. Osteen stated that Jesus was the "way to the one God" but that there were many ways to Jesus. Jesus stated "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44). That sounds a lot like only one way.

He claims that people already know what they're doing wrong, so he doesn't have to preach the message of repentance. I guess he missed that part about "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" (Romans 10:14-15) And that pesky verse in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Now, some Christians have a hard time standing up against false ministries. They seem to have been convinced, mainly by the world, that a Christian is supposed to be meek, and quiet, and just let the world run over them. But we're told rather explicitly by scripture to stand up against teachings like these.

Romans 16:17 states "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

2 John 10-11 states "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." We're not supposed to take part with those that abandon the true gospel. We're not even supposed to wish them well, or bid God to bless them, because the word they bring is false.

Paul warns on many occasions that we should look out for people bringing another gospel, or another Christ. Osteen approves of people of claim other ways to God than the one laid out in the Bible. We're supposed to love these people, and desire to see them come to repentance. That does not mean we have to love their doctrines or ideas on theology. The world has tried to convince people that just because you disagree with someone's philosophy means you hate that person. That's not the case.

The gospel is the good news of God. That good news isn't that God is going to fatten your bank account. It isn't that God is going to bless you with a million dollars if you give your favorite TV preacher a thousand dollars. No, the good news of God is that Jesus Christ, God in the form of a man, came to this Earth and walked a more than perfect life in order to fulfill the Law. He gave His life on a cross in order to make atonement for us. He arose from the grave and ascended to Heaven, where He now sits on the right hand of God, making intercession for a lost people seeking salvation.

If you have more money than your neighbor then thank God for it, but also understand that if God blesses you with more, then He expects more out of you. Each person born again into the family of God has a work to do. It's hard to tell people about the job God has for them when you're so busy begging them for money and tricking them by standing in a fountain and pouring "holy water" over your wallet to make them think God will bless that.

Again, if you don't like this, I'm glad to talk to you. These are my beliefs based on my interpretation of the scripture, brought about through praying and meditating on the word of God.

NASCAR: New Rules From Tragedy

On Saturday night, 9 August 2014, Tony Stewart entered a sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, about an hour away from Watkins Glen. Near the midpoint of the race, Stewart was involved in an accident with 20-year-old Kevin Ward, Jr.

Ward’s car was spun into the outside wall and it came to rest there. Ward climbed from the wreck as the caution flag came out. As the parade of cars slowly made their way around Ward began to step toward the racing line. 

What happened next has become the subject of investigation. Several cars missed the young driver, but he was still making his way lower on the track. Tony Stewart, the target of Ward’s ire, came around the turn onto the back straight. Ward began to step toward his line. Some say that Tony gunned the engine to scare the kid and make him move. Some say that he tried to turn to avoid him, but Canandaigua being a dirt track and sprint cars being notoriously slippy, the back end stepped out. Still others say that Stewart aimed at the young man and intentionally turned. The end result was Kevin Ward being caught and dragged by Stewart’s car before finally being thrown free on the back straight. Ward later died of “massive” trauma.

The investigation began and, currently, police say there is no evidence of criminal intent on the behalf of Tony Stewart. Still, it’s a tragic situation that could easily have been avoided. I’m not, in any way, trying to put blame on anyone in particular. Stewart’s a good enough driver to have avoided the young man. Ward should’ve been smart enough to know you don’t walk into the racing line on a dirt track at night while wearing a black racing suit.

NASCAR, a few years back, decided to “let the boys go” as part of a campaign to increase sagging rating. The end result was that a bunch of hot-headed drivers found themselves crashed out of races, and so as the pace-car led field drove around, helmets were thrown at offending drivers. Fights sometimes broke out in the pit lane. The TV producers loved it, but secretly NASCAR had to be cringing. With a policy of “let the boys go” it was only a matter of time until something tragic happened.

Now, in answer to this tragedy, NASCAR has published an amendment to its rules and regulations:

***Section 9-16 On-Track Incident Procedure

During an Event, if a racecar is involved in an on track incident and/or is stopped on or near the racing surface and unable to continue to make forward progress, unless extenuating emergency conditions exist with the racecar (i.e. fire, smoke in cockpit, etc.) the driver should take the following steps:

- Shut off electrical power and, if driver is uninjured, lower window net

- Do not loosen , disconnect or remove any driver personal safety equipment until directed to do so by safety personnel or a NASCAR/Track Official

- After being directed to exit the racecar, the driver should proceed to either the ambulance, other vehicle, or as otherwise directed by safety personnel or a NASCAR/Track Official

- At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach any portion of the racing surface or apron

- At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach another moving vehicle

All vehicles not involved in the incident or that are able to continue afterwards should slow down to a cautious speed as outlined in Section 10-4 (Yellow Flag), use extreme care as they approach an incident scene, and follow any directions given by safety personnel or NASCAR/Track Officials. Cars in line behind the safety car should not weave or otherwise stray from the line in the vicinity of the incident.***

What that means, in layman’s terms, is that driver’s must remain in their cars after an accident, unless the car is damaged to the point that there is a threat of injury or death to a driver if they stayed in. If the car is on fire, then get out. If you were spun out by another driver and you lightly tapped the wall but it broke your car, which is not on fire, then stay in the car until safety officials arrive. Frankly, it’s a policy NASCAR should’ve had in place a long time ago. Sadly, if the sprint car series had the same policy, Kevin Ward would still be alive.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with motor racing, it takes a tragedy to propel the series to make the proper rule changes. NASCAR saw it with the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001, which lead to the creation of SAFER barriers at every track.

College Football: A Right Wing Preseason Top Ten

A Quarterback Conundrum in the SEC East 
Georgia and South Carolina are the two teams picked to battle it out for the SEC East crown this season. Missouri will take a few steps back from its aspiring run last year, as they lose a lot of talent. The Tigers also lose key receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. 

South Carolina is now without all-time university wins leader Connor Shaw. Taking the helm in Columbia (SC) is senior QB Dylan Thompson. After sitting behind Shaw for the last three years, Thompson will get a chance to show the conference what he can do from day one. But the SEC has already seen Thompson in action. 

The Gamecocks are 3-0 in games Thompson has started, though that comes with a caveat. Thompson stepped in against Central Florida when Shaw was hurt. He led the Gamecocks to victory. His start against Missouri didn’t go nearly as well. Mizzou jumped up 17-0 on South Carolina and head coach Steve Spurrier pulled Thompson in favor of Connor Shaw. Shaw rallied the team to a double-OT victory.

Now, Connor Shaw is gone. Dylan Thompson has to carry the load on his own. How he fares with an entire season as the Gamecocks' leader will have a huge impact on how long into the postseason South Carolina plays.

Meanwhile, in Athens, the Dawgs will be breaking in a new quarterback. Hutson Mason has seen on and off playing time during his years at Georgia, but he was forced into a starting role last year when Aaron Murray was injured against Kentucky. He led the Dawgs to victory against the Wildcats, but faced near disaster in Atlanta. Georgia Tech, who has struggled mightily against the Dawgs in recent years, seemed to have Georgia's number, jumping out to a 20-0 lead. Mason rallied his team and Georgia fought back, winning the game 41-34 in OT.

Georgia was selected to face Nebraska for the second straight year, this time in the Gator Bowl. Pitiful field conditions favored neither team. Georgia, though, found new and exciting ways to shoot themselves in the foot. It was one of the worst episodes of play-calling by the Dawgs I've seen in a long time. Even then, Georgia was never out of contention in the bowl game.

Now, the new season begins. Georgia opened practice today. South Carolina is preparing to face Texas A&M on August 28. Georgia welcomes Clemson in the second half of a scheduled home-and-home series on August 30. Both teams are favored in the SEC East. The battle should be epic. 

Right Wing Preseason Top Ten 

These are my picks for the top ten to start the season. Let me say that I hate preseason polls. They create situations that it becomes difficult for teams to overcome. If three teams go undefeated, but one team started the season unranked while the other two were in the top ten in the preseason poll, the latter two will get the most attention. At least, that’s how it was under the BCS system. 

Thankfully, we have a playoff now. 

So here’s my preseason top ten, with an explanation of why I’ve ranked the team where I’ve ranked them. I’ll never reference this article again. Once the weekly predictions begin, I’ll start the Right Wing Top Ten in week six. My poll has nothing to do with the AP or the Coaches Poll. 

There are eleven teams in my top ten, because I honestly can’t decide between Georgia and South Carolina when it comes to preseason slotting. 

10t. South Carolina Gamecocks 
South Carolina has, possibly, the top offensive line in the conference. This will be great for RB Mike Davis. The Gamecocks are also breaking in a relatively new QB. They’ll challenge Georgia for the top spot in the SEC East. 

10t. Georgia Bulldogs 
The Dawgs are a team that is hard to predict. They have a relatively new QB, Hutson Mason, but they have a deep WR corps, one of the best RB stables in the nation, and one of the top LB corps in the conference, if not the nation. They’re a team that could go 11-1 or could go 8-4. 

9. Stanford Cardinal 
Three PAC-12 schools made my preseason Top 10. Stanford is a team that could legitimately challenge not just for the conference, but for a national championship, as well. 

8. Ohio State Buckeyes 
I know, I know, Ohio State is the greatest team in the history of organized sports… oh wait, I’m not an Ohio State fan. Good grief. I think, once again, the moment Ohio State faces a true defense, they’ll crumble under the pressure. 

7. Oklahoma Sooners 
The Sooners are garnering a lot of preseason attention, but I’m curious to see if they can handle the pressure. Bob Stoops, or, as I like to call him, SpongeBob BowlFlop, actually piloted the school to victory over Alabama in the last Sugar Bowl. 

6. UCLA Bruins 
The Bruins of UCLA are getting loads of love this preseason. They have one of the better QBs in the nation in Brett Hundley. They’ll probably own southern California again. We’ll probably see UCLA and Oregon in the first PAC-12 Title Game at Levi’s Stadium. 

5. Michigan State Spartans 
Can Sparty replicate the run that got them to the Rose Bowl? MSU’s defense carried the banner all last year. Do it again, and you’re likely looking at a playoff team. 

4. Alabama Crimson Tide 
Would Florida State have beaten Alabama? We’ll never know, at least until later this year, should both teams find their way to the playoff. ‘Bama brings a lot to the table, even with replacing their star QB. 

3. Oregon Ducks 
Another season, another prediction of Oregon near the top. A few years back Oregon has a legitimate shot at the national championship, but it was during the SEC’s reign, and Auburn stopped the mighty Ducks offense. With the playoff, Oregon should be a contender. 

2. Auburn Tigers 
The national runner-up Tigers will battle Alabama all year for the top spot in the SEC West. They had a run of miracles to beat Georgia and Alabama last year before running Missouri into the ground and facing FSU for the final BCS title. Auburn’s mantra this offseason has been that they needed to be 13 seconds better. 

1. Florida State Seminoles 
Until someone beats the ‘Noles, they stand atop the heap of college football. They claimed the first and last BCS championships, and they currently reign over college football as the National Champions.