College Football Week 1 Picks

Do you hear that sound? The one that's been getting louder and louder since August? It's the sound of college football. With it comes a new season of incorrect picks and sarcastic, witty commentary. I'll be picking against the spread this year, which means a disclaimer that you should never place any wagers on any games based on these selections and analysis. With that out of the way, I'll be getting the spread for each game from here, using the "BETONLINE.COM" numbers. So let's get to the picks!

Kent State @ Alabama (-38.0): It's been an emotional 4 months for the city of Tuscaloosa in the aftermath of the worst tornado outbreak in history. Football season (and a highly-ranked team) will provide some relief and distraction from the rebuilding process. Emotions will be high, and the Tide should cruise to a W.
The Pick: Alabama 49-7

South Florida @ Notre Dame (-11.0): Year 2 of the Brian Kelly Experiment. I don't know much about either team. What I do know is this seems like a game where the Irish will struggle. I don't know why, but that's the sort of analysis you get when you come here.
The Pick: Notre Dame 27-23

UCLA @ Houston (-2.5): Houston has a QB who has a chance to break all sorts of NCAA passing records this season. It's like when you play NCAA __ on your favorite console and do nothing but throw the ball and blitz. Not that I've ever done that.
The Pick: Houston 35-31

BYU @ Ole Miss (+3.0): (Trying to resist jokes about Mormons in The Grove.) BYU's first season as an independent begins at place where Southern Belles and preppy prep school guys learn to live on their own and learn the limits of, well, The Grove. Can the Black Bears get it done? Can the Stormin' Mormons make it of Oxford 1-0? Can I add any more questions to this analysis?
The Pick: BYU 31-24

And we have two games of the week this week! A double feature on this opening weekend!
Boise State vs. Georgia (+3.0): You either love Boise State or hate them like you hate little fluffy kittens and Santa Claus. The BCS hopefuls need this win to establish themselves as party-crashers. Coach Richt needs this win to cool off the hotseat in Athens. I think you know where this pick is going...
The Pick: Boise State 34-28

Oregon vs. LSU (+4.0): This one will be fun. Two teams ranked in the top 5. Two teams with some off-field distractions this summer. Two teams with BCS titles dancing in their heads. Ducks vs. Tigers. Pac-12 (that's weird to type) speed vs. SEC speed. Who prevails? Quack quack!
The Pick: Oregon 33-25


There you have it, my friends. 6 games. 6 picks. 6 reasons why I'm not quitting my day job! Enjoy your long Labor Day weekend, and be safe!

-D

On Comfy Chairs and Love

Every once in a while we need reminders and perspective on the preciousness and value of love. Tonight was my reminder.

You see, our sweet daughter has been undergoing a barrage of teething the last few months. Not just any teething mind you, but the dreaded molars - the big ones - have been popping through. For whatever reason, the last one-year molar is soooooo close to erupting, which, by the way, might be the worst term ever for a tooth coming in, but has yet to break the surface.

Anyway, poor Ny had been struggling for 45 minutes, obviously hurting and obviously not happy about it. Our best efforts at helping her were falling on swollen gums and big tears. It's difficult to listen to any baby cry like that, but when she's your kid, it's even more so.

So Dada gets her ready for bed. She's still upset and still hurting. Down we sit in the big, new comfy chair in her room, with her "lovey" in hand and finger in her mouth. Still very upset, she wiggled around until she found the perfect spot on Dada's chest - the spot where everything feels better and things don't hurt as much.

As I sat there, softly singing (not well mind you) some good ol' hymns, the teaching moment happened. All Ny wanted at that point was relief and comfort. She needed snuggle time, and I was the one who could help her. I was the one who could love her like no one else. What an incredible, incredible picture of the unconditional love of the Almighty God - who will love us like no else and hold us when we are unlovely, crying, in pain, and in need of help. She calmed down and slowly drifted off to sleep, content that Dada was there.

With tears in my eyes, two thoughts came to mind: 1) what a lesson on unconditional love parenthood is, and 2) to treasure moments like this, because it won't be like this for long.

-D

Sent from my iPad

Does It Get Any Better Than This?

Here's another special "From the Vault" from August 26, 2010. That sweet little girl resting her head on Dada isn't so little anymore but is still just as sweet. And sometimes, when she's in the right mood (see: tired) she will lay her head on my chest or shoulders. Nyla, those shoulders and chest will always be available to you whenever you need them.

I don't think so!

-D

He Alone

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.

"He alone..."

David in two words has made a huge statement of faith. He's not relying on his riches or his power or his armies. He's relying on God alone as a stronghold. (He certainly wouldn't be relying on the stock markets today.) If anyone had reason up to then to rely on things he had done or accumulated, David was the guy.

"He alone..." But David doesn't do that. And with good reason. If David couldn't see God as his rock, salvation, and stronghold, then I'm not sure who could. His route to the kingship was, shall we say, a little difficult, having spent time running from Saul. David had to wait for his moment to become king. He had to rest in the promise God made to him.

So what does it mean to have God as our rock and stronghold? It means we have stability. It means our current mood/status does not depend on what the economy is doing, what leaders are in charge, or _______. Temporal, material things don't shake us, because we have place our trust and faith in the eternal Creator. And when we do let things get to us and face stress, anxiety, conflict, etc, we can climb back to our rock quickly.

In verse 8, David gives us advice on making God or rock and stronghold. "Trust in Him at times... pour out your hearts before Him."

"He alone..."

-D

Tales from the Registry

In this edition of "From the Vault," I opine on registering for gifts for our wedding. This post was originally written August 25, 2007. Gosh I'm getting old. That was almost 4 years ago. Anyway, enjoy my ramblings...

You know? This wedding stuff can be fun. Case in point - registering for stuff. Now before we begin, you have to know that I am somewhat of a fan of shopping. I do enjoy going to Target or Wal-Mart, wandering around aimlessly looking for things I don't need but are cool (see: office supplies, pens specifically). There are times when I go in and get out, because I know what it is I am looking for (see Best Buy, where if I wandered around long enough, they would probably ask me where I wanted my cot). Anyways, I digress...

So it was last Tuesday (as in not this past one but the one before that). Fiancee and I are wandering around Wolfchase, just walking and being together. She asks if I want to go to Macy's and register. Sure. Why not? At least I'll see how boring it is and won't be going again with Ginny. Of course I get proven wrong. The lady gets all the information from us, yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah... scanner gun... blah blah blah... scanner gun. Note the only words I paid attention to were scanner and gun. I don't remember what exactly Ginny or the lady said, but here is the closest re-enactment I could get.

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to scan all items of immediate and necessary needs for previously stated location of residence. Failure to do so will result in empty living quarters and bare floors. This message will self-destruct in 5, 4, 3, 2..."

After that I think I blacked out from the explosion, but my mission was clear. We set about finding and scanning what we needed... until at Bed, Bath and Beyond the lady there said, "Scan what you need and want." Well that Tuesday there wasn't much time to have fun with that. That's what Wednesday (and the rest of week off work for vacation) was for.

Let me just say that my mind had not fully grasped the magnitude of this statement until I saw IT. THE Magic Bullet. You know, from infomercial fame! I scanned it an immediate rush of ecstacy that only will be matched... nevermind. Next item? The George Foreman grill! I felt the presence of Mr. Foreman himself right beside me, whispering, "Well done!" in my ear. Moments later, I found the PowerJuicer, too! Infomercial products never die. They end up at Target for 29.99. Unfortunately, Fiancee would not allow the Magic Bullet to remain on the registry. Fear not, fans, for she has OK'd sports equipment at Target (golf balls basically).

So in closing, an ode to the scanner gun...

Oh, scanner gun

Your little red bar

Speaks to me deep

And fills me with glee

UPC codes have new meaning

When scanner gun is held

In the palm of my hand

The time will come

When we must depart

But, oh scanner gun,

You will always hold

A place in my heart

-D