Big Ten 2011-2012

Big Ten
Leaders	Rec.	Legends	Rec.
Wisconsin	12-0 (8-0)	Nebraska	10-2 (6-2)
Ohio State	9-3 (5-3)	Michigan	8-4 (5-3)
Penn State	7-5 (4-4)	Iowa	8-4 (4-4)
Illinois	7-5 (3-5)	Michigan State	8-4 (4-4)
Purdue	6-6 (3-5)	Northwestern	8-4 (4-4)
Indiana	3-9 (1-7)	Minnesota	3-9 (0-8)

Wisconsin over Nebraska in Big Ten Championship Game

Big XII 2011-2012

Big XII
Team	Rec.
Texas A&M	11-1 (8-1)
Oklahoma State	11-1 (8-1)
Oklahoma	10-2 (8-1)
Baylor	8-4 (5-4)
Texas	8-4 (5-4)
Missouri	6-6 (4-5)
Texas Tech	5-7 (2-7)
Kansas State	4-8 (2-7)
Iowa State	3-9 (2-7)
Kansas	3-9 (1-8)

Atlantic Coast Conference: 2011-2012

ACC
Coastal	Rec.	Atlantic	Rec.
Virginia Tech	11-1 (7-1)	Florida State	12-0 (8-0)
Miami Florida	8-4 (5-3)	Clemson	8-4 (5-3)
Georgia Tech	7-5 (4-4)	North Carolina State	7-5 (4-4)
North Carolina	7-5 (3-5)	Maryland	6-6 (4-4)
Virginia	6-6 (2-6)	Boston College	4-8 (3-5)
Duke	5-7 (2-6)	Wake Forest	2-10 (0-8)

ACC Championship Game: Florida State over Virgina Tech

5 Idealistic Ideas about Friendship (and oft truth)

I preach constantly about the importance of having people in one's life in past articles.  It is something that I will continue to preach.  Utmost to many people in terms of importance among life's relationships is friendships.  Everyone loves having friends, and there are fewer things in the world sadder than someone without any friends.  Everyone thinks friendship is perfect, but honestly it is one of the hardest relationships to maintain:

5.You Will Always Be Together =D
The Idealism:
We're going to be best friends forever!  No one can separate us, our friendships are forever and ever incessant! (Redundancy).  Throughout grade school, high school, college, and even adult life we'll be hanging out and visiting Party City together!

My Weekend Hangout...seriously

 It's going to be the best time ever!  I know people say friends will change, but not us!  We're taking this one to the house and even beyond!

Realistically:

Imagine the phrase "BFF's", it kinda makes me vomit.  It is nearly impossible to have the same best friends forever.  Now, I'm not saying you cannot be a friend with someone forever, but the vast majority of people will change cliques continuously throughout life.  Some friends may stick around as you shift.  I have had the same friend through four friend shift and he is now still my best friend, but roughly 94% of my friends hangout with others now, not to say they aren't my "friends", they just aren't my clique.  One cannot expect a group of friends will subsist throughout a life.  Changes are a part of life and must be taken in stride.  From my personal experience I can cite a changing of the guard in the group of girls we hangout at 5 when I was in high school.  Changing groups of friends can be the hardest thing to do in life, but it is something which is bound to occur multiple times.

4. Everyone loves Everyone the same! :D
The Idealism:
I love all my friends equally!  I couldn't imagine losing a single one of them, it would be like cruel harsh torture similar to the brazen bull!

This is the same as losing one friend

I mean it isn't like I pick and choose favorites!  Who could ever do such a thing?  I just cannot wait to see any single one of them and it is impossible for me to choose between them if I cannot invite all of them somewhere so I just take my little sister!
 Realistically:
Just like everything else in your life, you pick favorites among your friends.  I mean you have a favorite cereal...which is Cocoa Pebbles, of course.  Anyways, there are some friends which will rub you the wrong way more than others and you'll end up thinking less of them.  Take it from a professional on the relationships of life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl9VxVmXAxs.
that's right, Dane Cook knows.  If you ignore all the ridiculousness in that clip it really is interesting (and yes, funny) how correct Dane is.  I'm not sure if he knows it or not, though...

3. Your Friends Never Gossip About You:)
Idealism: 
My friends and I can trust each other in every way!  They'd never tell any of my secrets to anyone and we would never talk about each other behind each others' backs!  That is erroneous!
Realistically:
Every last one of your friends has at some point or another talked about you behind your back...and then there is a 99.9% chance that it was something negative about your character.  I know this may be a wake up call for nearly everyone, but hey wake up!  I don't like thee fact, but the fact is that it is a fact.  There is something about you that your friends find frustrating, no matter what, and when you aren't around they have the opportunity to vocalize it, hoping the others share the opinion.  This doesn't mean they aren't your friends, it is just what humans do, they gossip.  The same goes for that precious secret you tell.  People like to share secrets, whether it be to impress a girl who they want to...impress or to build an interesting pow-wow on a weekend night.  It is just a fact of life, if you are going to have friends they are going to talk about your faults behind your back.  Every human being in the world does this, it is "human nature"...it makes us happy to gossip!


2. Friends Always Remain the Same ^_^
Idealism: 
My Friends are constants.  He's this way, she's that way...that's the way they are!  It's a ser situation!  Not estar!  They ain't changing!
Realistically:
It honestly shouldn't surprise anyone, but people change all the time.  It is a given, just like gossiping, that your friends will change their outlook on life.  People may decided they no longer like Rugrats or Dragonball Z...which makes them stupid, but hey that's not the point here.  People don't like to think their friends will suddenly be in favor of different things, but it happens.  Your friends some day may not want to go to your high school's football games, but instead want to hangout with some girls.  Once again, ridiculous but I digress.  The best example of this is being "whipped", when someone decides to go out and do whatever they girlfriend/boyfriend wants no matter what...and suddenly he or she is never around.  It is sad, but it is very common.  Also, people may change their philosophies entirely on life, what they do, and what they think is proper...but I digress at this point.

1. I will Always Accept my Friends!  Even if They Change!  O_o
Idealism:
So what if my friends change?  I will always love who they are!  They are the most bestiest friends ever!
Realistically:
You will probably see this and immediately begin gossiping about the person behind his or her back as soon as they are hanging out with their girlfriend of boyfriend because they are whipped....End of article

 

#1 Alabama

2010-2011: 10-3 (5-3, SEC)

There has only been one team with more hype than Alabama had last year in my lifetime and that was the USC team of 2004.  Now, Bama has Oklahoma stealing some spotlight, also LSU is ranked one spot behind them in the AP at #3.  On my list though, there is no doubting that Alabama is the best team entering the season.  Coming out could be a different story.  I thought Alabama was by far the most talented team last year (just like everyone else), but the Tide managed to lose 3 games...we'll chalk it up to the SEC.  This year the defense will be experienced (9 returning starters compared to 1 last year) and just as talented.  The only question mark is at QB, but if I recall that was the same story in 2009-2010 and we all know what Greg McElroy did...he turned around and handed it off to a workhorse runner who went on to win the Heisman.  Look for a similar strategy to be used by the Tide this year with their bulky speedster (oxymoron?  Doesn't mean it isn't true) Trent Richardson.

2011-2012 Outlook:
Key Game: November 5th versus LSU...I thought of jumping straight to Atlanta and the SEC Championship game, but this game is more than losable.
Predicted Record: 11-1 (7-1) {loss @Florida} 

#2 Oklahoma

2010-2011 12-2 (6-2, Big XII)

The Sooners really want it this year, mainly because they have the talent to.  It is rare for a team to look as good as Oklahoma does on a stat sheet, but that's on paper.  Realistically, Oklahoma has a grueling schedule that includes a tough Big 12 and Florida State in Tallahassee.  Perhaps the hardest game the Sooners will face is on December 3rd in Stillwater against rival Okie State, but that's extremely debatable.  With that said, Oklahoma has everything a team could want: a top QB, a talented Wideout, an outstanding defensive corp, and the lack of a spotlight.  The Big 12's decline takes away some of the limelight which the AP's #1 team usually gets.  Also there is the LSU-Oregon game week 1, and the always prevalent shadow of Alabama (some's preseason #1) starting to creep across Norman.  Whether or not the Sooners like the spotlight or not, they hope eventually everyone is talking about them.

2011-2012 Outlook:
Key Game: December 3rd @Oklahoma State...a virtual Big 12 Championship Game, Bedlam will be worth all 48 minutes.
Predicted record: 10-2 (8-1) {losses against Florida State and Oklahoma State} 

#3 Lousiana State

2010-2011: 11-2 (6-2, SEC)

The Tigers know exactly what it means to go through the SEC.  They get pummeled, but every year end up near the top not just in the SEC, but in the country.  Furthermore, LSU knows what the SEC's prestige brings.  They went to the National Title game with two losses not too long ago.  All this aside, this is the year LSU hopes it will be that one SEC team that struggles week in and week out to finish undefeated and in the National Title Game.  Talent is everywhere for the Tigers.  Speed is more than everywhere on the field, there's a helluva a lot of speed on the sidelines.  The one thing going against LSU this year...they play in the SEC West.  LSU will once again this year find out why playing in the SEC is a tragedy, but come season's end they'll find out again why it's such a good thing.

2011-2012 Outlook:
Key Game: November 5th @Alabama...this game could be for everything.  Both teams could easily reach undefeated, even though LSU has the most difficult schedule in the country.
Predicted Record: 10-2 (7-1) {loss against Bama and Oregon}