Made it here after no-problem flight, which is a good thing. Holed up in a Courtyard near downtown. Not quite walking distance to 6th Street, but short cab ride away.

As readers have noted, Phil and the Dirty Birds are somewhere nearby, wreaking havoc on the fine citizens of Austin, and apparently HBHD has hit the wall. Face first in a bowl of salsa.

When I had him in New Orleans, he did end up in a gutter, but not disgraced in this way.
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Now, as I recall from my student days, the best course of action is to puke and get it out of your system. In an hour or so you’ll be ready to start over.

I was hoping HBHD would at least make it until dark, but who knows? Phil, please get him sobered up enough to enjoy the bachelor party...

HOPE I AM WRONG

Yeah, I know I disappointed some of you by picking the Horns. I do hope I am wrong, and there are aspects of this game that make me believe an upset can happen.

But Mack Brown is a very good coach, no doubt about that, and he has his team ready. I really like the way he did his homework on FAU to show his players he was doing his version of studying game film.

Texas gets players that are ready to take the field. FAU gets the kind that need a couple years to reach that level. They might be there now, or at least closer than last year.

FAU’s defense is the concern. I just don’t think they have gotten good enough to stop a team like Texas enough times to allow the offense to win it.

Can’t wait to find out.

JUST CALL ME ‘ARP’

Hey, for some reason the Austin Statesman blog Bevo Beat has been picking up some of my stuff. And they have given me a new name: Sun-Sentinel beat writer, blogger and all-round provocateur Ted Hutton.

HERE"S THE LINK.

All-round Provocateur has a nice ring to it.

OK, time for a quick workout, then mapping out plans for this evening.

Later…

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All right, now that Paris has made his pick (and he was sweating because even though he was about 50 yards from that bonfire, it was HOT. I mean, dry your eyeballs and fry your hair hot), it’s time to get back on our regularly scheduled format.

DIGGER IS BACK (for now)

OK, for newbies, Digger is a burrowing owl living the life of luxury at the Busch Wildlife Sanctury, where feral cats, feral pigs, kids with b-b guns, bulldozers and other natural enemies can do him no harm.

FAU got its nickname because the campus is host to burrowing owls.

But Digger does not really appreciate his surroundings and can be a tough, ornery bastard, just like The Voice claims his D is.

Digger’s task is to gaze upon the icon representing the foes to indicate which is going to win. Sounds pretty easy, right?
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Yeah, I know he looks cute, er handsome, but the guy can be difficult. And he was when we visited for his first pick of 2008.

Digger started picking games last year and went 11-2.

Now, I couldn’t be too harsh about his reaction during this week’s session, because usually Digger is alone when we do this, but on this day there were two Perigrin falcons on tethers behind him, along with two great horned owls. Now, in the wild, I know the falcons would have Digger for dinner. Not sure about the horned owls, but they are 10 times as big as the dimunitive Digger.

Anyway, Digger clearly had other things on his mind…
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In the vid below, check out the falcon in the background. That is what had Digger freaked. But he did make a move.
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So, I interpret that move away from the Longhorn as a subtle pick for FAU.

Now, to verify this, we decided to try a different owl. This bad bird is a great horned owl, and he’s a beauty. Didn’t get his name, but will have it for you next week.
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So, I wouldn’t call it decisive, but the two Owls are going with the Owls over Texas.

MEDICAID MIKE

No introduction needed. This guy has been to more practices than any other fan, he also takes posters around to area businesses, sells tickets, and does whatever he can to get people behind the Owls.
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Mike is also picking the Owls.

DT PICK

Yes, the DT is also back, and this year we are going video.
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Thanks, Julie.

BEVERLEE IS THE BEST

And it wouldn’t be the Prediction Post without Beverlee Schnellenberger, wife of The Voice, and no slouch when it comes to talking football. In fact, she is fascinating.

Turns out Beverlee had similar thoughts to mine. “I am confused. Texas is very good even though they have freshmen playing. Since what Howard said, they will even be more fired up. I don’t know, I don’t know.”

For those who have been in Siberia and lacking an internet connection, she is referring to The Voice saying Texas was not a very physical team, which some folks interpreted as saying the Longhorns were “soft.”

Beverlee said The Voice has done that before, when Miami played Notre Dame and while he was at Louisville on multiple occasions, and the outcome was in his team’s favor.

“You have to take it both ways. It is not being too cocky, just being very confident and he is confident with his team. I think it is a way of praising them as a team.

“You are playing the big guys so you have to act like a big guy.”

Bottom line, Beverlee believes the Owls can win in Austin.

MY TURN

Yes, I will be the nattering nabob of negativity.

Last year was a blast, and this year should be fun, but I just don’t see it starting with an upset of Texas.
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Yes, FAU beats the spread (Texas 42, FAU 28), but winning the game is different.

I know they are a better team than last year, but they are 1-11 against BCS teams, 0-10 on the road, and none of the road games have even been close.

So, at this point, FAU has to show me they can compete at this level, because up to now, they have shown they can.

Your predictions, please.

Later…

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OK, it’s that time again -- The Friday Prediction Post is about to return.

Grab that mug of coffee, gather around the laptop or huddle in your cubicle at work, call over the children, the friends, the neighbors and see how the oracles feel the Owls will fare this weekend.

We will have the usual lineup – Medicare Mike still has a pulse, the DT are in mid-season form, and Beverlee Is The Best is back, of course.

Connie The Wonder Woman continues to kick in with her talents despite the immature actions of her husband – that would be me.

And then there is the star of the show, Digger the Burrowing Owl.

But, before we get to the full post, we are going to begin with a special guest.

Here’s FAU center Nick Paris, grounded with an injury.
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We’ll leave you with that for now, with the rest of the predictions to come in a couple hours.

Later…

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As noted, playing catchup big time. I'll be in Austin about 3 p.m. tomorrow, and might as well be landing in Islamabad for all the info I have on the capitol of Texas.

OK, here’s what I know is going on ---

On Friday FAU alums gathering at the Airport Hilton, which is the team hotel, and where FAU students who got that great bargain price, are staying. This is 7 to 8 p.m.

At 8 a shuttle goes to 6th Street, letting folks off for four hours off debauchery, with bus returning at midnight (sounds a tad early to me, especially for 6 p.m. local time kickoff on Saturday).

Saturday, tailgate for FAU begins at 3. Actually not a tailgate, but at some indoor facility.

What am I missing, besides Phil’s bachelor party? (God speed, HBHD. Avoid moist, dark places).

Any suggestions on good places to eat and quaff a few adult beverages? Are there party spots already picked out? I won’t crash, just snap some compromising pix and be on my way…

Later…

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I said I had a lot of catching up to do...

First, a sneak preview of Friday Prediction Post.

CTWW was told FAU was playing the Longhorns…

"Like the cows?"
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And Digger makes his pick. Kind of. Stay tuned.

BELATED BELT PREVIEW

Thursday already? There is a Belt game of some significance tonight so I guess I had better roll out my Belt season preview with four hours to spare.

Here’s how things will pan out in the Belt:

No. 1 – FAU. Yeah, the expectations are high, and the team atop the coaches’ poll the last three years has failed to win. But this is an FAU team that still hasn’t peaked. This is a team with a very talented QB with a lot of weapons behind a seasoned line (once the starters get back, which will be in time for the conference sked).

This is a defense that underachieved last season and hopefully will not repeat that. They have gotten pretty good at slowing down that spread offense that everyone else in the Belt except the Owls runs. While the pass rush has been disappointing in preseason, it will probably be good enough against Belt foes to win.

Last year FAU had a lot of squeakers in the conference. Not so this season. They are going to ratchet things up a notch or two.

FAU sweeps through the Belt – 8-0.

No. 2 – Louisiana-Monroe: If there is one team that can spoil FAU’s repeat bid, it is the Warhawks. They have a host of starters back from a team that finished the season on a 5-1 run including a win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. That’s a HUGE win and I’m sure gave off-season workouts a boost.

Oh, and they beat FAU in three overtimes at Lockhart.

Experienced QB, solid running back, good receivers, with the only question an offensive line with three new players.

Defense is 4-2-5 to combat the spread, and while it was a weak last season (give up 153.5 yards per game rushing and 260.8 passing last season), the D should be improved with everyone back.

FAU has to play in Monroe. Given how last year’s game went, and the celebration and taunts that went on in the end zone afterward, should be an intense night.

No. 3 – Troy. Coach Larry Blakeney doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves. By using liberal doses of well-chosen JC transfers, Blakeney shores up gaps and never really has to go through a conventional ‘rebuilding’ season.

This year will be a bit different, because Auburn swooped in during the offseason and hired away Troy’s offensive coordinator, and in a package deal, the transfer being groomed as QB Omar Haugabook’s replacement. That leaves Troy with a true rookie at QB, which will hamper the offense.

Troy’s defense has always been a solid bunch, resulting in two first round NFL draft picks in the last four years, so teams will once again find it tough sledding, but the Trojans offense won’t be enough to get them their second title in three years.

No. 4 through 6 – U-Pick ‘em – Middle Tennesse, Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas State. I don’t see any of these three threatening for a title. Middle still young, Lafayette and Arkansas State still with not enough talent to be consistent. They could each pull an upset along the way, but I see 5-7 in their futures.

No. 7 – FIU. I think the Amber Kitties win two, maybe three this year. They can’t be worse, and they did beat NT last year. I think Mario Cristobal will be a good coach, but he is still as green as a lot of his players.

No. 8 – North Texas. The Mean Green will score. But just like last season, they will give up a ton. They lost two starting defensive lineman over the offseason, and that is from a defense that made a spaghetti strainer look like an iron bucket. I am not sure if Dodgeball will make the transition from high school to D-I.

THIS WEEK IN THE BELT

OK, we do have a conference game, the first until Sept. 20.

Troy is at Middle tonight. Actually an interesting affair, with a young MTSU team facing a Troy team trying out a new QB.

As FAU fans know, this game can set the tone for the season. FAU beat Middle in game one last year, and we know how things turned out. Middle never did recover from that loss.

I am going with Troy in this one. The Trojans always have a good D, and the Smurfs have question marks on both sides. Troy 31, MTSU 17.

Saturday is another Money Game day in the Belt, where teams get huge checks to travel to play the big boys. What we want to see is at least respectable results and possibly scaring some of the big boys. That’s the only way the Belt starts gaining some respect.

Here’s the lineup:

Arkansas State at Texas A&M: The Red Wolves played Texas tough last year and won’t be intimidated in Aggie-land. A&M has new coach and might still be adjusting. ASU could keep it close again.

FIU at Kansas: Even ruby slippers won’t save the Kitties from this demolition. Jayhawks big.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Southern Miss: This could be a decent game, and I give the Cajuns a shot of winning.

Louisiana-Monroe at Auburn: Can the Warhawks go 2-0 against SEC teams? Nope. Hopefully a close game, but could get out of hand.

North Texas at Kansas State: Dodgeball out in the prairie. FAU knows what it is like to play there. A lopsided loss for the Mean Green.

Western Kentucky at Indiana: Actually not a bad draw for the Toppers. They’ll lose, but shouldn’t be a blowout.

FAU at Texas: Plenty more on this tomorrow and Saturday…

Later…

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OK, so I gave HBHD to Phil to take to Texas on a road trip. I figured HBHD could experience some new things Phil and the Dirty Birds.

Well, things got off to an interesting start.

I’ll let the pictures to do the talking.
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Nice work, Phil.

By the way, Phil is already on his way to Austin, so Texas fans be on the lookout for the tall guy who has come to pillage your town.

If any of you fans see him in Austin, make him pull up the shirt to show off the tat.

Later…

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Dealing with information/posting material overload today, dear denizens of Owl Country and visitors from Longhornia. Expect a bunch of stuff to pop up during the day as I try and get caught up. The vids take a while to load, and I have a bunch to do.

I got a bit too close to the bonfire last night and will be borrowing Connie The Wonder Woman’s makeup to paint on my eyebrows.

CTTW: You’re late and smell like smoke.
Me: Well, there was this bonfire…
CTTW: What does that have to do with football?
Me: Well, coach was there and a lot of players…
CTTW: Was the DT there?
Damn. Busted again…
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That was some conflagration. I kept expecting it to die down, and it just got higher. Great job by all involved.

First they towed Bevo around campus, then placed him in the stall they had created.
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Then celebrated the achievement with The Voice, before darkness fell and it was time to Burn Bevo.

The Voice got things started, literally. The Boca FD had declared that no acclerant was to be used. Now, I did detect an odor that made me believe some of that wood had been marinated in diesel fuel. Anyway, it sure caught quick.
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So, Bevo has gone up in flames twice now, first in April and then Wednesday night. A tradition is born.

A very good crowd last night. I didn’t realize how big until I was heading to the car and was able to get a wider perspective, though my eyeballs were singed, too, and things are still a bit blurry.

FOR TEXAS INFO

I think THIS SITE is a nice spot for all things Longhorns.

BIGGER, STRONGER, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH

Have to include some football, so here is OL John Rizzo talking about Texas. Yes, he knows they are a bunch of blue chippers, but…
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Much more to come, but got a date with Digger I have to prepare for.

Later…

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