Hot Off The Grill - NFL Week 1

RSS is back with Hot Off The Grill's NFL Week 1 Preview. As with the college kids, we'll go through the biggest games, stories, and players to watch for tomorrow's action. Today's CFB action is only the appetizer for the tastiness served up on Sunday as the NFL is back in full force. Get your charcoal ready, no... better use propane (taste the meat not the heat is what American Icon Hank Hill always said), fire it up one more time, and follow me!

Big Kielbasa's Game Of the Week - Bears @ Packers

The game of the week is the oldest rivalry in the National. Football. League. The Pack and the Bears thankfully get the Sunday night nod this week as most of the attention will be on the Egomaniac and the Vikes in Cleveland. This rivalry has evened out in recent years, and with the arrival of Jay Cutler, Bears fans (like Mr. Yoder II) are ecstatic at the possibilities.

However, Cutler might not even be the best QB in the division. Aaron Rodgers has done what Brett Favre never thought he could and become a top-flight QB. Rodgers might even have a bigger year this year to stick it to #4. Expect points a plenty from both of these teams, it'll come down to which D can make a stop late to win it. The Pack are switching to a 3-4, while reports are that Urlacher is as healthy as he's been in years so Chicago might have a slight edge. The Bears won on the road on Sunday night last year to open the season, will they do it again this year? PICK - Pa...ok, Bears, just to appease the bro.

Beer Brat's Spotlight Game Of the Week - Buffalo @ New England

Our spotlight game features the return of Fred Jacks... oh wait, yea, that Brady guy is playing. Of course, all eyes on Monday night will be on Tom Brady and the NE offense. But, look to see how susceptible the new-look D is early on without Bruschi, Vrabel, and Seymour. Of course in the long run, a 1st Rounder (from Oakland, so you know it'll be Top 4) will look good in this trade, but right now it won't pay dividends. TO just might have a big day in his Buffalo debut, but Brady will have a bigger one. PICK - NE

Chorizo's Upset Of the Week - Philly @ Carolina

The Yeagles are certainly a trendy pick this year, especially seeing as how they have gotten much more attention from the Ron Mexico signing. However, the Vick circus isn't up and running yet, and folks forget that Carolina did win a division w/ a 1st Round bye last year. Sure, Jake Del-homie choked in that one, but the Smash & Dash of Stewart and Williams should be enough to see them by the Eagles at home. A home dog in Week 1 the quality of the Panthers is too hard to pass up for our upset pick. PICK - Carolina

Andouille's UTR Game - Miami @ Atlanta

Our Under The Radar Game for Week 1 takes us to the Georgia Dome where last year's two surprise packets face off. If one of these teams were to drop off, it would be Miami, although the Sophomore slump could be evident for Matt Ryan as well. That's why this game is important for each team to keep riding the good mojo. Keep an eye on Pat White and the Wildcat if he is used prominently. For now, RSS fav Matt Ryan and the Falcons are the pick. Pick - Atlanta

Hot Dog Of The Week - Saints QB Drew Brees

While this might be a homer pick, how can you not pick Drew Brees to star at home against the Lions?? He'll have all of his WR targets in the lineup, and without Pierre Thomas, he'll have to throw the ball even more. That's a good thing. A 400 yard day with 4 TD's is not out of the question, especially given how well their 1st unit played in the preseason. Shockey, Colston, Moore, and Bush will catch a lot of passes and run all over Detroit. Good luck Matt Stafford, you'll need it this year.

Extra Toppings -

-Pittsburgh was in a dogfight with Tennessee on Thursday night and were fortunate to escape with a win. Both teams proved they'll be tough to beat all season long.

-So much for that Madden curse.... Polamalu hurt in Week 1. Larry Fitzgerald better watch his back, or wrap himself in bubble wrap for the first few weeks of the year.

-I didn't miss John Madden, did you? Will a lightning bolt strike me down?

-What will the media think when Mark Sanchez struggles in his first start at Houston?? Hearts will surely drop in Bristol as the rook comes back to reality.

-Eric Mangini will shock the world and pull Brady Quinn after 1 snap and install his true starter Brett Ratliff! He will then star in a remake of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest... as himself.

-Please let the Browns beat the Vikings, please.

-StarCaps might be the word I'd most like to never hear again, get this case resolved please!

-There are 2 NFC West showdowns tomorrow, anyone care? Anyone? Bueller??

-Why would anyone want to watch Oakland on Monday night get killed by San Diego? The only reason I'm watching any Raiders game this year is if Lane Kiffin comes back to fight Tom Cable and Al Davis in a Triple Threat Texas Deathmatch.

-Favorable spread of the week: Dallas -5.5 @ Tampa. This is easily a 2-3 TD game for the 'Boys.

-Looking forward to seeing how the 1 vs 100 Pregame of Football Night In America will work. I'm hoping Bob Saget boots Olbermann, Barber, and Harrison.

-Thank God football is back.

Randall's Got His Eye On You... Raheem Morris (Bucs), Dick Jauron (Bills), Todd Haley (Chiefs)

Going outside of the box, Randall's got his eye on 3 head coaches this week. The fellas above thought it would be a good idea to part ways with their offensive coordinators right before the season started. That does one thing, put the bright lights squarely on their shoulders. Especially for newbies Haley and Morris, the honeymoon period isn't going to last long if the losses pile up early for bad teams. Dick Jauron might be the only guy who can recover, but with TO in Buffalo, harmony and singing around the campfire aren't exactly on their way to western New York.

Enjoy your football weekend (way to hold on for our upset pick UConn...) We'll be back on Monday with a recap of the weekend's action including what you might have missed with football taking center stage. Also the Decade Series returns next week! Bye for now!

Hot Off The Grill - CFB Week 2

The beginning of the football season sees RSS debut our new feature "Hot Off The Grill." In previewing both College Football and the NFL we'll breakdown the weekend's biggest players, stories, and games by channeling our heritage at Randall Simon's Sausages. Our foam sausage friends will provide us with insight into what to watch this weekend as only they can. First up, the college kids are on the menu. Fire up the grill, get the tailgates ready and the sausages cookin, and follow me!

Big Kielbasa's Game Of the Week - #3 USC @ #8 Ohio St.

The game of the week is obviously in C-Bus as OSU looks (again) to finally shut everyone in the MSM up and win a big game. USC only has to look to the Longhorns who came into the Shoe and won a few years ago, but Texas had Vince Young, not a Freshman QB. The key to this game though is in the trenches. Ohio St. has gotten killed up front on both sides of the ball in recent years, which has led to their overall demise. Most people assume it's the skill positions where OSU is at a disadvantage, but it's a lack of quality and athleticism up front which is their biggest issue.

Matt Barkley looked good in his 1st start, but so would I with McKnight, Johnson, and Havili against San Jose State. If it stays close, Terrelle Pryor might make just enough plays to see it through, but if USC gets off to a hot start and takes the crowd out of it, the streets of Columbus will look like a scene from the Odyssey. A tough pick, the heart says Ohio State, the head says USC. PICK - Push?? Ok fine, Ohio State.

Beer Brat's Spotlight Game Of the Week - #18 Notre Dame @ Meeeechigan

Our spotlight game features two resurgent powers, if you listen to most CFB pundits that is. I'm not ready to crown either of these teams yet after dispatching of Nevada and Western Mich. in Week 1. I'm also not sure how ND is #18 in the country, but that's another issue for another day. One of these teams is going back to earth quickly, my pick is that it's Michigan. The RichRod Era doesn't seem like it should be able to turn around so quickly. Jimmy Clausen and his great WR's will uncover Michigan's true weakness the past few years, it's secondary. PICK - ND

Chorizo's Upset Of the Week - #19 UNC @ UConn

Our spicy friend will provide us with the upset of the week throughout the season. This week, UNC is really the only ranked team in danger of losing this week at Connecticut. Yes, UConn lost Donald Brown and didn't look especially sharp in Athens (OH, not GA). However, if UNC thinks they are becoming an elite program, Butch Davis and co. will have to take a step back towards reality this week. PICK - UConn

Andouille's UTR Game - Purdue @ Oregon

The vastly underrated andouille gives us our Under The Radar Game of the Week, taking us to Eugene. Lost in the PunchGate saga is how poor Oregon played against Boise. They face another tough test Saturday as Purdue comes to town. Purdue looked dynamic in their opener, and with all of the controversy surrounding Oregon, this could be a solid win for the Big 10. Both of these programs could really use a win in an important non-conference game that you should keep an eye on this week. Pick - Purdue

Hot Dog Of The Week - Alabama RB Mark Ingram

The Bama Sophomore was the breakout star of Week 1 with his fantastic all-around performance in the Georgia Dome against Va Tech. Y2 likes his angry running style, and he could lead Bama to the top of the rankings. He gets a chance this week against FIU to pad the stats and start building towards a surprise Heisman campaign.

Extra Toppings -

-How will Boise State and BYU respond after huge wins last week? Tulane and Miami (OH) are two good opponents to continue the mojo for the BCS Busters.

-Spurrier's reign at South Carolina has probably been the biggest disappointment in college pig the last 5 years. They were more relevant under Lou Holtz for goodness sake! Another loss Between the Hedges at UGA will drive the Ol' Ballcoach closer to the golf course.

-Please resist the temptation to anoint the winner of the ND/UM showdown as a National Title contender.

-Also resist the urge to anoint Lane Kiffin a genius when they whomp UCLA in Knoxville.

-Texas' trip to Wyoming is the strangest road game this decade. Unless Colt McCoy and crew get mauled by buffaloes and grizzly bears at Yellowstone, there isn't a lot of danger in this fixture.

-Take a trip to Yellowstone before you die, it's worth it.

-Where has the Big East gone exactly??

-Idaho State continues Oklahoma's woes with a shocking win... a guy can dream right?

-I'm really hoping for an OSU win this weekend, not to be a C-Bus homer... but just to see the reaction of the Mark May's and Colin Cowherd's of the world. Go ahead and lose every other game this year Bucks, just win this one for me please.

-I'm also really hoping Troy finishes within 50 points of Florida.

Randall's Got His Eye On You... Jim Tressel

This week is a watershed game for the Sweater Vest. Whacked in 2 BCS Title games, whacked by USC... it hasn't been a fun time lately for Jimmy T in Columbus. If he fails to beat USC this weekend, don't be surprised to see the questions and doubts start to swirl around Tressel. He's nearly untouchable here in Columbus, but another big game loss could spell the beginning of the end of the Tressel Era at Ohio State. His poor coaching decision of going for a 4th & 2 last week instead of kicking a FG to go up 18 in the 4th was lost in the hoopla of the Navy escape. Another wrong move this week, or another blowout could have Randall's bat aimed squarely at Jim Tressel.

Hot Off The Grill returns soon with our look ahead at Week 1 in the National. Football. League. Enjoy the weekend!

CFB Preview - YCS Week 1

Throughout the season, in addition to our College Football columns, insights, and Heisman Watch, we'll give you the YCS (Yoder Championship Series) Standings. Unlike those in the Media, the Coaches, or the Harris poll (whatever that is), we tell it to you like it is. We'll give you our Top 10 Week to Week. The list will always be dramatically subject to change, and give you the best analysis on who exactly the top 10 teams in the country really are from their on the field performance, not their preseason rankings and media hype. Is it somewhat hypocritical then to have a preseason ranking ourselves? Umm... forget that last sentence. Without further adieu...

1. Florida - I don't know about all of the "best team ever" garbage that we have to put up with every 5 years, but this Florida bunch might be scary good. Superman himself leads the charge again, but how will he cope with losing the versatile Percy Harvin? Their D will be dominant. Their coach is a genius. Their QB is a saint. They're the defending champs. Yea, they are deserving of that #1 ranking.

2. Texas - If anyone can stop Florida though, it's Texas and Colt McCoy. Y2 mentioned Colt's insane numbers last year and he gets most of his weapons back. He really is the "Real McCoy", aha, aha... ok I apologize for that. The only issue for the Longhorns this season might be finding a more consistent running game to keep McCoy from having to use his feet so much and stay off the training table. Vondrell McGee (right) won the race to be the top RB, so the load is on his shoulders to help McCoy and the Texas O.

3. Oklahoma - What can you say about how good of a passer Sam Bradford is? He's certainly a better pro prospect than the other top QB's, but his Sooners lost just a little bit more than Texas did, so they sit at #3 in the initial YCS standings. They have a tricky opener against BYU at Jerry Jones Palace, but it shouldn't be a huge upset threat. Let's face it, the fate of these two teams will come down to the Red River Shootout later this fall.

4. Alabama - The loss of a top tackle, your QB, and coming off an embarrassing BCS defeat to Utah usually means that team is going to slip off next year's radar. Not so with the Crimson Tide. They get a break this year being in the SEC West and not having to play Florida, but they get a huge non-conference test against Va Tech at the Georgia Dome. The Tide will be favored, but they will need a win to kickstart a national title campaign.

5. USC - I'm sorry, but count me out of the people praising Pete Carroll for starting a freshman QB in Matt Barkley. I threw up in my mouth listening to USC hack Colin Cowherd explain away the move as brilliant because it gives Pete Carroll (left) an excuse if he loses to Ohio State. That's exactly what I would want my team to think, I'm doing this move to take the heat off of me... when we lose. That's not the Trojan way, and I'll be the happiest blogger in the world if they get smacked around by the Bucks in Columbus. And I'll do cartwheels and handstands when I hear all of the SC apologists in Bristol and elsewhere explain away the loss...

6. Oklahoma State - The RSS pick for sleeper team of the year... well, they aren't really a sleeper, maybe a sleepwalker of the year. Anyways, they will turn heads with their dynamic offense. Heisman darkhorse Dez Bryant, Zac Robinson, and Kendall Walker form perhaps the best triplets in College Football. They might score 50 points a game right up there with Texas and Oklahoma. If their D can just tread water, they could run the table till their Halloween matchup with Texas. But, of course, they have to take care of Georgia first on Saturday. This is a real man's team, led by a real man for a coach! (Possible soundbyte plug...)

7. Ohio State - Ah, yes, everyone's favorite punching bag. Honestly, where did all the hatred for OSU come from? They aren't the first team to lose BCS games repeatedly (paging Stoops, Bob), and yet they are now national villians... for losing? Aren't people supposed to cheer for the underdog? Anyways, don't expect Ohio State to contend for a title this year, because of constant media backlash against the Bucks and the Big Ten, and because Terrelle Pryor (right) is only a sophomore. Then again, if they do get past USC, there could be a 2002 quality about this bunch in having to replace a ton of people and fight as underdogs to get wins. Stranger things have happened, right?

8. Georgia Tech - Finally, the option has come back to major college football! Sure, the armed forces can run it all they want, but Paul Johnson at GT has some big-time athletes to run his option attack. They should run away with the ACC pretty easily, and they'll be favorites in every game including home matchups with Va Tech and Georgia. Jonathan Dwyer might even have a chance at 2,000 yards this season. Watch this space for the Ramblin' Wreck.

9. Ole Miss - The Right Reverend Houston Nutt (probably the only Rece Davis nickname I actually enjoy... isn't it time to breakup the vaunted trio of Davis, May, and Holtz... I mean, I love Lou's pep talks and everything, but Notre Dame for the National Title?? What is he smoking at his old age? Whatever it is can't be good for senior citizens. And Mark May, what a ....) oh, sorry, got a little off track there. Anyways, Jevan Snead will star for an Ole Miss team that shocked Florida last year and played the big boys of the SEC tough. Their non-conference schedule is perhaps the easiest in the Top 10, but home games with LSU and Bama will decide their fate.

(Another btw, when is anyone ever going to get on Florida for their non-conference sked which includes Charleston Southern, Troy, FIU, and a dying Florida State program. All folks tired of the SEC better be ready with that burning sulphur to pour into your ears this season, especially with ESPN's new contract with the conference to kiss it's collective backside even more... I think I'd rather be pummeled by both Klitschko brothers. Oh, and isn't that a cute logo up above, it makes me want to jump off of my roof into a pool of hot, burning lava.)

10. Penn State - QB Darryl Clark is about the only bright star left for the Nittany Lion program which lost a ton of attacking weapons this offseason. However, don't lose the faith in Joe Pa here. They get OSU at home this season and a weak schedule means they could pile up the wins while the team gels together. A solid D and running game led by Evan Royster could be enough to be a Top 10 mainstay.

Just Missing Out: LSU, Va Tech, Oregon, Boise

Stay tuned at RSS for our #3 Soundbyte of the Decade, our EPL Picks, and the reaction to Week 1 of College Pig!