We here at the alligatorSports Brand picks column understand how important music is to our daily lives.
Who doesn't love humming along to a catchy tune?
And there's no better place in America to get a catchy tune stuck in your head than Nashville, Tenn., home of the Grand Ole Opry.
While country music isn't our cup of tea, there has to be something special about a place where legends like Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, the Dixie Chicks, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood have graced the stage.
For a little help on what makes the Grand Ole Opry so special, we decided to ask Darlene Bieber, a publicist for the Grand Ole Opry, to fill us in.
"The Grand Ole Opry is the longest running country show in the United States," Bieber said. "It's been running for 83 years and over the years it's gotten more diverse. Nashville is known for country, but we have everything - pop to blue grass to traditional country. It's a world-renowned show and part of a rich history of country music."
For those who couldn't manage to score a ticket to the football game this weekend, you'll have a chance to enjoy Kevin Costner and the Modern West's Opry debut Saturday night. Yes, Kevin Costner of "Dances With Wolves" and "The Bodyguard" will be competing head-to-head with big-time Southeastern Conference football.
We can only hope his music is better than the movies he's subjected us to the last 10 years.
"I actually heard his band once and they sounded pretty good," Bieber said. "He'll put on a good show."
After watching "The Postman" and "Mr. Brooks" it's easy to be skeptical. We'll see, Darlene.
On to the picks!
In first place with a 52-28 record is Assistant Sports Editor Evan "I will never grow a mustache" Drexler, who still has flashbacks of the Miami Dolphins in the Dave Wannstedt era. Don't worry, Drexler, he's the University of Pittsburgh's problem now.
Tied for first place with a 52-28 record is Karl "I'm somewhat-to-moderately proud to be black during this time when important stuff is goin' on" Hyppolite, whose obsession with meaningless early season NBA games is disturbing. After watching a Spurs-Timberwolves contest go into double overtime Wednesday, he realized it's time to get a life.
In third place with a 50-30 record Phil "I just love adding 1,000 miles to my car's odometer" Kegler, who is secretly wishing he were still on the women's basketball beat as its season is starting tonight. He would probably be driving 2,000 miles if the women's team had a contest in Montana this weekend.
In fourth place with a 49-31 record is Sports Editor Brian "If loving Carrie Underwood is wrong, I don't want to be right" Steele, whose obsession with the country star is getting so intense he'll likely end up on a sexual predators list.
In dead-ass last place with a piss poor record of 46-34 is Mike "Sunday night Conference USA games are the only real college football I follow" McCall, who celebrated a Pirates victory last weekend more intensely than he will celebrate his graduation, his wedding day and the birth of his first three children combined.
| ED | KH | PK | MM | BS | NB | |
| Bama-LSU | Bama | Bama | Bama | Bama | Bama | Bama |
| OkSt-TTech | TTech | OKSt | OkSt | TTech | TTech | TTech |
| PSU-Iowa | PSU | PSU | PSU | PSU | PSU | PSU |
| Okla-TAMU | Okla | Okla | Okla | Okla | Okla | Okla |
| Cal-USC | USC | USC | USC | USC | USC | USC |
| UtST-BoiSt | BoiSt | BoiSt | BoiSt | BoiSt | BoiSt | BoiSt |
| KanST-Mizz | Mizz | Mizz | Mizz | Mizz | Mizz | Mizz |
| Clem-FSU | FSU | FSU | FSU | FSU | Clem | Clem |
| GT-UNC | GT | GT | GT | UNC | GT | GT |
UF-VU: ED - UF 56-10; KH - UF 42-7; MM - UF 45-20; PK - UF 35-14; BS - UF 38-17; NB - VU 25-22
