Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan (Post 426151)

Viewing note: If you liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the movie did the book justice. The girl who played Salandar was excellent, and the movie was wonderfully adapted. I have very few quibbles about what was left out. It was difficult to watch, but at least I knew what I was getting myself into. I can't imagine going into that movie blind.

There's no way the American version will be anywhere near as good.

Originally Posted by Flinty_McFlint (Post 426174)

I don't get this joke. Oh wait, it's like you're pretending to really care about soccer or futbol or some euro shit. That is funny!

Originally Posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) (Post 426175)

My sense of the ordering of thinking on all of this, in every conference is:

1) Money/TV contract
2) Politics (will some government force us to take Baylor) and chances that it could reduce #1, above
3) Geographic considerations (are we all in close enough time zones to maximize #1, above)
4-98) a bunch of other stuff
99) Sensible conference scheduling in basketball.

As for games, I would guess 18 (4 against other, rotating), although I'm sure Arizona won't be happy playing UCLA, Stanford, and Cal only once every 4 years at home and instead spending lots of time in Norman and Stillwater.

Originally Posted by greatwhitenorthchick (Post 426177)

"Ivory Coast really good have put together a good run.."

Originally Posted by Cletus Miller (Post 426178)

Well, yeah. But the football schedule makes sense, especially as both USC and Texas will expect to play each other 9 out of 10 year in a champ game.

Which would, I guess, rotate b/t LA and Dallas?

Originally Posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) (Post 426170)

Are you talking odds or world rankings? Because I understand the rankings and their flaws.

On the other hand, looking again at the odds Less posted, I don't see any teams with longer odds than the US (50-1) that seemingly should be a better bet, with the possible exception of Mexico at 66-1. There just aren't too many teams that seem capable of winning the WC.

Originally Posted by notcasesensitive (Post 426163)

--Nebraska rumored to be heading to the Big 10.

Originally Posted by Fugee (Post 426184)

Hmm. The last headline I saw they were talking about Texas maybe joining the Big 10. Either one just pushes the Gophers further down the ranks -- at least in football.

Originally Posted by barely_legal (Post 426176)

Loved the books. No way I will be able to watch any of the movies, especially if they are faithful adaptations.

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch (Post 426182)

Rankings. If we're talking Less's odds, then I don't think the odds on the US are unrealistic (except to the extent that once you get to those numbers it gets a little silly, really), and I didn't think that's what whoever started this discussion was referring to.

Originally Posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) (Post 426185)

Are you hoping for the Big 10 to go out and sign up South Dakota State?

Originally Posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) (Post 426185)

Are you hoping for the Big 10 to go out and sign up South Dakota State?

Originally Posted by Cletus Miller (Post 426187)

The current FIFA ranking has the US 14th. The odds have the US 11th, with 4 teams ranked ahead of the US (croatia, russia, egypt greece) not in the Cup and Ivory Coast (ranked 27th) passing the US. So the two seem pretty similar, but what do I know?