Beech Tree News Network

I'm still getting over Stanford's upset of Oregon, and so are a lot of other people, but it's that time of year. I like to think that questions are being answered about who the real powers are in college football.

After Saturday it's clear that Alabama and Florida State are on a collision course for the BCS national championship game. It's going to take a gigantic upset to derail these two football trains.

Bama looked stronger than ever handling LSU 38-17. Florida State might have played their most complete game of the season in their 59-3 beatdown of Wake Forrest. It makes me glad in a way that there's no playoff this season, because for once the two best teams in the country seem on their way to a meeting in the BCS title game.

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Welcome to the NCAA Julius Randle! I had actually heard some folks knocking UK's top recruit during their preseason games. They said he was over-hyped, and one person told me that anyone that compared him to LeBron James was an idiot.

The idiots had the last word on Friday night. Randle was awesome in Kentucky's opener against UNC Asheville. The super-frosh had 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead Kentucky to an 89-57 win. I still don't think the Cats are going 40-0, but I believe this team has the makings to be special, and that Randle has answered the question about who UK's go-to man is going to be.

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NASCAR races at Phoenix today with two races remaining in the 2013 Chase For the Championship. Barring something disastrous, Jimmie Johnson is going to win his sixth championship. I'm not going to tout his greatness and the greatness of the team, I've already admitted that.

I will tout the potential greatness of an up and coming NASCAR star.

Seventeen-year-old Chase Elliott is a name you're going to hear a lot in the next three years. The son of former champ Bill Elliott is poised to make some big noise in NASCAR racing. Chase won the All-American 400 last weekend in Nashville, beating a loaded field of hot late-model drivers and NASCAR veterans. That goes on his resume with a NASCAR trucks win last summer, and a slew of other wins in his NASCAR late model career.

Rick Hendricks has this kid locked up to a ten-year deal. He will run a full truck schedule in 2014, along with a handful of Nationwide races once he turns 18. The plan is for a full Nationwide schedule in 2015 with a few Cup races after he turns 19.

So what about plans for 2016? How about a full-time ride in the 24 car?

When the time comes you can say you read it here first, because Jeff Gordon's final full season is likely going to be 2015, with Elliott taking over in the 24 in 2016.

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I don't even want to discuss my NFL picks from last week, it was that bad. I'll update my standings next week. My winners for this week, after a Thursday night win by picking the Vikings, are; Seahawks, Lions, Eagles, Titans, Colts, Giants, Steelers, Ravens, 49ers, Texans, Broncos, Saints, and Dolphins.

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