In my third week of official week of picks, I went 9-3. That's not bad, especially when you consider that nobody could have predicted the unfortunate Dennis Dixon injury that cost Oregon the game - and any shot at playing for a national championship. And, I did go out on a limb picking Mississippi State to win at Arkansas. I'll go ahead and say it right now; I was wrong. OK. Possibly stupid. And hats off to Boston College. With their backs to the wall (so to speak) and an ACC Atlantic Division title on the line, they pulled out a win at Clemson.
Once again, though, we are seeing that the game of college football is changing. It's getting a little easier for David to sneak up on Goliath every now and then. Appalachian State, on a good day, can beat Michigan on a bad day. Who among you would have predicted a Louisiana-Monroe win over Alabama at home yesterday? Or Western Michigan over Iowa? If you did, and you know a good bookie, chances are you're reading this on the beach in Acapulco.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
My Crystal Ball Says...
...that I know what will happen in this week's key games. Always remember that I'm right, and your team sucks.
Thursday, November 15th
7:30 p.m. #2 Oregon @ Arizona
It's time for the rest of the nation to face the facts: despite what are quite possibly the most hideous uniforms on the face of the planet, this Oregon team may be the real thing. Dennis Dixon may be the best quarterback that nobody east of the Mississippi ever sees on TV. Is their defense good enough to win the big game? I don't know. But it's good enough for me to take the Ducks in this one.
Saturday, November 17th
12:00 p.m. #7 Ohio State @ #23 Michigan
Just for the record, I'd like to make it clear that I hate Ohio State. If you want to know ONE good reason, click here. But there are oh so many reasons. Anyways... Ohio State has managed to win 5 of the last six against Michigan. And Michigan is suffering through a season that they would rather forget. Lloyd Carr is... umm... "retiring" at the end of this year. An Ohio State win puts them in the Rose Bowl. As much as I hate them, I've got to go with the Buckeyes.
12:00 p.m. Maryland @ Florida State
I hate Florida State too. Have I mentioned that recently? Maryland had been on a three game losing skid until they beat Boston College last week on Senior Day in College Park. FSU QB Drew Weatherford is a probable starter after suffering a concussion in the loss to Virginia tech last week. What I want to know is, how could they tell he had a concussion? I mean, really. As much as I hate Florida State, it's hard to pick against the 'Noles at home when they badly need a win.
12:30 p.m. #22 Kentucky @ #8 Georgia
After beating Auburn like a high school team last week, it's clear that Georgia is a team on the rise, while Kentucky is a team on the way down - losing two of their last three, although they did scratch out a win at Vanderbilt last week. I gotta take the Dawgs in this one.
12:30 p.m. #6 Missouri @ Kansas State
I never liked Kansas State. I don't know why. After a number of years of success under Bill Snyder (1989-2005), they've become mediocre again. And I still don't like them. On the other hand, I find Tigers to be quite likable.
2:00 p.m. Mississippi State @ Arkansas
Two 6-4 teams from the SEC's West Division fighting for a respectable bowl. South Carolina is the only remotely decent team that Arkansas has beaten. Other than that, their wins are over Troy, North Texas, UT-Chattanooga, Ole Miss and Florida International. In the meantime, Mississippi State has managed to pull out road wins at Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama. Arkansas is an 8 point favorite, but I'm going to see if the Bulldogs can pull off another upset.
2:30 p.m. Duke @ Notre Dame
At this point, I don't know how Notre Dame can be favored over anybody. Who would have thought, back in August, that these teams would have identical 1-9 records coming into this game. But, just when your football troubles seem their worst, Duke can provide the cure. I'd love to see Notre Dame choke an another one, but I don't think Duke is good enough to pull it off. Touchdown Jesus gives the Irish the edge.
3:30 p.m. Miami at #10 Virginia Tech
Given a chance to bid a fond farewell to that cesspool of a stadium known as the Orange Bowl, Miami promptly got their faces ripped off last Saturday by a resurgent Virgina team. Now they have to play another Virginia team. On the road. It might not be as bad as last week's 48-0 drubbing, but it could be pretty bad. Go Hokies.
3:30 p.m. Penn State @ Michigan State
Penn State climbed up as high as #10 in the polls before losing a close game to Michigan in September. I always felt their offense was suspect, but you can't help but root for Joe Pa, can you? They stumbled a bit when they got into the meat of their schedule. The win over a very over-rated Wisconsin team seemed impressive at the time. Michigan State, on the other hand, has continued their Jekyll and Hyde pattern - playing reasonably well in close losses to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan, but losing a home shootout with Northwestern and a very winnable game at Iowa. Something makes me want to pick the Spartans though.
7:45 p.m. #18 Boston College @ #15 Clemson
This is another tough game to call. In recent years, Clemson has started the season strong but tailed off at the end. This year, their dip seems to have come in the form of a two game losing streak in mid-season, but they've rebounded to win the last four. Boston College got into the real meat of their schedule and started struggling. Let's face it, they were lucky to beat Virginia Tech, and they're on a two game skid since then. I don't see the skid coming to a stop. I'm taking the Tigers at home.
7:45 p.m. #6 West Virginia @ #22 Cincinnati
I have a hard time believing West Virgina genuinely belongs on the list of the nation's elite teams. This game could erupt into a display of offensive fireworks. I'd love to see Cincinnati win this one, but West Virginia is trying to place themselves into first place in the Big East. Will they be looking ahead to the big showdown with U Conn next week? I doubt it. I think the Mountaineers will pull this one off.
8:00 p.m. Louisville @ South Florida
Louisville climbed as high as #8 in the polls early in the year, and then people discovered they couldn't play defense. The loss to Kentucky, in retrospect, wasn't all that shocking. But the home loss to a Syracuse team that is now 2-8 was absolutely baffling. South Florida has also stumbled since their wins over Auburn and West Virginia, but I like the Bulls to take this one.
Thursday, November 15th
7:30 p.m. #2 Oregon @ Arizona
It's time for the rest of the nation to face the facts: despite what are quite possibly the most hideous uniforms on the face of the planet, this Oregon team may be the real thing. Dennis Dixon may be the best quarterback that nobody east of the Mississippi ever sees on TV. Is their defense good enough to win the big game? I don't know. But it's good enough for me to take the Ducks in this one.
Saturday, November 17th
12:00 p.m. #7 Ohio State @ #23 Michigan
Just for the record, I'd like to make it clear that I hate Ohio State. If you want to know ONE good reason, click here. But there are oh so many reasons. Anyways... Ohio State has managed to win 5 of the last six against Michigan. And Michigan is suffering through a season that they would rather forget. Lloyd Carr is... umm... "retiring" at the end of this year. An Ohio State win puts them in the Rose Bowl. As much as I hate them, I've got to go with the Buckeyes.
12:00 p.m. Maryland @ Florida State
I hate Florida State too. Have I mentioned that recently? Maryland had been on a three game losing skid until they beat Boston College last week on Senior Day in College Park. FSU QB Drew Weatherford is a probable starter after suffering a concussion in the loss to Virginia tech last week. What I want to know is, how could they tell he had a concussion? I mean, really. As much as I hate Florida State, it's hard to pick against the 'Noles at home when they badly need a win.
12:30 p.m. #22 Kentucky @ #8 Georgia
After beating Auburn like a high school team last week, it's clear that Georgia is a team on the rise, while Kentucky is a team on the way down - losing two of their last three, although they did scratch out a win at Vanderbilt last week. I gotta take the Dawgs in this one.
12:30 p.m. #6 Missouri @ Kansas State
I never liked Kansas State. I don't know why. After a number of years of success under Bill Snyder (1989-2005), they've become mediocre again. And I still don't like them. On the other hand, I find Tigers to be quite likable.
2:00 p.m. Mississippi State @ Arkansas
Two 6-4 teams from the SEC's West Division fighting for a respectable bowl. South Carolina is the only remotely decent team that Arkansas has beaten. Other than that, their wins are over Troy, North Texas, UT-Chattanooga, Ole Miss and Florida International. In the meantime, Mississippi State has managed to pull out road wins at Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama. Arkansas is an 8 point favorite, but I'm going to see if the Bulldogs can pull off another upset.
2:30 p.m. Duke @ Notre Dame
At this point, I don't know how Notre Dame can be favored over anybody. Who would have thought, back in August, that these teams would have identical 1-9 records coming into this game. But, just when your football troubles seem their worst, Duke can provide the cure. I'd love to see Notre Dame choke an another one, but I don't think Duke is good enough to pull it off. Touchdown Jesus gives the Irish the edge.
3:30 p.m. Miami at #10 Virginia Tech
Given a chance to bid a fond farewell to that cesspool of a stadium known as the Orange Bowl, Miami promptly got their faces ripped off last Saturday by a resurgent Virgina team. Now they have to play another Virginia team. On the road. It might not be as bad as last week's 48-0 drubbing, but it could be pretty bad. Go Hokies.
3:30 p.m. Penn State @ Michigan State
Penn State climbed up as high as #10 in the polls before losing a close game to Michigan in September. I always felt their offense was suspect, but you can't help but root for Joe Pa, can you? They stumbled a bit when they got into the meat of their schedule. The win over a very over-rated Wisconsin team seemed impressive at the time. Michigan State, on the other hand, has continued their Jekyll and Hyde pattern - playing reasonably well in close losses to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan, but losing a home shootout with Northwestern and a very winnable game at Iowa. Something makes me want to pick the Spartans though.
7:45 p.m. #18 Boston College @ #15 Clemson
This is another tough game to call. In recent years, Clemson has started the season strong but tailed off at the end. This year, their dip seems to have come in the form of a two game losing streak in mid-season, but they've rebounded to win the last four. Boston College got into the real meat of their schedule and started struggling. Let's face it, they were lucky to beat Virginia Tech, and they're on a two game skid since then. I don't see the skid coming to a stop. I'm taking the Tigers at home.
7:45 p.m. #6 West Virginia @ #22 Cincinnati
I have a hard time believing West Virgina genuinely belongs on the list of the nation's elite teams. This game could erupt into a display of offensive fireworks. I'd love to see Cincinnati win this one, but West Virginia is trying to place themselves into first place in the Big East. Will they be looking ahead to the big showdown with U Conn next week? I doubt it. I think the Mountaineers will pull this one off.
8:00 p.m. Louisville @ South Florida
Louisville climbed as high as #8 in the polls early in the year, and then people discovered they couldn't play defense. The loss to Kentucky, in retrospect, wasn't all that shocking. But the home loss to a Syracuse team that is now 2-8 was absolutely baffling. South Florida has also stumbled since their wins over Auburn and West Virginia, but I like the Bulls to take this one.
Colt Brennan Meets Marcus Riley
All I can say is... OUCH! Nighty night. Sleep Tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite.
Monday, November 5, 2007
So Much for Crystal Balls
In my second official week of picks, I went 8-5. That's not great, but it's not bad, especially when you consider that Wake Forest lost by a point - and missed a late field goal that would have won it - and Navy beat Notre Dame by two points. But I will gladly take one on the chin each week if it means I can watch the Irish writhe in collective pain. And who could have foreseen that Oklahoma State would let Texas score 24 points in the final quarter and lose by three? And you have to admit that Alabama was very close to knocking off LSU. The only pick I regret, in retrospect, is Boston College. I should have known that - even in a "down" period - FSU has better athletes than BC.
The Jayhawks obviously unleashed four decades of frustration on Nebraska. The Ducks showed that they have to be taken seriously. And the Huskies (U Conn) showed that they are for real - at least in their league.
I still think that this is one of the most enjoyable college football seasons that I can remember. Surprises abound, every Saturday.
For the season, I'm 12-13, but I guarantee I'll break .500 this week.
The Jayhawks obviously unleashed four decades of frustration on Nebraska. The Ducks showed that they have to be taken seriously. And the Huskies (U Conn) showed that they are for real - at least in their league.
I still think that this is one of the most enjoyable college football seasons that I can remember. Surprises abound, every Saturday.
For the season, I'm 12-13, but I guarantee I'll break .500 this week.
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