Who’s going to storm the field this year?
One of my favorite things about sports is that rare moment where you predict something unlikely and when it comes true you are hailed as a genius. When I told my college buddies that the 1997 Cougars had a chance at the Rose Bowl, they laughed in my face. A few short months later they were all worshiping at the altar of Longball and seeking my wisdom on everything from horse races to the weekend weather forecast.. They had no idea that I had also made this prediction in 1993, 1994, 1996, etc. I believe in playing the odds, or in other words, the shotgun approach. Just make enough outlandish predictions and the laws of nature dictate that at least one will come true. The laws of nature also say that everyone will be so wrapped up in their wonder that they will pay no heed to the dozens of other predictions you made that were as wrong as the day is long. So today I am going to give you my Pac-12 upset spectacular! That’s right, someone is going to pull an upset that sends shockwaves through the college football world, and I am going to be able to point to this post and say… “I told ya so!” Find my upset picks after the jump…
Here are my top 10 upset specials for 2012. (they were ranked based on a complicated algorithm that included factors such as probability, shock factor and awesomeness)
#10 – UW @ LSU, September 8
A lot of people are prepared to eat their hat if the Dawgs go into Baton Rouge and steal a win. To those people I say you might as well have a hat made of steak and a bottle of A1 on hand, just in case. LSU plays in the SEC where nobody knows how to play offense which is perfect for a UW team that doesn’t always suit up 11 conscious players on defense. LSU doesn’t get the same honey badger heroics like they got against Oregon last year to escape this one.
#9 – Wisconsin @ OSU, September 8
After the Huskies win at LSU and the Beavs pull this one out, September 8 will forever be known as Pac-12 Domination Day. Of course Oregon State are notoriously slow starters, so this may be a bit early in the Fall for them to show up, but they also used to go to bowl games regularly, so…
#8 – USC @ UW, October 13
It wasn’t THAT long ago that USC went to Seattle all fat and sassy and Jake Locker made the most accurate throw of his career to set up a game winning field goal for the Dawgs. What if UW becomes the new Oregon State, a semi-annual graveyard for USC’s national championship hopes? Look, I don’t like the thought of it either, but there it is.
Ugh, not again!
#7 – Colorado @ USC, October 20
Ha ha ha ha ha, I know, right? Coming off a stunning loss at Washington, the Buffs catch the still-reeling Trojans on an off day and add insult to injury in front of a restless Coliseum crowd. Much to the delight of Coug fans this abruptly ends the UW brag-o-rama from their win the week before.
#6 – Nebraska @ UCLA, September 8
Chalk up another stunner for the Pac-12 on “Pac-12 Domination Day”. Patience in Lincoln will be worn pretty thin, while UCLA announces its intention to start playing at or near their talent level with Mora at the helm. Brace yourselves as irate Cornhusker boosters start reaching out to Mike Leach.
#5 – UW @ Oregon, October 6
Is anyone else sensing that Oregon fans are a bit too secure in their win streak over the Dawgs? Honestly, if the Dawgs win this one all of you who live in the Pacific Northwest will probably just want to move. Just come join Amieable and me in Utah where nobody knows who the Huskies are.
#4 – UW @ Colorado, November 17
HA, that ought to shut them right up. After taking down Utah late last season, can Colorado muster another late stunner in 2012? It ought to be nice and chilly in Boulder in November and the Buffs will take a page out of the Cougs book, covering the field in ice and snow and slowing down the Husky offense just enough to squeeeeeeeze out a victory and put the Dawgs bowl hopes in serious jeopardy.
#3 – USC @ Utah, October 6
After a heartbreaker in the Coliseum last year, the Utes make a statement in the South Division and put the Trojans title hopes on ice.
#2 – Utah @ Utah State, September 8
Taking a bit of the shine off “Pac-12 Domination Day”, the Utes travel to Logan where the Aggies ensure that they will never schedule another game here ever again. Amieable and I will scream ourselves horse urging Chuckie Keeton and company to the stunning victory.
#1 – Oregon @ WSU (in Seattle), September 29
Pioneer Square burns to the ground. Mike Leach secures a signature win early in his tenure as the Cougs torch the Ducks title hopes and are treated to an all night Zima bash by UW fans.
So there they are. Now remember how this works… I get full credit for any that are right, but we pay no attention to the others. Got it? Of course if they are all correct, then I become the next anchor on Sports Center and college football will probably just be canceled.
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