Today’s picks for the weak include the results from last week’s games because, in short, I’m busy as sin. Yes, sin is busy…very very busy, thanks for asking.
Now, we do want to send our best wishes up to East Lansing (should I say “down the street”?) to Coach Dantonio. We hope he gets better soon and can get back to being a perennial thorn in UM’s side. By the way, that fake field goal was just about the best college football play call I’ve ever seen – certainly on the order of Holy Buckeye. Perfect timing for a fake with fantastic execution leads to great things.
While Notre Dame works on a plan to hire their next great messiah at the coaching position, lets get to the games.
Recap:
#6 Texas at Texas Tech
Final: Texas 24, Texas Tech 14
Eric: Texas 31, TTU 17
Computers: Texas 27, TTU 20 (77.2%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Texas | Texas | Texas | Texas | Texas |
#8 Nebraska at Washington
Final: Nebraska 56, Washington 21
Eric: Nebraska 24, Washington 10
Computers: Nebraska 32, Washington 16 (89.1%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| NU | NU | NU | NU | NU |
#10 Florida at Tennessee
Final: Florida 31, Tennessee 17
Eric: Florida 35, Tennessee 17
Computers: Florida 32, Tennessee 17 (87.1%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| UF | UF | UF | UF | UF |
Arizona State at #11 Wisconsin
Final: Wisconsin 20, Arizona State 19
Wisconsin 27, Arizona State 14
Computers: Wisconsin 37, Arizona State 14 (92.1%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| UW | UW | ASU | UW | UW |
Mississippi State at #15 LSU
Final: LSU 29, MSU 7
Eric: Mississippi State 17, LSU 10
Computers: LSU 33, MSU 16 (86.1%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| LSU | LSU | LSU | LSU | LSU |
Maryland at #21 West Virginia
Final: WVU 31, Maryland 17
Eric: West Virginia 28, Maryland 13
Computers: West Virginia 38, Maryland 16 (93.1%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Terps | Terps | WVU | WVU | WVU |
Jeff says he’s got a feeling.
#23 Houston at UCLA
Final: UCLA 31, Houston 13
Eric: Houston 42, UCLA 7
Computers: Houston 37, UCLA 35 (56.4%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| UCLA | UCLA | Houston | UCLA | Houston |
Georgia Tech at North Carolina
Final: GT 30, UNC 24
Eric: UNC 24, GT 14
Computers: GT 32, UNC 24 (75.2%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Tech | Tech | Tech | UNC | Tech |
East Carolina at Virginia Tech
Final: Virginia Tech 49, ECU 27
Eric: Virginia Tech 21, ECU 14
Computers: Virginia Tech 42, ECU 16 (95%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| ECU | Tech | Tech | Tech | Tech |
Notre Dame at Michigan State
Final: MSU 34, ND 31
Eric: MSU 27, ND 21
Computers: MSU 39, ND 34 (57.4%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| MSU | MSU | MSU | MSU | MSU |
So how did we end up doing?
Eric: 7-3 (17-12 Season)
Jeff: 8-2 (19-10)
Mali: 9-1 (21-8)
Jim: 8-2 (22-7)
Joe: 9-1 (21-8)
Jay: 9-1 (23-6)
Jay currently has the lead for the year. I’m trying to make a comeback but it’s gonna be tough the way these guys are picking. I guess we know that I’m not cheating with the games I’m choosing!
As for the Yahoo Pick ’em group, our leaderboards stand thus out of 72 possible points thus far:
- ckuehn: 47 points (65.3%)
- Ludwig’s Losers: 44 points (61.1%)
- Miller: 42 points (58.3%)
- 3-way tie between brownslovecolt, Prognostication Nation, Not Quite First: 41 points (56.9%)
Keep it up, guys! Lots of games still left to pick!
Lets take a look at this week’s slate of games.
Thursday, September 23rd
#19 Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh
This is a great chance for Pittsburgh to turn their season around and get going on the right foot. The only problem is that they have to do it against a reasonably competent and defensively sound Hurricane squad that is going to make their lives miserable. The ultimate question will be whether or not Jacory Harris can limit the mistakes enough to allow Miami to pull away with the win.
Eric: Miami 20, Pittsburgh 14
Computers: Pittsburgh 34, Miami 26 (65.3%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Miami | Miami | Miami | Miami | Miami |
Saturday, September 25th
#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas
The real question behind this game is whether I honestly believe Arkansas is overrated or not. A tough game against what is probably a mediocre Georgia squad (remember, they basically got crushed by toUSC a couple weeks ago) does not instill much confidence that the Hogs can get it done. For the most part, right now, the Tide is driven by their nearly unstoppable running game. If Arkansas can get it together along the defensive front, they might be able to slow ‘Bama down enough to outscore ’em.
I doubt it. Alabama will emerge victorious, though they may have to hold off a late game surge from the Razorbacks.
Eric: Alabama 28, Arkansas 24
Computers: Alabama 37, Arkansas 30 (79.2%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Ark | Bama | Ark | Bama | Bama |
#24 Oregon State at #3 Boise State
A lot of people are looking forward to this game as a potential measuring stick for the Broncos. After their signature win went and gave up on the field against James Madison you can expect the Broncos to come out of the gate fast. They want this win, possibly more than Oregon State does. Oregon State does have the talent to compete, but they came up short against a clearly superior TCU squad earlier this year, and I see no reason why Boise State won’t be able to do the same.
Eric: Boise State 35, Oregon State 23
Computers: Boise State 42, Oregon State 32 (75.2%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| OSU | Boise | OSU | Boise | Boise |
#12 South Carolina at #17 Auburn
Many people are likely expecting the wheels to fall off the South Carolina bandwagon here soon. They’ve made it a tradition the last few years, after all. However, this has to be the most fundamentally sound team we’ve seen under Spurrier. The defense is rock solid (unique for a Spurrier team) and he has enough weapons on offense to put points on the board.
Auburn just escaped a close game against toUSC rival Clemson in a game that honestly shouldn’t have been close.
Eric: toUSC 24, Auburn 17
Computers: Auburn 33, toUSC 23 (68.3%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Aub | toUSC | Aub | Aub | Aub |
#22 West Virginia at #15 LSU
Talk about two teams that are awfully hard to pick. LSU curbstomped Mississippi State last week (thanks MSU…) in a way that I never thought possible given their struggles against UNC. West Virginia almost blew one to Marshall, but has somehow found their way to being 3-0 despite every attempt to be otherwise. Given the way LSU is playing right now, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Eric: LSU 30, WVU 21
Computers: LSU 25, WVU 24 (50.5%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| LSU | LSU | LSU | LSU | LSU |
Bowling Green at #21 Michigan
Michigan came awfully close to losing one to UMass last week. UM fans will probably beg to differ, but a 5 point difference with 2 minutes left and a chance at an onsides kick for the Minutemen is a heck of a lot closer than it should have been. Now that the blueprint is out for scoring on Michigan’s defense, can someone figure out how to play defense against Denard? I can guarantee that it won’t be Bowling Green.
Eric: Michigan 45, Bowling Green 35
Computers: Michigan 38, Bowling Green 16 (92.1%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Mich | Mich | Mich | Mich | Mich |
California at #14 Arizona
Has anyone in the country impressed more than Arizona right now? A big win over Iowa at home and they suddenly jump 10 spots in the polls – and deservedly so. Now they have to continue to prove that they deserve to be where they’re at. California has the talent to be able to hang with the Cats and an upset after a big win would not be unheard of.
Eric: California 21, Arizona 17
Computers: Arizona 32, California 28 (61.4%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Zona | Zona | Zona | Zona | Cal |
Kentucky at #9 Florida
Both teams are 3-0 right now heading into this contest, but neither team has really played anyone with a legitimate pulse. On the plus side for the Wildcats, though, is their propensity to actually crush the opponents they’re supposed to, unlike Florida who seems to figure it out at the last minute. Will that be enough to keep Kentucky afloat? Probably not.
Eric: Florida 24, Kentucky 14
Computers: Florida 38, Kentucky 16 (91.1%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| UF | UF | UF | UF | UF |
#5 Oregon at Arizona State
Oregon has been crushing everyone and anyone in their path so far this year. Absolutely no-one has been able to stop their offense from doing whatever it wants. Arizona State may be the first team with a chance to slow them down after posting a close loss to Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Wisconsin and Oregon are no where near similar offensive styles. Oregon should win this one – though ASU may put up a fight.
Eric: Oregon 38, ASU 24
Computers: Oregon 33, ASU 13 (92.1%)
| Jeff | Mali | Jim | Joe | Jay |
| Oregon | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon |
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