Thursday, September 13, 2007

Runway Challenge Week 3: I'm tired

A quick break from the diapers and screaming to get week 3 of the Runway Challenge rolling. My soon-to-be newborn son was kind enough to wait for me to arrive home from the Maine game before deciding it was time to start the process of being born. I walked in the house around 12:30 a.m. after the drive home from the Runway, lay down in bed and about the instant my eyes closed, the wife sat up, looked at me and said "It's time." Twenty-two hours of labor later, there was a little boy. Wife and baby are home and doing fine. Daddy has slept a grand total of five hours since Saturday and nodded off in the waiting area at Walgreens this afternoon. One of the pharmacists had to wake me up. I think they thought a homeless man had taken residence next to the rectal thermometers display. Who could blame them? I certainly look the part (of homeless man, not rectal thermometer user).

Let's get right to the picks.

Game 1: UCONN (-30) over Temple: Owls were 3.5-point favorites over Buffalo last week, first time in four years they were favored to win a football game. Buffalo won a 42-7 squeaker. Temple back in the familiar role of being four touchdown underdogs every week.

Game 2: Pitt (+11.5) over MICHIGAN STATE: "Moustache Dave" Wannestadt beat D'Antonio's Cincinnati teams soundly the last two years. Not many others can say they did.

Game 3: Cincinnati (-7) over MIAMI-OH: Could be my 5-star, silver bullet special.

Game 4: NORTH CAROLINA (-3) over Virginia: What happened to the ACC? What is there, one, maybe two really strong teams?

Game 5: WASHINGTON (+3.5) over Ohio State: The "other" Huskies are no joke. This could be their coming out party.

Game 6: Illinois (-13) over SYRACUSE: Another poor showing, and Greg Robinson's house may get the same treatment as Coach Nickerson's in "All the Right Moves". Regular "Runway" reader Vinny Salvucci ready with a bag of garbage.

Game 7: FLORIDA (-8) over Tennessee: The annual "Ugly Uniform Bowl" is in Gainsville this year.

Game 8: MICHIGAN (-8) over Notre Dame: Yep. It's 0-2 Michigan vs. 0-2 Notre Dame, right here on NBC. This has WNBA-type ratings written all over it.

Game 9: ALABAMA (-3) over Arkansas: Nick Saban's first big test at 'Bama. Everyone outside of Tuscaloosa is hoping he flunks.

Game 10: Louisville (-6) over KENTUCKY: Two great quarterbacks, two fried defenses. Final score could be 77-70. Three words: Take the over.

Game 11: Boston College (+7) over GEORGIA TECH: Now that I know what BCU means, I wonder if there are folks in the south who refer to the Yellow Jackets as GTU or the University of Georgia Tech?

Game 12: Southern California (-10) over NEBRASKA: Tommy Lee spent a semester playing for the Nebraska marching band on a horrendously staged "reality" show two years ago and revealed what most knew since the mid-1980s: he sucks on drums. Seems he can't fight either. How embarrassing is it to get beat up by Kid Rock? I'd rank it an 8, just slightly less humiliating than taking a beating from Axl Rose but a little more embarrassing than getting punched out by a female tough rocker like Joan Jett or Pink.

I was going to start including Hawaii in the picks every week because I love watching their games. But it's impossible to try and predict lines like 'Hawaii (-17) at UNLV' every week. Instead, the first installment of the weekly Colt Brennan watch. Through two games, he's thrown for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns which puts him on pace for 5,784 and 60 TDs. Looking for him to hit 6,000 with 60 TDs this season.

Here are the results from Week 2:
1. DetroitTigershater 8-3
SeanO's ghost 8-3
Steve P 8-3
4. Chip 7-4
Sammy 7-4
6. Caleb 6-5
Surge-rock 6-5
8. Ian 5-6
kooch 5-6
kevin 5-6
wil I 5-6
12. vinny 4-7
Pete 4-7

The Race for the Runway (Overall standings after two weeks)
1. DetroitTigersHater 16
2. Sammy 14
3. Ian: 13
Chip 13
SeanO's Ghost 13
6. kooch 12
7. Kevin 11
8. Vinny 10
9. pete 9
10. Steve P 8
11. Caleb 6
Sturge-rock 6
13. Wil I 5
14. Alex 4

Get your picks in by clicking "comments" below, then using the template to cut and paste. Still not too late to join the overall competition.

22 Comments:

Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Chip's picks
Game 1: UCONN (-30) over Temple
Game 2: Pitt (+11.5) over MICHIGAN STATE
Game 3: Cincinnati (-7) over MIAMI-OH
Game 4: NORTH CAROLINA (-3) over Virginia
Game 5: WASHINGTON (+3.5) over Ohio State
Game 6: Illinois (-13) over SYRACUSE
Game 7: FLORIDA (-8) over Tennessee
Game 8: MICHIGAN (-8) over Notre Dame
Game 9: ALABAMA (-3) over Arkansas
Game 10: Louisville (-6) over KENTUCKY
Game 11: Boston College (+7) over GEORGIA TECH
Game 12: Southern California (-10) over NEBRASKA

September 13, 2007 9:17 PM 
Blogger Dan said...

Danoooo's picks
Game 1: UCONN
Game 2: MICHIGAN STATE
Game 3: Cincinnati
Game 4: NORTH CAROLINA
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: FLORIDA
Game 8: Notre Dame
Game 9: ALABAMA
Game 10: Louisville
Game 11: GEORGIA TECH
Game 12: Southern California

Thanks for letting me play too!

September 14, 2007 8:12 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats on the baby. As they say, a chip of the old... Chip.

September 14, 2007 11:25 AM 
Blogger DetroitTigersHater said...

Doing some tailgating with Vinny from East Haven at the Rent this weekend. I am currently accepting cash offers for our location in case anyone is interested in tracking him down and beating him senseless with the "GO-BC" license plate from his IROC. I'll narrow it down to the blue lot for free.

Game 1: Huskies -30
Game 2: Spartans -11.5
Game 3: Bearcats -7
Game 4: Tarheels -3
Game 5: Huskies +3.5
Game 6: Orangemen +13 - They suck but so do the Illini. Too many points at home to not take the orange.
Game 7: Gators -8
Game 8: Wolverines -8 - Can't beleive this one is even on the list this week, Chip. In honor of the big week 1 upset, this game should be replaced by the big Northern Arizona/App State game. Go Lumberjacks!!!!
Game 9: Crimson Tide -3 - The most underrated dirty nickname in all of sports.
Game 10: Cardinals -6
Game 11: Eagles +7 - This one's for you, Vin.
Game 12: Trojans -10

September 14, 2007 11:49 AM 
Blogger DetroitTigersHater said...

Doing some tailgating with Vinny from East Haven at the Rent this weekend. I am currently accepting cash offers for our location in case anyone is interested in tracking him down and beating him senseless with the "GO-BC" license plate from his IROC. I'll narrow it down to the blue lot for free.

Game 1: Huskies -30
Game 2: Spartans -11.5
Game 3: Bearcats -7
Game 4: Tarheels -3
Game 5: Huskies +3.5
Game 6: Orangemen +13 - They suck but so do the Illini. Too many points at home to not take the orange.
Game 7: Gators -8
Game 8: Wolverines -8 - Can't beleive this one is even on the list this week, Chip. In honor of the big week 1 upset, this game should be replaced by the big Northern Arizona/App State game. Go Lumberjacks!!!!
Game 9: Crimson Tide -3 - The most underrated dirty nickname in all of sports.
Game 10: Cardinals -6
Game 11: Eagles +7 - This one's for you, Vin.
Game 12: Trojans -10

September 14, 2007 11:49 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1) UConn
2) Pitt
3) Cincy
4) UNC
5) Ohio State
6) Syracuse
7) Florida
8) ND
9) Arkansas
10) Louisville
11) Ga. Tech
12) USC

You're wrong about the ND/Michigan game. I bet it does good ratings. You can't deny the appeal of either school or the appeal of watching a train wreck as it happens. ESPN called it the "most important game between unranked teams in history." As an ND fan, that's not true but it's all about hype and fanbases.

September 14, 2007 12:40 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sammy's picks
Game 1: UCONN
Game 2: MICHIGAN STATE
Game 3: Cincinnati
Game 4: Virginia
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: SYRACUSE
Game 7: FLORIDA
Game 8: MICHIGAN
Game 9: ALABAMA
Game 10: Louisville
Game 11: GEORGIA TECH
Game 12: NEBRASKA

September 14, 2007 1:12 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kooch's picks
Game 1: UCONN
Game 2: Pitt
Game 3: Cincinnati
Game 4: Virginia
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: SYRACUSE
Game 7: Tennessee
Game 8: Notre Dame
Game 9: Arkansas
Game 10: KENTUCKY
Game 11: GEORGIA TECH
Game 12: Southern California

September 14, 2007 1:35 PM 
Blogger Sturge-Rock said...

Eric picks
Game 1: UCONN over Temple
Game 2: MICHIGAN STATE over Pitt
Game 3: Cincinnati over MIAMI-OH
Game 4: NORTH CAROLINA over Virginia
Game 5: Ohio State over Washington
Game 6: Illinois over SYRACUSE
Game 7: FLORIDA over Tennessee
Game 8: MICHIGAN over Notre Dame
Game 9: ALABAMA over Arkansas
Game 10: Louisville over KENTUCKY
Game 11: GEORGIA TECH over Boston College
Game 12: Southern California over NEBRASKA

Congrats Chip! Go Huskies!

September 14, 2007 2:18 PM 
Blogger Ian said...

I'll be in the blue lot as well starting at 8 am with some breakfast beer.

UCONN
Pitt
Cincinnati
UNC
The Ohio State
Illinois
Florida
Michigan
Alabama
Louisville
BC
Southern Cal

I am hoping to get out to watch Hawaii play this year. My bro works for the university.

September 14, 2007 2:20 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Caleb Mandrake picks
Game 1: UCONN
Game 2: Pitt
Game 3: MIAMI-OH
Game 4: Virginia
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: SYRACUSE
Game 7: Tennessee
Game 8: Notre Dame
Game 9: Arkansas
Game 10: KENTUCKY
Game 11: GEORGIA TECH
Game 12: NEBRASKA

September 14, 2007 2:51 PM 
Blogger DetroitTigersHater said...

Caleb Mandrake, that's a sweet name. I might need to start putting in my picks as Lucas McNamara.

September 14, 2007 2:54 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the baby, Chip.

Covers in CAPS

UCONN 38, Temple 7
MICHIGAN STATE 42, Pittsburgh 17 - Nobody's fearing the Wannstache much anymore.
CINCINNATI 27, Miami (Ohio) 13
NORTH CAROLINA 31, Virginia 24
OHIO STATE 17, Washington 3 - OSU's defense is the truth. Welcome to the big time, Jake Locker.
Illinois 27, SYRACUSE 16
Florida 20, TENNESSEE 17
NOTRE DAME 13, Michigan 10 - Schadenfreude Bowl I!
ARKANSAS 26, Alabama 20
LOUISVILLE 49, Kentucky 35
GEORGIA TECH 24, Boston College 21
USC 41, Nebraska 28

September 14, 2007 9:45 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

UCONN - Last easy game

Pitt

Cincinnati

Virginia - Groh surprises

WASHINGTON - Game of the week

SYRACUSE: Robinson surprises

FLORIDA - Tennessee's uniforms are not ugly

MICHIGAN - Game of the weak

BAMA - They call Alabama the Crimson Tide, call me deacon blues

Louisville - Brohm has no equal

GEORGIA TECH - You're dead to me Fredo

Southern California - Hollywood defeats the chikdren of the corn.

Wil L not I

September 14, 2007 10:15 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Game 1: UCONN
Game 2: Michigan State
Game 3: Cincinnati
Game 4: NORTH CAROLINA
Game 5: WASHINGTON
Game 6: Illinois
Game 7: FLORIDA
Game 8: MICHIGAN
Game 9: ALABAMA
Game 10: Louisville
Game 11: Boston College
Game 12: Southern California

September 14, 2007 10:24 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, congrats on the baby.

September 14, 2007 10:25 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SeanO's Ghost,

Chipster, Welcome to Fatherhood!
Take naps when he naps (if possible).

Game 1: Temple
Game 2: Pitt
Game 3: Cincinnati
Game 4: Virginia
Game 5: Ohio State
Game 6: SYRACUSE
Game 7: FLORIDA
Game 8: Notre Dame
Game 9: BAMA
Game 10: KENTUCKY
Game 11: GEORGIA TECH
Game 12: Southern California

September 14, 2007 10:28 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Chip,

Looks like someone posted under seano but, too be clear, it wasn't SeanO's Ghost.
Dammed impersonaters!

September 14, 2007 10:31 PM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Thanks to all for the well wishes. I promise this won't turn into a baby blog.

SeanO's ghost and SeanO are two different people. SeanO is now represented in the past and present...where is futuristic SeanO?

Speaking of where are they...Vinny from East Haven hasn't gotten his picks in yet? Someone call Fireside Restaurant. Or is he at Hula Hanks tonight? Perhaps he's crusing with Gina Marie (or is it Carmela Mary Antonia) in the IROC.

September 14, 2007 10:54 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vinny's picks:
1. UConn. I hate to do it, but Buffalo is almost as bad as UConn and trounced the Owls last week. If I'm ever going to take over this blog for a day, I have to pick with my mind and not with my heart. Last win for the Huskies this week.
2. Pitt.
3. Cincy.
4. Virginia.
5. Ohio State.
6. Illinois. Syracuse is looking forward to seeing the UConn Huskies on the schedule in order to pick up an easy win.
7. Florida.
8. Michigan. ND would have trouble with even UConn at this point.
9. Arkansas.
10. Louisville.
11. Boston College.
12. Southern Cal.

And yes, the runors are true. I will be in the blue lot tomorrow, so if anyone wants a piece come on over. Unfortunately, we're not taking the IROC up, so I won't be as easy to find. However, I'll be the one drinking Detroittigershater and the rest of the UConn faithful under the table. Break out the Sambuca!

Oh yes, Chip, congrats on the son. Any truth to the rumors that his name is Vincenzo?

September 14, 2007 11:54 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh and I wasn't at Fireside or Hank's...I was out in West Haven tonight looking for trouble. Unfortunately, none of the Westies stepped up to the plate, so I'll have a full tank of restlessness and beligerence for the game tomorrow.

Go Owls.

September 14, 2007 11:56 PM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

week 3 results:
1. vinny from east haven 9-2-1
2. seano's ghost: 8-3-1
ian 8-3-1
4. chip 7-4-1
5. kooch 6-5-1
sturge-rock 6-5-1
will L not I: 6-5-1
alex 6-5-1
9. dan 5-6-1
detroittigershater 5-6-1
sean o: 5-6-1
sammy 5-6-1
13. caleb 4-7-1
14. kevin 3-8-1

overall standings
1. DetroitTigersHater 21
Ian 21
SeanO's Ghost 21
4. Chip 20
5. Sammy 19
Vinny from East Haven 19
7. kooch 18
8. Kevin 14
9. sturge-rock 12
10. Wil L 11
11. Caleb Mandrake 10
12. Alex 10
13. pete 9
14. Steve P 8
15. dan 5

Strong charge by Vinny from East Haven to pull within two games of the lead. DetroitTigersHater's lead evaporates, as Ian and the ghost of SeanO pull into a tie.

September 17, 2007 9:00 AM 

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