Thursday, September 20, 2007

Runway Challenge Week 4

Guess there wasn't much meat to the Thursday teleconference with Randy Edsall. I was running a few minutes late, logged onto the call at approximately 1:05 p.m. (five minutes after its scheduled start) and it was already over. Granted, the Thursday call never goes very long: 15 minutes tops, but a four-minute call? That's quick. Checked in with Leigh Torbin in the UConn sports info office to see if I had the wrong number for the call or it was changed to a later time. Nope. It went that fast. About all the info was Ryan Henegan has been practicing with the second team. Nothing on Dan Ryan (no one asked, Leigh said) and no big changes for Saturday.

And with that, we move on to the Runway Challenge. I noticed Syracuse was a 37-point underdog to Louisville this week, and began wondering about big point spreads. What was the largest ever in a college game? Who was the biggest underdog to win outright? Has anyone ever won after being 37-point dogs?

I found this info isn't easy to research, but here's what I found. In 1985, Oregon State was a 38-point underdog (the lines ranged from 36-38) against Washington and pulled out a 21-20 victory for what is widely considered the biggest point-spread reversal ever: even bigger than Appalachian State-Michigan (which was 27-points on a certain Internet sports book).

Nothing concrete on the largest single point spread, but Southern Cal was recently favored by 46.5 over a Pac-10 opponent. And this week Hawaii is favored by 52 points (52!!!) over Division I-AA Charleston Southern. That's like spotting them seven touchdowns and a field goal. Sadly, Hawaii could have that covered by halftime. If anyone knows of a bigger spread in any game, let me know.

Game 1: Syracuse (+37) over LOUISVILLE: Cards defense has too many holes (they gave up 42 to Middle Tennessee State, for Pete's sake). Have to think 'Ville will need to score 60 to cover. And, again, it could very well happen. How sad is Syracuse?

Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA (-13.5) over North Carolina: Bulls jump into AP top 25 despite not playing last week. Coach Jim "Mr. Excitement" Leavitt celebrated by switching from Sanka to decaf. He also indulged in a dish of unflavored ice cream (his favorite).

Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA (-24.5) over East Carolina: Noel Devine's stats against Maryland last week...five carries, 136 yards, no touchdowns. That's an average of 27.2 yards per carry, raising his season total to 15.1 yards per carry. With Slaton and White, that's scary.

Game 4: MICHIGAN (+3) over Penn State: Combined age of Joe Paterno and Lloyd Carr? 142.

Game 5: Kentucky (+7) over ARKANSAS: Kentucky's Andre Woodson quietly turning into one of the SEC's best quarterbacks. Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick still has the worst-selling team jersey in the nation.

Game 6: Connecticut (+10) over PITT: Huskies go from 31-point faves to 10-point dogs in a week. By the way, Dave Wannestedt's moustache posted on the blog a couple days ago and wanted to know why I've been mocking him. Got nothin' against you, Dave Wannestedt's moustache. In fact, I'm extending the olive branch by growing my own Wannestache, which I'll be sporting for the game in Pittsburgh Saturday night. Hope that squares us, Dave Wannestedt's moustache.

Game 7: CINCINNATI (-24) over Marshall: Bearcats and USF will give Big East five ranked teams very shortly.

Game 8: ALABAMA (-3.5) over Georgia: Tide will roll.

Game 9: WISCONSIN (-8) over Iowa: Hawkeyes had trouble with Northern Illinois and lost to Iowa State. Oh, they also pummelled Syracuse. Not exactly a promising start.

Game 10: Washington (+7) over UCLA: Huskies burned me last week. I'll give 'em one more chance.

Game 11: Central Connecticut State University (+26.5) over WESTERN MICHIGAN: My alma mater gets a taste of Division I-A competition. They might win this one outright.

Here are the results from last week
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: 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 through three weeks
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

Get your picks in. Click on the "comments" icon below, then cut and paste the template inside.

20 Comments:

Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Chips picks
Game 1: Syracuse (+37) over LOUISVILLE
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA (-13.5) over North Carolina
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA (-24.5) over East Carolina
Game 4: MICHIGAN (+3) over Penn State
Game 5: Kentucky (+7) over ARKANSAS
Game 6: Connecticut (+10) over PITT
Game 7: CINCINNATI (-24) over Marshall
Game 8: ALABAMA (-3.5) over Georgia
Game 9: WISCONSIN (-8) over Iowa
Game 10: Washington (+7) over UCLA
Game 11: Central Connecticut State University (+26.5) over WESTERN MICHIGAN

September 20, 2007 3:54 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Game 1: Syracuse
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 4: MICHIGAN
Game 5: Arknasas

Game 6: Connecticut
Game 7: Marshall
Game 8: ALABAMA
Game 9: WISCONSIN
Game 10: Washington
Game 11: Central Connecticut State University

September 20, 2007 8:48 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sammys picks
Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 4: Penn State
Game 5: ARKANSAS
Game 6: PITT
Game 7: CINCINNATI
Game 8: ALABAMA
Game 9: WISCONSIN
Game 10: UCLA
Game 11: Central Connecticut State University

September 20, 2007 9:56 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SeanO's Ghost

Game 1: Syracuse (+37) over LOUISVILLE: Chip, Syracuse is bad but look at the sked! If they played UConn's sked they'd be 3-0 right now.
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA (-13.5) over North Carolina: You're way too hard on Coach Leavitt, perhaps the best college coach in the game. I can think of someone else in the Big East that says less.
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA over East Carolina.
Game 4: Penn State (-3) over Michigan: Joe Pa's Lions end 12-game losing streak.
Game 5: ARKANSAS over Kentucky.
Game 6: PITT over Connecticut. More revenge here.
Game 7: CINCINNATI (-24) over Marshall. Bearcats could win the Big East if it wasn't for Leavitt's BCS bound Bulls.
Game 8: ALABAMA (-3.5) over Georgia
Game 9: WISCONSIN (-8) over Iowa
Game 10: UCLA over Washington.
Game 11: WESTERN MICHIGAN over Central Connecticut State: There's a line on this game?

September 20, 2007 10:35 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SeanO's Ghost

Game 1: Syracuse (+37) over LOUISVILLE: Chip, Syracuse is bad but look at its sked! If they played UConn's sked they'd be 3-0 right now.
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA (-13.5) over North Carolina: You're way too hard on Coach Leavitt, perhaps the best college coach in the game. I can think of someone else in the Big East that says less.
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA over East Carolina.
Game 4: Penn State (-3) over Michigan: Joe Pa's Lions end 12-game losing streak.
Game 5: ARKANSAS over Kentucky.
Game 6: PITT over Connecticut. More revenge here.
Game 7: CINCINNATI (-24) over Marshall. Bearcats could win the Big East if it wasn't for Leavitt's BCS bound Bulls.
Game 8: ALABAMA (-3.5) over Georgia
Game 9: WISCONSIN (-8) over Iowa
Game 10: UCLA over Washington.
Game 11: WESTERN MICHIGAN over Central Connecticut State: There's a line on this game?

September 20, 2007 10:36 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where's the chubby palp that is BCAlum/Vinny eh? Nothing says "dork" like spending half you life on the Internet.

Syracuse will cover vs. Louisville. CCSU will make a strong showing in Kalamazoo.

September 20, 2007 10:42 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kooch's picks
Game 1: Syracuse
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 4: Penn State
Game 5: Kentucky
Game 6: Connecticut
Game 7: CINCINNATI
Game 8: Georgia
Game 9: WISCONSIN
Game 10: UCLA
Game 11: WESTERN MICHIGAN

September 20, 2007 11:14 PM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

SeanO's ghost: I agree Leavitt may be the best coach in the game. Unbelievable, in fact. He's also so stiff, they drive him to games in a Hearse.

(I may have used that joke before. Sorry, it's late).

September 20, 2007 11:19 PM 
Blogger Dan said...

Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 4: Penn State
Game 5: ARKANSAS
Game 6: Connecticut
Game 7: CINCINNATI
Game 8: Georgia
Game 9: WISCONSIN
Game 10:Washington
Game 11:Central Connecticut

September 21, 2007 8:07 AM 
Blogger Sturge-Rock said...

Eric's picks
Game 1: Syracuse over LOUISVILLE
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA over North Carolina
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA over East Carolina
Game 4: Penn State over Michigan
Game 5: Kentucky over ARKANSAS
Game 6: Connecticut over PITT
Game 7: CINCINNATI over Marshall
Game 8: ALABAMA over Georgia
Game 9: WISCONSIN over Iowa
Game 10: Washington over UCLA
Game 11: Central Connecticut State University over WESTERN MICHIGAN

GO HUSKIES!

September 21, 2007 10:58 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mandrake picks
Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: North Carolina
Game 3: East Carolina
Game 4: Penn State
Game 5: ARKANSAS
Game 6: PITT
Game 7: CINCINNATI
Game 8: ALABAMA
Game 9: WISCONSIN
Game 10: UCLA
Game 11: Central Connecticut State University

September 21, 2007 1:59 PM 
Blogger Ian said...

Game 1: Syracuse
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 4: Penn State
Game 5: Kentucky
Game 6: PITT
Game 7: CINCINNATI
Game 8: ALABAMA
Game 9: WISCONSIN
Game 10: Washington
Game 11: WESTERN MICHIGAN

September 21, 2007 2:35 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pete's picks:
Game 1: Syracuse
Game 2: SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 4: Penn State
Game 5: ARKANSAS
Game 6: Connecticut
Game 7: Marshall
Game 8: Georgia
Game 9: WISCONSIN
Game 10: UCLA
Game 11: Central Connecticut State University

September 21, 2007 2:55 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: North Carolina
Game 3: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 4: Penn State
Game 5: ARKANSAS
Game 6: Connecticut
Game 7: CINCINNATI
Game 8: Georgia
Game 9: WISCONSIN
Game 10: UCLA
Game 11: WESTERN MICHIGAN

September 21, 2007 4:01 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yikes. Rough week.

Covers in CAPS

Louisville 49, SYRACUSE 14
South Florida 31, NORTH CAROLINA 21
West Virginia 35, EAST CAROLINA 17
PENN STATE 27, Michigan 20
ARKANSAS 45, Kentucky 35
Pittsburgh 24, UCONN 17
CINCINNATI 42, Marshall 17
ALABAMA 28, Georgia 24
WISCONSIN 34, Iowa 13
WASHINGTON 33, Ucla 30
Western Michigan 34, CENTRAL 14

September 21, 2007 7:45 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LOUISVILLE - Greg Robinson won't finish the season

SOUTH FLORIDA - 13.5 points is not enough respect, should be favored by 21

WEST VIRGINIA

Penn State


ARKANSAS

Connecticut

CINCINNATI

ALABAMA

WISCONSIN

UCLA

CCSU

Wil L

September 21, 2007 11:28 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vinny "The Man" From East Haven's picks:
1. Louisville
2. South Florida
3. West Virginia
4. Penn State
5. Arkansas
6. Pitt (easy pick here)
7. Marshall
8. Alabama
9. Wisconsin
10. UCLA
11. Western Michigan

I'm picking Western Michigan because after last week's horrendus debacle in East Hartford, I will never pick another Connecticut team again. That is, until you start allowing us to pick the Trinity games.
How bad will UConn get beat tomorrow? I can only say it will be UGLY. Gawd does this bunch stink. You can smell the stench all the way in East Haven.

September 21, 2007 11:29 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LOUISVILLE - Greg Robinson won't finish the season

SOUTH FLORIDA - 13.5 points is not enough respect, should be favored by 21

WEST VIRGINIA

Penn State


ARKANSAS

Connecticut

CINCINNATI

ALABAMA

WISCONSIN

UCLA

CCSU

Wil L

September 21, 2007 11:29 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey BCAlum-nice ESPN breakdown on awful BC, eh? By the looks of it, nobody in Boston cares about BC. Sounds about right! After Ryan leaves, will that 1-AA calibur team be able to win 4 games?

It's OK BCAlum/Vinny. There are lots of chubby losers like you on these message boards. Well, not really...

September 22, 2007 11:54 AM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

week 4 results

1. kooch 9-2
2. Chip 7-4
3. SeanO's ghost 6-5
sturge-rock 6-5
seano 6-5
pete 6-5
ian 6-5
8. alex 5-6
Dan 5-6
Will L 5-6
11. Vinny 4-7
sammy 4-7
13. kevin 3-8
14. caleb 2-9

overall standings
1. Ian 27
SeanO's Ghost 27
Chip 27
Kooch 27
5. Sammy 23
Vinny from East Haven 23
7. DetroitTigersHater 21
8. sturge-rock 18
9. Kevin 17
10. Wil L 16
11. Alex 16
12. Pete 15
13. Caleb Mandrake 12
14. Dan 10
15. Steve P 8

September 28, 2007 12:46 AM 

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