Runway Challenge Week 9

Not much news out of the Thursday teleconference. No decisions on whether Lawrence Green or Alex LaMagdelaine will start on the o-line. Same with injured Anthony Davis at fullback. Still about 1,000 tickets left for Saturday's game, which is looking more and more like another rainy day game.

Figured since UConn became bowl eligible last weekend, I'd take a look at the big picture and see just where the Huskies might end up for the holidays. Unlike Pitt last season, even a 6-6 record will get UConn a bid somewhere unless there's some major upheaval over the final month.

First, here's each team with their remaining schedule and my ultra-conservative predictions in parenthisis.

CINCINNATI (6-2, 1-2)
11/3: at South Florida (L)
11/10: UConn (L)
11/17: West Virginia (L)
11/24: at Syracuse (W)
Predicted record: 7-5 (2-5 Big East)

UCONN (6-1, 2-0)
10/27: South Florida (L)
11/3: Rutgers (L)
11/10: at Cincinnati (W)
11/17: Syracuse (W)
11/24: at West Virginia (L)
Predicted record: 8-4 (4-3)

LOUISVILLE (4-4, 1-2)
10/27: Pitt (W)
11/8: at West Virginia (L)
11/17: at South Florida (L)
11/29: Rutgers (W)
Predicted record: 6-6 (3-4)

PITTSBURGH (3-4, 1-1)
10/27: at Louisville (L)
11/3: Syracuse (W)
11/17: at Rutgers (L)
11/24: South Florida (L)
12/1: West Virginia (L)
Predicted record: 4-8 (2-5)

RUTGERS (5-2, 2-1)
10/27: West Virginia (L)
11/3: at UConn (W)
11/9: at Army (W)
11/17: Pitt (W)
11/29: at Louisville (L)
Predicted record: 8-4 (4-3)

SOUTH FLORIDA (6-1, 1-1)
10/27: at UConn (W)
11/3: Cincinnati (W)
11/10: at Syracuse (W)
11.17: Louisville (W)
11/24: at Pitt (W)
Predicted record: 11-1 (6-1)

SYRACUSE (2-5, 1-2)
11/3: at Pitt (L)
11/10: South Florida (L)
11/17: at UConn (L)
11/24: Cincinnati (L)
Predicted record: 2-9 (1-6)

WEST VIRGINIA (6-1, 1-1)
10/27: at Rutgers (W)
11/8: Louisville (W)
11/17: at Cincinnati (W)
11/24: UConn (W)
12/1: Pitt (W)
Predicted record: 11-1 (6-1)

Which would make the Big East standings as follows:
1. South Florida (6-1), wins tiebreaker, auto BCS
2. West Virginia (6-1), gets at-large BCS bid
3. Rutgers (4-3)
3 (tie). UConn (4-3)
5. Louisville (3-4)
6. Cincinnati (2-5)
6 (tie). Pitt (2-5)
8. Syracuse (1-6)

And the bowl shake out:

BCS

BCS National Championship game: LSU vs. Ohio State
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. West Virginia
Orange Bowl: Boston College vs. South Florida
Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Missouri
Fiesta: Oklahoma vs. Hawaii

The rest of the Big East:

Sun Bowl: Rutgers vs. UCLA
Meineke Car Care Bowl: UConn vs. Clemson
Papajohns.com Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Southern Mississippi
International Bowl: Louisville vs. Ball State

For UConn, best-case scenario is to win out and earn a BCS bid (odds: 100,000-1), more realistic best-case scenario: beat either Rutgers or South Florida in addition to Syracuse and Cincinnati, the Sun Bowl is looking good. Realistic worst-case scenario and worst-case scenario: The Huskies beat only Syracuse and lose the rest, or just lose the rest: International Bowl.

On to the weekly picks

Game 1: RUTGERS (+6) over West Virginia: Rutties won't be pushed around on their home field, especially in rare instances when its the underdog.

Game 2: LOUISVILLE (-11) over Pittsburgh: Panthers and Dave Wannestedt welcome the team and the coach that have kept them from being the biggest disappointment in the Big East Conference.

Game 3: OREGON (-3) over Southern California: The Mighty Ducks have dreams of national championship game. This could be the one that sends them quacking, I mean packing. Next week's game with Arizona State will be no picnic, either.

Game 4: Florida (-8.5) over Georgia (at Jacksonville): Not exactly a neutral site. Gators bounced back nicely against Kentucky, and should keep it rolling.

Game 5: South Florida (-4.5) over CONNECTICUT: Huskies are 6-1 against the spread this season, Temple being the lone hiccup. Why jinx them? You can thank me later.

Game 6: Virginia (-3) over NC STATE: Wolfpack have been blown out by every quality opponent they've faced this season. More telling: they only scored 10 points against the chunk of Swiss cheese that is the Louisville secondary. Cavs D is nasty (just ask UConn). No worries here.

Game 7: Kansas (-3) over TEXAS A&M: The Jayhawks may well be undefeated heading into the regular season finale against Missouri. Will their weak schedule be enough to propel them to national title game if they run the table?

Game 8: TENNESSEE (-3) over South Carolina: Was just starting to believe in the ol' ball coach until the stinker against Vandy. What was that all about?

Game 9: Ohio State (-4) over PENN STATE: Michigan loses to Appalachian State. Minnesota the worst team in Division I-A. JoePa in a road rage incident. Three Michigan State players knock off a store near East Lansing. The list goes on and on. What's going on in the Big 10?

Game 10: Cal (+3) over ARIZONA STATE: Golden Bears are overrated, but I don't think Sun Devils are going undefeated.

Game 11: North Carolina (+6) over WAKE FOREST: Demon Deacons just don't blow opponents out.

Get your picks in now by clicking "comments" at the end of this post.

Last week's results
1. Will L 10-5
2. Pete 9-6
Kevin 9-6
4. Caleb 8-7
detroittigershater 8-7
Dan 8-7
Sammy 8-7
SeanO's ghost 8-7
Mitch Kumpstein 8-7
P.J. 8-7
11. Ian 6-9
Vinny from East Haven 6-9
13. Chip 5-10
14. kooch 4-11

Overall standings
1. SeanO's ghost 54
2. Ian 53
3. Kooch 51
4. Sammy 49
5. Chip 48
6. Vinny from East Haven 46
7. Will L 44
8. DetroitTigersHater 43
9. Caleb Mandrake 42
10. Dan 41
11. Pete 37
Kevin 37
13. sturge-rock 22
14. Mitch Kumpstein 16
Alex 16
16. Steve P 8
P.J. 8