Thursday, September 04, 2008

Runway Challenge Week 2

UConn announced earlier that it has a new non-conference foe on its schedule for 2015 and 2016. Tennessee. And, the Vols will be playing at Rentschler Field in 2015 (Sept. 26). The 2016 contest (Sept. 3) is in Knoxville. That, folks, is exciting news. The future UConn schedules now include Notre Dame, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Maryland.

2009
Sept. 5: at Ohio
Sept. 12: vs. North Carolina
Sept. 19: at Baylor
Sept. 26: vs. Rhode Island
Nov. 21: at Notre Dame

2010
Sept. 2: vs. Northeastern
Sept. 18: at Temple
Sept. 25: vs. Buffalo
Oct. 2: vs. Vanderbilt
one open date

2011
Sept. 3: vs. Division I-AA opponent TBA
Sept. 10: at Vanderbilt
Sept. 17: vs. Iowa State
Sept. 24: at Buffalo
Nov. 5: at Notre Dame

2012
Aug. 30: vs. UMass
Sept. 8: vs. North Carolina State
Sept. 15: at Maryland
Sept 29: vs. Buffalo
one open date

2013
open with Division I-AA TBA
Sept. 7: vs. Maryland
Sept. 14: at Buffalo
Sept. 28: vs. Temple
Oct. 26: vs. Notre Dame at Gillette or Giants Stadium

Also: Notre Dame: 10.18.14 (away); 10.24.15: (neutral); 11.12.16: (away); 9.30.17: neutral. Tennessee 9.26.15; at Tennessee 9.3.16

Not much to update you on from Edsall's call this afternoon. No injury news, no decisions on Brad Kanuch or who the backup quarterback will be. Of all the features in the Shenkman Center, they forgot to build a rain machine and wind tunnel, so there was no way to simulate the anticipated tropical storm conditions for Saturday in Philly.

Shall we move on to the weekly picks? Pretty much everyone in the contest had a rough week, including yours truly. Let's hope this one's better.

Game 1: Tennessee Tech (+24) over LOUISVILLE: Hunter Cantwell looked like a walk-on quarterback last week. Much like Tyler Lorenzen, he's better than that. We think. Forget the spread, Cards need worry about winning on the field.

Game 2: Georgia Tech (+7) over BOSTON COLLEGE: Everyone wanted to know why BC wasn't available for the picks last week. Here you go...don't forget your best BCU insults.

Game 3: SYRACUSE (-4.5) over Akron: Zips' angry over preseason criticism of program. We were as shocked as anyone. People actually follow the Akron football program?

Game 4: Cincinnati (+22) over OKLAHOMA: Cincy dedicates this one to Beary the Bearcat, recovering nicely at the animal hospital after his parachute jump into Nippert Stadium went awry last week.

Game 5: West Virginia (-8) over EAST CAROLINA: Skip Holtz's boys are flying high. Pat White drags 'em back to reality.

Game 6: Buffalo (+13.5) over PITTSBURGH: Who'd have thought opening with Bowling Green and Buffalo would be so difficult for Wanny and the Fighting 'Staches?

Game 7: South Florida (-14) over CENTRAL FLORIDA: Capitalizing on the national attention of it's phone sex conference call earlier in the week, the school has booked Jackie Moon to sing his hit song "Love Me Sexy" prior to game (special appearance by Coffee Black). UCF then adopts it as new fight song. Leigh, you'll find this hilarious one day.

Game 8: FLORIDA (-21.5) over Miami: Tim Tebow plays this one wearing his powder blue Crocs in place of cleats, along with an infant strapped into a Baby Bjorn hanging from his chest. Still runs for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Game 9: MICHIGAN (-14.5) over Miami-Ohio: Rich Rod sweating a little more.

Game 10: WAKE FOREST (-8) over Ole' Miss

Game 11: Southern Connecticut State (+4.5) over BRYANT: My tip for all football fans in Connecticut. Get over to see SCSU tailback Jarom Freeman at some point this season. He is worth the trip, and could be the best player in Division II. Ran for 418 yards last season against Bryant (now in Division I-AA), and had 35 carries for 242 yards at West Virginia Wesleyan in the opener.

EDIT: I forgot to include UConn/Temple in the picks, as someone pointed out in the comments. A glaring oversight on my part. News of the Tennessee series came as I was writing the picks, and it threw me off my game. It's too late to include it in the challenge (too many have already entered) but I ain't ducking it. Temple (+7) over UConn. Feel free to make your predictions on it. For those who've already entered, if all make a pick before kickoff, we can include it for the challenge.

The week 1 results and overall standings:

1. Rich 7-3
2. huskies86 6-4
dougo 6-4
vinny 6-4
stretch (the anonymous guy) 6-4
6. chip 5-5
JZ 5-5
ian 5-5
dan O 5-5
kevin 5-5
11. pete 4-6
sammy 4-6
wil 4-6
den of stupidity 4-6
caleb 4-6

Get your picks in by clicking "comments" below.

23 Comments:

Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Chips pix
Game 1: Tennessee Tech (+24) over LOUISVILLE
Game 2: Georgia Tech (+7) over BOSTON COLLEGE
Game 3: SYRACUSE (-4.5) over Akron:
Game 4: Cincinnati (+22) over OKLAHOMA:
Game 5: West Virginia (-8) over EAST CAROLINA
Game 6: Buffalo (+13.5) over PITTSBURGH
Game 7: South Florida (-14) over CENTRAL FLORIDA
Game 8: FLORIDA (-21.5) over Miami
Game 9: MICHIGAN (-14.5) over Miami-Ohio
Game 10: WAKE FOREST (-8) over Ole' Miss
Game 11: Southern Connecticut State (+4.5) over BRYANT

September 04, 2008 2:33 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Strech

Tennessee Tech
Georgia Tech (O'Brien leaving left an immediate impact on their offense. 21 points against Kent? Maybe they should move to 1-AA-that would suit Chris Crane's talent level.
Akron
Cincy
WVU
Pitt (fraud team)
UCF
Miami
Miami (X2)
Wake Forest
SCSU

September 04, 2008 2:35 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pete's Picks

Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: BOSTON COLLEGE
Game 3: SYRACUSE
Game 4: Cincinnati
Game 5: West Virginia
Game 6: PITTSBURGH
Game 7: CENTRAL FLORIDA
Game 8: Miami
Game 9: MICHIGAN
Game 10: WAKE FOREST
Game 11: BRYANT

September 04, 2008 2:37 PM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

You the man, stretch!

(See, isn't stretch much better than anonymous?)

September 04, 2008 2:41 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Much like the Big East, rough week for The Den. Only one to go from here. No UConn - Temple picks? Surely that's an oversight. I'll take Temple and the points.

Game 1: Tenn Tech (+24) - My how Louisville has fallen. I can't see them scoring more than 30, nor can I see them holding ANY opponent to less than 10.
Game 2: GT (+7) - I detest BC with the intensity of a million suns. I wouldn't pick them getting points at home vs. Derby High.
Game 3: Cuse (-4.5) - If Cuse can't beat Akron by a TD they should be Templed right out of the BE.
Game 4: Cincy (+22) - Not enough respect for the Bearcats here.
Game 5: WVU (-8) - Not this week Skip.
Game 6: Pitt (-13.5) - Sooner or later, people are to realize that Wannstadt is a joke.
Game 7: South Fla (-14) - Nothing here to see folks.
Game 8: Florida (-21.5) - At home in the Swamp, I'd give up a lot more the "U".
Game 9: Michigan (-14.5) - Don't know anything about Miami-OH, so screw them.
Game 10: Wake (-8) - Nervous about this pick. I can see Ole Miss scoring a garbage time TD to cover.
Game 11: Bryant (-4.5) - I know a few guys who work at SCSU. I don't like them very much.

September 04, 2008 3:29 PM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Ah, crap. I did forget the UConn/Temple game. I got the email about Tennessee midway through the picks, and it threw me off my game. That's also why there's no comment on the Wake game.

We'll leave it out this week (first time for everything).

For those interested, it would have been Temple (+7) over UConn.

September 04, 2008 3:33 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rich's Picks

Game 1: LOUISVILLE over Tennessee Tech
Game 2: Georgia Tech over BOSTON COLLEGE
Game 3: SYRACUSE over Akron
Game 4: OKLAHOMA over Cincinnati
Game 5: West Virginia over EAST CAROLINA
Game 6: PITTSBURGH over Buffalo
Game 7: South Florida over CENTRAL FLORIDA
Game 8: FLORIDA over Miami
Game 9: MICHIGAN over Miami-Ohio
Game 10: WAKE FOREST over Ole' Miss
Game 11: Southern Connecticut State over BRYANT

UConn over TEMPLE (Donald Brown goes for 135 yds with three touchdowns and the defense holds Temple to under 250 total yds)

September 04, 2008 4:56 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jackie Moon...the anti Barry White. Nice stuff Chip!

Now, here is the oddest couple of all-time. I know you'll laugh starting at 1:50:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL0WFcygdWY

I miss chatting with you but it's always nice to have this blog...and a press box with ESPNU (in HD no less) to watch the Huskies on Saturday. Stay dry buddy, LT

September 04, 2008 7:39 PM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

You're a great man, Leigh Torbin!

September 04, 2008 8:12 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wil's picks

Game 1: Tennessee Tech (+24) over LOUISVILLE:

Game 2: Georgia Tech (+7) over
BOSTON COLLEGE: When will we finally see bags over BC fans faces?

Game 3: Zips over Cuse

Game 4: Cincinnati (+22) over OKLAHOMA:

Game 5: West Virginia (-8) over EAST CAROLINA:

Game 6: Pitt over

Game 7: South Florida (-14) over CENTRAL FLORIDA:

Game 8: FLORIDA (-21.5) over Miami:

Game 9: MICHIGAN (-14.5) over Miami-Ohio:

Game 10: WAKE FOREST (-8) over Ole' Miss

Game 11: Southern Connecticut State (+4.5) over BRYANT:

Game 12: Uconn over Temple

September 04, 2008 11:55 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Game 1: Tennessee Tech (+24)
Game 2: Georgia Tech (+7)
Game 3: Akron
Game 4: Cincinnati
Game 5: West Virginia
Game 6: PITTSBURGH
Game 7: South Florida
Game 8: Miami
Game 9: MICHIGAN
Game 10: WAKE FOREST
Game 11: Southern Connecticut State

And I'll take Temple and the 7 points. Hanna will affect how this game is played.

September 05, 2008 12:12 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: Georgia Tech
Game 3: SYRACUSE
Game 4: Cincinnati
Game 5: West Virginia
Game 6: PITTSBURGH
Game 7: South Florida
Game 8: FLORIDA
Game 9: MICHIGAN
Game 10: WAKE FOREST
Game 11: BRYANT

Caleb Mandrake

September 05, 2008 6:36 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where's Vinny from East Haven?

September 05, 2008 8:50 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vinny's Picks:

Louisville
Georgia Tech
Akron
Oklahoma
West VA
Pitt
Central FLA
Florida
Michigan
Wake Forest
SCSU
For good measure, I would have taken Temple (of course) in the Justice Bowl over UConn this week. I was at the Rent last year when this Temple team outplayed the Huskies and was robbed of a rare win by the hometown ref job. UConn should have an asterisk next to their record from last year. Talk about overrated - they couldn't even really beat Temple!

September 05, 2008 9:13 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sean O

Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: Georgia Tech
Game 3: SYRACUSE
Game 4: Cincinnati
Game 5: West Virginia
Game 6: PITTSBURGH
Game 7: South Florida
Game 8: Miami
Game 9: MICHIGAN
Game 10: WAKE FOREST
Game 11: BRYANT
UConn...easy

September 05, 2008 2:20 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sean O

Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: Georgia Tech
Game 3: SYRACUSE
Game 4: Cincinnati
Game 5: West Virginia
Game 6: PITTSBURGH
Game 7: South Florida
Game 8: Miami
Game 9: MICHIGAN
Game 10: WAKE FOREST
Game 11: BRYANT
UConn...easy

September 05, 2008 2:20 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

UConnHuskies 86 Picks

Game 1: Louisville -24
Game 2: Georgia Tech +7
Game 3: Syracuse -4.5
Game 4: Cincinnati +22
Game 5: West Virginia -8
Game 6: Pitt -13.5
Game 7: South Florida -14
Game 8: Miami +21.5
Game 9: Miami Ohio +14.5
Game 10: Wake -8
Game 11: Southern Connecticut State +4.5

September 05, 2008 5:21 PM 
Blogger Dougo said...

Game 1: Louisville over Tenn Tech
Game 2: GT over BC
Game 3: Akron over Cuse
Game 4: OU over Cincy
Game 5: WVU over ECU
Game 6: Buffalo over Pitt
Game 7: USF over UCF
Game 8: Florida over Miami
Game 9: MIchigan over Miami (Oh)
Game 10: Ole Miss over Wake Forest
Game 11: SCSU over Bryant
Game 12: UConn over Temple

September 05, 2008 5:42 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Game 1: LOUISVILLE
Game 2: BOSTON COLLEGE
Game 3: SYRACUSE
Game 4: Cincinnati
Game 5: West Virginia
Game 6: PITTSBURGH
Game 7: South Florida
Game 8: Miami
Game 9: MICHIGAN
Game 10: WAKE FOREST
Game 11: BRYANT

September 05, 2008 8:38 PM 
Blogger Dan said...

Game 1: Tennessee Tech (+24)
Game 2: Georgia Tech (+7)
Game 3: Akron
Game 4: OKLAHOMA:
Game 5: West Virginia
Game 6: Buffalo
Game 7: South Florida
Game 8: Miami
Game 9: MICHIGAN
Game 10: WAKE FOREST
Game 11: Southern Connecticut State
The most important Game: UCONN

September 05, 2008 8:55 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Game 1: Louisville (-24) over Tennessee Tech

Game 2: Boston College (-7) over Georgia Tech

Game 3: Syracuse (-4.5) over Akron

Game 4: Oklahoma (-22) over Cincinnati

Game 5: West Virginia (-8) over East Carolina

Game 6: Buffalo (+13.5) over Pittsburgh

Game 7: South Florida (-14) over UCF

Game 8: Florida (-21.5) over Miami-FL

Game 9: Miami-OH (+14.5) over Michigan

Game 10: Wake Forest (-8) over Ole Miss

Game 11: Bryant (-4.5) over SCSU

September 06, 2008 8:48 AM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Boy, I was feeling bad about myself for only picking four of 11 right this week. But I wasn't the only one not even close. Results for the week:

1. Dougo 8-3
2. Vinny 7-4
3. Kevin 5-6
Dan 5-6
Rich 5-6
6. Chip 4-7
Stretch 4-7
wil 4-7
uconn86 4-7
10. ian 3-8
caleb 3-8
12. pete 2-9
Den of stupidity 2-9
sean o 2-9
15. sammy 1-10

Congrats to Sammy for the worst single weekend in the three years of the Runway Challenge. None of us could go 1-10 if we tried. So, from here on out, if someone can go oh-for-the week, I will automatically reverse every game and you'll go undefeated in the standings.

September 07, 2008 7:45 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Next week, The Den is going Costanza.

September 08, 2008 2:28 PM 

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