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:

  1. 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

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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

    ReplyDelete
  3. 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

    ReplyDelete
  4. You the man, stretch!

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 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)

    ReplyDelete
  8. 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

    ReplyDelete
  9. 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

    ReplyDelete
  10. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  11. 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

    ReplyDelete
  12. Where's Vinny from East Haven?

    ReplyDelete
  13. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  14. 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

    ReplyDelete
  15. 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

    ReplyDelete
  16. 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

    ReplyDelete
  17. 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

    ReplyDelete
  18. 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

    ReplyDelete
  19. 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

    ReplyDelete
  20. 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

    ReplyDelete
  21. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Next week, The Den is going Costanza.

    ReplyDelete