Not much happened in the 24 hours since we left the Huskies, so it was a brief today. The mystery player with the ankle injury is still hurting. A decision will be made today. Edsall still doesn't want to reveal his identity.

Also, Zach Frazer is your backup QB this week. He's looked good in practice the past week and a half. Edsall said the concussion Zach suffered in the preseason may have posed more of a problem with his play than anything. "I told Rob (Ambrose) that he seems different now," Edsall said. "He's back to where he was before. He's more competitive, more feisty, more take-charge."

And few random thoughts before the picks.

• Are the wild, champagne-soaked locker room celebrations for clinching a playoff spot truly necessary? You celebrate with champagne when you win a title. Sure, players should celebrate a little. Whoop it up with hugs and handshakes on the field. Drink a few extra beers in the clubhouse. Maybe Jonathan Paplebon can bake cupcakes. If you're the Rays, maybe champagne is OK considering what they accomplished and where they came from. But it's so phony and pre-meditated for teams like the Red Sox. They've known they were getting the wild card for a while, and it they underachieved as it stands. Take off the stupid underwater goggles, save the champagne for the real celebrations and act like you've been there before. And no, it isn't sour grapes. I felt the same way when the Yankees did it every year, too.

• I didn't get misty-eyed watching the pre-game ceremony for the final game at Yankee Stadium, but I was pretty bummed out that the place is going to see the wrecking ball. It needed another overhaul, just wish they could have built it on the same site again. The place means a lot to so many people. I saw my first game there in 1978, when I was 6. Reggie hit one out, and even though it was the only run the Yanks scored that day (they lost to Wilbur Wood and the White Sox 6-1) the way the crowd roared for that shot was the most thrilling thing I'd ever experienced at the time. For weeks I had dreams about that homer, except in my dream I managed to walk to the area in front of the right-center field bleachers and get the ball for myself.

• Anyone else amazed that Babe Ruth's daughter is still alive? Certainly didn't expect to see her throwing out the first pitch. Pretty cool.

• My post from yesterday about the "unfair catch" got linked up to a bunch of places, and a few people emailed me with varying opinions. I saw the replay after I posted, and had to make an edit. UConn recovered on the 1, not in the end zone. However, there was no video review. The refs huddle for a second, make the decision, spot the ball, and play resumes.

• I'm more surprised no one had any opinion on the Tyler Lorenzen/Tim Tebow comparison by Steve Kragthorpe.

On to the picks:

Game 1: Connecticut (+3.5) over LOUISVILLE - To be honest, I really don't know what to expect here (aside from the fact that 40,000 or so Cards fans will be making animated fair catch signals every time Jasper Howard catches a punt).

Game 2: WEST VIRGINIA (-14) over Marshall - Nice job on the buyout clause in Bill Stewart's new contract extension, West Virginia. Guess the 'Neers had so much fun with the Rich Rodriguez saga, they'd like to try it again, if possible.

Game 3: Pittsburgh (-15) over SYRACUSE - Syracuse AD Daryl Gross would like all you ungrateful, whining Orange football fans calling for G-Rob's head to know the men's lacrosse program is still a juggernaut. Oh, yeah! That's right! OK, Daryl. Everything's cool again. I'm sure you won't hear any more complaints.

Game 4: North Carolina (+8) over MIAMI - Tar Heels' quarterback is out. 'Canes will relax. Carolina will cover. It's almost too easy.

Game 5: Cincinnati (-10) over AKRON - Ben Mauk still locked in his bedroom, holding his breath, waiting for the NCAA to overturn its decision and allow him to play. Meanwhile, Tony Pike tossed for 314 yards and four TDs last week. Bearcats still dangerous.

Game 6: NOTRE DAME (-1) over Purdue - Why is it so hard for me to pick against Notre Dame?

Game 7: NEBRASKA (-7) over Virginia Tech - Hokies get exposed in corn country.

Game 8: GEORGIA (-6.5) over Alabama

Game 9: AUBURN (-6.5) over Tennessee

Game 10: MICHIGAN (+6.5) over Wisconsin

Game 11: NC STATE (+9) over South Florida - Great smack talk between the coaches this week. But USF's defensive coordinator shouldn't have preceded his great line by first saying how their program handles things with class by not talking about opposing programs. Just zing him. Hey, it's worked for Don Rickles for over 50 years!

Game 12: Illinois (+14.5) over PENN STATE

Results from last week

1. Gary 7-4-1

Caleb 7-4-1

Pete 7-4-1

Kevin 7-4-1

Den 7-4-1

6. Ian 6-5-1

Stretch 6-5-1

Vinny 6-5-1

Sammy 6-5-1

10. Chip 5-6-1

JZ 5-6-1

Dougo 5-6-1

Dan O 5-6-1

Sean O 5-6-1

15. Rich 4-7-1

16. UConnhuskies 86 2-9-1

Running standings (4 weeks)

1. Vinny from East Haven 24

2. Dougo 23
3. Rich 22
Kevin 22

5. Stretch 21

caleb mandranke 21

Pete 21

8. Chip 20

9. Ian 19

10. JZ 17

11. uconnhuskies86 16
Sammy 16

Den of stupidity 16

14. Dan O 15

15. will 13
16. Sean O 12

17. Gary 7

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