Runway Challenge Week 7

No rest for the weary. It's a bye week for the Huskies, but we don't take any breaks with the Runway Challenge.

I Netflixed Iron Man and watched it last night. Expectations were low considering it was Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role and movies about super heroes are usually terrible (Batman Begins the lone exception.) Then, as the movie unfolded, I came to the realization that I kind of like Robert Downey Jr. He cracked me up playing hilarious jerks in three of my favorite 80s movies: Weird Science, Back to School and Johnny Be Good. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for Chaplin. And, word is he's very good in Tropic Thunder, the new Ben Stiller movie, which I've yet to see.

RDowney Jr. in Weird Science, one of his finer roles

Sure, the guy's had some problems. But who among us hasn't stumbled into a neighbor's house accidentally, thinking it was our own, then fallen asleep in the master bedroom only to scare the bejezus out of the rightful owners when they returned home? Give the guy a break. It could happen to anyone.

Even his mug shots are hilarious

Bottom line is, Iron Man is pretty good, and Downey is believable as the billionaire, playboy weapons designer who creates the Iron Man suit to escape from an Afghan terrorist prison camp. Well, the concept is ridiculous (Jon Favreau directs, what do you expect?), but Downey plays the part well. A star-studded cast includes Jeff Bridges, a slinky Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Or footballs. Whatever. Rent it. It's worthwhile.

On to the picks.

Game 1: Syracuse (+23.5) over WEST VIRGINIA - Greg Robinson is a dead man walking. They're even driving him to games in a Hearse. Still, the Mountaineers are having trouble scoring points and Pat White is nicked up. Orange can cover.

Game 2: Texas (+6.5) over OKLAHOMA - Heard this on the radio this morning: It's only the sixth time since 1980 that these two teams are both ranked in the top 5 for their annual match up. Only the sixth time? You know you're an elite program when the phrase "only" is used for that nugget of info. I'm giddy to watch the Red River Shootout.

Game 3: Michigan State (-1.5) over NORTHWESTERN - As if another epic Cubs playoff failure wasn't enough, Northwestern is teasing Chicago sports' fans with a 6-0 start. At least this magical season will end before anyone in the Windy City notices.

Game 4: Vanderbilt (-2.5) over MISSISSIPPI STATE - Northwestern and Vandy could be combined 13-0 after this weekend. Surreal. The party ends next week when the fighting' Lionel Ritchie's play at Georgia.

Game 5: NORTH CAROLINA (-7.5) over Notre Dame - Forget Brandon Tate. The most exciting player for the Tar Heels is Bruce Carter. Punt coverage has become as exciting as punt returns.

Game 6: Rutgers (+7.5) over CINCINNATI - Greg Schiano was quoted earlier this week as saying he may have overestimated the Scarlet Knights' talent. That's OK. The college football nation may have overestimated Schiano's coaching talent.

Game 7: Penn State (-6) over WISCONSIN - Badgers have hardly been impressive, even in beating teams.

Game 8: FLORIDA (-6) over Louisiana State - LSU lineman catching heat for saying his defensive teammates look forward to the chance to take out Tim Tebow. He later clarified that he only meant to a nice dinner and a movie.

Game 9: Ball State (-15) over WESTERN KENTUCKY - To be honest, now that they're ranked, just wanted to get Ball State into the picks. Huh, huh. Ball State. Incidentally, if you're only favored by 15 over a team still in the transition period to Division I-A football, you probably don't deserve to be ranked in the top 25.

Game 10: MISSOURI (-14) over Oklahoma State - Odds of Chase Daniels winning the Heisman now even money.

Game 11: Central Connecticut State (-3.5) over ALBANY - What, you don't follow the Northeast Conference? Central's James Mallory one of the top rushers in Division I-AA, and CCSU could win the conference. Albany, the defending league champs, have a quarterback named Vinny Esposito (he's from Jersey, not East Haven). Should be a barn-burner.

And since I nailed my ALCS picks last season, feel free to take these to the bank. Dodgers over Phillies in 5; Red Sox over Rays in 7. Los Angeles, behind Manny Ramirez's .500 average and Joe Torre's perfect nose-picking technique, wins the World Series in 6.

Last week's results

1. Pete 7-4

dougo 7-4

3. JZ 6-5

Rich 6-5

Caleb 6-5

Vinny 6-5

Den 6-5

Ian 6-5

9. Chip 5-6

Kevin 5-6

Gary 5-6

12. Sammy 4-7

Dano 4-7

14. Wil 3-8

15. UConnhuskies86 1-10 (almost hit the Costanza bonus!)

Running standings (six weeks):

1. Vinny from East Haven 35

Dougo 35

3. Kevin 33

Rich 33

ian 33

6. Pete 32

7. Chip 31

Caleb Mandrake 31

9. Den of Stupidity 29

10. JZ 28

11. DanO 24

12. Wil 22

Sammy 22

14. Stretch 21

15. Sean O 20

16. uconnhuskies86 17

Gary 17

Get your picks in by clicking "comments" below.