Thursday, October 09, 2008

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.

24 comments:

  1. Game 1: Syracuse (+23.5) over WEST VIRGINIA
    Game 2: Texas (+6.5) over OKLAHOMA
    Game 3: Michigan State (-1.5) over NORTHWESTERN
    Game 4: Vanderbilt (-2.5) over MISSISSIPPI STATE -
    Game 5: NORTH CAROLINA (-7.5) over Notre Dame
    Game 6: Rutgers (+7.5) over CINCINNATI
    Game 7: Penn State (-6) over WISCONSIN
    Game 8: FLORIDA (-6) over Louisiana State -
    Game 9: Ball State (-15) over WESTERN KENTUCKY
    Game 10: MISSOURI (-14) over Oklahoma State
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State (-3.5) over ALBANY

    ReplyDelete
  2. Game 1: WEST VIRGINIA
    Game 2: OKLAHOMA
    Game 3: Michigan State
    Game 4: Vanderbilt
    Game 5: NORTH CAROLINA
    Game 6: Rutgers
    Game 7: Penn State
    Game 8: Louisiana State
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: MISSOURI
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State

    ReplyDelete
  3. JZ's picks:

    Cuse
    Oklahoma
    Mich St
    Vandy
    UNC
    Rutgers
    Penn State
    LSU
    Ball St
    Missouri
    Albany

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hehehowehohaha. That’s the sound of me laughing hysterically on Saturday night as the overrated, untested, unbelievably untalented UConn Huskies succumbed to the unranked, underrated, and underwhelmed North Carolina Tarheels. From East Haven to East Hartford, I have been the sole voice of reason in this delusional group of regular Runway readers. Now, with UConn coming back down to earth (although I suspect you crazy, ill-informed, and ill-rational fans will continue to vex me with your lack of football knowledge and blind faith in all the lies that Husky Nation spits out), and Vincenzo still at the top of the Challenge rankings, it is time for me to start preparing my manifesto for the day I take over this blog.

    On to my (winning) picks:
    1. Syracuse. 23.5 is just crazy.
    2. Oklahoma.
    3. Michigan State. Northwestern is this week's UConn, an overrated team going up against a decent one.
    4. Vanderbilt. Next week they will play UConn to Georgia's UNC.
    5. Notre Dame. Classic letdown game for the Tarheels. Although I loathe picking ND.
    6. Cincy.
    7. Penn State.
    8. LSU.
    9. Ball St.
    10. Missouri.
    11. CCSU.

    I must say in re-reading this, that I am most impressed with my adroit alliteration. Go ahead and tell me I suck now, feeble-minded UConn fans!

    Vin

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pete's Picks:
    Game 1: WEST VIRGINIA
    Game 2: Texas
    Game 3: Michigan State
    Game 4: Vanderbilt
    Game 5: NORTH CAROLINA
    Game 6: CINCINNATI
    Game 7: Penn State
    Game 8: FLORIDA
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: Oklahoma State
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sean O's picks

    Game 1: WEST VIRGINIA
    Game 2: OKLAHOMA
    Game 3: NORTHWESTERN
    Game 4: Vanderbilt
    Game 5: Notre Dame
    Game 6: CINCINNATI
    Game 7: WISCONSIN
    Game 8: Louisiana State
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: Oklahoma State
    Game 11: ALBANY

    ReplyDelete
  7. Den's picks:

    Cuse +23.5
    Texas +6.5
    Michigan St. -1.5
    Vandy -2.5
    UNC -7.5
    Rutgers +7.5
    Wisconsin +6
    LSU +6
    Ball St. -15
    Mizzou -14
    CCSU -3.5

    ReplyDelete
  8. Game 1: Cuse over WF'inVU
    Game 2: Oklahoma over Texas
    Game 3: Michigan State over Northwestern
    Game 4: Vandy over MSU in a cripple fight
    Game 5: UNC over ND
    Game 6: Cincy over Rutgers
    Game 7: PSU over Wisconsin
    Game 8: LSU over UF
    Game 9: Ball State over WKU
    Game 10: Oklahoma State over Mizzou (first to 60 wins!)
    Game 11: CCSU over Albany

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey Chip, I think I had 5 wins last week, not 4. I double checked, I normally wouldn't complain, but with that extra win, I'd be tied for last place instead of alone in last!

    Game 1: Cuse. It'll either be a 4 point game or a 40 point game. Thinking 21-17, don't know why.
    Game 2: Oklahoma. Best team in the country and its not even close.
    Game 3: Northwestern. Northwestern could end up in the Rose bowl if they get by this week.
    Game 4: Vandy. Until they stumble, I'll keep picking them.
    Game 5: UNC. I hate Notre Dame, and I'm mad at UNC for smoking my Huskies last week, tough choice, lesser of two evils.
    Game 6: Cincy. It's tough to lay 8 points with your 4th string QB, but then again, its the Rutgers of old this season.
    Game 7: Penn State. I was a big PSU fan until UConn went D-IA, this is their best team in ages.
    Game 8: LSU. I don't think this Florida team is that good, people are figuring out Tebow, and Harvin is hurting.
    Game 9: Western Kentucky. 15 is a ton of points to get at home, sorry David Letterman.
    Game 10: Missouri. The Tigers kill people, it might seem close if you watch it, but Missouri will win by 20.
    Game 11: Albany. How can you bet against the Great Danes at home??!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sorry about that Gary. I'll fix it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wil's picks

    Game 1: WEST VIRGINIA
    Game 2: OKLAHOMA
    Game 3: Michigan State
    Game 4: Vanderbilt
    Game 5: Notre Dame
    Game 6: CINCINNATI
    Game 7: Penn State
    Game 8: Louisiana State
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: MISSOURI
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State

    ReplyDelete
  12. Game 1: West Virginia (-23.5) over Syracuse
    Game 2: Oklahoma (-6.5) over Texas
    Game 3: Michigan State (-1.5) over Northwestern
    Game 4: Mississippi State (+2.5) over Vanderbilt (it's been a long while since we last had a Croom-ing)
    Game 5: Notre Dame (+7.5) over North Carolina
    Game 6: Cincinnati (-7.5) over Rutgers
    Game 7: Penn State (-6) over Wisconsin
    Game 8: Florida (-6) over LSU
    Game 9: Ball State (-15) over W. Kentucky
    Game 10: Missouri (-14) over Oklahoma State
    Game 11: Albany (+3.5) over CCSU

    ReplyDelete
  13. Game 1: WEST VIRGINIA
    Game 2: OKLAHOMA
    Game 3: NORTHWESTERN
    Game 4: Vanderbilt
    Game 5: Notre Dame
    Game 6: Rutgers
    Game 7: Penn State
    Game 8: Louisiana State -
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: MISSOURI
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State

    ReplyDelete
  14. Game 1: Syracuse
    Game 2: OKLAHOMA
    Game 3: NORTHWESTERN
    Game 4: Vanderbilt
    Game 5: NORTH CAROLINA
    Game 6: Rutgers
    Game 7: Penn State
    Game 8: FLORIDA
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: MISSOURI
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State
    -- Caleb Mandrake

    ReplyDelete
  15. Danooo's

    Game 1: Syracuse
    Game 2: OKLAHOMA
    Game 3: Michigan State
    Game 4: Vanderbilt
    Game 5: Notre Dame <----Hate picking them
    Game 6: CINCINNATI
    Game 7: WISCONSIN
    Game 8: FLORIDA
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: MISSOURI
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State

    ReplyDelete
  16. UConnHuskies86

    (transplanted by chip)

    Game 1: Syracuse
    Game 2: Texas
    Game 3: Michigan State
    Game 4: Vanderbilt
    Game 5: NORTH CAROLINA
    Game 6: Cinn
    Game 7: Wisc
    Game 8: LSU
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: OK State
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State

    ReplyDelete
  17. uconnhuskies86, you made your picks under a different post...I have copied and pasted them here so I don't forget you when tallying the weekly results

    ReplyDelete
  18. Game 1: Syracuse
    Game 2: OKLAHOMA
    Game 3: Michigan State
    Game 4: MISSISSIPPI STATE
    Game 5: NORTH CAROLINA
    Game 6: CINCINNATI
    Game 7: Penn State
    Game 8: Louisiana State
    Game 9: Ball State
    Game 10: MISSOURI
    Game 11: Central Connecticut State

    ReplyDelete
  19. Time to shut up this loudmouth from East Haven, a town that aint won a meaninful state title since the 50s. I just fount the picks, but if Vince wants to man up wit big Donny Bertolotti, we'll see who wins to the end.

    1. Cuse
    2/ OK
    3. NWestn
    4. Vandy
    5. ND (rulz)
    6. Rutgirls
    7. PSU
    8. Fla
    9. Ball
    10. Missouru
    11, CCSU (who friggin cares?)

    ReplyDelete
  20. results
    1. chip 7-4 (hey! i finally finished first!)
    kevin 7-4
    3. Big Donny Bertolotti 6-5
    JZ 6-5
    Pete 6-5
    6. Vinny 5-6
    den 5-6
    dougo 5-6
    caleb 5-6
    dano 5-6
    uconn86 5-6
    ian 5-6
    13. rich 4-7
    sean o 4-7
    wil 4-7
    sammy 4-7
    17. gary 3-8

    ReplyDelete
  21. updated standings
    1. Vinny from East Haven 40
    Dougo 40
    Kevin 40
    4. chip 38
    ian 38
    pete 38
    7. Rich 37
    8. Caleb Mandrake 36
    9. Den of Stupidity 34
    JZ 34
    11. DanO 29
    12. Wil 26
    Sammy 26
    14. Sean O 24
    15. uconnhuskies 86 22
    16. Stretch 21
    17. Gary 20
    18. Big Donny Bertolotti 6

    ReplyDelete
  22. The female dog card has been dropped by Big Donny Bertolotti from West Haven. This feud has some serious potential. If Vincent is half the man he pretends to be, he will not only pick it up, he will let everyone else in the standings determine what's on the line. Although Big Donny is correct in his assessment of East Haven's inferior athletic accomplishments, we must acknowledge Vincent's numerous state sausage eating championships.

    ReplyDelete
  23. So true, Den.

    Looks like its West Haven 1, East Haven 0.

    Let the smack commence.

    ReplyDelete
  24. heh heh, what a shock. west haven over east haven again. good try, vinny. no really. i mean it.

    east haven high school basketball: where if your 5 foot 9 inches tall, you get to be the center.

    ReplyDelete