Runway Challenge Week 11

The Runway Challenge continues during the UConn bye week. But first, let me update my bowl projections because little went according to plan last weekend.

UCONN (6-3, 2-2)

11/15: at Syracuse (W)

11/23: at South Florida (L)

12/6: Pittsburgh (W)

Predicted record: 8-4 (4-3)

CINCINNATI (6-2, 2-1)

11/8: at West Virginia (L)

11/14: at Louisville (L)

11/22: Pittsburgh (W)

11/29: Syracuse (W)

12/6: at Hawaii (W)

Predicted record: 9-4 (4-3)

PITTSBURGH (6-2, 2-1)

11/8: Louisville (W)

11/22: at Cincinnati (L)

11/28: West Virginia (L)

12/6: at UConn (L)

Predicted record: 7-5 (3-4)

SYRACUSE (2-6, 1-3)

11/8: at Rutgers (L)

11/15: UConn (L)

11/22: at Notre Dame (L)

11/29: at Cincinnati (L)

Predicted record: 2-10 (1-6)

WEST VIRGINIA (6-2, 3-0)

11/8: Cincinnati (W)

11/22: at Louisville (W)

11/28: at Pittsburgh (W)

12/6: South Florida (W)

Predicted record: 10-2 (7-0)

SOUTH FLORIDA (6-3, 1-3)

11/15: Rutgers (W)

11/23: UConn (W)

12/6: at West Virginia (L)

Predicted record: 8-4 (3-4)

LOUISVILLE (5-3, 1-2)

11/8: at Pittsburgh (L)

11/14: Cincinnati (W)

11/22: West Virginia (L)

12/4: at Rutgers (W)

Predicted record: 7-5 (3-4)

RUTGERS (3-5, 2-2)

11/8: Syracuse (W)

11/15: at South Florida (L)

11/22: Army (W)

12/4: Louisville (L)

Predicted record: 5-7 (3-4)

Which would make the Big East standings:

1. West Virginia 10-2 (7-0)

2. UConn 8-4 (4-3)

Cincinnati 9-4 (4-3)

4. Louisville 7-5 (3-4)

USF 8-4 (3-4)

Pitt 7-5 (3-4)

Rutgers 5-7 (3-4)

8. Syracuse 2-10 (1-6)

And the Big East bowl shake-out (this is also the order the bowls choose):

Orange Bowl: West Virginia vs. Georgia Tech

Gator Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Florida State

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Wake Forest

International Bowl: UConn vs. Western Michigan

PapaJohns.com Bowl: Louisville vs. Troy

St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida vs. Marshall

Independence Bowl: Pitt vs. Arkansas State

A few random notes and observations from the past week.

• My frustration has reached its point of no return with politicians, which is why I can't even bring myself to discuss politics anymore (especially on the blog). But I can't read another story about how Connecticut's U.S. Rep. Chris Shays (R) -- defeated while seeking his 11th-term -- was the victim of the sweeping change led by Barack Obama. No. Shays lost because he made a complete fool of himself in front of millions during the Roger Clemens-Brian McNamee Congressional hearing back in February. Shays embarrassed himself and the state with his vicious attack on McNamee and unabashed boot-licking of Clemens. Not that I condone what McNamee did, but Shays' rambling, head-scratching tirade was totally over the top. That, more than anything, forced him out. Good riddance.

• Every once in a while, I stumble upon the A&E Network's re-runs of The Sopranos. The shows are edited for content. Allegedly. The language is edited...even the word "ass" is dubbed over. But, A&E has no problem showing things like Tony Soprano blowing his cousin away with a shotgun, or Christopher Moltisanti shooting up heroin in his car. Odd.

• Speaking of the Soprano's, I was overruled in my idea for my son's Halloween costume. My plan was to dress him in a valour sweatsuit, with a pair of white shoes and his hair slicked back with white wings. The perfect Paulie Walnuts ensemble! But the wife wouldn't go for it. "We're not dressing our 1-year old up as a mobster!!" she said. So, he was Superman. Maybe next year.

Next Halloween, Mr. Gaultieri. I promise. And say hello to your mother for me.

On to the picks:

Game 1: Syracuse (+14) over RUTGERS

Game 2: Georgia Tech (+4) over NORTH CAROLINA

Game 3: TEXAS TECH (-3.5) over Oklahoma State

Game 4: BOSTON COLLEGE (-3.5) over Notre Dame

Game 5: Alabama (-3) over LSU

Game 6: WEST VIRGINIA (-7) over Cincinnati

Game 7: Louisville (+6) over PITTSBURGH

Game 8: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (-21) over California

Game 9: NORTHWESTERN (+10.5) over Ohio State

Game 10: Virginia (+3.5) over WAKE FOREST

Game 11: Southern Connecticut State (+3) over AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL: Always nice to schedule the same opponent twice in the regular season. AIC won back in September. Southern clinches fourth straight Division II playoff berth with a win.

Last week's results

1. JZ 10-2 (impressive)

2. dougo 9-3 (consistent)

3. Gary 7-5 (late to the party, showing his stuff)

Pete 7-5 (on the rebound)

SeanO 7-5 (over .500 again)

sammy 7-5 (that 1-10 week is a distant memory)

caleb 7-5 (making his move)

8. chip 6-6 (unimpressive once again)

rich 6-6 (figuring out the spreads nicely)

den 6-6 (miss his commentary)

vinny 6-6 (still near top despite recent struggles)

12. huskybarker 5-7 (making his debut)

ian 5-7 (a better blogger than prognosticator...not a bad thing)

uconnhuskies86 5-7 (working way out of basement)

15. dano 3-9 (had better weeks)

16. wil 2-10 (might need a hug)

standings

1. Dougo 59

2. Caleb Mandrake 58

3. Vinny from East Haven 56

4. JZ 55

5. ian 54

Rich 54

Pete 54

8. Chip 53

9. Kevin 51

Den of Stupidity 51

11. DanO 44

Sammy 44

Sean O 44

14. Wil 40

15. Gary 36

16. uconnhuskies 86 34

17. Stretch 21

18. Big Donny Bertolotti 13

19. HuskyBarker 5

Get your picks in by clicking "comments" below.