Thursday, November 13, 2008

Runway Challenge Week 12

To update from our Thursday call with Edsall: there's nothing to update. No injuries this week, the quarterback situation is the same. A game-time announcement. "It's still Cody and Zach. Or Zach and Cody. However you want to put it." Tyler Lorenzen likely isn't part of the equation, even though Edsall's answer was "I don't know" when asked.

Here's my updated bowl projections. Things have changed slightly, and I think Cincinnati will get the Big East's BCS bid. UConn is looking like a god bet for either Birmingham or Toronto. Toronto gets first crack, and I'm betting they'll take Pitt only because it should be the higher-ranked team. Obviously, the Huskies need to beat Syracuse Saturday, because if they finish 6-6 (2-5 in conference) they could be the team being shipped off to whatever non-Big East bowl has a vacancy.

A key game on Saturday is Notre Dame-Navy. If the Irish win, it gets them bowl eligible and, more importantly, puts them in line for the all-important seventh win against Syracuse the following week. Some things to keep in mind: there is nothing contractually to keep the Gator Bowl from taking Notre Dame as long as the Irish are bowl eligible. I've gotten emails stating there are conflicting reports about this, but I have confirmed that there is no two win rule, no clauses.

However, Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett said today in the Omaha World-Herald, "we'd never take a 6-6 Notre Dame team." But if the Irish get to 7-5, despite the Gator having never taken a five-loss team before, I think there's no doubt they go to Jacksonville. If Notre Dame loses to Navy, its looking at a 6-6 finish (as long as the Irish don't upset USC). This means the Gator passes on the Big East and grabs a Big 12 team (likely Nebraska), hoping for Notre Dame next season. In this scenario, the Sun Bowl would have to take a Big East team (likely West Virginia), per contract, and the Big East would have to play the Notre Dame game with the Gator all over again next season.

Here's how I see it playing out:

UCONN (6-3, 2-2)
11/15: at Syracuse (W)
11/23: at South Florida (L)
12/6: Pittsburgh (L)
Predicted record: 7-5 (3-4)

CINCINNATI (7-2, 3-1)
11/14: at Louisville (W)
11/22: Pittsburgh (W)
11/29: Syracuse (W)
12/6: at Hawaii (W)
Predicted record: 11-2 (6-1)

PITTSBURGH (7-2, 3-1)
11/22: at Cincinnati (L)
11/28: West Virginia (L)
12/6: at UConn (W)
Predicted record: 8-4 (4-3)


SYRACUSE (2-7, 1-4)
11/15: UConn (L)
11/22: at Notre Dame (L)
11/29: at Cincinnati (L)
Predicted record: 2-10 (1-6)

WEST VIRGINIA (6-3, 3-1)
11/22: at Louisville (W)
11/28: at Pittsburgh (W)
12/6: South Florida (W)
Predicted record: 9-3 (6-1)

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 (5-4, 1-3)
11/14: Cincinnati (L)
11/22: West Virginia (L)
12/4: at Rutgers (L)
Predicted record: 5-7 (1-6)

RUTGERS (4-5, 3-2)
11/15: at South Florida (L)
11/22: Army (W)
12/4: Louisville (W)
Predicted record: 6-6 (4-3)


Which would make the Big East standings:
1. Cincinnati 11-2 (6-1)
2. West Virginia 9-3 (6-1)
3. Pitt 8-4 (4-3)
Rutgers 6-6 (4-3)
5. UConn 7-5 (3-4)
USF 8-4 (3-4)
7. Louisville 5-7 (1-6)
Syracuse 2-10 (1-6)


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

Orange Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Florida State
Gator Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Miami
Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virginia vs. Wake Forest
International Bowl: Pitt vs. Western Michigan
PapaJohns.com Bowl: UConn vs. Troy (SEC doesn't have enough to fill slot)
St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida vs. UTEP
New Mexico Bowl: Rutgers vs. Air Force

On to the weekly picks.

Game 1: Notre Dame (-3.5) over NAVY - Charlie Weis will now be known across the land as Pear Bryant. Case closed. Thank you, Jason Whitlock.

Game 2: SYRACUSE (+10) over Connecticut - Unless Donald Brown tops 200 yards rushing or the Huskies force four or more turnovers, 10 points is too many. Of course, both of those are entirely attainable.

Game 3: OREGON STATE (-3) over California - Beavers tailback Jaquizz Rogers is electric. And, a little known fact, my middle name is Jaquizz.

Game 4: OREGON (-3.5) over Arizona - A duck against a wildcat? That's not even a fair fight. But I'm taking Oregon anyway.

Game 5: Georgia (-8.5) over AUBURN - My middle name isn't really Jaquizz. It's John. But, I'm going with Jaquizz for the next several months.

Game 6: Brigham Young (-5) over AIR FORCE - The Air Force hockey team is 8-0 and ranked 13th in the nation. This is amazing because the service academies don't accept Canadian students. U.S. hockey, alive and well.

Game 7: FLORIDA (-23) over South Carolina - The ol' ball coach is putting together a nice season. But the Gators might just be the best team in the country.

Game 8: Southern California (-23.5) over STANFORD -

Game 9: Rutgers (+8) over SOUTH FLORIDA -

Game 10: Boston College (+6) over FLORIDA STATE - Football players allegedly causing off-campus trouble at Florida State? Who could have seen that coming?

Game 11: Ohio State (-9.5) over ILLINOIS -

Game 12: Minnesota (+13.5) over WISCONSIN - The real question is, how many pounds of sausage will be consumed in the parking lot? 1,000? 10,000? 1 million? Get your defibrillators charged.

Game 13: North Carolina (-3) over MARYLAND - Kid Rock performed his god-awful new song "All Summer Long" at the Country Music Awards last night. Not that I watched the show (I'd rather chew on tinfoil), but I've heard the song several times over the last month or so. Look, the only person who should be allowed to rewrite lyrics to popular songs is Weird Al Yankovic.

Game 14: WEST CHESTER (-7) over Southern Connecticut State - Fourth straight NCAA Division II tournament appearance for Southern. Yes, college football tournaments are possible. Thanks, Division I-AA, Division II and Division III.

Game 15: YALE (-3.5) over Princeton - Bulldogs pulled the upset over Brown. Ivy hopes for Yale still hanging by a thread.

Last week's results
1. vinny from east haven 8-3
big donny bertolotti 8-3
pete 8-3
4. dougo 7-4
uconnhuskies 86 7-4
sammy 7-4
kevin 7-4
wil 7-4
9. gary 6-5
sean o 6-5
caleb mandrake 6-5
12. rich 5-6
den 5-6
JZ 5-6
15. chip 4-7
dano 4-7
ian 4-7

standings
1. Dougo 66
2. Caleb Mandrake 64
Vinny from East Haven 64
4. Pete 62
5. JZ 60
6. Rich 59
7. ian 58
kevin 58
Chip 58
10. Den of Stupidity 56
11. Sammy 51
12. Sean O 50
13. DanO 48
14. Wil 47
15. Gary 42
16. uconnhuskies 86 41
17. Big Donny Bertolotti 21
Stretch 21
19. HuskyBarker 5

Get your picks in by clicking "comments" below.

21 comments:

  1. Chip's picks
    Game 1: Notre Dame (-3.5) over NAVY -
    Game 2: SYRACUSE (+10) over Connecticut
    Game 3: OREGON STATE (-3) over California
    Game 4: OREGON (-3.5) over Arizona
    Game 5: Georgia (-8.5) over AUBURN -
    Game 6: Brigham Young (-5) over AIR FORCE
    Game 7: FLORIDA (-23) over South Carolina
    Game 8: Southern California (-23.5) over STANFORD -
    Game 9: Rutgers (+8) over SOUTH FLORIDA -
    Game 10: Boston College (+6) over FLORIDA STATE -
    Game 11: Ohio State (-9.5) over ILLINOIS -
    Game 12: Minnesota (+13.5) over WISCONSIN -
    Game 13: North Carolina (-3) over MARYLAND -
    Game 14: WEST CHESTER (-7) over Southern Connecticut State
    Game 15: YALE (-3.5) over Princeton

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rich's picks
    Game 1: Notre Dame
    Game 2: Connecticut
    Game 3: OREGON STATE
    Game 4: Arizona
    Game 5: Georgia
    Game 6: Brigham Young
    Game 7: FLORIDA
    Game 8: Southern California
    Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA
    Game 10: Boston College
    Game 11: Ohio State
    Game 12: Minnesota
    Game 13: North Carolina
    Game 14: Southern Connecticut State
    Game 15: YALE

    ReplyDelete
  3. JZ's Picks:

    ND
    UConn
    Oregon St
    Oregon
    Georgia
    BYU
    Florida
    USC
    Rutgers
    FSU
    Ohio St
    Minnesota
    Maryland
    West Chester
    Yale

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was at the Yale/Brown game last weekend, and I have to say, it was one of the most boring football games I've ever witnessed. It wasn't that both defenses were excellent, both offenses were just terrible.

    On to the picks!
    Game 1: Navy - There's no way I get this pick right
    Game 2: Connecticut - My motto from now on: Pick the opposite of Chip on UConn games.
    Game 3: Cal - Why so many Pac-10 games this week?
    Game 4: Oregon - Quack
    Game 5: Auburn - Too many points to lay on the road against a good defense. 10-6 Georgia wins.
    Game 6: BYU - I can't even imagine what a tailgate is like at BYU! I hope cornhole isn't against their religion.
    Game 7: South Carolina - Urban Meyer is kind of a jerk. Here's hoping they get beat.
    Game 8: USC - I bet they remember losing to Stanford last year, I also bet it isn't a good memory.
    Game 9: Rutgers - I was the Bulls demoralized by the time UConn rolls into town.
    Game 10: FSU - BC isn't good, just goes to show how bad Notre Dame actually is.
    Game 11: Ohio State - The Buckeyes are somehow going to get themselves back into a BCS game, I don't know how, but they're going to, just to piss everyone off.
    Game 12: Wisconsin - Still a nice turnaround season for the Gophers
    Game 13: UNC - I hope they keep winning.
    Game 14: West Chester - I've picked against the CT in all these sub FBS games, and I'll keep doing so
    Game 15: Princeton - see reasoning above.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Game 1: NAVY
    Game 2: Connecticut
    Game 3: OREGON STATE
    Game 4: OREGON
    Game 5: AUBURN
    Game 6: Brigham Young
    Game 7: South Carolina
    Game 8: Southern California
    Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA
    Game 10: FLORIDA STATE
    Game 11: Ohio State
    Game 12: Minnesota
    Game 13: North Carolina
    Game 14: Southern Connecticut State
    Game 15: YALE

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pitt wins out til Dec. 6th beating Cincy and WVU along the way. UConn beats Syracuse and USF. UConn beats Pitt creating a longjam at two losses that UConn wins. And UConn goes to Miami!

    Sean O's picks
    Game 1: Notre Dame
    Game 2: Connecticut
    Game 3: OREGON STATE
    Game 4: OREGON
    Game 5: AUBURN
    Game 6: AIR FORCE
    Game 7: South Carolina
    Game 8: Southern California
    Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA -
    Game 10: FLORIDA STATE -
    Game 11: Ohio State
    Game 12: Minnesota
    Game 13: MARYLAND -
    Game 14: Southern Connecticut State
    Game 15: YALE

    ReplyDelete
  7. Game 1: Notre Dame
    Game 2: Connecticut
    Game 3: California
    Game 4: OREGON
    Game 5: Georgia
    Game 6: Brigham Young
    Game 7: South Carolina
    Game 8: STANFORD -
    Game 9: Rutgers
    Game 10: FLORIDA STATE -
    Game 11: Ohio State (-9.5)
    Game 12: Minnesotq
    Game 13: North Carolina
    Game 14: WEST CHESTER
    Game 15: YALE
    Caleb Mandrake

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wil's picks

    Game 1: NAVY
    Game 2: Connecticut
    Game 3: California
    Game 4: OREGON
    Game 5: Georgia
    Game 6: Brigham Young
    Game 7: South Carolina
    Game 8: Southern California
    Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA
    Game 10: Boston College
    Game 11: Ohio State
    Game 12: WISCONSIN
    Game 13: North Carolina
    Game 14: WEST CHESTER
    Game 15: YALE

    ReplyDelete
  9. Game 1: Notre Dame (+3.5) over Navy
    Game 2: UConn (-10) over Syracuse
    Game 3: Cal (+3) over Oregon State
    Game 4: Arizona (+3.5) over Oregon
    Game 5: Georgia (-8.5) over Auburn
    Game 6: Air Force (+5) over BYU
    Game 7: South Carolina (+23) over Florida
    Game 8: USC (-23.5) over Stanford
    Game 9: USF (-8) over Rutgers
    Game 10: BC (-6) over Florida State
    Game 11: Ohio State (-9.5) over Illinois
    Game 12: Wisconsin (-13.5) over Minnesota
    Game 13: Maryland (+3) over UNC
    Game 14: West Chester (-7) over SCSU
    Game 15: Yale (-3.5) over Princeton

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sammy
    Game 1: Notre Dame
    Game 2: SYRACUSE
    Game 3: California
    Game 4: Arizona
    Game 5: Georgia
    Game 6: AIR FORCE
    Game 7: South Carolina
    Game 8: Southern California
    Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA -
    Game 10: FLORIDA STATE -
    Game 11: Ohio State
    Game 12: Minnesota
    Game 13: North Carolina
    Game 14: WEST CHESTER
    Game 15: YALE (-3.5)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Danoooo's picks
    Game 1: Notre Dame
    Game 2: Connecticut
    Game 3: OREGON STATE
    Game 4: OREGON
    Game 5: AUBURN -
    Game 6: AIR FORCE
    Game 7: South Carolina
    Game 8: STANFORD -
    Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA -
    Game 10:FLORIDA STATE -
    Game 11:ILLINOIS -
    Game 12: WISCONSIN -
    Game 13: MARYLAND -
    Game 14: Southern Connecticut State
    Game 15: YALE

    ReplyDelete
  12. 1: ND
    2: Uconn
    3: Cal
    4: Oregon
    5: uGa -
    6: BYU
    7: So Car
    8: USC
    9: Rutgirs
    10: FSU
    11: OSU
    12: Wusc
    13: NC
    14: WC
    15: Yale

    ReplyDelete
  13. UConnHuskies86 Picks


    Game 1: Notre Dame (-3.5)
    Game 2: Connecticut -10
    Game 3: OREGON STATE (-3)
    Game 4: OREGON (-3.5)
    Game 5: AUBURN +8.5
    Game 6: Brigham Young (-5)
    Game 7: South Carolina +23
    Game 8: Southern California (-23.5)
    Game 9: South Florida -8
    Game 10: Florida State -6
    Game 11: Ohio State (-9.5)
    Game 12: Wisconsin
    Game 13: North Carolina (-3)
    Game 14: Southern Connecticut State
    Game 15: YALE (-3.5)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Game 1: Navy over ND
    Game 2: UConn over Cuse
    Game 3: OSU over Cal
    Game 4: Airzona over Oregon
    Game 5: Georgia over Auburn
    Game 6: BYU over Air Force
    Game 7: South Carolina over Florida
    Game 8: Stanford over USC
    Game 9: RU over USF
    Game 10: BC over FSU
    Game 11: OSU over Illinois
    Game 12: MInnesota over Wisconsin
    Game 13: Maryland over UNC
    Game 14: SCSU over West Chester
    Game 15: Yale over Princeton

    ReplyDelete
  15. Vinny's Picks:
    1. Navy
    2. Syracuse (of course)
    3. Oregon St.
    4. Oregon
    5. Georgia
    6. BYU
    7. South Carolina
    8. USC
    9. Rutgers
    10. Florida St.
    11. Ohio St.
    12. Minnesota
    13. North Carolina
    14. SCSU
    15. Princeton

    I'm off to the Old Country this week, so thankfully i won't have to read anything about the Horrid Huskies.

    Ciao, losers.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I didn't see the picks I sent in yesterday up here and i don't know what happened to them. I'll understand if you don't want to count the early games but I'll give the picks anyways.

    Navy
    UConn
    Oregon State
    Arizona
    BYU
    South Carolina
    Stanford
    Rutgers
    Boston College
    Ohio State
    Minnesota
    Maryland
    West Chester

    ReplyDelete
  17. and apparently I forgot to make the 15th pick so I'll go with Yale.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Chip keep picking against UConn. They seem to win when you do that.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Done and done.

    I kicked butt on just about everything else...rare for me.

    ReplyDelete
  20. results
    1. JZ 12-3
    2. Chip 11-4
    ian 11-4
    4. caleb 10-5
    5. rich 9-6
    sean o 9-6
    dougo 9-6
    8. uconnhuskies86 8-7
    big donny b 8-7
    dano 8-7
    pete 8-7
    12. gary 7-8
    wil 7-8
    kevin 7-8
    15. vinny from east haven 6-9
    16. sammy 5-10

    ReplyDelete
  21. standings
    1. Dougo 75
    2. Caleb Mandrake 74
    3. JZ 72
    4. Vinny from East Haven 70
    Pete 70
    6. chip 69
    ian 69
    8. Rich 68
    9. kevin 65
    10. Sean O 59
    11. Den of Stupidity 56
    Sammy 56
    DanO 56
    14. Wil 54
    15. Gary 49
    uconnhuskies 86 49
    17. Big Donny Bertolotti 29
    18. Stretch 21
    19. HuskyBarker 5

    ReplyDelete