Thursday, September 02, 2010

Pre-Michigan notes and week 1 of picks

No word on injuries this week until the official UConn release, expected between 6 and 7 p.m. That's the new policy. Edsall will be mum on the weekly Thursday update call.

Edsall said six true freshmen will travel to Michigan: Leon Kinnard, Gilbert Stlouis, Taylor Mack, Yawin Smallwood, Byron Jones and Reuben Frank. The three who aren't on the depth chart (Smallwood, Jones and Frank) likely won't play, and the hope is to redshirt them.

Scout team players of the week were J-J Louis on offense, Smallwood on defense and Brandon Steg on special teams.

Practice today in 95 degree heat once again before the team charter leaves at 2 p.m. from Bradley for Ann Arbor. Some rain expected, but no delays anticipated as it will likely beat the heavy stuff from Hurricane Earl.

On to the picks...

After much debate, I decided to run the picks contest again this year. Feel free to post your own in the comments section. I'll even keep weekly stats and offer up the blog for the day as prize for whoever gets the most right at the end of the season. Someone even took me up on it last year.

Game 1: Purdue (+11) over NOTRE DAME - Notre Dame successfully lobbied NBC to change its policy on commercial breaks to accommodate Brian Kelly's new no-huddle offense. Why didn't Joe Moorehead think of that? Oh, yeah. He would have been laughed out of a job.

Game 2: Connecticut (+3) over MICHIGAN - Rich Rodriguez spent much of the week talking about what a great program UConn has become, and how difficult an opponent the Huskies will be on Saturday. It may be true. But for the sake of Rich-Rod's job security, let's hope the Michigan boosters and administration buys it. I don't think they will.

Game 3: Kentucky (-3) over LOUISVILLE - After six seasons stomping opponents into piles of their own innards at Florida, new Louisville coach Charlie Strong might feel a little like Charlie Brown this season.

Game 4: Syracuse (-9) over AKRON - Tough call. We know Syracuse doesn't like to win by too much. The Orange know a losing team has feelings, too.

Game 5: Oregon State (+13.5) over TEXAS CHRISTIAN - Oregon State always a slow starter, but I think they'll hang close enough to cover.

Game 6: LSU (-5) over North Carolina - Butch Davis has Chapel Hill looking more and more like the "U" every day.

Game 7: Cincinnati (+2.5) over FRESNO STATE

Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA (-38) over Coastal Carolina - This spread holds as long as Noel Devine stays away from shellfish the night before the game. Then, it might dip to 37.5.

Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA (-40) over Stony Brook - The post-Jim Leavitt era begins. In his honor, I will speak no more than two words at a time today. I also put my head through a car windshield to pump myself up for this blog entry.

Game 10: KANSAS STATE (-1.5) over Ucla -

Game 11: VIRGINIA TECH (+2) over Boise State - Too much national championship hype surrounding Boise. It'll end after one week.

18 Comments:

Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Chip's picks
Game 1: Purdue (+11) over NOTRE DAME
Game 2: Connecticut (+3) over MICHIGAN
Game 3: Kentucky (-3) over LOUISVILLE
Game 4: Syracuse (-9) over AKRON
Game 5: Oregon State (+13.5) over TEXAS CHRISTIAN
Game 6: LSU (-5) over North Carolina
Game 7: Cincinnati (+2.5) over FRESNO STATE
Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA (-38) over Coastal Carolina
Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA (-40) over Stony Brook
Game 10: KANSAS STATE (-1.5) over Ucla
Game 11: VIRGINIA TECH (+2) over Boise State

September 02, 2010 1:21 PM 
Anonymous Ian said...

I'm in this year.

Game 1: Purdue (+11)
Game 2: Connecticut (+3)
Game 3: Kentucky (-3)
Game 4: AKRON
Game 5: Oregon State
Game 6: LSU (-5
Game 7: FRESNO STATE
Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 9: Stony Brook
Game 10: KANSAS STATE
Game 11: VIRGINIA TECH

September 02, 2010 1:32 PM 
Blogger Unknown said...

Purdue
UConn
UK
Akron
TCU
UNC
Cincy
WVU
USF
KSU
VT

September 02, 2010 1:35 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pete's picks:
Game 1: Purdue
Game 2: Connecticut
Game 3: Kentucky
Game 4: AKRON
Game 5: TEXAS CHRISTIAN
Game 6: LSU
Game 7: Cincinnati
Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 10: KANSAS STATE
Game 11: VIRGINIA TECH

September 02, 2010 2:14 PM 
Anonymous Sean O said...

Game 1: NOTRE DAME
Game 2: Connecticut
Game 3: LOUISVILLE
Game 4: Syracuse
Game 5: Oregon State
Game 6: LSU
Game 7: Cincinnati
Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 9: Stony Brook
Game 10: Ucla
Game 11: Boise State

That Oregon State line is absurd. I wish I lived in Vegas to drop a small fortune. TCU may win but they ain't winning by 2 TDs.

September 02, 2010 4:14 PM 
Blogger Gary said...

Back for some picks, I'm ready.

By the way, Chip, if you need some help on scoring the picks, or deciding on which games to choose, I'm happy to lend a helping hand.

TO THE PICKS:
Game 1: Notre Dame
Game 2: UConn
Game 3: Kentucky
Game 4: Cuse
Game 5: TCU
Game 6: LSU
Game 7: Fresno
Game 8: WVU
Game 9: Stony Brook
Game 10: UCLA
Game 11: Boise State

September 02, 2010 4:16 PM 
Anonymous Gabe said...

Game 1: NOTRE DAME
Game 2: Connecticut
Game 3: Kentucky
Game 4: Syracuse
Game 5: TEXAS CHRISTIAN
Game 6: LSU
Game 7: FRESNO STATE
Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 9: SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 10: Ucla
Game 11: VIRGINIA TECH

September 02, 2010 6:47 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

UconnBob's picks
Game 1: Purdue (+11) over NOTRE DAME
Game 2: Connecticut (+3) over MICHIGAN
Game 3: LOUIEVILLE (+3) over Kentucky (-3)
Game 4: Syracuse (-9) over AKRON
Game 5: Oregon State (+13.5) over TEXAS CHRISTIAN
Game 6: LSU (-5) over North Carolina
Game 7: Cincinnati (+2.5) over FRESNO STATE
Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA (-38) over Coastal Carolina
Game 9: Stony Brook (+40) over SOUTH FLORIDA
Game 10: Ucla (+1.5) over KANSAS STATE
Game 11: Boise (-2) over VIRGINIA TECH

September 03, 2010 1:19 AM 
Anonymous Sammy said...

Game 1: Purdue
Game 2: MICHIGAN
Game 3: Kentucky
Game 4: AKRON
Game 5: TEXAS CHRISTIAN
Game 6: LSU
Game 7: FRESNO STATE
Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 9: Stony Brook
Game 10: KANSAS STATE
Game 11: VIRGINIA TECH

September 03, 2010 10:29 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd love to join this clam bake, but I've grown tired of putting a beating on you in Picks Leagues. Let's just say that the "Minor League" portion of your "Minor League Maestro" blog title is not only appropriate for the superior knowledge you possess about talent in the lower circuits...it is also very fitting of your prowess (or lack of) in making educated football picks!

...Love the "Minor League Maestro" title though. The person who thought of that must be very clever...

September 03, 2010 3:05 PM 
Anonymous Boston Dan said...

In it to win it!
Game 1 : UCONN +3
Game 2 : Purdue +11
Game 3 : Louisville +3
Game 4 : Akron +9
Game 5 : Oregon State + 13.5
Game 6 : LSU -5
Game 7 : Cincy +2
Game 8 : Coastal Carolina +38
Game 9 : Stony Brook + 40
Game 10 : UCLA (+1.5)
Game 11 : VT (+2)

September 03, 2010 3:42 PM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Your once proud softball skills aren't the only thing failing you, oh anonymous one.

I was second in your picks league, and you weren't first...

No way you're ducking the picks here. Get them in, Maestro. I await your picks as well as a Pearl Jam-inspired nickname

September 03, 2010 4:23 PM 
Anonymous Vinny from East Haven said...

Vinny says:
1. Notre Dame
2. Michigan
3. Kentucky
4. Syracuse
5. TCU
6. LSU
7. Fresno St.
8. West Virginia
9. Stony Brook
10. UCLA
11. Virginia Tech

So who's playing for second place this year, fellas? It's going to be fun to see all your reactions when you're hit with the double whammy of UConn losing eight games and me winning the picks.

What's the over/under on another player getting dismissed from the team this week?

September 03, 2010 8:00 PM 
Anonymous caleb mandrake said...

Game 1: NOTRE DAME
Game 2: Connecticut
Game 3: Kentucky
Game 4: Syracuse
Game 5: Oregon State
Game 6: LSU
Game 7: FRESNO STATE
Game 8: WEST VIRGINIA
Game 9: Stony Brook
Game 10: Ucla
Game 11: Boise State

September 03, 2010 11:51 PM 
Anonymous B-Stew said...

Game 1: Purdue
Game 2: Connecticut
Game 3: Kentucky
Game 4: AKRON
Game 5: Oregon State
Game 6: LSU
Game 7: FRESNO STATE
Game 8: Coastal Carolina
Game 9: Stony Brook
Game 10: KANSAS STATE
Game 11: Boise State

September 04, 2010 11:04 AM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Standings with Boise-VT game still to go...

1. Chip 6-4-1
B-Stew 6-4-1
3. Ian 5-5-1
Gabe 5-5-1
sammy 5-5-1
vinny 5-5-1
caleb 5-5-1
8. pete 4-6-1
gary 4-6-1
10. BostonDan 3-7-1
govphalen 3-7-1
seanO 3-7-1
uconnbob 3-7-1

Sammy and Vinny from East Haven the only two to pick Michigan...

September 05, 2010 8:50 AM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

Final results week 1
1. B-Stew 7-3-1
2. Chip 6-4-1
caleb 6-4-1
4. Ian 5-5-1
Gabe 5-5-1
sammy 5-5-1
vinny 5-5-1
gary 5-5-1
19. pete 4-6-1
seanO 4-6-1
Uconnbob 4-6-1
12. BostonDan 3-7-1
govphalen 3-7-1

September 07, 2010 5:41 PM 
Blogger Chip Malafronte said...

these standings should be right...the tie messed me up on the early results, so those are wrong.

September 07, 2010 5:42 PM 

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