1) Coaches are people too!
2) At Large Muckity Muck
1) Coaches are people too!
I know these guys make the mega-bucks, but hey, they put their pants on one leg at a time - just like you and me. Take Les Miles for instance...how many of us have been winding up the day at work, only to get that phone call from the spouse? "When will you be home? Can you stop by the store and get...? Do you know what your son did today? etc." Well, did you see that Les took such a call in the closing minute of yesterday's game against Ole Miss? Here's a glimpse...
{ring}
"Honey, I'm a little busy right now? Is this important?"
"What, I can't hear you - you'll have to speak up?"
to an assistant..."Ummm...I don't know...screen play."
"Sorry honey. What? YES, I'm listening!"
"Uh-huh. Right. Right...hold on a sec."
to assistant again "What? LOST yards? Wait a sec..."
"Honey, this isn't really a good time right n... Oh come on, that's not true! I don't always say that! I just...wait..."
to the assistant..."FOURTH...Well, you called time out right?"
to assistant..."RIGHT!?!?!?"
to assistant..."OH CRAP! CALL TIME OUT!!!"
"No Honey - not you. Sorry, look, can we do this another time? What? One quick thing? OK, what is it? Hold on..."
to assistant..."I don't know, just chuck it downfield. Who cares, we are out of field goal range anyway."
"I'm sorry honey what did you want?"
"Right, right?"
"But wait! That means I'd have to go left out of the stadium when we get back...BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY CVS THAT'LL BE OPEN AT 2AM!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ye..."
to assistant, "HE CAUGHT IT? WOW!!!"
"Right honey. OK, I'll get some Pseudofed. What? I don't like the store brand! I know it is $3 cheaper, but honey, they pay me $3.5 mil..."
to assistant "What do you mean what next? Kick the field goal. Obviously."
"OK, honey - I'll get it. I love you t...
WHY IS THE $&#(@*&%*!! KICKER ON THE SIDELINE?"
See...it ain't easy being those guys.
2) At Large Muckity Muck
I can't believe I'm going to say this but I am. IF, Boise St. goes undefeated, whether TCU does or does not - it should get an at large bid. I know they didn't play anyone, but for the most part, neither did any Big Ten team outside of Columbus and apparently Iowa or PennState is a shoe-in. I mean really - can anyone honestly look at the ACC, Big Ten, Pac 10, or Big 12 and say any of those leagues has a team that merits an at large? Notice I left out the Big East and the SEC. Clearly Bama and Florida are going to get the at-large (whoever loses the title game) and I honestly think Pitt and Cinci are deserving of BCS bids. Yet here we are, and people are all ready saying Boise is screwed. Shame shame shame. (Apologies to Hot Rats and BigTen Champs for the PSU slag but I'm sorry - the resume doesn't hold up this year.)
Sunday, November 22
Main Pool Update: Week 12
The heat is on!
GeauxBoyGeaux takes the lead coming into the final turn of the regular season - with his eyes on the Main Pool prize! The entire pool did well with all but one player scoring double digits (among those who actually submitted picks). That does beg the question of Red Velvet Revenge 2009 - huh? (He only scored 8). I was certainly feeling chipper about my performance and then it dawned on me that this was one of the easier weeks we've had with some real odd ball lines. Special mention does go out to missing Wanting Needing Bill who went yard with a 17 point week - huge! That got him into a top ten.
Two more weeks to go and it looks like a three man race between Geaux, BigOrange, and Back Again. Do our 4th place players have the juice to make up 6? Stay tuned...
Best Picks
Players taking Arizona - for recognizing the general road playing crappiness of the Pac 10
Worst Pick
Players taking Utah State - for failing to recognize that Boise St. is going to drop the hammer on everyone left in its attempt to make the BCS bowls.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
GeauxBoyGeaux takes the lead coming into the final turn of the regular season - with his eyes on the Main Pool prize! The entire pool did well with all but one player scoring double digits (among those who actually submitted picks). That does beg the question of Red Velvet Revenge 2009 - huh? (He only scored 8). I was certainly feeling chipper about my performance and then it dawned on me that this was one of the easier weeks we've had with some real odd ball lines. Special mention does go out to missing Wanting Needing Bill who went yard with a 17 point week - huge! That got him into a top ten.
Two more weeks to go and it looks like a three man race between Geaux, BigOrange, and Back Again. Do our 4th place players have the juice to make up 6? Stay tuned...
Best Picks
Players taking Arizona - for recognizing the general road playing crappiness of the Pac 10
Worst Pick
Players taking Utah State - for failing to recognize that Boise St. is going to drop the hammer on everyone left in its attempt to make the BCS bowls.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Tuesday, November 10
Week 9: Combo Rumination and Rambling
So, week 9 in the pool, I got 10 right - FANTASTIC! Oh wait - there were 22 games. You'd think after almost 15 years of this I'd get better but I don't. Let's look at the misses shall we?
Wisconsin -10.5 @ Indiana. My Pick: Badgers. Result: Wiscy win 31-28.
A rule is don't go against double digit home underdogs late in the season. A rule i followed is, the Big 10 is a big pile of mediocrity and therefore Indiana oughta tank against a team that just blanked Purdue 38-0. I HATE the Badgers!
Iowa -16 vs. Northwestern. My Pick: Hawkeyes. Result: Wildcat victory
Not only did you not cover but this is your first loss Iowa? Really? I should have known better. Last week Iowa was a feature story in Sports Illustrated - a sure sign that a loss is coming.
Texas -36 vs. Central Florida. My Pick: Longhorns. Result: Texas only wins 35-3
Way to go Knights! Take that moral victory home. I'm sure you'll be able to tell the grandkids about it someday..."I remember way back in 2009 - we only lost to Texas by 32!"
Notre Dame - 10 vs. Navy. My Pick: The Domers. Result: Delicious Middie Win!
I really had torn emotions as I watched Notre Dame struggle all through the second half. No really I did. Clearly I was mistaken when I thought Charlie Weiss wouldn't let another loss to Navy happen after he let it happen for the first time in 43 years the last time the Middies came to South Bend. Stupid me.
Georgia Tech -16 vs. Wake Forest My Pick: GT Result. GT wins 30-27 in OT
Georgia Tech is literally a four down team on any possession anywhere on the field. They run at will. WHAT THE FREAKIN FRACK?
Arizona -32 vs. Washington State My Pick: Washington St. Result: Arizona wins 48-7
I know Washington State is to football what "The View" is to football but still - they are a Pac 10 program not too far removed from decent success. I figured they had to have some pride right? End of 1Q - 24-0 end of 2nd? 34-0 End of 3rd? 41-0. Way to get that TD in the 4th guys! Ruudy Ruuudy Ruuudy!
Oregon -7 @ Stanford My pick: Oregon Result: Stanford win
I read that teams that have beaten USC this decade have gone on to lose their next game 7 out of 10 times. I read this after this weekend though.
Alabama -7.5 vs. LSU My pick: Tigers Result: Bama covers
I really thought LSU had a chance to win, not just cover. Then again I'd have bet my hounds tooth hat that this game would be fairly officiated.
TCU -24.5 @ San Diego St. My pick: SDSU Result: BIG TCU cover
See, you dont' go against double digit home dogs late in the year. Wait...?
Cal -7 vs Oregon St My pick: Cal Result: HUGE Beaver cover.
I told myself much earlier in the season that I would never pick Cal again. I lied to myself. I deserved his miss.
Oklahoma -5.5 @ Nebraska My pick: Boomer Sooner Result: Husker win
If anyone would care to explain Oklahoma to me I'm all ears.
Cincy -17 vs. UCONN My Pick: Bearcats Result: Cincy wins by 2 47-45
At one point Cincy was up comfortably in this game 30-10. Then both teams went all west coast for a fantastic 2nd half.
So, there you have it 12 misses. In short...I suck.
Wisconsin -10.5 @ Indiana. My Pick: Badgers. Result: Wiscy win 31-28.
A rule is don't go against double digit home underdogs late in the season. A rule i followed is, the Big 10 is a big pile of mediocrity and therefore Indiana oughta tank against a team that just blanked Purdue 38-0. I HATE the Badgers!
Iowa -16 vs. Northwestern. My Pick: Hawkeyes. Result: Wildcat victory
Not only did you not cover but this is your first loss Iowa? Really? I should have known better. Last week Iowa was a feature story in Sports Illustrated - a sure sign that a loss is coming.
Texas -36 vs. Central Florida. My Pick: Longhorns. Result: Texas only wins 35-3
Way to go Knights! Take that moral victory home. I'm sure you'll be able to tell the grandkids about it someday..."I remember way back in 2009 - we only lost to Texas by 32!"
Notre Dame - 10 vs. Navy. My Pick: The Domers. Result: Delicious Middie Win!
I really had torn emotions as I watched Notre Dame struggle all through the second half. No really I did. Clearly I was mistaken when I thought Charlie Weiss wouldn't let another loss to Navy happen after he let it happen for the first time in 43 years the last time the Middies came to South Bend. Stupid me.
Georgia Tech -16 vs. Wake Forest My Pick: GT Result. GT wins 30-27 in OT
Georgia Tech is literally a four down team on any possession anywhere on the field. They run at will. WHAT THE FREAKIN FRACK?
Arizona -32 vs. Washington State My Pick: Washington St. Result: Arizona wins 48-7
I know Washington State is to football what "The View" is to football but still - they are a Pac 10 program not too far removed from decent success. I figured they had to have some pride right? End of 1Q - 24-0 end of 2nd? 34-0 End of 3rd? 41-0. Way to get that TD in the 4th guys! Ruudy Ruuudy Ruuudy!
Oregon -7 @ Stanford My pick: Oregon Result: Stanford win
I read that teams that have beaten USC this decade have gone on to lose their next game 7 out of 10 times. I read this after this weekend though.
Alabama -7.5 vs. LSU My pick: Tigers Result: Bama covers
I really thought LSU had a chance to win, not just cover. Then again I'd have bet my hounds tooth hat that this game would be fairly officiated.
TCU -24.5 @ San Diego St. My pick: SDSU Result: BIG TCU cover
See, you dont' go against double digit home dogs late in the year. Wait...?
Cal -7 vs Oregon St My pick: Cal Result: HUGE Beaver cover.
I told myself much earlier in the season that I would never pick Cal again. I lied to myself. I deserved his miss.
Oklahoma -5.5 @ Nebraska My pick: Boomer Sooner Result: Husker win
If anyone would care to explain Oklahoma to me I'm all ears.
Cincy -17 vs. UCONN My Pick: Bearcats Result: Cincy wins by 2 47-45
At one point Cincy was up comfortably in this game 30-10. Then both teams went all west coast for a fantastic 2nd half.
So, there you have it 12 misses. In short...I suck.
Main Pool Update: Week 9
GeauxBoyGeaux (which I HATE typing by the way) continues on a tear and separates himself from the pack with yet another solid performance. His 12 points puts him solidly in first place with 117 total for the season, 2 points ahead of BigOrange (who had a week's best 14) and one time champ, Back Again, who has steadily moved up the ranks.
On the down side, two unnamed players came in with 6 points weeks - not so good ladies - I MEAN unnamed players!
Best Picks
Those with faith in the Midshipmen!
Worst Picks
Couple of you went with Iowa State against Oklahoma thus ignoring history. And a couple went with UVA against Miami on the road, thus ignoring UVA.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
On the down side, two unnamed players came in with 6 points weeks - not so good ladies - I MEAN unnamed players!
Best Picks
Those with faith in the Midshipmen!
Worst Picks
Couple of you went with Iowa State against Oklahoma thus ignoring history. And a couple went with UVA against Miami on the road, thus ignoring UVA.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Elimination Pool Week 9
We have a winner! For those of you who didn't see the email...
Due to a post weekend ruling, Beach Bums Week 8 pick of Tennessee was found to be ineligible since Tennessee wasn't ranked. As a result, mrwterps' successful negotiation of weekend 8 left him as the last player standing.
Congrats to mrwterps!
Due to a post weekend ruling, Beach Bums Week 8 pick of Tennessee was found to be ineligible since Tennessee wasn't ranked. As a result, mrwterps' successful negotiation of weekend 8 left him as the last player standing.
Congrats to mrwterps!
Sunday, November 1
Week 9 NCAA Ruminations
I'm going to try something new this week. I'm calling it the "Howboutyou" List. Howboutyou is the question that is more of a command. For example, Howboutyou people start commenting in the blog! That IS the purpose of the whole thing - you know? Interactivity and all that jazz. Here we go:
To Georgia Coach Mark Richt:
Howboutyou put in a quarterback that's taller than Frodo Baggins? Seriously, is Joe Cox 4'11"? How many passes did he throw into the hardly extended mitts of the Florida front four?
To UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisal:
Howboutyou gamble on a red zone offense?
To the voters who put Virginia Tech at #22 this week:
Howboutyou put down the empty bottle of Jack and march down to AlAnon? While you are at it howboutyou notice that DUKE is in second in the coastal AHEAD of Virginia Tech,
To anyone saying Tebow put himself back into the Heisman race after the Georgia game:
Howboutyou look at the stats for Houston QB Case Keenum? Here's a quick glance: 71% completions on 398 pass attempts with 25 TDs.
To Pittsburgh Coach Dave Wannstedt:
Howboutyou take a look at NC State's year to date results? Quick glance, the Wolfpack is 3-5, including a goose egg in ACC play - repeat not one victory in the hapless ACC. Two of NCSU's victories came against Murray State and Gardner-Webb. The third? AGAINST YOUR #14 ranked 7-1 Panthers.
To the Voters:
Howboutyou figure out how you are going to rank one loss Oregon ahead of the no loss Boise St. team that beat it? You haven't yet, but I know it's coming.
To the Purdue football team:
Howboutyou just pack it in and call it a season?
To the Big 12 North Division:
Howaboutyou just stop embarrassing yourselves and tell Texas - "Just take the title."
To SMU:
Yeah, yeah, June Jones is really turning things around I know you might get to a bowl for the first time since Craig James roamed the sidelines but, Howaboutyou remember you are the only team to lose to Washington State?
To Georgia Coach Mark Richt:
Howboutyou put in a quarterback that's taller than Frodo Baggins? Seriously, is Joe Cox 4'11"? How many passes did he throw into the hardly extended mitts of the Florida front four?
To UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisal:
Howboutyou gamble on a red zone offense?
To the voters who put Virginia Tech at #22 this week:
Howboutyou put down the empty bottle of Jack and march down to AlAnon? While you are at it howboutyou notice that DUKE is in second in the coastal AHEAD of Virginia Tech,
To anyone saying Tebow put himself back into the Heisman race after the Georgia game:
Howboutyou look at the stats for Houston QB Case Keenum? Here's a quick glance: 71% completions on 398 pass attempts with 25 TDs.
To Pittsburgh Coach Dave Wannstedt:
Howboutyou take a look at NC State's year to date results? Quick glance, the Wolfpack is 3-5, including a goose egg in ACC play - repeat not one victory in the hapless ACC. Two of NCSU's victories came against Murray State and Gardner-Webb. The third? AGAINST YOUR #14 ranked 7-1 Panthers.
To the Voters:
Howboutyou figure out how you are going to rank one loss Oregon ahead of the no loss Boise St. team that beat it? You haven't yet, but I know it's coming.
To the Purdue football team:
Howboutyou just pack it in and call it a season?
To the Big 12 North Division:
Howaboutyou just stop embarrassing yourselves and tell Texas - "Just take the title."
To SMU:
Yeah, yeah, June Jones is really turning things around I know you might get to a bowl for the first time since Craig James roamed the sidelines but, Howaboutyou remember you are the only team to lose to Washington State?
Main Pool Update: Week 9
BigOrange goes big in Week 9 with a league best 14 points which was good enough to get him into a tie for first with 2006 champion GeauxBoyGeaux who continues to live at the top. The top dogs are really starting to set themselves apart with 4 points ahead of the third place. At the other end of the spectrum, I'm sending out an investigative team to Ann Arbor to see if Coach Rodriguez knows anything about the whereabouts of Rich Rod is the Devil, who's been absent for three weeks.
Best Picks
The five posters who took Wake to cover.
Worst Picks
The three that took Vandy.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Best Picks
The five posters who took Wake to cover.
Worst Picks
The three that took Vandy.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Elimination Pool Week 9
And then there were two!
WyoKat went with Utah and was eliminated leaving Beach Bum and MRWTerps to duke it out for the Elimination Pool Championship!
WyoKat went with Utah and was eliminated leaving Beach Bum and MRWTerps to duke it out for the Elimination Pool Championship!
Sunday, October 25
Week 8 NCAA Ruminations
A lot of thoughts here. Connor is taking a nap. I don't have an editor and I don't have any staff writers. I don't have time to write "paragraphs". Tick...the clock is ticking....here we go...
Dear Heisman voters, please remove Tim Tebow from your ballots now. If it weren't the first interception he threw that was returned for a touchdown against Miss St., perhaps the second one will suffice. If you are looking for a replacement, try the Gator defense that has been picking up Mr. Everything's slack. Yeah yeah, tying Herschel Walker for most rushing TD's is something but you all ready gave Tim one Heisman...let's leave it at that.
I know you all know my propensity to, well hate Notre Dame. And I know they are 5-2 on the year. And I know they are never really out of a game it would seem. And I know they have hapless Washington State coming to South Bend to get win 6. I probably didn't need to mention South Bend since, if you've been playing attention, you probably also know that Notre Dame is saving significant money in travel this year - since they pretty much don't. Two road games all year so far - one of which was a hour and a half away in Lafayette. The other a loss to an increasingly sucky Michigan. Navy comes to South Bend after that. Are there any road games left? Yes, actually - a trip west to Stanford to finish the year but more importantly to Pitt in three weeks - NOW a team on the road with a pulse and a running game to boot. A three loss Irish is likely not one for the BCS. That's a biggie.
If we are just looking at non-BCS teams, is there any reason TCU isn't ranked ahead of Boise? If we are looking at all of them, is there any reason TCU isn't ranked 4 behind Florida, Bama, and Texas?
If we continue playing that game we've got to look at Cincinnati ranked behind USC - why? USC struggled with Oregon State at home. Cincinnati handled the Beavers on the road. Cincinnati won all of its games to date. USC lost to a now 3-5 Washington.
Starting with LSU at #9 and going through West Virginia at #20. Throw a dart. They are all about the same.
Kansas State: Beat UMass by 4. Lost to Louisiana-Lafayette. Lost to UCLA. Handled Tennessee Tech. Beat Iowa State by 1. Lost 66-14 to Texas Tech. Beat Texas A&M 62-14. Then beat Colorado yesterday. Huh?
Texas Tech lost to Texas A&M 52-30. Huh?
Dear Michigan, Reality is a big, fat, cold carp upside your head isn't it?, Love, Ultimate Bill
Dear South Florida, I know, it doesn't seem fair but you DO have to play games in October and November. Love, Ultimate Bill
Wow! Rutgers is 5-2. Schiano has maintained the success he built a few years back hasn't he? Wait a minute, Halloween is next weekend and they've only played two league games? And they lost those? Hold on...the wins? Howard, Florida International, Texas Southern, Army, and Maryland. Seriously? That's a schedule? It's allowed? A d1A team can play THAT bad an out of conference schedule? Sad part is, Maryland was probably only the third most challenging of those wins.
Speaking of which...
Dear Ralph Fridgeon, Thank you. Thank you SO much! Love, Al Groh
Anyone else notice that Temple is undefeated in MAC play?
Is it me or is the officiating particularly dreadful this year? In addition to the moribund SEC crews propensity for stifling ANY kind of celebration what-so-ever, it seems they don't know how to use video players either. In the Florida at Miss. St. game, Gator linebacker Dustin Doe intercepted a Miss. St pass and returned it to the endzone, being sure to, in heavy traffic, high step and hold the ball out before crossing the goal line. Two points - 1) Football players are really, really stupid and 2) the fumble was painfully obvious without the replay yet the replay official did not see compelling evidence to overturn the on field TD call. (The fumble was recovered by Miss. St.). For what is supposed to be the best league in football, the officiating sure doesn't match. Outside the SEC if anyone caught the USC/ Oregon State game you would have witnessed the most blatant face-mask of all time. If you did not watch that game and missed the play, you'd be no different than the officials working that game.
I think Auburn is REALLY looking forward to the Furman game on Nov 7. That might be their last remaining possible win.
Main Pool Update: Week 8
HolyMackeral! Did you see Holy Mackeral's performance? 16 out of 22 for the week's best and a move up the overall standings into 4th. TheMack only sits four points behind the leader GeauxBoyGeaux who had his 8th straight double digit week! At the opposite of the spectrum we have the shameful 5 point performance that took Missing Wanting Needing Bill from the top spot into 10th place. It was painful to watch!
Best Picks
Sunny the Conquerer and Kiffin with Clemson.
Worst Picks
I'm giving myself a special nod for thinking "geez Hawaii can AT LEAST cover 25 points at home, right?" Also, the handful of us thinking UVA stood a chance against the Yellow Jacket running machine.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Best Picks
Sunny the Conquerer and Kiffin with Clemson.
Worst Picks
I'm giving myself a special nod for thinking "geez Hawaii can AT LEAST cover 25 points at home, right?" Also, the handful of us thinking UVA stood a chance against the Yellow Jacket running machine.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Saturday, October 24
Sunday, October 18
Week 7 NCAA Ruminations
Remember this movie? Throw in Jason Robards, a little Ray Bradbury, and a dude that looks an awful lot like Lee Greenwood and you've got a cautionary tale about desire! (Not a bad flick for a cool evening nearing Halloween). At any rate, the tale serves as a relevant warning to those young men who play football for academic universities and those old men who lead them...Reality came a-callin' this week in NCAA football.
Truth
Let's start with the truth of NCAA football in Week 7 of 2009. There's only one: ALabama is THE bad boy on the block. No one, to date, even compares. Yes, I know, Mark May and his merry band of blowhards were practically falling over themselves about USC AND Notre Dame. (Lou Holtz said it best to Mark May, "I think if Notre Dame actually won that game you wouldn't be nearly as complimentary" - seriously, Mark May is an idiot). At any rate - no one, not Florida, Not Texas, not Cincinnati, not Iowa, and most certainly not Southern Cal are playing anything close to the level of football the Tide is playing right now. If, after Florida nearly lost to the Razorbacks in the swamp, a mere three weeks after Bama absolutely manhandled them, the Tide doesn't get the majority of #1 votes in today's polls, then the voters simply aren't paying attention. Truthfully, Florida hasn't deserved the top spot all season.
Reality - the cold slap in the face
Texas - you took out Bradford early and you still could have lost to a 3-3 Oklahoma squad. The Longhorns haven't looked good against a team with a pulse all year long. The Big 12 is too tough for them to get through unscathed - especially when Colt McCoy came back down to earth.
USC - you let Notre Dame back in the game. First thing I read this morning...the likely title game will involved the SEC champ and USC. Everyone is assuming USC got it's annual gaffe out of the way and will cruise the rest of thre year. Really? Are we simply going to dismiss Oregon now? Really? Considering that USC, SHOULD have controlled the Irish offensive game but if not, at least run roughshod over it's porous defense. Neither really happened. USC is due for another loss. Notre Dame just isn't THAT good.
Notre Dame - sorry Charlie. Really, at some point you HAVE to look at a coach when he literally LOADS his team with top talent from all over the country and just can't win a big game. Here are the numbers...(courtesy of Tom Deinhart) "Since the start of the 2007 season, Notre Dame is 14-17. Weis is 1-15 against teams that finished the season with a winning record. And he's 1-9 against teams that finished ranked." Wow.
Virginia Tech - you STILL can't control the ball when needed. Tyrod really doesn't seem coachable at this point. He doesn't seem to know when to reach for the extra yard, opting for the sideline or a slide EVERY time. He doesn't seem to know when he should put his head down and run upfield (you can't pull off the miracle throw EVERY time). And, truth be told, Bud Foster shares some of the blame for the loss to GT. Paul Johnson put on an absolute clinic on triple option in the second half and VT had NO answer at all.
Florida - You're the University of Florida. You have superman at quarterback. You are the #1 team in the country (in theory). You're best downfield threat? Riley Cooper. Your best backfield threat? No one. It is painfully clear that neither Demps, Rainey, or Moody, even combined, come anything close to providing the threat that Percy Harvin did for the Gators last year. They might go undefeated into the title game because the schedule is that soft, but the Gators WILL run into a team that can outlast its defense and lookout - they will fall hard.
Ohio State - ummm...I don't even know what to say about that.
ACC - the only unbeaten team in league play is...wait for it...THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Big Ten - Iowa will lose to Ohio State and muck everything up for you.
I'm not ready to say anyone is a sure bet for the title game at this point. Bama is the lead horse with a big messy pack running way behind. Should be interesting!
Main Pool Update: Week 7
GeauxBoyGeaux, Missing Wanting Needing Bill, and BigOrange are starting to form a lead pack. After week 7, they each sit with 81 points. Missing is the only player to have posted double digits in every week of the pool. The next best behind the three sits at 78. On the other end of the spectrum, Penn Wagers and Rich Rod is the Devil decided not to play this weekend.
Best Pick
The bookies nail the line on UT/Oklahoma. As for the pool, those with faith in the Hoosier state - anyone that took Purdue (Go Boilers!) and Notre Dame (Go Jimmy Limo!) were awarded handsomely with one point for each one.
Worst Pick
Our no shows. Anyone taking UNLV, Central Florida, or Missouri.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Best Pick
The bookies nail the line on UT/Oklahoma. As for the pool, those with faith in the Hoosier state - anyone that took Purdue (Go Boilers!) and Notre Dame (Go Jimmy Limo!) were awarded handsomely with one point for each one.
Worst Pick
Our no shows. Anyone taking UNLV, Central Florida, or Missouri.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Elimination Pool Week 7
With five straight weeks of gimme games, people were starting to be concerned with the elimination pool. One participant, who shall remain nameless (but who's name rhymes with issing anting eeding ill) went so far as to suggest that off line games be eliminated from consideration for this pool. Panic had set in.
But you see, my little BUCFPites, your administrator had, in the words of Axl Rose, a little patience. I knew the NCAA Gods would not let harmony rule the day. Week 7, the bloodiest day in BUCFP history, proved me right. Only five remain after the onslaught - fair thee well.
Thursday, October 15
Tuesday, October 13
Week 6: Special Report
Come with me, and you'll see, a whole WORLD of interesting football,
It's Week 7, almost heaven, as we get into the thick of fall...
Here it is...
The Week 7 Viewing Guide: Oompa Loompa Style
Noon: #2 Texas vs. #20 Oklahoma (Neutral Site - Cotton Bowl)
Oompa Loompa, doompadee doo
I have a perfect puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa, doompadee dee
If you are wise you will listen me
What do you get where the Red River flows?
A team that goes as Sam Bradford goes
The Sooners have lost twice by one point each
So beating the Longhorns is quite...a...reach
I don't like the look of it
Oompa Loompa, doompadee down
What do you do if you are Mack Brown?
You will wonder what happened to you
When the Boomer Sooner go Boom!
Sooners go Boom!
#6 USC @ #25 Notre Dame:
Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
I've got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doompadah dee
If you are wise you will listen to me
I've got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doompadah dee
If you are wise you will listen to me
What do you get when you coach in South Bend?
Pressure and hype that just never ends
All of your players really must go to class
And once a year a team...kicks...your....
Pressure and hype that just never ends
All of your players really must go to class
And once a year a team...kicks...your....
The way that that the Trojans do
Oompa Loompa doompadee dice
This could be so big for Chuck Weiss
But I will live in happiness too
Like the winning Trojans will do
This could be so big for Chuck Weiss
But I will live in happiness too
Like the winning Trojans will do
6PM: #4 Virginia Tech @ #19 Georgia Tech
Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
I've got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doompadah dee
If you are wise you will listen to me
What do you get when the option is tripled?
Run by some dudes whose muscles are rippled
You get a team with an offense perplexing
To rival coaches it is...so...vexing
Unless you are Bud Foster!
Oompa Loompa doompadee dokie
Life in the ACC's nice for a Hokie
On this evening a Ramble will wreck
When the Hokies beat Georgia Tech
7:30 PM: #22 South Carolina @ #2 Alabama
Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
I've got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doompadah dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me
What do you get if you are a big worrier?
And your Coach is a man named Steve Spurrier
What will he do when the Tide fights the Cocks?
Here is one bet that is...a...lock
They'll get nooooooo
They'll get nooooooo
They'll get nooooooo
They'll get nooooooo
They will get no touchdowns
Oompa Loompa Doompadee Daban
The Ball Coach is good but he's no Nick Saban
Nick will live in happiness too
Like the Tide in
Tuscaloosa do
Sunday, October 11
Main Pool Update: Week 6
BigOrange, inpired by his beloved Vols smaching of Georgie, takes the top spot away from GeauxBoyGeaux who was, no doubt, mouring his beloved Tigers' loss to the Gators. Missing Wanting Needing Bill sticks around in second place. Very tight race. Only 6 points separate the top ten spots.
Best Picks
Texas A&M
Worst Picks
Ole Miss pickers and the Nutley no-show!
Best Picks
Texas A&M
Worst Picks
Ole Miss pickers and the Nutley no-show!
Sunday, October 4
Week 5 NCAA Ruminations
In this episode:
1) SEC Officials - The Debbie Downers of NCAA Football
2) Hapless Cal
3) Luck of the Irish? Sort of..
4) The Folly of the Early Death Knell
5) NCAA vs. Pro: NCAA still wins
1) SEC Officials - The Debbie Downers of NCAA Football
WOW! DID ANYONE ELSE SEE THE LSU/GEORGIA GAME YESTERDAY!!! WHAT AN AMAZING GAME! IT WAS JUST AWESO....{Whistle} {Flag thrown from sideline}
I just got nailed 15 yards for excessive celebration.
So, if you didn't have the pleasure of watching LSU score in the last minute to deflate the puffy heads of 85,000 screaming Bulldawgs yesterday, you missed one heck of a game (perhaps you were watching one of the other two nailbiters...more on that later).
Three excessive celebration penalties were called in this game. Two of which occurred in the last three minutes. Not ONE of those "celebrations" was even close to excessive. The last of the three, a penalty called against AJ Green, played a crucial role in LSU's ability to position itself for a score with under a minute to play. After scoring the go-ahead TD on a reception at the 1:06 mark, Georgia's Green leapt into the stands, kissed three women, chugged a bourbon and coke, smacked an LSU fan in the face, jumped on top of a railing, dropped trou, and mooned the national television audience. Oh wait - THAT would be excessive celebration. In contrast, AJ Green, was mobbed by his teammates, exchanged high fives and headslaps, and proceeded back to the huddle for the conversion attempt. Was there a lot of excitement? Yes. Excessive celebration? If you are a Quaker, maybe.
The official explanation from the officials...“Following a brief team celebration, Green made a gesture to the crowd calling attention to himself.” To be honest, I didn't see it on the video replays but I'm sure that is possible. The reason I think that is possible is BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ON EVERY SINGLE PLAY IN A COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME. Seriously- watch a defender make a tackle and see what he does. Watch a running back gain 7 hard fought yards and see what he does. Since when does "calling attention" mean excessive celebration? Obviously the SEC officials decided they were going to crack down on the issue this year because this isn't the first game we've seen this happen (in the Florida Kentucky game a Florida defensive lineman was nailed for doing what basically amounted to a brief version of "the hand jive").
Now, I'm not a fan of the "look at me" actions. I'd much rather see a kid get a first down, hand the ball to the ref, and go back to the huddle as if that is exactly what he meant to do. To me, that would be MUCH more demoralizing to the opponent. But that said, a little emotion isn't going to kill anyone and for crying out loud, after what could have been the game winning touchdown - a little leeway please.
The two really big problems I have with yesterday is 1) a discretionary call regarding a non-timed incident (not while the clock is running) should NEVER impact the game in the way that call did and 2) CONSISTENCY is key. Given what passed for excessive with AJ Green, there should have been about, oh 75 flags yesterday. Now the league is standing behind the officials but there better be some behind the scenes meetings telling them to knock it off.
2) Hapless Cal
Every year, same old Cal. How do you bounce back from the thrashing by Oregon? By getting thrashed, at home, by USC. Two weeks, 6 points. Way to hold it together guys! This is with a healthy Jahvid Best! Best alone should be worth two TDs a game - he's that good. The luster should be WAY off of Cal Coach Jeff Tedford's resume. You've GOT to look at coaching in these situations. Thank goodness for Washington State because without them Cal, two weeks removed from a #6 ranking, would be dead last in the Pac10.
3) Luck of the Irish? Sort of..
Along with the late game fireworks from Athens yesterday, Notre Dame and Washington gave us their own version of Notre Dame's weekly drama with an overtime thriller capped by, yet again, another Notre Dame victory. Giving the Irish their due, at the end of the day winning games counts for something and the fact that Notre Dame, for the most part, ends up on the happy side of the equation can't be chalked up entirely to luck. It can, however, be chalked up to the competition. To wit..
106, 55, 66, 92, 84: What are those numbers? Those are the national rankings, in total defense for Notre Dame's 5 opponents to date: Nevada, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, and Washington. The best defense played, Michigan's, doesn't even rank in the top 50 and that happened to be the Irish's lone loss. Coming up? USC's 3rd ranked defense followed by Boston College and its 20th ranked defense. Let's get through those games before we get too high on the Irish.
4) The Folly of the Early Death Knell
Quick, tell me which conference is over-rated? Now, which is the best? I bet you said the ACC for the first and the SEC for the second. Right? If not, most people would as would most commentators. Let's look at the numbers shall we? As of this writing, the Week 5 polls are not out, still, consider the following: the ACC has three ranked teams: #6 Virginia Tech, #17 Miami, and #25 Georgia Tech. The SEC has five #1 Florida, #3 Alabama, #4 LSU, #18 Georgia, and #21 Mississippi. Did you notice something? THREE TEAMS OUT OF THE TOP FOUR? Who's over-rated again? No let's look at the Big East. The league has eight teams, six of which have no more than one loss. How many teams are ranked? One. Cincinnati at #10. We say it time and time again, let the season play out some. The ACC is all ready out of the national title hunt according to many. Why? The SEC is unstoppable according to many. Why? The Big East - a few say it has some contenders but not many. Why? Repeat after me: No polls until mid October at the EARLIEST.
5) NCAA vs. Pro: NCAA still wins
LSU at Georgia; Washington at Notre Dame; FSU at BC - three mid-afternoon games. All decided in the last minutes. All playing out on three different channels. Who else was with me as I flipped back and forth between all three?
I defy you to show me anything remotely as excited as that in the NFL.
1) SEC Officials - The Debbie Downers of NCAA Football
2) Hapless Cal
3) Luck of the Irish? Sort of..
4) The Folly of the Early Death Knell
5) NCAA vs. Pro: NCAA still wins
1) SEC Officials - The Debbie Downers of NCAA Football
WOW! DID ANYONE ELSE SEE THE LSU/GEORGIA GAME YESTERDAY!!! WHAT AN AMAZING GAME! IT WAS JUST AWESO....{Whistle} {Flag thrown from sideline}
I just got nailed 15 yards for excessive celebration.
So, if you didn't have the pleasure of watching LSU score in the last minute to deflate the puffy heads of 85,000 screaming Bulldawgs yesterday, you missed one heck of a game (perhaps you were watching one of the other two nailbiters...more on that later).
Three excessive celebration penalties were called in this game. Two of which occurred in the last three minutes. Not ONE of those "celebrations" was even close to excessive. The last of the three, a penalty called against AJ Green, played a crucial role in LSU's ability to position itself for a score with under a minute to play. After scoring the go-ahead TD on a reception at the 1:06 mark, Georgia's Green leapt into the stands, kissed three women, chugged a bourbon and coke, smacked an LSU fan in the face, jumped on top of a railing, dropped trou, and mooned the national television audience. Oh wait - THAT would be excessive celebration. In contrast, AJ Green, was mobbed by his teammates, exchanged high fives and headslaps, and proceeded back to the huddle for the conversion attempt. Was there a lot of excitement? Yes. Excessive celebration? If you are a Quaker, maybe.
The official explanation from the officials...“Following a brief team celebration, Green made a gesture to the crowd calling attention to himself.” To be honest, I didn't see it on the video replays but I'm sure that is possible. The reason I think that is possible is BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ON EVERY SINGLE PLAY IN A COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME. Seriously- watch a defender make a tackle and see what he does. Watch a running back gain 7 hard fought yards and see what he does. Since when does "calling attention" mean excessive celebration? Obviously the SEC officials decided they were going to crack down on the issue this year because this isn't the first game we've seen this happen (in the Florida Kentucky game a Florida defensive lineman was nailed for doing what basically amounted to a brief version of "the hand jive").
Now, I'm not a fan of the "look at me" actions. I'd much rather see a kid get a first down, hand the ball to the ref, and go back to the huddle as if that is exactly what he meant to do. To me, that would be MUCH more demoralizing to the opponent. But that said, a little emotion isn't going to kill anyone and for crying out loud, after what could have been the game winning touchdown - a little leeway please.
The two really big problems I have with yesterday is 1) a discretionary call regarding a non-timed incident (not while the clock is running) should NEVER impact the game in the way that call did and 2) CONSISTENCY is key. Given what passed for excessive with AJ Green, there should have been about, oh 75 flags yesterday. Now the league is standing behind the officials but there better be some behind the scenes meetings telling them to knock it off.
2) Hapless Cal
Every year, same old Cal. How do you bounce back from the thrashing by Oregon? By getting thrashed, at home, by USC. Two weeks, 6 points. Way to hold it together guys! This is with a healthy Jahvid Best! Best alone should be worth two TDs a game - he's that good. The luster should be WAY off of Cal Coach Jeff Tedford's resume. You've GOT to look at coaching in these situations. Thank goodness for Washington State because without them Cal, two weeks removed from a #6 ranking, would be dead last in the Pac10.
3) Luck of the Irish? Sort of..
Along with the late game fireworks from Athens yesterday, Notre Dame and Washington gave us their own version of Notre Dame's weekly drama with an overtime thriller capped by, yet again, another Notre Dame victory. Giving the Irish their due, at the end of the day winning games counts for something and the fact that Notre Dame, for the most part, ends up on the happy side of the equation can't be chalked up entirely to luck. It can, however, be chalked up to the competition. To wit..
106, 55, 66, 92, 84: What are those numbers? Those are the national rankings, in total defense for Notre Dame's 5 opponents to date: Nevada, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, and Washington. The best defense played, Michigan's, doesn't even rank in the top 50 and that happened to be the Irish's lone loss. Coming up? USC's 3rd ranked defense followed by Boston College and its 20th ranked defense. Let's get through those games before we get too high on the Irish.
4) The Folly of the Early Death Knell
Quick, tell me which conference is over-rated? Now, which is the best? I bet you said the ACC for the first and the SEC for the second. Right? If not, most people would as would most commentators. Let's look at the numbers shall we? As of this writing, the Week 5 polls are not out, still, consider the following: the ACC has three ranked teams: #6 Virginia Tech, #17 Miami, and #25 Georgia Tech. The SEC has five #1 Florida, #3 Alabama, #4 LSU, #18 Georgia, and #21 Mississippi. Did you notice something? THREE TEAMS OUT OF THE TOP FOUR? Who's over-rated again? No let's look at the Big East. The league has eight teams, six of which have no more than one loss. How many teams are ranked? One. Cincinnati at #10. We say it time and time again, let the season play out some. The ACC is all ready out of the national title hunt according to many. Why? The SEC is unstoppable according to many. Why? The Big East - a few say it has some contenders but not many. Why? Repeat after me: No polls until mid October at the EARLIEST.
5) NCAA vs. Pro: NCAA still wins
LSU at Georgia; Washington at Notre Dame; FSU at BC - three mid-afternoon games. All decided in the last minutes. All playing out on three different channels. Who else was with me as I flipped back and forth between all three?
I defy you to show me anything remotely as excited as that in the NFL.
Main Pool Update: Week 5
DOWN GOES FRAZIER! DOWN GOES FRAZIER! Ok, it isn't quite that but Missing Wanting Needing Bill finally proved he's human with a sub-par (and by that I mean, as bad as me) 7 points, halving his total from last week. This opened the door and 2007 champion GeauxBoyGeaux marched right in with a week's best 12 points. In other news, are lovable cellar dweller, The Ugly Mutt, checked in with a nice 11 point week. He's not out of the cellar yet, but he's about halfway up the steps.
All in all it was a very bad week for the pool. We still might be getting gimme Elimination picks (and there may be more in the weeks to come) but the games and the competition are getting better!
Best Picks
The Ugly Mutt and BigTenChamps for taking Duke to cover on VT.
Worst Pick
The Ugly Mutt, Back Again, BigTenChamps, and Missing Wanting needing Bill for Illinois. Seriously people, Illinois is awful
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
All in all it was a very bad week for the pool. We still might be getting gimme Elimination picks (and there may be more in the weeks to come) but the games and the competition are getting better!
Best Picks
The Ugly Mutt and BigTenChamps for taking Duke to cover on VT.
Worst Pick
The Ugly Mutt, Back Again, BigTenChamps, and Missing Wanting needing Bill for Illinois. Seriously people, Illinois is awful
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Elimination Pool Week 5
Well, Boise State didn't exactly blast UC-Davis into the stone age. In fact, were there a line on this game, it is HIGHLY unlikely they would have covered at all. Regardless, the entire lot of survivors put their trust in the Broncos and are rewarded with another week in the pool!
Thursday, October 1
Sunday, September 27
Week 4 NCAA Ruminations
In this episode:
1) Danny Hope vs. Rock: Who has the Higher IQ?
2) BCS Busters
3) Poll Madness
Danny Hope vs. Rock: Who has the Higher IQ
Oh what a beautiful Saturday it was shaping up to be...Virginia Tech dominated Miami in all facets of the game on the way to a HUGE conference and division win over the suddenly dangerous Miami Hurricanes. Florida went up 31-0 on Kentucky and never looked back. They did, however, look up and around and saw stars when Tebow went down with a concussion. That having been said, the alma maters of the Sorenson household were taking care of business. Onto the night game and the last alma mater - Purdue. Now, I am not going to pretend to be a HUGE Boiler fan. I am also not going to pretend that they've been much to watch on the gridiron since back whence I and some of the other pool players graced West Lafayette and a young gun named Drew Brees was flinging the ball all the way to Pasadena. That said, Purdue was teeing up against the much despised Fighting Irish and had the green and gold on the ropes!!! Could it be - the tri-fecta? Were the Irish going to get a second nick in the loss column and get out of serious BCS consideration for real? Here we had the Irish, and their uber-QB Clausen hurting with turf-toe and they were down 4 points with little time left. This was it!!!
Well, that is until Purdue gifted the Irish, oh about 80 yards in 20 seconds and we get to this in the play by play:
2nd-4, Purd4 0:42 R. Hughes rushed to the left for 2 yard gain
Yep, the Irish, with no timeouts, run the ball in the middle on second down with 42 seconds. The back gets a yard or two...AWESOME shouts I - the clock will ru.....WHY ISN'T THE CLOCK RUNNING!!! WHAT'S GOIN ON WITH THE CLOCK??? SOMETHING'S WRONG!!! Wait...what's this? DANNY HOPE CALLED TIME OUT???????? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?
So, the end of the play - and I mean barely before the knee was down, at 38 seconds - Purdue calls for the TO (God Forbid an extra second tick off). Now had they not, Notre Dame with only two more downs would surely have rushed play three (they wouldn't spike the ball to stop the clock with only two downs). They throw an incomplete pass. And on 4th, Clausen connected with Kyle Rudolph for the win. This despite the fact that EVERYONE, including my dogs, knew that was were the pass was going.
But back to the rock...I mean Danny Hope - what on Earth would incent him to call TO? Oh wait, I know - the Irish live to haunt my dreams. Last week, Michigan State's QB Kirk Cousins missed a WIDE open (and I mean no one within a zip code) receiver for the go ahead score, only to throw a ridiculous interception on the next play.
Yes, the Irish are winning and I give credit where due - Clausen has a cannon for an arm and he will win games for them this year. BUT if the Irish would face a remotely stiff defense once this year (and USC is coming to town), Clausen isn't going to be able to to this.
So, sorry Danny Hope - I guess your ill-advised Time Out was the result of the hex upon me - and good Irish fortune.
BCS Busters
The BCS buster conversation goes like this in the early stages of this very strange season: The BCS busters this year are shaping up to be BYU...OOPS they got thumped in Provo by the schizo Seminoles...so that leaves Houston, TCU, and Boise State as the real contenders to break up the BCS party. Let's take a look shall we:
Houston: Currently sitting at #12 with wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech on their resume (give them the Big 12 title!). Remaining is Mississippi State in Starkville and then the Conference USA line-up that includes 3-1 Tulsa and 3-1 Southern Miss.
TCU: Currently sitting at #11 with wins over Virginia (no biggie) and Clemson (a little bigger biggie), both on the road (Give them the ACC title!). The rest of the Horned Frogs Mountain West slate includes: #19 BYU (at 3-1), 3-1 Air Force, 3-1 Utah, and 3-1 Colorado State.
Boise State: Currently sitting at #5 with a win over Oregon at home. After Oregon the Broncos dispatched 0-4 Miami OH, 1-3 Fresno State, and 1-3 Bowling Green (give them the MAC title!). The rest of the schedule includes a DII Cal-Davis, one more decent OOC in 3-1 Tulsa, and WAC tests that include only Idaho and Hawaii as the only conference teams that have a winning record after week 4.
Now the fact remains a non-BCS has to remain unbeaten to even get in the BCS much less the title game - that's just how it is and that's why BYU is gone. So let's look at these contenders. All have good chances of going unbeaten with TCU probably facing the toughest challenge over Houston given the Mountain Wests stronger in conference teams. Boise isn't even close in terms of difficulty - in all likelihood Boise will cruise to an undefeated season.
What will that leave us - I'm guessing Houston and TCU will slip somewhere along the way which is going to leave us with an undefeated Boise sitting at or better than it's current #5 rank - a rank they achieved by beating Oregon and 3 teams with a combined 2-10 record. This of course happened primarily because Boise started the season at #9. Does this make any sense? Prepare yourself now because as the season progresses and Boise's resume looks more and more suspect against teams that have faced MUCH tougher challenges - the bluster and fluster of the BCS will be huge. And Boise will once again be sitting on a perfect season and looking from the outside at the title game against two BCS biggies. That's the truth and truthfully, given Boise's schedule - that doesn't bother me. Give them a big bowl and let them test themselves against a Big 12 team as they did when the tested and proved against Oklahoma.
NOW, TCU or Houston makes it and Houston, we have a problem. If either of those teams make it I would argue their season will stand up to any BCS biggie. And if BOTH make it - well lookout - the universe will likely implode on itself.
Poll Madness
Well, if you follow college ball at all you know some strange things are afoot in the polls this year. Of course, most of the strangeness results from the long and tired tradition of starting polls in the pre-season and the even more tired tradition of voters never being able to admit they are wrong and ONLY moving a team down if it loses. Here's my list of the wacky after week four (this focuses on the coaches and Harris polls since they actually matter):
Florida at #1 and Bama at #3 What exactly, outside of the first quarter against Kentucky, has Florida done to merit a #1 ranking? Not much as far as I can see. The Gators struggled with a pedestrian Tennessee squad in the Swamp and played two other cream puffs. On the other hand Alabama opened with a huge win against Virginia Tech and absolutely annihilated the Arkansas Razorbacks last Saturday. No one is playing better than the Tide - right now. Flip the Gators and the Tide and keep Texas at #2 and you've got a good top three.
LSU is at #4. Granted the closer-than-thought-should-be win at Washington is looking good, the should -have-lost win at Mississippi State leaves some question marks about a team that is coming off an 8-5 season and is having serious QB trouble. 4 is WAY too high given the season to date.
Boise is at #5. See BCS Busters section
Virginia Tech is at #6. Granted, I wear Orange and Maroon glasses and losing to Alabama is no shame at all and it could be argued that VT has faced the toughest schedule to date of any team but still. A loss is a loss and does it make sense to have a one loss team at #6 when there are some very solid undefeated teams out there?
USC is at #7. See the reservation about Virginia Tech, only substitute a more damaging loss at Washington.
Oklahoma at #8 and #9 and Ohio State at #9 and #8 Again, both one loss teams. Both lost at home. I guess Oklahoma gets a pass because every just knows Bradford would've beat BYU??? (I guess they forgot BYU was doing just fine when Bradford was in the game?) Ohio State lost at home to USC and dropped about 10 places behind the Trojans in the poll. Now they are back to one spot behind? Why?
TCU at #10 and #11 Any reason TCU, sitting undefeated should not be ranked ahead of those one loss teams above - especially if Boise State gets to be?
Concinnatti at #11 and #10 See TCU and understand the Bearcats beat Oregon State on the and Rutgers (currently 3-1) on the road.
Do the Games Matter at All??? In the coaches poll, they've ranked Oklahoma State ahead of Houston AND Penn State ahead of Iowa, despite the fact Houston beat Oklahoma State and Iowa beat Penn State (both came as road victories). Now one could argue there could be a case for that if the victors had any losses themselves BUT THEY DON'T. Ridiculous. Oh, the Harris poll did see fit to rank Houston ahead of Oklahoma State but Penn State is ranked ahead of both of those AND Iowa.
Do My Eyes Deceive Me Four weeks of action have passed and Michigan, THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES, are undefeated and only merit a 20 ranking in both polls. Really?
Sign of the Apocolypse? You know it is bad when Bill Sorenson thinks it a travesty that Notre Dame, at 3-1 doesn't merit at least a 25 rank.
Wrong Tigers? You saw my concerns about LSU. Now look at Auburn; not in either poll yet is almost averaging 50 points a game and already has wins against Mississippi State (with whom there was no struggle) and West Virginia (which is going to prove to be a pretty solid win). Seriously, not even the top 25?
Kick Them Out of Polling Forever Kansas State earned 2 points in the latest coaches poll. This means either one coach voted them 24 or two voted them 25. This based on the Wildcats' 2-2 record with the two wins coming against Massachusetts and Tennessee Tech. BE GONE FOREVER!
Sad but true folks....sad but true.
1) Danny Hope vs. Rock: Who has the Higher IQ?
2) BCS Busters
3) Poll Madness
Danny Hope vs. Rock: Who has the Higher IQ
Oh what a beautiful Saturday it was shaping up to be...Virginia Tech dominated Miami in all facets of the game on the way to a HUGE conference and division win over the suddenly dangerous Miami Hurricanes. Florida went up 31-0 on Kentucky and never looked back. They did, however, look up and around and saw stars when Tebow went down with a concussion. That having been said, the alma maters of the Sorenson household were taking care of business. Onto the night game and the last alma mater - Purdue. Now, I am not going to pretend to be a HUGE Boiler fan. I am also not going to pretend that they've been much to watch on the gridiron since back whence I and some of the other pool players graced West Lafayette and a young gun named Drew Brees was flinging the ball all the way to Pasadena. That said, Purdue was teeing up against the much despised Fighting Irish and had the green and gold on the ropes!!! Could it be - the tri-fecta? Were the Irish going to get a second nick in the loss column and get out of serious BCS consideration for real? Here we had the Irish, and their uber-QB Clausen hurting with turf-toe and they were down 4 points with little time left. This was it!!!
Well, that is until Purdue gifted the Irish, oh about 80 yards in 20 seconds and we get to this in the play by play:
2nd-4, Purd4 0:42 R. Hughes rushed to the left for 2 yard gain
Yep, the Irish, with no timeouts, run the ball in the middle on second down with 42 seconds. The back gets a yard or two...AWESOME shouts I - the clock will ru.....WHY ISN'T THE CLOCK RUNNING!!! WHAT'S GOIN ON WITH THE CLOCK??? SOMETHING'S WRONG!!! Wait...what's this? DANNY HOPE CALLED TIME OUT???????? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?
So, the end of the play - and I mean barely before the knee was down, at 38 seconds - Purdue calls for the TO (God Forbid an extra second tick off). Now had they not, Notre Dame with only two more downs would surely have rushed play three (they wouldn't spike the ball to stop the clock with only two downs). They throw an incomplete pass. And on 4th, Clausen connected with Kyle Rudolph for the win. This despite the fact that EVERYONE, including my dogs, knew that was were the pass was going.
But back to the rock...I mean Danny Hope - what on Earth would incent him to call TO? Oh wait, I know - the Irish live to haunt my dreams. Last week, Michigan State's QB Kirk Cousins missed a WIDE open (and I mean no one within a zip code) receiver for the go ahead score, only to throw a ridiculous interception on the next play.
Yes, the Irish are winning and I give credit where due - Clausen has a cannon for an arm and he will win games for them this year. BUT if the Irish would face a remotely stiff defense once this year (and USC is coming to town), Clausen isn't going to be able to to this.
So, sorry Danny Hope - I guess your ill-advised Time Out was the result of the hex upon me - and good Irish fortune.
BCS Busters
The BCS buster conversation goes like this in the early stages of this very strange season: The BCS busters this year are shaping up to be BYU...OOPS they got thumped in Provo by the schizo Seminoles...so that leaves Houston, TCU, and Boise State as the real contenders to break up the BCS party. Let's take a look shall we:
Houston: Currently sitting at #12 with wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech on their resume (give them the Big 12 title!). Remaining is Mississippi State in Starkville and then the Conference USA line-up that includes 3-1 Tulsa and 3-1 Southern Miss.
TCU: Currently sitting at #11 with wins over Virginia (no biggie) and Clemson (a little bigger biggie), both on the road (Give them the ACC title!). The rest of the Horned Frogs Mountain West slate includes: #19 BYU (at 3-1), 3-1 Air Force, 3-1 Utah, and 3-1 Colorado State.
Boise State: Currently sitting at #5 with a win over Oregon at home. After Oregon the Broncos dispatched 0-4 Miami OH, 1-3 Fresno State, and 1-3 Bowling Green (give them the MAC title!). The rest of the schedule includes a DII Cal-Davis, one more decent OOC in 3-1 Tulsa, and WAC tests that include only Idaho and Hawaii as the only conference teams that have a winning record after week 4.
Now the fact remains a non-BCS has to remain unbeaten to even get in the BCS much less the title game - that's just how it is and that's why BYU is gone. So let's look at these contenders. All have good chances of going unbeaten with TCU probably facing the toughest challenge over Houston given the Mountain Wests stronger in conference teams. Boise isn't even close in terms of difficulty - in all likelihood Boise will cruise to an undefeated season.
What will that leave us - I'm guessing Houston and TCU will slip somewhere along the way which is going to leave us with an undefeated Boise sitting at or better than it's current #5 rank - a rank they achieved by beating Oregon and 3 teams with a combined 2-10 record. This of course happened primarily because Boise started the season at #9. Does this make any sense? Prepare yourself now because as the season progresses and Boise's resume looks more and more suspect against teams that have faced MUCH tougher challenges - the bluster and fluster of the BCS will be huge. And Boise will once again be sitting on a perfect season and looking from the outside at the title game against two BCS biggies. That's the truth and truthfully, given Boise's schedule - that doesn't bother me. Give them a big bowl and let them test themselves against a Big 12 team as they did when the tested and proved against Oklahoma.
NOW, TCU or Houston makes it and Houston, we have a problem. If either of those teams make it I would argue their season will stand up to any BCS biggie. And if BOTH make it - well lookout - the universe will likely implode on itself.
Poll Madness
Well, if you follow college ball at all you know some strange things are afoot in the polls this year. Of course, most of the strangeness results from the long and tired tradition of starting polls in the pre-season and the even more tired tradition of voters never being able to admit they are wrong and ONLY moving a team down if it loses. Here's my list of the wacky after week four (this focuses on the coaches and Harris polls since they actually matter):
Florida at #1 and Bama at #3 What exactly, outside of the first quarter against Kentucky, has Florida done to merit a #1 ranking? Not much as far as I can see. The Gators struggled with a pedestrian Tennessee squad in the Swamp and played two other cream puffs. On the other hand Alabama opened with a huge win against Virginia Tech and absolutely annihilated the Arkansas Razorbacks last Saturday. No one is playing better than the Tide - right now. Flip the Gators and the Tide and keep Texas at #2 and you've got a good top three.
LSU is at #4. Granted the closer-than-thought-should-be win at Washington is looking good, the should -have-lost win at Mississippi State leaves some question marks about a team that is coming off an 8-5 season and is having serious QB trouble. 4 is WAY too high given the season to date.
Boise is at #5. See BCS Busters section
Virginia Tech is at #6. Granted, I wear Orange and Maroon glasses and losing to Alabama is no shame at all and it could be argued that VT has faced the toughest schedule to date of any team but still. A loss is a loss and does it make sense to have a one loss team at #6 when there are some very solid undefeated teams out there?
USC is at #7. See the reservation about Virginia Tech, only substitute a more damaging loss at Washington.
Oklahoma at #8 and #9 and Ohio State at #9 and #8 Again, both one loss teams. Both lost at home. I guess Oklahoma gets a pass because every just knows Bradford would've beat BYU??? (I guess they forgot BYU was doing just fine when Bradford was in the game?) Ohio State lost at home to USC and dropped about 10 places behind the Trojans in the poll. Now they are back to one spot behind? Why?
TCU at #10 and #11 Any reason TCU, sitting undefeated should not be ranked ahead of those one loss teams above - especially if Boise State gets to be?
Concinnatti at #11 and #10 See TCU and understand the Bearcats beat Oregon State on the and Rutgers (currently 3-1) on the road.
Do the Games Matter at All??? In the coaches poll, they've ranked Oklahoma State ahead of Houston AND Penn State ahead of Iowa, despite the fact Houston beat Oklahoma State and Iowa beat Penn State (both came as road victories). Now one could argue there could be a case for that if the victors had any losses themselves BUT THEY DON'T. Ridiculous. Oh, the Harris poll did see fit to rank Houston ahead of Oklahoma State but Penn State is ranked ahead of both of those AND Iowa.
Do My Eyes Deceive Me Four weeks of action have passed and Michigan, THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES, are undefeated and only merit a 20 ranking in both polls. Really?
Sign of the Apocolypse? You know it is bad when Bill Sorenson thinks it a travesty that Notre Dame, at 3-1 doesn't merit at least a 25 rank.
Wrong Tigers? You saw my concerns about LSU. Now look at Auburn; not in either poll yet is almost averaging 50 points a game and already has wins against Mississippi State (with whom there was no struggle) and West Virginia (which is going to prove to be a pretty solid win). Seriously, not even the top 25?
Kick Them Out of Polling Forever Kansas State earned 2 points in the latest coaches poll. This means either one coach voted them 24 or two voted them 25. This based on the Wildcats' 2-2 record with the two wins coming against Massachusetts and Tennessee Tech. BE GONE FOREVER!
Sad but true folks....sad but true.
Main Pool Update: Week 4
Missing Wanting Needing Bill breaks his unlucky streak of 3 straight weeks of 13 correct picks with a week best 14 straight picks. Unlike the nightmare inducing follies he experiences weekly on a certain Par 3 hole in central Connecticutt, Missing Wanting Needing Bill is cruising in the main pool. A two time past champion, he takes a two point lead in week 4. Will the rest real him in?
At the opposite end of the spectrum, 20 points below Missing, we find a pool veteran, The Ugly Mutt, wallowing in the dregs. With but one double digit week in his resume, the Mutt is struggling to find rhythm. Is the fishing that good in the Gulf this fall?
As for the rest of us, five of us remain within five points of our leader and twenty nine within ten. As Miami found out this weekend, the season is still young. On a side note, Sunny the Conquerer, who according to her FaceBook post "Doesn't like spreads", had a nice little 13 point week!
Best Picks
Booking Houses nail on again with a one point spread on Houston over Texas Tech (final score 29-28). THose plucky few that went with South Florida and, of course, all of you who chose the Hokies.
Worst Pick
A few, that shall not be named took Louisiana Lafayette - bad move. A larger few took USC to cover a bamillion on Washington State. Also a bad move.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
At the opposite end of the spectrum, 20 points below Missing, we find a pool veteran, The Ugly Mutt, wallowing in the dregs. With but one double digit week in his resume, the Mutt is struggling to find rhythm. Is the fishing that good in the Gulf this fall?
As for the rest of us, five of us remain within five points of our leader and twenty nine within ten. As Miami found out this weekend, the season is still young. On a side note, Sunny the Conquerer, who according to her FaceBook post "Doesn't like spreads", had a nice little 13 point week!
Best Picks
Booking Houses nail on again with a one point spread on Houston over Texas Tech (final score 29-28). THose plucky few that went with South Florida and, of course, all of you who chose the Hokies.
Worst Pick
A few, that shall not be named took Louisiana Lafayette - bad move. A larger few took USC to cover a bamillion on Washington State. Also a bad move.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Elimination Pool Week 4
This week made me SO proud of my little BUCFPites. Not only did all the remaining players get their picks in BEFORE Saturday, they ALL picked the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a no-line laugher against Grambling. It was the only off-line game but let's just say I was waiting for someone to pick something different. Well done! And for your excellence I award you ALL the opportunity to play again next week...
Tuesday, September 22
VT/Nebraska: The Roller Coaster of Love
Yes, my friends, I've been a little slow in providing extra material this week. Julie and I travelled to take Connor to see his Great Grandmother over the weekend. A wonderful experience also proved to be fortuitous because had I stayed in the Jacksonville area, I would have been treated to Iowa/Arizona instead of VT/Nebraska, which the Georgia broadcasters chose (thus rendering the very real possibility of my storming Jacksonville media outlets at 3:30 PM Saturday unnecessary). As such, I was treated to one of the most miraculous wins in Virginia Tech history. You may have missed the moment if you were wrapped up in any of the other drama unfolding at the time - in particular USC pulling its annual choke job against Washington. For those not familiar, view this YouTube clip which captures the moment nicely...
Quite a story huh? Well, if you ever wanted to glimpse into the mind of your fearless pool administrator, here's your chance. I present to you...Ultimate Bill's life over the last 5 minutes of the Virginia Tech/Nebraska game...
Here is the play by play summary as provided by Yahoo! sports from minute 4:40 - when Nebraska scored a field goal to make the score 15-10.
4th-6, VT21, 4:40
A. Henery kicked a 38-yard field goal
4th-1, VT37, 1:51
A. Henery punt, no return
1st-5, VT17, 1:44
T. Taylor sacked by J. Crick
2nd-11, Neb11, 0:35
T. Taylor incomplete pass to the right
Quite a story huh? Well, if you ever wanted to glimpse into the mind of your fearless pool administrator, here's your chance. I present to you...Ultimate Bill's life over the last 5 minutes of the Virginia Tech/Nebraska game...
Here is the play by play summary as provided by Yahoo! sports from minute 4:40 - when Nebraska scored a field goal to make the score 15-10.
4th-6, VT21, 4:40
A. Henery kicked a 38-yard field goal
Nebraska - 4:33
Neb kicked off, touchback
Neb kicked off, touchback
1st-10, VT20, 4:33
T. Taylor rushed to the right for 4 yard gain
2nd-6, VT24, 4:05
T. Taylor passed to R. Williams down the middle for 2 yard gain
3rd-4, VT26, 3:30
T. Taylor passed to G. Boone to the right for 5 yard gain
1st-10, VT31, 3:05
T. Taylor passed to J. Boykin down the middle for 14 yard gain
1st-10, VT45, 2:45
R. Williams rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain
2nd-9, VT46, 2:20
T. Taylor incomplete pass down the middle
3rd-9, VT46, 2:16
T. Taylor incomplete pass to the left
4th-9, VT46, 2:12
T. Taylor incomplete pass to the right
1st-10, VT46, 2:07
R. Helu rushed up the middle for 2 yard gain
R. Helu rushed up the middle for 2 yard gain
2nd-8, VT44, 2:03
Z. Lee rushed to the right for 3 yard gain
Z. Lee rushed to the right for 3 yard gain
3rd-5, VT41, 1:56
Z. Lee rushed to the right for 4 yard gain
Z. Lee rushed to the right for 4 yard gain
4th-1, VT37, 1:51
A. Henery punt, no return
1st-10, VT12, 1:44
Neb committed 5 yard penalty
Neb committed 5 yard penalty
1st-5, VT17, 1:44
T. Taylor sacked by J. Crick
2nd-6, VT16, 1:20
T. Taylor passed to D. Coale to the right for 81 yard gain
T. Taylor passed to D. Coale to the right for 81 yard gain
1st-3, Neb3, 1:11
T. Taylor sacked by M. O'Hanlon
T. Taylor sacked by M. O'Hanlon
2nd-11, Neb11, 0:35
T. Taylor incomplete pass to the right
3rd-11, Neb11, 0:33
T. Taylor passed to D. Roberts to the right for 11 yard touchdown.
T. Taylor passed to D. Roberts to the right for 11 yard touchdown.
Sunday, September 20
Elimination Pool Week 3
We had one more no show this week and thus our third elimination. Everyone but one brave soul went with either Ole Miss or TCU - our no-line games this week. Hot Rats, took the less traveled path and chose Alabama to cover 38 points on North Texas, which it did - impressive!
Main Pool Update: Week 3
BigOrange makes the biggest waves over the weeekend with a blistering 17 correct picks to jump into a tie for first with sports chief (who has yet to relinquish the top spot all season) and Missing Wanting Needing Bill who was anything but unlucky with his third straight 13. In second, is yours truly with 38 total correct points. Only 5 points separate the first 17 spots so this is still a close race.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Ugly Mutt - perhaps still suffering jet lag from his west coast excursion, is throwing some serious stank out there! The Mutt only scored 7 points this week and that was with being spotted to two gimme no-line games! Come on Mutt - you gotta do better than this!
Best Pick
The bookies with a push on Cal/Minnesota. Thos of you that took Washington because, doggonit, that was just too cool!
Worst Pick
Besides Red Terror's and Penn Wager's blank entries, those of us (myself included) that too Louisiana-Lafayette.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Ugly Mutt - perhaps still suffering jet lag from his west coast excursion, is throwing some serious stank out there! The Mutt only scored 7 points this week and that was with being spotted to two gimme no-line games! Come on Mutt - you gotta do better than this!
Best Pick
The bookies with a push on Cal/Minnesota. Thos of you that took Washington because, doggonit, that was just too cool!
Worst Pick
Besides Red Terror's and Penn Wager's blank entries, those of us (myself included) that too Louisiana-Lafayette.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Tuesday, September 15
I Hear Ghost Sentences
That's right my little BUCFPites, Ultimate Bill has a Sixth Sense!Does that mean I won't tell Bruce Willis that he's deep-sixed, even though I know it but I want to score free psychiatric help? No, of course not, that would be cruel. No, in fact, I don't see dead people. My sixth sense is that I can hear ghost sentences...yeah, that's right, ghost sentences. And what, pray tell, is a ghost sentence?
Well, we've all heard of coach speak right? Coach speak is a requirement of any head coach position. A head coach must be able to spin any reality into a nice press bite. Let's say, for example, that Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions just thumped Eastern South Pennsylvania Tech by 78 points. He must be diplomatic and gracious, so you get something like, "That score didn't really show the grit and determination those ESPT players brought today."
Coach speak is what allows us to remain civilized. Now, don't get me wrong. These coaches mean it when they say the "grit and determination" line, it's just that they, and most of you, don't hear the ghost sentence. That's the sentence that follows coach speak. See these guys say ghost sentences, and they don't even KNOW they say them. Take the example above with JoePa. After that line, the ghost sentence is, "My God that team set back football 40 years!"
So there you have my confession. I know this sixth sense is a gift and I don't want to abuse it. I typically use this to dig up gold nuggets for my top-level analysis week-in and week-out, but this week, I'm giving you, the BUCFP faithful, this exclusive look into my world. Here goes the Top Ten Ghost Sentences of last weekend:
1) Charlie Weis tells the media what he said to his players after the loss to Michigan:
"I said, 'Are you going to sit there and pout and say we should have won the game? Is it going to be that kind of attitude? Or are you going to use this to not be feeling like this again?"' he said. "I think the No. 1 thing they have to do if they don't want to be feeling like this again is do something about it."
Ghost Sentence: "In the meantime, I'm going to go home to my palace in South Bend, dip my man-pooch into my diamond encrusted hot tub, order up 3 dozen jelly doughnuts and a case of Bud lite, flip on ESPN to watch Ohio State lose, and use the bank app on my iPhone to look at the $750,000 I just got paid for the 18th loss of the last 29 games I've coached."
2) Bobby Bowden on his Seminoles close call with Jacksonville St.:
"It throws a lot more question marks about where you are, no doubt about that. … And it also says, if you execute like that again, you might not win another game."
Ghost Sentence: "Back when I actually coached this team, I'd have had 50 hung on those clowns by the end of the 1st quarter."
3) Jim Tressel, reflecting on his team's loss to USC at home
"You need to score more than five points in the second half," Tressel said. "They came up with plays on that last drive they needed to and so they go home with the spoils."
Ghost Sentence: "Why the ______ do we keep playing these games?"
4) Frank Beamer, on Virginia Tech's 52-10 victory over Marshall
"I think we really needed this," Beamer said. "I know we needed this."
Ghost Sentence: "I still need a new offensive coordinator."
5) Al Groh, on UVA's loss to TCU
"We understood it was going to be rugged moving the ball."
Ghost Sentence: "I'm an over-paid ___hole."
6) Ralph Friedgen on his Maryland Terrapins overtime victory over James Madison
"We were up 21-6 and I think our defense kind of relaxed," Friedgen said. "Once they [the Dukes] continued to compete as hard as they did, it turned into one heck of a football game. I thought our defense really played well in the overtime..."
Ghost Sentence: "Is anybody buying this crap?"
7) Pete Carroll on Matt Barkley, the Trojan's true freshman starter
"He's not 19," ... "He's our quarterback. I'm not worried about how old he is. Numbers mean nothing"
Ghost Sentence: "I won't use his age as an excuse until after we lose at Oregon."
8) Boise State Coach, Chris Petersen, on his team's upcoming game with Fresno State
"I'm anxious to play (Friday) just because I think we are going to be tested in a much different way," Petersen said. "From what I've seen of Fresno, they are a power run team. This will be a nice test coming up."
Ghost Sentence: "If I keep using the word 'test' all season, maybe people won't notice we don't play anyone."
9) Michigan Coach , Rich Rodriguez, on the Wolverines entering the polls for the first time this year
"I'm not dismissing the polls, that's fun," ... "It's a lot of fun for people to follow it. But from a coaching standpoint, from a player's standpoint, big deal"
Ghost Sentence: "Yes. We are still going to lose to Ohio State."
10) Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio on his team's loss to Central Michigan
"Even after the onside kick, we still had a chance," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. "All we had to do was not jump offside. But there are no excuses here. We got beat today. They were better than us."
Ghost Sentence: "I just said Central Michigan is better than Michigan State. If I were in charge, I'd can my butt for saying that."
And there you have it...don't let it scare you. I only use this power for good.
Monday, September 14
Main Pool Update: Week 2
A never say die example comes from this week's performance by RICH RODRIGUEZ IS THE DEVIL who came in late. He also came in last with jsut 5 correct picks but he didn't get a shot at the first half of the games. I noticed that this year, unlike year's past, you can only see the picks of other players of games that had kicked off. I found out that's because Yahoo! will aloow you to pick any game up to kick-off, the deadline isn't just the first game (fine by me). RICHROD took advantage and at least got some picks in.
As for those of us that got all of them in, sports chief goes big with his second consecutive big (and best) week. Going 14 for a two week total of 28. Missing Wanting Needing Bill holds onto second place by repeating his last week's 13 for a season total 26. Four players are nipping at their heels in third place with 25.
Best Pick
Red Velvet, Holy Mackeral, and beauxboygueax with UConn to cover on UNC.
Worst Pick
Kiffin and TBWOTG with Troy.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
As for those of us that got all of them in, sports chief goes big with his second consecutive big (and best) week. Going 14 for a two week total of 28. Missing Wanting Needing Bill holds onto second place by repeating his last week's 13 for a season total 26. Four players are nipping at their heels in third place with 25.
Best Pick
Red Velvet, Holy Mackeral, and beauxboygueax with UConn to cover on UNC.
Worst Pick
Kiffin and TBWOTG with Troy.
Head to Yahoo! to see the results
Sunday, September 13
Elimination Pool Week 2
Well, we had some eliminations this week. Despite the do-over, we still had two players not get a pick in: Penn Wagers and Sick 'em Dawgs were eliminated with blanks. One valiant player went with USC and as a result, RICH RODRIGUEZ MAY BE THE DEVIL, but he is eliminated. THe rest survive onto Week 3...
| Pick Set Name | 2 | 3 |
| Augusta DayStrippers | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Back Again | Cal | SURVIVED |
| Beach Bum | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| BigOrange | Cal | SURVIVED |
| BigTenChamps | Oklahoma | SURVIVED |
| Colt For President | Cal | SURVIVED |
| Dem Beagles | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Eagles | Cal | SURVIVED |
| geauxboygeaux | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Goblue | Cal | SURVIVED |
| HolyMackerel | Cal | SURVIVED |
| Hot Rats | Cal | SURVIVED |
| Kiffin | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Missing Wanting Needing Bill | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| MRWTerps | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Penn Wagers | ELIMINATED | |
| randomaxe | Oklahoma | SURVIVED |
| Red Terror | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Red Velvet Revenge 2009 | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| RICH RODRIGUEZ IS THE DEVIL | USC | ELIMINATED |
| Show Me the Money | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Sick 'em Dawgs | ELIMINATED | |
| sport chief | Oklahoma | SURVIVED |
| Springfield Atoms | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Swing And Swear | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| TBWOTG | Cal | SURVIVED |
| The Ugly Mutt | Oklahoma | SURVIVED |
| Ultimate Bill | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| Vol Nation | Cal | SURVIVED |
| Wahoowa | Cal | SURVIVED |
| wreckandtide | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| WyoKat71 | Cincinnati | SURVIVED |
| 32 | 0 | 3 |
| Odds for Survivors | 3.1% | 3.4% |
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