Sure Virginia Tech had to go to OT to best Rutgers in the rain. But that was the most boring college football game since a Bernie Scruggs led UK team traveled to IU in the 70s for a “battle” that caused an epidemic of insomnia-induced comas. Only post game therapy at Nick’s with pizza and way more than the minimum daily requirement of pitchers allowed most who attended to revive and survive.

Let’s see what we might have learned this bowl year? (And I don’t mean that Georgia Tech deserved a bid with its losing record.)

Alabama is the best team in the land.

Johnny Football is the most exciting player in the land.

Nick Saban is arguably the best college football coach ever.

Southern Cal sucked.

And Lane Kiffin might be the worst football coach ever to get two such high profile coaching positions.

* * * * *

A playoff system can’t come soon enough.

Let me repeat, once again, four  is way too few to make the post season interesting. By a fourth. The only really fair system would be a 16 team playoff. Which eventually will come, but is at least a decade away.

* * * * *

The NFL’s Wild Card Weekend was also mighty lame.

* * * * *

Periodically during that walkover of a “title” game last night I surfed over the CBS Sports, where they were replaying that 75th anniversary Final Four show that ran prior to UK/ U of L.

Lots of interesting coach interviews.

I was surprised how many said their memories and love went back to the iconic ’79 match up between Michigan State and Indiana State. I’m not that much older than these guys. But my memory goes back to listening on the radio to Bill Russell-led San Francisco beating Iowa for the national crown in the mid 50s. And UK’s win at Freedom Hall a couple years later.

Young whippersnappers.

* * * * *

I realize how important the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs are to the identity and financial well being of this community.

But Churchill’s arrogant, heavy-handed position that it must be the corporate entity that deserves and must be granted any casino franchise, should the legislature approve same, is . . . to be frank . . . bullshit.

How about a casino downtown that might — and I mean might — really rejuvenate that area. Unlike CordishLand, which is about to undergo its 38th extreme makeover?

* * * * *

Cincy’s Bearcats looked to be legit this season, for the first time in a long while.

Last night, they lost their third in a row at home.

* * * * *

Note to football coaches at every level. When a player, especially your QB limps off the field like Walter Huston in “The Treasure of Sierra Madre,” take him out of the game and put in a replacement.

Even if the player says, “No, no, I’m good to go.”

* * * * *

I’m somewhat stunned at the criticism Brent Musburger is getting for his slobbering mention of AJ McCarron’s girlfriend, when the cameras showed her in the stands.

She’s a babe. And, if any of you guys out there weren’t saying the same thing to yourselves when she was on the screen, your nose is growing.

* * * * *

Pucks is back.

Americans are learning who Lionel Messi is?

Conference games have commenced.

And at least of couple of readers I am so sure will remind me that pitchers and catchers report in XX days.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/01/08/seedy-k-sounds-off-on-sports-tuesday/feed/ 3 http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/09/25/seedy-ks-pithy-prognostications-week-v/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2012/09/25/seedy-ks-pithy-prognostications-week-v/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:28:22 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=7869 As with life itself, matters on the gridiron tend to even out. Today there is yin. Tomorrow, yang. (Except when fake refs are monitoring games in the NFL, which, as of this writing, they still are.)

I was 9-1 after the first two weeks of the season. I thought it would last. Silly me.

I ended up 1-4 weekend before last, but turned the tables around a bit this weekend past, correctly picking Notre Dame, Florida (Yes, I will take credit, thank you very much.) and U of L.

I rolled the dice on John L., who, even more than Roger Goodell, is having the worst season of anybody in football. His QB is down. His Razorbacks suck. He lost his brother. He filed bankruptcy. Not to mention that he left the relative security of Weber State to return to Fayetteville, where his current home will soon be for sale . . . if not taken first by the Bankruptcy Court.

And Willie Taggert’s Hilltoppers continue to amaze. I shoulda had more faith. My bad. Wonder who the coach in Bowling Green will be next year?

I’m 13-7 for the season.

I’m feeling especially clairvoyant today, so there is no time to be wasted. The five sure fire winners this coming week are:

Louisiana Tech @ Virginia. Kind of stunning at first blush, right? The Bulldogs from the little ol’ WAC are 3 1/2 point favorites as they journey to Big Bad ACC Country to face the Cavaliers. UVa looked like they might have something going after nudging Penn State. But they proved decidedly mediocre, getting hammered at Georgia Tech and TCU. Not much offense. Not much defense. But, hey, they still got Monticello goin’ for them. That’s worth something, eh? Okay, maybe not. Meanwhile, La. Tech didn’t let that rained out opener against Texas A & M dampen their ardor. They blitzed the Houston schools like Saban through Arkansas. Then continued the Big Ten’s woes by bashing the Illini. They’ve hit the half century mark every time they’ve taken the field. They also happen to give up a lot of points, more than 36 a game, 114th in the land. UVa hasn’t displayed much O. So, I think the Wahoos and Wahooettes shall be heading to fraternity row before the final horn sounds on this one.

Oregon State @ Arizona. Turns out the PAC 12 may be the toughest conference in the nation not under the thumb of Mike Slive. But neither of these teams is Oregon or Stanford or Southern Cal . . . yet. Certainly not the ‘Zona Rich Rods who were skunked last week at Oregon. 0-49 was the score. It might have been the only time He Who Isn’t Spoken Of In Ann Arbor has been shut out. Or, something like that. The Wildcats aspire to more than that. They whipped up on Okie State at home when the Cowboys were ranked #18. Which is exactly what the Beavers are ranked as they come a calling. That W over Wisconsin isn’t quite as glossy as it seemed at the time. But it’s not like slipping by, say, oh, Florida International. The ??? is whether the Beavs, 3-9 last season, are for real. One of those Ws last season was Arizona, so . . . it seems like they oughta win. But I just don’t think they’re back enough to sustain that excellence three weeks in a row.

Missouri @ Central Florida. So, hey, Mizzou, you convinced yet it might not have been such a good idea to join the SEC? Except, you know, for the moolah. The Tigers are 2-0 outside the league, but 0-2 within. Which means, one supposes, they have a shot against George O’Leary’s Brandon Bender-fed squad. A W would give O’Leary, currently 52-52 in Orlando, something to put on his resumé. Something that actually happens, that is. The Knights have had an extra week to prepare. Is that enough edge to pull out the victory at home? O’Leary is only 4-10 coming off a bye week. Not on his resumé I don’t believe, but I’ll have to check with the fact checkers in South Bend. UCF is not SEC. Mizzou shows ‘em.

South Carolina @ Kentucky. There are those who say I pad my record by picking UK’s game each week. Shame on you. I have a few Big Blue readers and they want to know what I think. I think it’s 17 days until Midnight Madness. And, oh yeah, I said they’d beat Kent State. Plus I need to weigh in on the QB controversy in Lexington. As if Joker doesn’t have enough stuff on his mind, he has to read reports that Patrick Towles’ daddy is saying the heralded freshman wants under center. Now. Or, he may take his services to . . . somewhere else where his talents will be more appreciated. As for South Carolina, oh, it doesn’t matter. The Gamecocks have 0 chance of losing.

Louisville @ Southern Mississippi. Those of you venturing down to follow the Cards, best check out the precautionary tale I mentioned last week. The one about the U of L fan once arrested during a previous game there for drinking from a flask. Consider yourself caveat emptored. U of L ranks 44th nationally on defense, 43d on offense. And, still a lowly 103d in giving up first downs when defending on 3d down. Charlie Strong’s first two teams improved markedly and steadily as each season progressed. This year’s more heralded squad gave its worst performance in week four. I’m giving the Cards a mulligan because of the Homie Factor. But this week is put up or shut up time. The Golden Eagles are eminently beatable. Every team that’s played them has done so. It should be Hammer Time for Louisville. It’s going to be interesting to see if U of L is as underwhelming as they’ve shown so far? Hope not. Cardinals win. How convincingly remains to be seen.

– Seedy K

Joey, I’m so sorry/ Oh can you hear me?/ Joey, I’m so sorry/ Oh can you hear me?/ Joey, I’m so/ Joey, I’m so sorry

Joey, Baby/ Don’t get crazy/ Detours, Fences/ I get defensive.

Or to quote FDR, another American almost as famous as whoever wrote those Concrete Blonde and Sugarland tunes, “This is a date which shall live in infamy.”

Yes, college pigskin fans, I, your erstwhile resident “expert” picked Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. Adding to the ignominy of that idiocy is this unfortunate reality. So too, did Joey the Vig himself.

Which, if you’ve been following this soap opera of Bowl Pool Season, you will understand leaves me tied with Mr. Vig himself for last place in his little gaming creation. (And therefore he and I are mano a mano for the Booby Prize, which JTV has previously claimed for himself in addition to the rake off the top.) Of course, he listed my name on the bottom of the list in the updated standings. In bold. ALL CAPS.

No, Martha Stewart, it is not a good thing. (Speaking of Stewarts, there is one less stop in the cybergalaxy today. Those West Virginia Mountaineer fans staying loyal to displaced mentor Bill Stewart have finally, like Michelle Bachmann days before, given it up. RehireBillStewart.com exists no more.)

* * * * *

So, with my special security detail, fresh off a tour of duty in Iraq under contract to the government, in place, protecting the perimeter of my abode from Sal and Vito, I waited to hear this morning from Joey the Vig himself. And waited. And waited.

Surely JTV would want to make me some offer he would assure me I couldn’t refuse regarding our precarious situation. It would enure to his benefit financially. And by voluntarily accepting same, would enure to my benefit from a health and longevity standpoint. No small matter. I cherish my limbs and the use of all my digits.

And I waited some more, somewhat confused. The Vig is nothing if not a man of action, immediate action when it affects his pocketbook.

Finally The Vig communicated. Seemed he’d “been with his dentists all morning.” Having recently watched Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman again in “Marathon Man,” I became even tighter of sphincter.

However, Joey The Vig must have still been under the influence of some strong anesthesia. He was relatively calm. There were no threats.

He simply said, “You’ll be hearing from me.”

* * * * *

My fate vis a vis Joey The Vig in this pool is in the hands of Arkansas State and Alabama. If they cover, I hit rock bottom in concrete brogans and win the Booby Prize. Which means a few drachma coming my way.

Which will be enough to cover a portion of the co-pay for the medical treatment that will be necessary after hearing from Sal and Vito. Because JTV doesn’t like to lose, even when it means he’s the biggest loser.

– Seedy K

Suffice it to say, they have not been as astute as I would hope. I’ve now missed four in a row, 11 total. Which means that, another loss or two, and I’ll be signing the house over to JtV.

It also means I not only am not in contention to win any significant moolah at the top of the chart, but that my only hope is to hoist the whole affair in my arms like some giant petard. Read: I am still in the running for the Booby Prize, which paltry remuneration goes to the entrant with the worst record.

Four of us are tied for second to last place, all within shouting distance of Bessie, who is now gently cradling the consolation prize.

There is one problem however.

Among the august grouping of five at the bottom of the chart is none other than Joey the Vig himself. Yes, it’s true. Not only does the Vig get the rake off the top, he enters himself, thereby providing opportunity to reach even deeper into our pockets.

So I’m rooting against my fellow ne’er do wells, Jake, Hub and Bessie. As well as against myself. (Meaning I must root for the teams I picked to win to now lose.) And against Joey the Vig.

Do I believe the pool is fixed, that Joey’s W in this regard is a fait accompli? I shall not answer that on the grounds it may tend to incinerate me. (Joey’s guy, Vito, spent some time up river for Arson 1st. I’m advised he hasn’t lost his touch.)

So, my rooting interests the rest of the way are: West Virginia +4 1/2, Kansas State +7 1/2, Pitt -5 1/2, Arkansas State -1 1/2 and Alabama.

Say a prayer for me.

* * * * *

I must say that there were some marvelous games on New Year’s “Day.” Michigan State’s OT W in the Whatever Bowl was exciting. My Oregon Ducks were absolutely quackalicious, winning the Rose Bowl, while wearing those super spacey mylar helmets atop another fashionable Phil Knight coordinated jersey and pants combo. Unfortunately they didn’t cover.

Stanford and Okie State’s game was all we could have hoped for.

And, yes,  I lost them all, thereby muting my excitement at the zesty football more than a little bit.

I’m not sure I feel as bad as Blair Walsh and Jordan Williamson, but I’m pretty disconsolate. They each failed to converate a couple of field goals that would have won games for Georgia and Stanford.

So they’re pretty depressed. But they’re young and probably have some members of the cheer squad to help mollify their feelings. They’ll get over it.

Given the hit to my 401K, I have to rethink my whole retirement scheme, with no cheerleaders in sight.

Go Mountaineers!

– Seedy K

There has been no word from Joey the Vig this week.

It’s a good thing. His local henchmen were spotted buying Christmas gifts at the Family Dollar Store. Which surprises me, since you’d think a man of Joey the Vig’s stature, with his necessity for privacy and loyalty, would compensate his “associates” better so they could buy Christmas gifts at a more elegant location.

I shall reason why no further. Nor shall I attempt to unionize Sal and Vito. The less I see those fellows, who are always ready to put their unique attributes on display, the better.

* * * * *

As for Joey the Vig’s Bowl Pool, well, I’m standing strong early on.

While loathe to give any credit to Dr. Professor, another local caught often in Joey the Vig’s nefarious schemes, I must do so now. He advised that he’s always considered it a W when a bunch of contendas lost a game he didn’t pick.

Last night, in the Teams Who Beat Louisville Bowl, Marshall conquered Florida International. In Joey the Vig’s cockamamie set up, the game is in a pod which doesn’t require any of his “willing participants” to pick the winner of every contest. I abstained. It was a good thing. Five suckers near the top of the leaderboard did, pulling them back to the pack. I really hate it when Dr. Professor has a surer bead on things than I do.

So, nine of us sit atop the pack. All now have 2 Ws and one on the right hand side, so we stand together.

I’m happy to report that neither Dr. Professor nor Badger Billy sits similarly atop the leader board. Since the only one who comes out of this thing financially in better shape is The Vig himself, bragging rights are what most of the rest of us have to look forward to.

I can report, since I know that you, my loyal readers, are hanging on every twist and turn of this holiday gaming folly, that the next two games will not matter a whit. All participants have tabbed TCU and Boise State to win, so those games will do nothing to shift the standings.

Except in the case of Jake, who is ofer the three games she’s attempted to prognosticate. She has Arizona State on her card, beating Boise State. May the pox of Todd Graham be on his soul.

(In the surest sign yet that nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, gets by Joey the Vig. Not five minutes after this blog was posted, Joey the Vig sent a stern message. Through an “emissary” of course. The exact warning from Sal: “Jake happens to be a close and personal female not male friend of Joey’s beloved brother, who is known as “Volcano” for his tendency to erupt at the merest slight.. You understand Joey and his family take family matters very seriously, and requests you change the reference at your earliest convenience. Vito is on his way over to make sure you understand the importance of this matter to Joey.”)

* * * * *

Finally, on a matter only peripherally related to Joey the Vig’s pool, that study they did on academics at Oregon.

Seems that the academic performance of male matriculators falls when the Quack succeeds on the field. More success = more partying = less studying = lower grades.

Or so it is hypothesized in the study, which seems to draw some rather uncertain conclusions from such a small sampling at one university.

Which is not to mention how it sullies my Quack.

* * * * *

Coming Soon: The rest of my bowl picks.

I know it has you breathless in anticipation, but, please, exhale.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/12/21/the-vig-report-thundering-herd-carry-kid-to-top/feed/ 0 http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/09/14/seedy-ks-pithy-picks-week-iii/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2011/09/14/seedy-ks-pithy-picks-week-iii/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:58:57 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=6858 So, here’s how close I came to having a perfect slate last weekend: a wafer-thin 1/2 yard.

If Mississippi State QB bulls his way into the end zone on that last play against Auburn, I go 5-0. Sigh, the vagaries of trying to nostradamus the future. That disappointment notwithstanding, the kid did rebound for a 4-1 weekend, putting me at 6-4 on the season.

No reason to beat around the bush anymore. Let’s get this week’s party started.

LSU @ Mississippi State. My oh my do the Bulldogs seem to be a team on the verge. That said, Dan Mullen’s charges can’t . . . quite . . . seem . . . to . . . break . . . through. Astute commentator Robert Smith said it best on the Deuce last weekend. The team doesn’t seem prepared to handle their lofty expectations. Their final drive against Auburn was a thing of beauty, mature almost, but, alas, fell short. Rival Ole Miss is the only SEC division rival the Starkvillites have conquered during the Mullen Era. Meanwhile Les Miles never ceases to amaze. His Bayou Bengals somehow seem to just about always find a way to the W. Despite what would appear to be boneheaded strategical maneuvers by their slightly off kilter coach. It’s Thursday Night. The whole football universe will be tuned in. Will Mississippi State muster enough cowbell to break on through to the other side? Are the Cotton Staters ready for prime time? I’d love to say yes, but . . . I . . . just . . . don’t . . . think . . . so.

West Virginia @ Maryland. If the sports apparel shop would have had ‘em, I’d a bought one. A Maryland Terrapins jersey, that is. Those jerseys they wore against Miami were sooooooo outré. But the store didn’t sell Under Armour items. The Michigan and Notre Dame throwbacks didn’t cut it. The Terps had last weekend off, after outlasting beleaguered, undermanned U in its opener. West Virginia has blasted two less than stellar foes. Still the Mountaineers’ performances underscore why Bill Stewart is out and offensive guru Dana Holgorsen is in. A Lucky move by the AD? I don’t think so. This is the proverbial Big Important Game for the BEast. Almost Heaven prevails. But I can’t wait to see what Maryland’s wearing when it takes the field.

Michigan State @ Notre Dame. Is there anything we can learn from these schools’ performances last weekend? Yes, in the Spartans’ case. The time was right for The Schnell to retire. And that Michigan State can batter a patsy as badly as it’s supposed to. As for Notre Dame, it’s harder to tell. F-Bomb Kelly was a helluva coach at Central Michigan and Cincy. Has he lost his touch? How many inexplicable red zone errors can a team make? In ND’s case: A lot. Is it possible that BCS bowl moguls will suffer their cherished Irish totally blowing up at 0-3? I think so. It may be wishful thinking but I say the green flag’s waving when this one’s done won’t be for the Irish.

Texas @ UCLA. There was a time when this one would have been the featured Game of the Week on TV. Lindsay Nelson in the booth from the Rose Bowl. No more. The last time Hook ‘Em Horns visited Pasadena, Colt McCoy went down and, along with him, Texas’s BCS title hopes. During this visit, his younger brother will be wondering whether he’ll start and/ or how much PT Mack Brown will give him? UCLA has for whatever reason been mostly irrelevant for some time now. Rick “Pass Me The Bracket” Neuheisel, alum and former QB, was hired to be the savior. His 16-23 record in Westwood is not exactly John Wooden quality. It doesn’t even meet Bob Toledo standards. That former Bruin coach went 49-32 before he was shown the exit. For one week only, Rick’s able to keep his finger in the dike. For some reason, I like the Bruins.

Louisville @ Kentucky. I do know one thing for sure. Even U of L fans have to be happy this wasn’t the opening game of the season. Though, that said, allow me to opine one more once, this game should always be either the first or last game of the year. Period. There’s no reason for me to break this one down, since you’ve already done that yourselves. (Not that I do much of that anyway.) The Law of Averages says the Cards are due. Vegas says the Cats by a smidge less than a TD. The performances so far on the field tell us little, other than that UK has found a way to 2 Ws, twice as many as U of L. Crazy things happen in rivalry games. This time, Averages (Law of) beat Oddsmakers. U of L will prevail in a game that will be more competitive than competent.

– Seedy K

* * * * *

Unfortunately I did not make it out to see #1 U of L skunk UCLA, 2 zed, in the season’s soccer opener. (It was Saturday Night Datenight. The Film Babe and I took in a flick then had a lovely al fresco meal at 732 Social in the town’s new hip ‘hood, NuLu.)

I do have a couple of thoughts anyway. (Just because I didn’t see any of the game doesn’t mean I can’t comment on it. Don’t confuse me with the facts.)

Coach Ken Lolla is obviously yet another of Tom Jurich’s incredible hires. It was obvious at Akron that the guy was The Deal, and it hasn’t taken him long to vault the Cardinals to the upper echelon of college futbol.

Seven thousand plus surrounding the pitch for a collegiate soccer match in the epicenter of college hoops: Incredible.

I’ve never understood the nomenclature, “own goal.” I know what it is — inadvertently putting the ball into your own net for a score for the opponent — but the name doesn’t make sense.  Own is defined as “and adjective or pronoun used with a possessive to emphasize that someone or something belongs or relates to the person mentioned.”

I dunno, shouldn’t be a “their goal?”

Anyway the Bruins gave the Cards one of those last night. Then star Colin Rolfe tallied another.

* * * * *

In case you haven’t been paying attention, baseball’s best pitcher — and Griffin McLarty’s favorite, you remember he’s the Little League kid — Justin Verlander won his 20th of the season last night. On August 27, no less, four days and a wake up from September.

The last time it happened was 2002. Curt Schilling, if want more info.

* * * * *

If you notice, there’s been an eerie silence as football season draws nigh.

It’s been a Favre-free fall.

Shhhhhhh. Don’t wake the ghost.

* * * * *

“No red shirts,” sayeth The Rick.

Which means there are going to be some battles in practice just to make the travel squad.

* * * * *

Riddle me this.

How can Andre Drummond in one day go from a hoops recruit in the class of 2012 to a member of the class of 2011 to freshman orientation at UConn to a member of Jim Calhoun’s squad?

* * * * *

COMING SOON (In a day or two in fact): The Return of Seedy K’s Pithy Pigskin Prognostications.

Each week I’ll advise who is going to win five of the best collegiate football encounters of the upcoming weekend. Remember caveat emptor is the prevailing philosophy. Wagering on college sports is illegal.

– Seedy K

As members of the 1962 J.M. Atherton H.S. Frisbee Squad have know for decades, Wiki is wrong.

Now there is, as attorney’s would say, demonstrative evidence, proving beyond peradventure that the Rebels were their first. The clipping below is from the October 31, 1962 Atherton Aerial.

Rotate on this, ye Columbianians.

– Seedy K

I know better than to ignore his entreaties. Visits from his “pals” Sal and Vito are less than fun.

So, Joey called, reminded me that the deadline for his bowl pool was that day. And, admonishing me not to avoid him . . . well . . . his exact words, “I’ll be looking for Uncle Ben Franklin in the mail. Capeche?”

So I run through the bowl game lineup post haste, making various and sundry uninformed selections of winners, straight up for the Mean Nothing Games like GoDaddy.com Bowl. (Okay, the commercials will have me running to the computer for the unexpurgated versions.) And the Bell Helicopter Bowl. Against the spread for the “important” games like UConn vs. Ooooooooooklahoma.

I sent my picks — and bank check — to Joey.

So, you might be inclined to ask, how did I fare on opening day viz a viz the New Mexico Bowl, the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl and New Orleans Bowl?

I scored a Hat Trick. An Ofer.

That’s right, my loyal minions, Seedy K went with UTEP, Fresno State and Ohio U.

The orange-clad Miners were nudged by BYU’s More Mature Mormans, 24-52. Coach Mustache’s Bulldogs fell just a hair short of NIU’s Huskies, 17-40. And Ohio’s Bobcats almost got ‘er done against the Men of Troy (Southern Division), 21-48.

This morning there was a message on my machine. It was Sal.

“Joey sends his fondest regards.”

– Seedy K

Florida State is on the verge of coming back on N.C. State in the last minute for the second straight year. They’re chewing up yardage like my new beloved Abbey the Circus Dog at the dinner bowl. Then Christian Ponder — he’d be the Seminole QB — mishandles a handoff, which is recovered by the Wolfpack.

Thus The Kid started the week with an L.

It wasn’t the only boneheaded play at the end of the game with victory within grasp. The latest Notre Dame savior — that would be Brian Kelly — called the only play which could cost his team a W over Tulsa. The frosh QB’s totally unnecessary pass into the endzone was picked. Need I mention that Notre Dame was well withing field goal range, with the BEST kicker in the storied history of the program warming up on the sideline. Chalk up a W for the Golden Hurricane. And another needless L for those of us stupid enough to bet on the Formerly Fighting Irish.

Western Ky also lost. Badly. Penn State beat the Wolverines in the Irrelevant Bowl. And, of course, my Quack continued to roll. Two up, three down, and I’m 30-15 on the year, but looking for more Ws this week.

Virginia @ Duke. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Jeff Lampe and Ralph Sampson won’t be suiting up. Meanwhile the Blue Devils have Nolan “He Shoulda Been A Cardinal” Smith and Kyle Singler back from last year’s national championship squad. Oops. Wrong sport. Those guys play basketball, an NCAA sanctioned sport where they really do have a national champion. My bad. I gotta ask. How long have Duke and Virginia been playing football? Oh yeah, that guy Spurrier coached in Durham once upon a time. Anyway, I know nothing at all about these two teams. And I’m too lazy to do any research. So I’ll go with UVa to upset Coach K, er, the Blue Devils, at Cameron Outdoor.

TCU @ Utah. First, a public service announcement. Local cable customers will be able to see this game. On your TVs, no computer necessary. It’s on CBS College. It won’t be in HD, but, hey you can’t have everything. As for the game, well, it’s only one of the most intriguing of the season. The Utes and Horned Frogs are both lossless. And really good. Does The Purple play D? Well, I guess. They’re giving up less than 9 points/ game, best in the land. Do the Utes play O? Well, I guess. They’re scoring at 43+/ game, third best in the land. Because I’ve seen TCU, and consider them as good as anybody I’ve observed this side of The Quack, I say TCU.

Alabama @ LSU. As somebody who would like to see a couple of schools from leagues other than the SEC or Big 12 or Big Ten play for the “national title,” I have a great fear. The Crimson Tide wins out, and with one loss leapfrogs Boise or Utah or Oregon or TCU — three of whom could still be undefeated — to make it that final bowl. Less Miles and his Bayou Bengals could end the possibility of that nightmare this Saturday in Baton Rouge. Unfortunately LSU has been doing it with mirrors and lots of mighty good luck. The nightmare remains an option. Tide rolls.

Temple @ Kent State. Why on earth did the Big East kick Temple out of the league? Good hoops. A rising football power under the tutelage of underrated Al Golden. Formerly the laughing stock of the land, losers of about a hundred in a row, the Owls have shown some mettle within the context of their station in the FBS hierarchy. A W over UConn and close loss to JoPa shows me they have way too much for the mediocre Golden Flashes in this Mid American Conference encounter.

Louisville @ Syracuse. I mean, do I really need to write something? You know and I know and I know that you know and you know that I know that you know I would never pick against the Cardinals. The question is whether I can exposit in a manner pithy enough to keep your attention until I write: Cards have a happy flight home from the Carrier Dome? Probably not. Despite the absence of Bilal Powell, despite the stunning resurgence of Jim Brown’s and Ernie Davis’s alma mammy, I believe the Cards have a happy flight home from the Carrier Dome.

– Seedy K