(early) 2008 college football predictions week 11 (early)

since i’m off on the road trip for the next week or so i’m putting up my predictions for week 11 of the college season early.  i suppose at some point next week i could probably hack out the picks but i figure on being way too hung over most of the time to deal with anything other than just trying to make it through the day and the beginning of the next round of wanton drinking.  if you get my drift.

in that it’s early there are no odds yet for week 11.  so in lieu of them, i’m just picking a winner in the most predominate games.  or at least ones that have some sort of something going for them in the bcs bowl stuff regard.  this might even help out with my over all average since i don’t have the spread to mess with me.  yes, of course i’ll be counting these picks in my average.  it’s my party and i’ll do what i want.

just remember this is for entertainment purposes only and using any of this info to squander your money needlessly in vegas or some steamy alley would be stupid at best.  especially since we don’t even know who’s won this weekends games (week 10).  these picks might be a crap shoot at best.  or maybe not.  let’s rock ‘n’ roll.

tcu at utah.  a killer game in the making here.  some folks will be lucky enough to see it on the tube.  me?  no idea.  tcu’s defense against utah’s offense and their shot at bcs bowl busting.  i’m going with utah here.

oklahoma at texas a&m.  if i had some points on this one i’d probably go with texas but since i don’t i’m taking oklahoma to win.

oklahoma st at texas tech.  a great game and not on the tube as yet or maybe it will only be on in texas.  regardless, if you can watch this one do so.  i’m taking texas tech.  remember to visit: http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/ 

utah st at boise st.  boise st needs this one to stay bcs bowl alive.  i’m taking boise st.

alabama at lsu.  another great game with lots of things going for it.  just how things work out depends somewhat on what happens this weekend with the tide.  IF bama is still unbeaten then i think lsu will win this one.  what the heck.  lsu wins it.  yeah, i’m a tide honk but i don’t think it’s their year.

baylor at texas.  texas wins it.  however, at some point they will take a loss and help the trojans out.

oregon st at ucla.  interesting game here kids.  no tv as yet.  oregon st needs this one to remain in the rose bowl hunt.  usc needs somebody to beat the beavers but probably not ucla.  yeah, convoluted bsc gibberish to be sure.  i’m taking oregon st.

cal at usc.  the abc 5pm pst time game.  i will be watching this one.  or at least that’s the game plan so far.  usc wins it.

notre dame at boston college.  the big time catholic schools go head to head.  charlie and his troops need this one to go bsc bowling.  though the irish do have some weird set-ups with several of the bowls.  trying to figure them out is really not worth it.  what happens happens.  i’m assuming this one is on the tube but i don’t see it.  nbc?  i’m taking boston college here folks.

penn st at iowa.  the pundit rumor mill already has joe pa and the penn st boys taking one in the shorts this year with the bsc crapola.  though that remains to be seen.  there’s always at least one school getting hosed by the bsc every year.  to bad it might be an unbeaten penn st this year.  iowa can spoil stuff but not this time.  take penn st to win.

there you have it, my early picks for week 11 of the 2008 college football season.  leave your wallet and money alone and you’ll do just fine.  i’ll still be on the road trip.  see ya when i get back.

jmh

the dumbest man in america and the runner-up

bud selig and the guy who runs fox sports tv.

jmh

2008 college football predictions week 10

before i get rolling on this weeks picks i’d just like to say, in case you missed it, ty willingham is resigning as the washington huskies head coach at the end of the season.  ty is a good coach and a decent man.  he’s had some trouble with his last two jobs.  more than likely goofy rabid big money alumni that are more inclined to want wins and bowl berths than have a coach that actually cares about the kids, their grades, and the rest of their lives after football.  i wish him only the best and i hope he stays in div 1 football.  the kids need him.

last weeks picks were just abysmal.  another 3 for 10. ouch.  though the lonely three wins were pretty stellar ones.  virginia, texas tech, and oklahoma st.  any the ways i’m now 47 for 90.  still hanging on to 50%.

just remember these picks are for entertainment purposes only.  anyone dumb enough to use what i dish out here deserves whatever happens to them.  time to rock ‘n’ roll.

iowa st at oklahoma st.  oklahoma st favored by 30.5 points.  this could be a good game.  iowa st is capable of being a giant killer on any given saturday.  it’s a ton of points.  good thing the game is in oklahoma.  the cowboys win and cover the spread.

missouri at baylor.  missouri favored by 20 points.  i haven’t been impressed by missouri this year.  baylor is so so. game in texas so i’m taking baylor to cover the points.  they may not win but they will cover.   

auburn at mississippi.  ole miss favored by 6.  despite auburn looking sorta good last week ole miss will win and cover the spread.

tennessee at s carolina.  s carolina favored by 6.  tennessee is in a tail spin.  will they ever pull out of it?  take s carolina to win and cover.

florida at georgia.  florida favored by 5.5 points.  some pundits have florida going to the big dance.  i’m not so sure about that.  georgia spoils stuff and wins out right.

washington at usc.  usc favored by 43.  yeah, that’s not a typo.  a ton of points.  sanchez looked and played like crap last week.  though the trojans pulled out a lack luster win.  usc play calling was borderline insanity.  ty comes into to town with nothing to lose.  damn, this is a tough one.  usc wins and covers.

nebraska at oklahoma.  oklahoma favored by 21.5 points.  this will not be an easy game for the sooners.  gut says nebraska will cover and maybe win.  take nebraska and the points.

oregon at calif.  cal favored by 3.  my beloved ducks are still sorta floundering around this year.  that’s what happens when the bad qb juju hits your school.  cal on the other hand got sorta lucky last week against the bruins.  a few passes gone the other way and i think cal might have lost the game.  oregon goes to cal and wins this one kids.  take the ducks.  GO DUCKS!!!

kansas st at kansas.  kansas favored by 11.5 points.  big rivalry game and anything can happen.  kansas at home should win and cover the points.

texas at texas tech.  texas favored by 6 points.  this is the biggie of the weekend regardless of what the sec honks have to say about it.  take texas tech to cover the points and probably win the game.  also remember to visit: http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/

that’s it for this week.  just remember to keep your wallet in a safe place and nobody gets hurt.  capice?  enjoy the games.

i’m going on a 10 day road trip starting this weekend so i may or may not do my week 11 and 12 predictions.  things remain to be seen.

jmh

hank, willie, and bob

just about the end of the baseball season.  its also just about halloween.  i find it hard to bring myself to handle that sad sorta reality.  well, it really isn’t a sorta reality it sadly is reality. 

money driven madness reigns king in sports.  all sports.  a sad thing to be sure.  a once almost pristine game of summer and youth has been over taken by a pathological idiocy to wring every demented dollar they can from the once grand game of baseball.

thankfully, i have the brown eyed girl and she looks out for my tv interests among other things.  she tivo’d the bob costas hbo show yesterday with hank aaron and willie mays for me.  i was in ecstasy while watching the hour long show.  at times also in tears. 

ecstasy because my two all time favorite players were talking about baseball.  baseball and what it used to be.  that’s where the tears came in to play.  i saw willie and hank play the game live and in person.  the first time i saw willie live was back when the dodgers played their games at the l.a. coliseum.  yeah, it’s been a number of years.    

its been a number of years since both of those man boys played the game.  man boys?  yeah, baseball is a game for boys played by men.  men who really haven’t given up on youth just yet.  willie mays is 77 years old and he still can’t give it up. 

the pure grace and ballet moves of those two men are what baseball is all about.  sadly, long dead baseball.  you stick the two of them up on a stage and let them talk and answer questions then throw in some old b/w clips of the two of them and i’m gonna well up.  well up and wipe my eyes  because of my memories of their joy, grace, and style when they played the game.  

two living legends.  bigger than life legends.  two grand old men of baseball.  real gentlemen.  role models from long ago and a different time and place.  but still alive and well in my memories of summers past.

my guess is the world series will end tonight.  just a few days short of halloween.  probably around midnight east coast time.  much to late for the next boys of summer to still be up and watching the boys game played by men.

skateboard II by lowell fox.  http://lowellfox.com

yes, it’s a painting of a skateboarder by my friend lowell.  skateboard I is a bit more obvious in that regard.  however, when i look at this lovely painting i see… baseball.  summer.  youth.  and a young boy stealing home.  thanks, lowell.   

jmh

another sunday feeling

just another sunday in the land of the lalas.  the damn weather refuses to cool off.  the nights do ok but the days of 90 degree heat still linger and fester like a cat bite on your arm. 5% to 15% humidity sucks the mositure and life out of everything.  creepy crawly skin the likes of sandpaper.

yeah, i haven’t been here yammering much the past few weeks or so.  of course, there’s my football stuff but that pretty much goes un-noticed.  fine.  whatever.  as for my usual ‘as life goes by’ crapola it hasn’t happened.  much.  football and staying over at the brown eyed girl’s place has me away from the computer.  the brown eyed girl has one but it’s a lap top and a mac.  and it’s all just to back ass ward for this dyslexic oldster. 

i’m going on a road trip this next weekend.  the annual fear and loathing road trip up into the california central valley.  a ten day journey into the heart of madness.  any the ways, the brown eyed girl tells me she will have her junk room.  yeah, the same room we all have if we have an extra room.  that place where all the crapola goes.  the crapola that just sits and collects dust.  she tells me while i’m away she will clear a path to her desk top set up in that room and when i get back we can set it up again.  so i can write when i’m there.  bless her ever lovely heart.  she’s such a lovely audience.  a dream come true.

the stones are blaring.  the tempurature is rising.  the humidity is falling.  the bleeding spell check won’t work.  just another sunday feeling.

jmh

2008 college football predictions week 9

time again for my college football predictions.  your one stop shop for a game you like.  last week i managed a semi respectable 6 for 10 bringing my over all total to 44 for 80.  sorta shabby but what can i say?  just remember this is for entertainment purposes only and what i say here is borderline madness.  though i do come up with a good pick or two each week.  the problem being which ones?  there’s the rub.  lets rock ‘n’ roll.

auburn at w. virginia.  w. virginia favored by 3 points.  the thursday night game.  i’ll be watching and drinking hawaiian ale.  auburn has a shot at this one.  good thing it’s in virginia.  take w. virginia to win and cover.

boise st at san jose st.  boise st favored by 7.5 points.  the friday night game.  i’ll be watching the local high school on fox’s prime ticket.  the upland high school football team is ranked in the top 100 high schools in the nation.  they are probably going to run the table this year.  but what about boise st?  for some reason they aren’t favored by much.  i’m taking san jose to cover the spread and maybe win.

texas tech at kansas.  kansas favored by 2 points.  pretty much a toss up and the red raiders will cover and win.  take texas tech. remember to visit the vietnam archive at texas tech university on-line.
http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/

alabama at tennessee.  bama favored by 6.5 points.  if tennessee ever needed a win this one is it.  they have nothing to lose.  another unbeaten falls.  take tenn and the points.  yes, i know bama fans i’m one as well.
i maybe wrong but i don’t think so.

oregon at arizona st.  oregon favored by 4.5 points.  the ducks come out of the cold and auzten stadium for a must win game.  i’m thinking the sun devils rain on the ducks.  take arizona st to win or cover the spread.

ucla at cal.  cal favored by 17 points.  after cals ‘el foldo’ last week the pundits still give them a basket of points to cover.  cal is over again this year.  they just started a couple of weeks early.  the bruins are playing well.  not stellar but good enough to cover the points and maybe win.  take ucla.

oklahoma st at texas.  texas favored by 12.5 points.  yes, texas is the new darling of the college football world.  fine.  take the cowboys of oklahoma to cover the points and probably even win the game.  

penn st at ohio st.  penn st favored by 2.5 points.  a nasty road game for penn.  plus its a must win for them.  ohio st is a much better football team than the one usc beat early in the season.  the buckeyes home crowd is the deciding factor here.  sorry joe pa, take ohio st to win this one.

notre dame at washington.  notre dame favored by 11.  charlie and ty meet in seattle.  ty is probably a goner.  sad but true.  if he ever needed to win a game its this one kids.  count on it.  i’m banking on ty and the huskies to cover and maybe win this one. 

usc at arizona.  usc favored by 16.  this one is my saturday night action.  arizona coming off a thumping of the cal bears and the trojans coming off a scrimmage with the cougars.  this one should be a good game.  it might be to many points for the trojans but if sanchez is on they will roll.  take usc to win and cover.

there ya go.  this weeks picks.  leave your wallet alone and nobody gets hurt.  simple words to live by.  capice?  enjoy the games and your weekend.

jmh

life and art art and life

my friend, dfr, sent me the photo below this morning.  he knew i was going to pick up my new shotgun today.  which i did.  it was still in the factory box.  it was oily and smelled new.  i brought it home and put it together.  i put it in a soft gun case and put it next to the bed.  four rounds of number 4 bird shot rest on the night stand.  i guesss i’m ready.  mr. burroughs seems to be ready as well.

william burroughs and some art.

jmh

say what(?)

liquid space
keeping pace
triple images
dance in place.
if you blink
or stop to think
they all
counter clockwise
down the sink.
the sewer system
thrives on them.
nothing but wisdom
and alligator phlegm.
problems come
problems go
nothing much left
of this show.
its maybe that
or maybe this
usually just
hit and miss.

jmh

a poem eventually

back in the saddle again.  yeah, that’s an old gene autry tune.  or at least he’s the one i remember back in the day actually singing the song.  any ways, kids, the brown eyed girl and i are back as an item.  joined once again at the hip.  it was just to damn painful not be together again.  it was my fault we split up and there’s some on her side of the course, as well, but mostly mine.  which is fine.  so like what else is new?  none the less, the reasons will remain ours as to what the dust up was about.  as it should be.

let’s just say we both spent a miserable week or so wandering around in a hazy daze looking for each other or more likely hoping we’d spot the other one in someplace or time.  yeah, getting old doesn’t stop one from being a goofy kid in love.  an interesting fact to remember and perhaps hold on to for future use.

last night we returned to the scene of our first real date of several months ago.  to, ‘viva madrid’, a spanish tapas place, in the claremont village for some great food, vino, and a toast to new beginnings.

geezer love

our fate has been sealed once again.
queen size bed acrobatics
of a 25 year old. 
lovers lost in the blue haze of
yet another dodger loss
seething from the bedroom tv.
the devil winds blowing
from the east. 
fire storms blowing
in the west.
just another socal
october night or
a fait accompli?
we both want
this to last
and be the last
for two old geezers
meant to be.

jmh

2008 college football predictions week 8

another abysmal week last week.  3 for 10 bringing my over all total to 35 for 60.  still over 50% but on the other hand vegas isn’t ringing my phone off the hook looking for me to handicap games.  though in my favor if it wasn’t for the damn point spreads i’d be a good 80% easy.  or at least i’m thinking that.  maybe someone will run the numbers for me.  i’m not.

at any rate, this is for entertainment purposes only.  taking my pathetic numbers out to some good fella or vegas would be stupid at best.  that is unless you enjoy losing your money and not paying the rent or whatever.  don’t be stupid.  that said, let’s rock ‘n’roll.

florida st at n carolina.  florida st favored by 10 points.  perhaps a good game.  that remains to be seen.  n carolina just might cover the spread but i’m still taking florida st to cover and win.

byu at tcu.  depending on who you go by this one is byu favored by 1 point or even.  at any rate, it should be a barn burner and sadly one i’ll miss.  byu takes their bcs busting mission into tejas and another religious institution.  hello.  st peter?  who’s your pick?  i’ve been riding byu’s mission all season so far and i see no reason to stop now.  take byu to win.

kansas at oklahoma.  oklahoma favored by 19.5 points.  both schools had some trouble last week.  the sooners need to step up this week.  i think they will.  take oklahoma to win and cover.

mississippi at alabama.  bama favored by 13.5.  of course, the pundits don’t like bama.  none the less they had a week off last week.  coach lou has had a week to get ready for the up setters from ole miss.  game in bama.  the tide, rolls, wins, and covers.  go bama.

usc at washington st.  usc favored by 43 points.  good lord.  i don’t know.  43 points.  a road game to the pacific northwest and tommy trojan has had some trouble there over the past few years.  to many points for me.  the trojans will win but i think washington st will cover the points.

ohio st at michigan st.  ohio favored by 3.5 points.  an early bowl game for the spartans.  take michigan st to win or cover the points.

missiouri at texas.  texas favored by 6.5.  i’m sorta surprised texas isn’t favored by more.  i’ll take it though.  texas to win or cover the spread.

michigan at penn st.  penn st favored by 23.5 points.  well, so far michigan turns out to be the hapless past power house this year.  beating out notre dame and ucla for that dubious honor.  it’s almost a bunch of points but joe pa and the nittney lions are big time bowl bound this year.  count on it.  take penn st to win and cover the points.

cal at arizona.  cal favored by 2 points.  it’s still HOT here in the southwest.  it’s almost november, time for cal to begin their november swoon and adios any decent bowl game chances.  arizona steps up and wins or covers the spread.  

stanford at ucla.  ucla favored by 2.5 points.  the bruins are playing well since a faulty fitful start.  with any luck at all they will win and cover the spread.  take ucla.

there ya go another weeks adventure into college football madness.  just remember to keep what’s left of your money in your 401-k or your wallet and things will be just fine.  don’t get stupid.

jmh