2009 college football predictions week 10

an interesting week of college ball last weekend.  interesting to say the least.  i started out very well in the morning games but by the time the afternoon and evening rolled around i was semi tanking it.  bottom line i went 5 for 10 last week.  my overall is 44 for 80 having taken week 6 off.  still somewhat over 50% but nothing to send up any fireworks about.

just remember this is for fun and taking anything i deal out here to any of the boys who will take your money would be insane to say the least.  leave your wallet alone and nobody gets hurt.

i’m a day or two early this week due to stuff i have to take care of the next couple of days.  due to my being early, some of the odds haven’t been posted so i’m just dealing with what i have now.  i picked these games before i went looking for the odds.  be that as it may.

rock ‘n’ roll.

11/7  connecticut at cincinnati.  a toss up.  should be a good game and it’s an early one.  take cincinnati to win this one.

11/7  wake forest at georgia tech.  georgia tech favored by 15 points.  wake forest is playing well but not well enough to win or get inside the 15 points on tech’s turf.  take georgia tech to win or cover the spread.

11/7  navy at notre dame.  a toss up.  one of the better teams the golden domers play this year.  the irish are playing somewhat better but i still don’t like them.  take navy to win.

11/7 lsu at alabama.  alabama favored by 9 points.  hopefully, with bamas week off they went out and found some offense because they are probably going to need some to win this game.  the same could be said for lsu as well.  a low scoring defensive yawn fest?  i hope i’m wrong.  take bama to win and cover.  ROLL TIDE!!!

11/7  oklahoma at nebraska.  oklahoma favored by 6.  perhaps a good game.  take the sooners to win or cover the spread.

11/7  ohio st at penn st.  penn st favored by 3.5 points.  almost a toss up here but i suspect the buckeyes will roll over joe pa and his boys.  take ohio st to win.

11/7  oregon st at california.  california favored by 7 points.  i don’t see the bears defense doing any better than usc’s defense at stopping the beaver’s running game.  a very solid running game.  take oregon st to cover the spread and maybe win.

11/7  washington at ucla.  ucla favored by 4 points.  the bruins are lucky to be favored here.  though they did play fairly well against oregon st last week.  i’m feeling the huskies this week.  take them to cover or win.

11/7  oregon at stanford.  oregon favored by 5 points.  coming off the waxing of the trojans the ducks should be on a pretty nice high.  though stanford can win and might.  though i don’t see it.  on a side note, i was a duck fan before i was a trojan fan.  i’ve bled duck yellow and green since 1958.  they’ve made a fine comeback since the first game of the season and that disappointing loss to boise st.  they looked terrible.  not unlike the trojans last week.  they should stay on track and maybe run the rest of the table this year.  only to be messed with at the end of the year by the bcs and given some lame bowl game.  time will tell.  there is talk that blount will be allowed to play again this year.  oofa.  dumb idea and and stupid at best.  there is no excuse for what he did at the end of the boise game.  thug behavior does not belong in sports.  period.  allowing him to return this year is a mistake and sends a message to other lame brains that they can get away with stuff and be allowed back if they say the right things to the right people.  and that further reinforces the big money angle of college ball.  off the soapbox and my pick.  the ducks cover and win.  QUACK QUACK!!!!

11/7  usc at arizona st.  usc favord by 11.5 points.  a very poorly played game last week by the men of troy.  special teams set the tone for the defense on the opening kickoff.  in other words, what defense?  losing your defensive coordinator and half of the remaining guys to washington turns out not to have been a very good decision on usc’s part.  vanity?  insanity?  i don’t know.  i do know that coach pete didn’t have the deer in the headlights look he usually has when they lose.  it was like he was seeing the writing on the wall.  the writing that says he might come back next year and try to run the table once more with a bunch of seniors and a qb with a year under his belt.  or he may not.  my money is on one more year for pete.  then it’s back to the pros and another shot there.  bottom line is there are only so many good coaches in college football.  losing a bunch of them from one team means a ticking time bomb.  one that  finally went off last weekend.  i hope they recover from the blast but i don’t know.  a thumping of the sun devils is in order this week, coach pete.  let’s see if you can make it happen.  yeah, take usc to win and they bloody well better cover the spread.  FIGHT ON!!!

there you go.  some interesting games with one more month of college football left.  enjoy it while it lasts. 

jmh

2009 college football predictions week 4

after the previous weeks fiasco this past weekends picks were pretty good, as i went 7 for 10 and 16 for 30 overall.  things are looking up.  of course, the trojans sadly lost.  more on that in this weeks picks.  just a reminder kids, this is for fun only.  taking what i deal out here to your local bookie or las vegas would be fool hardy at best.  actually, it would be stupid.  yes, well, these days stupidity seems to reign.  be that as it may.

rock ‘n’ roll.

9/24  mississippi at s. carolina.  ole miss favored by 3 points.  a tight game and pretty much may as well be a toss up.  mississippi used to be one of my faves when i was feeling it back in the day when i was stupid enough to actually throw money down on this stuff.  two good coaches and it should be a good game.  take mississippi to win and cover.

9/26  san diego st at air force.  air force favored by 16.5 points.  yes, indeed more also rans in the wac and mountain west.  but i don’t care.  air force is another one of my teams.  what can i say?  take the falcons to cover and win.

9/26  arkansas at alabama.  bama favored by 15.5 points.  an interstate rivalry game of epic proportions.  forget whatever slick willie says about the game and take bama to cover and win.  ROLL TIDE!!!    

9/26  california at oregon.  cal favored by 6 points.  i was about ready to count the ducks down and out for the season.  however, after last weeks game i’m not so sure anymore.  california is for real but it’s early and their late october into november swan dive isn’t due for a few more weeks.  of course, that remains to be seen.  but history…  the game.  we have the craziness of a duck home crowd cranked up on a variation of west nile virus and rabies.  if cal can manage to overcome that they might pull it off.  i love the ducks so take them to at least cover the points and maybe even win.  one of the best games of the week.  GO DUCKS!!!!!!  QUACK!!

9/26  washington at stanford.  stanford favored by 7 points.  will there be a let down after the huskies big game win over the trojans?  i don’t think so.  the huskies seem to be for real and stanford is catching them a week to late.  ah, perhaps.  no bandwagon jumping as yet.  the sleeper game of the week.  take stanford to win and cover.   

9/26  louisville at utah.  utah favored by 13 points.  utah needs to, hopefully, bounce back after last week at oregon.  can they?  how badly do they want a big time end of the year big dance game?  go get em, utes.  take utah to win and cover.

9/26  notre dame at purdue.  notre dame favored by 7.5 points.  not much faith in the golden domers this week against a hapless purdue team.  no one is sold on the domers and charlie this year.  me either.  i’ll probably rue this decision come saturday afternoon but take notre dame to cover and win.  crap.

9/26  iowa at penn st.  penn st favored by 10 points.  one of the few decent teams joe pa and the boys play this season.  joe pa is going the way of boise st this year.  a chump schedule for the most part.  if there is a donald duck or donald trump the hawk-eyes kick some joe pa butt for his cupcake schedule.  take iowa to win or at least make it close.

9/26  washington st at usc.  usc favored by 44 points.  say what?  oofa.  even if the freshman comes back they aren’t gonna win by 44.  if he doesn’t and that other kid goes again forget about it.  it’s no wonder he lost the job to the freshman.  he’s not very good.  sark and the rest of the old trojan coaching crew took coach pete to the cleaners last weekend.  i knew it was over when pete had that look in his eye.  a look not unlike my 95 year old mom’s look when she isn’t quite sure just where she is or just what’s going on.  pete gets that same look on occasion.  he had it last year at oregon st and he gets it now and again in some games but he usually comes out of it.  not last week.  he was the deer in sark’s headlights.  road kill.  it also goes to show that you can’t lose a good part of your staff to one school.  they know you and will own you.  the cougars might not be that good this year.  though they have a very good coach.  another rueful decision?  take washington st to get inside that 44 point spread.

9/26  new mexico st at new mexico.  new mexico favored by 9.5 points.  bragging rights for the land of enchantment.  take the university of new mexico lobos to win and cover.      

there ya go, kids.  this weeks picks and some potential great games.  enjoy them.  leave your wallet in your pocket and things will go just fine.  pop a brew or two and heat up the barbie.  watch games till your better half gets fed up say like around 8pm(pst) saturday night.  or maybe like 6:30pm.  yeah, well.  roll while you can.  me too.

the weekend of october the 3rd i’ll be on a road trip into new mexico with the brown eyed girl.  i’m not sure what i’ll have for that week but i should have something, probably on monday the 28th.  as for the week of the 10th, this spot will be vacant.  deal with it on your own.  i’ll be in flagstaff.

jmh

2009 college football predictions week 3

last week was one of those dark and dismal affairs and a prime example of why i tell my readers not to listen to me and my predictions.  i went 3 for 10.  not a bad stat for a baseball player but terrible for a football handicapper.  my combined stats for the season so far are, 9 for 20.  oofa.  however, i remain undaunted and it’s time to plod along again with this weeks games.  but before that happens i have to say in my own delusional defense, i would have done better but the point spread in a few games was my downfall.  my teams won but didn’t cover the spread.  ce est la vie.     

remember to leave your wallet alone.  don’t rush off to vegas or your local guy and dump a bundle on my picks.  or anybodies picks for that matter.  the road to the poor house is paved with stupid bettors.  understand?  this is for fun only.

rock ‘n’ roll.

9/18  boise st at fresno st.  boise st favored by 7 points.  boise st is not getting much love here from the point spread mavens.  then again it doesn’t seem like fresno st is what they were last year.  i’m no big fan of boise st for a couple of reasons, which i’ve run down before.  the primary reason is they are a 3rd tier school who play a crappy schedule.  though this year it seems any number of schools are following their example.  a sad state of affairs if there ever was one.  forget about it.  take fresno st to cover the spread and if their is a mickey mouse they might even pull out a win.

9/19  arizona at iowa.  iowa favored by 5 points.  ok.  so the deal here is my being a pac 10 honk and homer.  take arizona to cover the 5 and maybe or probably win.  roll pac 10!!!

9/19  utah at oregon.  oregon favored by 4.  if the boys of utah can overcome the noise and insanity of a duck game at home they just might pull off an upset.  the magic word being ‘IF’.  then again, i’m not that happy about the ducks play so far this year.  crap.  take the ducks to cover and win.  GO DUCKS!!! please!!

9/19  usc at washington.  usc favored by 21 points.  sure the frosh starting qb has issues this week.  no one knows if he will even start.  plus the trojans stunk the joint up last week with their win over the buckeyes.  a stinky win but i’ll take it.  none the less, it’s a bunch of points and the huskies will probably want to put it up for their new coach and ex-trojan.  plus, they played well against lsu and it’s another road game for the men of troy.  the spread may change over the week but i’m here and doing it now.  take the trojans to win and cover.  FIGHT ON USC!!!

9/19  kansas st at ucla.  ucla favored by 12.  fine but who’s going to play qb?  a good question i’m sure.  coach rick probably is wishing he still had some eligibility left so he could start for the bruins again.  i’m not so sure the bruins can pull this one off this week.  then again kansas st is not kansas.  out on a limb here.  take the bruins to win and cover.

9/19  michigan st at notre dame.  notre dame favored by 10 points.  cutting to the chase, i like michigan st’s chances here.  they may not win but i think they will cover.  i hope they win.  just do it, spartens.

9/19  california at minnesota.  cal favored by 14 points.  the only thing certain about this game is only one of them will remain unbeaten.  cal looks good so far and they should cover the spread and win.  ROLL PAC 10!!

9/19  air force at new mexico.  air force favored by 17 points.  we will be in new mexico in a couple of weeks hitting the hot spots so that’s why i’m sticking this game in here.  i think the falcons will win but i don’t think they will cover the spread.  take new mexico and a side of  hatch green chiles.

9/19  florida st at byu.  byu favored by 7 points.  perhaps the game of the week.  and byu’s chance to keep that monkey wrench rolling in the bcs gears.  take byu to win and cover.

9/19  texas tech at texas.  texas favored by 17.5 points.  my semi sorta alma mater, texas tech, travels to the university of texas.  i’m taking texas tech to cover the spread and hopefully win.  you, on the other hand, should visit the texas tech vietnam center and archive at: http://vietnam.ttu..edu/

that’s it for this weeks picks.  enjoy the games.  leave your wallet where it belongs and nobody gets hurt.

jmh

2009 college football predictions week 2

week 1 of the college season got off to an odd or strange start.  the oregon/boise st game being a sad harbinger of a possible bleak future for college ball.  at any rate, i was 6 for 10.  not too bad with two stellar picks: navy and byu.

before i get going on this week’s selections i want to weigh in on the sad ending to the oregon/boise st game last thursday night.  there can be no excuse for legarrette blount’s actions after the game.  for those of you who don’t know what i’m talking about blount cold cocked a boise st player then went more or less more berserk going after fans in the stands and had to be restrained.  one of my cousin’s said he was lucky the cops didn’t have to taze him.  yeah, it was ugly.  a sad statement on that iceberg up ahead in college football.

blount was suspended from the team for the remainder of the year.  though he got to keep his scholarship and continues to practice with the team.  now, there’s a rumor that he may end up being able to play again this year.  oofa.  i love the ducks and have for years.  i’m sickened and saddened by the schools actions behind blount’s felonious stupidity.  blount had already been suspended earlier in the year.  he should have been tossed out of school for this deal.  period.  and his scholarship given to some academic student instead.  the only way the sad slope of douche bag college athletes is going to perhaps end is if they are all dealt with a very heavy hand.  screw up and you are gone, dumb ass.  no exceptions.

take that to heart ncaa.  if you want to continue to be the second rated spectator sport in the country.  because if something is not done about the dumb ass gangster element of college football, i for one will vote with my feet and stop watching.  count on it. 

ok.  there now i feel better.  as for this weeks games it was sorta hard to come up with anything that rang any bells.  yeah, there are of course my usual faves and one or two are in a good match-up but the rest of the schedule is shaky.  just remember to leave your wallet where it belongs and no one gets hurt.  the point spreads will probably change a bit before game day.  too bad.  what is here is what i use.  these picks are just for fun and my amusement.  taking what i deal out and betting on the game is and would be very very stupid.

rock ‘n’ roll.

9/10  clemson at georgia tech.  georgia tech favored by 5 points.  i’m not real thrilled about this one.  but it’s on tv thursday night.  the brown eyed girl will be at her sculpture class.  i’ll be home alone with the cat, drinking beer, and watching the game.  pretty cool.  i hope clemson wins but i’m not that crazy.  so, take georgia tech to win and cover.

9/12  iowa at iowa st.  iowa favored by 6 points.  after last weeks squeaker against northern iowa.  iowa needs a good game here.  though this one could go either way.  take iowa to win and cover.

9/12  ucla at tennessee.  tennessee favored by 8 points.  ucla played well last week.  time to play well again against a much better team.  i hope they do.  however, take tennessee to win and cover.

9/12  purdue at oregon.  oregon favored by 12.  oregon did not play well at all last week.  if they don’t turn it around here they might end up like the huskies did last year.  and i’m not just saying that.  i have no clue just what the problem was.  but i do know things need to change.  dumping blount might help.  chip kelly needs to step up and just do it.  purdue isn’t very good.  i expect the ducks to win, cover, and score big time.  ok?   GO DUCKS!!!

9/12  notre dame at michigan.  the golden domers favored by 3.5 points.  notre dame did well last week.  so did big blue.  i’m counting on michigan to take it to the irish.  take michigan to win and cover.

9/12  air force at minnesota.  minnesota favored by 4 points.  the golden gophers played well in their opener.  this is the falcon’s first game of the year.  old time readers know i like air force because they are one of the last schools that is liable and capable of running any number of offenses and plays.  and one of the stand outs in the old wac.  favorites die hard in these parts.  take air force to at least cover and maybe even win.

9/12  usc at ohio st.  usc favored by 6.5 points.  the night game on abc.  one of the stellar match-ups since the 60’s.  simple and easy.  take usc to cover and win.  FIGHT ON USC!!!

9/12  hawaii at washington st.  hawaii favored by 2 points.  i’m surprised it isn’t more due to the fact washington st, the school, already has over 2,000 cases of swine flu.  good lord.  wash you hands with soap and water after reading this one, kids.  if the cougars can even field 11 players they might get lucky.  at any rate, take hawaii to win and cover.

9/12  stanford at wake forest.  wake forest favored by 2.5 points.  stanford is for real.  take stanford to win. 

9/12  tcu at virginia.  tcu favored by 11 points.  tcu’s defense should be back.  take tcu to win and cover.

that’s it for this week.  don’t be stupid.  simple easy.

jmh

2009 college football predictions week 1

yes, indeedy, it is finally that time again kids.  college football looms like the winning lottery ticket that it is.  college football the best sport on the planet.  bar none.  count on it.  the long drought is coming to a close.  week one of the shortest and finest season is upon us.  college football is here to soothe and remind us once again just why we love it so damn much.

as in past years i’ll be running down my weekly favorites.  10 games each week, along with the lines from vegas.  as usual, i’ll be picking one team over the other.  and hopefully, i’ll pick the winner. 

just remember that any advice i give here is for fun only.  anyone stupid enough to take my advice and bet with the big boys in vegas or with your local football betting guy would be insane at best.  i hope you understand this.  yeah, some weeks i do pretty good and others not so good.  so, just don’t do it.

also the odds posted here might change between now and game time.  that doesn’t matter here.  i go by what’s here for my wins and loses each week.  capice?  

as always, my mantra remains: leave your money in your wallet where it belongs and nobody gets hurt.  take that to heart, folks.

so, with all that being said it’s time to play some football.

rock ‘n’ roll!!!!

9/3  utah at utah st.  utah favored by 20.5 points.  long time readers know i love the old ‘wac’ and some of the teams that were in that old dead league.  well, here’s a couple of them.  utah more to the point.  it’s a shame this one takes place the first week of the season.  if it had only been down the road a piece, utah st, might have had a glimmer of a chance at covering the spread.  not this time though.  take utah to cover the points and win.

9/3  oregon at boise st.  oregon favored by 4 points.  my beloved ducks travel to the smurf turf for an important game.  a game that will make a statement about the coming season for both teams.  a new head coach at oregon but still in most top pre-season top 25’s.  i have them going 9-3, i think.  i could look it up but i’d just lose steam here.  i don’t think the game will be as close as the point spread predicts.  take the ducks to run away with this one.  oregon covers the points and wins.  GO DUCKS!!!

9/5  san jose st at usc.  usc favored by 34 points.  pete carroll is doing somebody somewhere a favor by scheduling this team.  a ton of points along with a new frosh starting qb.  but my other favorite college football team should have no trouble covering the spread and winning.  take the trojans.  FIGHT ON USC!!!

9/5  san diego st at ucla.  ucla favored by 19 points.  another old wac school that since the break-up has fallen on hard times.  however, ucla has been in a tailspin as well.  the bruins should do better this year and just might manage a bowl game.  maybe.  a lot depends on stuff working with their offense. time tells.  this is a tough one.  lots of points and two teams that have been struggling.  what the heck.  take ucla to win and cover the spread.

9/5  navy at ohio st.  ohio st favored by 21.5.  the dreaded buckeyes. what can i say?  other than take navy to cover the spread.  ohio wins but not by 21.5.

9/5  georgia at oklahoma st.  oklahoma st favored by 5.5 points.  the cowboys are a media darling this year.  as well they should be.  though the interesting thing here is, they are just getting the home team sorta six points against the dawgs.  somebody knows something but i’m gonna swallow the kool-aid and take oklahoma st to cover and win.

9/5  western michigan at michigan.  michigan favored by 12.5 points.  after last years dumpster season big blue need to prove something.  i’m semi surprised at the seemingly lack of faith the boys in vegas are showing them this year and this game in particular.  also early season print rumors of michigan violating ncaa practice rules does not bode well.  another time tells deal.  walking the plank here and taking michigan to win and cover the spread.

9/5  byu at oklahoma.  oklahoma favored by 22.5 points.  oklahoma where the wind comes blowing…god, help me, please…every bodies number one team this year.  tons of returning kids trying to put their hold (again) on the big dance game come this january.  they want to win this time.  ok, so what we have here is another old wac school that’s had a few stones to toss into any number of big schools football works over the years.  can they do it again this week?  boy howdy, i sure hope so.  take the cougars to cover the spread.  the sooners might win but it sure ain’t gonna be by 22.5.

alabama at virginia tech.  alabama favored by 7 points.  tech gets the home team 6 and one more.  interesting.  bama is another of my old time faves.  this year could be their year.  lots of returning starters.  plus time to get past last season.  take bama to cover and win.  ROLL TIDE!!!

9/5  lsu at washington.  lsu favored by 17 points.  a semi sorta bunch of points against the new and improved huskies.  ???.  a new coach from a great program, usc.  has he overcome the ennui that overcame the huskies at the end of the last season?  time do tell and i wish the huskies well.  however, take lsu to cover and win.

with the fires here in so calif the ucla game may be postponed until later in the season.  the air quality is in the dumpster here.  yes, i know but it’s much worse than the usual mess.  they are going to decide tomorrow as to what they are going to do.  so, if the game is set back my replacement game will be:

9/5  stanford at washington st.  stanford favored by 17 points.  stanford is once again a pac 10 dark horse with a much less darker color this year.  smart kids and a very good coach.  watch out trojans and bears.  take stanford to win and cover.

that is it for the first week.  as usual top heavy with my favorite teams and conferences.  the pac-10 and the mountain west boys.  at any rate, it will probably only get more so as the season progresses.  just don’t get stupid.  leave your money in your wallets. 

fire up the barbie.  pop some brews and enjoy the spectacle of college football.  the best game in town.

jmh

the usc trojans, a 2009 football season preview

yeah, i’m at it again.  this time it’s my other favorite college football team, the trojans.  of course, i’m a pac 10 homer and a pac 10 honk as well.  plus, i’m damn proud of it.  it’s what us native california college football fans like to call our, west coast bias.  just a little something to take the edge off that east coast media bias everyone is so fond of here in california.  but that’s a major veer.

the trojans lost one of their best coaches during the off season.  steve sarkisian, who is now the head coach of the huskies up in washington.  will his leaving have any effect in the trojans?  perhaps a bit but for the most part, pete carroll, has things under control.  so things should cruise right along like they have been the past few years.  plenty of wins and either a rose bowl or national title game in the offing.  

time to break it down, kids.  rock ‘n’ roll.

9/05  san jose st.  game on fox sports net.  hopefully, the men of troy don’t take this game to easily.  sure, it’s san jose st but none the less, focus will be needed.  this is one of those games where pete is repaying a favor, debt, or some damn thing or another.  i can’t figure it out otherwise.  be that as it may, trojans win.

9/12  @ ohio st.  game on espn 5pm.  this time last year the yammering had already started on this game.  the game lived up to the hype but things didn’t work out that well, in the end, for the trojans.  this year?  the trojans go about their business and win again.

9/19  @ washington.  game on abc.  pete and steve meet in what might be a good game.  it just depends on what or who are left over from the huskies last season.  the team was pretty demoralized last year, especially towards the end.  ty willingham, was handling things well, all things considered, but the team gave up on him, the school and their own pride.  thinking, i’m not going pro so what do i care?  tragic on a few levels for sure.  i have that tidbit on good authority.  count on it.  ok, so, good game perhaps.  the trojans win.

9/26  washington st.  no tv as yet.  the cougars aren’t a pushover and another good game here.  i hope i get to watch it.  trojans win.

10/03  @ calif.  game on abc 5pm.  not an easy road trip this time in the season.  tedford still has the bears generally sorta playing well until  october/november.  crank up the barbie, pull the cork on some vino or three and hunker down.  north vs south.  good game.  trojans win a tight one.

10/17  @ notre dame.  day game on nbc.  two road trips in a row and no time off since before labor day.  a problem for the trojans?  probably not but only time will tell.  notre dame doesn’t have much of a schedule this year.  so sue me, golden domer fans.  i really don’t care.  they will probably be sporting a pretty good record when the trojans travel there.  charlie is going to need a win if he wants to get anyone other than the faithful to believe in him.  he won’t get it.  trojans win.

10/24  oregon st.  game on abc or espn 5pm.  the trojans get the beavers at home this year.  still no time off.  doesn’t matter, no tragic mistake, this time.  trojans win.

10/31  @ oregon.  game on abc or espn 5pm.  no time off.  again.  usc runs about as close as you can get to a pro offense and defense.  the defense saved them a few times last year.  the ducks offense is no match for the trojan’s defense.  trojans win.

11/07  @ arizona st.  game on abc or espn 5pm.  another road trip and still no time off.  doesn’t matter the trojans don’t lose in november.  trojans win.

11/14  stanford.  homecoming and no tv as yet.  stanford is good and getting better every year.  jim harbaugh, is recruiting some brainiacs who can play.  he’s also a good coach.  good game.  i hope i get to watch it.  you should hope you get to watch as well.  trojans win.

11/28  ucla.  game on fox sports net.  after a week off, finally, the trojans meet the bruins for lala land bragging rights.  plus it’s thanksgiving weekend.  sweet.  the southland’s version of the civil war.  doesn’t matter how bad or good either team is at the time.  the kids will play their hearts out.  count on it.  generally, one of the best games of the year.  as are all the big time college rivalry games.  trojans win.

12/05  arizona.  day game on abc.  keep it simple and on track.  trojans win.

yep, what can i say?  another year i predict the trojans will go 12-0.  they almost made it last year, only to be sidetracked by a good oregon st team, that got no respect from anyone media wise.  losing to them or anyone else won’t happen this year.  despite my crabbing about their schedule and lack of an off week till late in the season; i think it’s a good schedule and it gives them barely a month off before the big dance games come down the pike.  a good thing.  this is a national championship year for sure.  GO TROJANS!!!

jmh

the oregon ducks, a 2009 football season preview

time once again for my early season preview of one of my favorite pac 10 teams, the oregon ducks.  yes, i know, basketball plods on and on in that seemingly forever never-land of it just won’t ever go away.  ever.  deal.  yes, it’s only the first glimmer of june, so why is this clown yammering about college football and the ducks?  precisely.  i love college football and the ducks in particular.  both of which, since i was 10 years old.  but that’s a digression.

regular readers know all that stuff.  they also know i did my take on the ducks last year at this time, where i predicted they would go 11-1.  sadly, that wasn’t meant to be but they did manage a very nice and close to my prediction, 9-3, for the regular season.

this year the ducks have a new coach in, chip kelly, who was their offensive co-coordinator.  mike bellotti, has stepped down or up as the case may be to the schools athletic director job.  at any rate, chip was a pretty good man to have running an offense particularly with the injury problems the ducks have had the past few years.  let’s hope his first year at the helm will be as injury free for his starters as you can get or hope for.

alright, let’s break the schedule down.  it’s a wing and a prayer time,  kids.  however, just remember i have the right to change any opinions stated here when the chips really start to fall in september.

rock ‘n’ roll.

9/03  @ boise st.  game on espn.  boise st, one of the media darling teams.  i’ve had some of that kool-aid myself at times, but i’ll tell you what, smurf blue field or not, the ducks put out the notice they are for real, once again.  ducks win.

9/12  purdue.  game on fox sports net.  the second year in a row the boilermakers get thumped by the ducks.  ducks win.

9/19  utah.  game on espn.  ok, so here’s a team from of all places, utah, who i will still sip on some of the a fore mentioned kool-aid, if given half a chance.  so, ok, who wins?  yeah, i’m doin’ that little dance here, folks.  home game home team and the six points the ducks need to pull it off.  ducks win.

9/26  california.  game on abc.  it’s probably a shame the ducks run up against a tedford cal team in september.  point being, the bears are still more than likely playing ball and will not have hit their late october early november swoon that seems to smack them every year since tedford took over.  a good team here, kids.  ducks lose.

10/3  washington st.  the cougars will not make this one easy.  another home team home win and thanks, we’ll take that home field extra 6.  ducks win.

10/10  @ ucla.  astute readers will note that the ducks have not had a week off since the beginning of the season.  well, sorta after the boise st game but that break may not really count.  plus, it’s been all home games since that game and that one was just a little jaunt across the border, so to speak.  they travel to so cal and the rose bowl for this one.  no game time set so far, though i’m thinking it will probably be a day game.  early october in these parts can be a nasty affair, not cooling off till well after sunset.  yes, the bruins have no qb.  they probably will have other problems as well.  the trouble is what i’ve already mentioned.  sorry, ducks lose.

10/24  @ washington.  finally a couple of weeks off but they hit the road again.  the two premiere new coaches in the pac 10 face off for the first time.  depending on how the huskies are playing will tell the tale and just how bad of a team was left by the guy who probably shouldn’t have been fired, ty willingham.  ok.  ducks win.

10/31  usc.  game on abc or espn.  halloweenie time.  this will be one of those rare home game losses for the ducks.  pete isn’t going to make the same traveling to oregon mistake two years in a row.  count on it.  ducks lose.         

11/7  @ stanford.  stanford, the not so under the radar not so much of an underdog anymore.  shades of jim plunkett or john elway days?  time tells.  depending on how bad the ducks get tossed around by the trojans might tell the tale.  or perhaps up for the trojans and down for the cardinal.  ducks lose.

11/14  arizona st.  cold rainy november pacific northwest.  not the place for an amped up sun devil team.  ducks win.

11/21  @ arizona.  vaguely fall summer like weather for the ducks.  day game?  forget about it.  night game?  maybe.  ducks win a squeeker.

12/3  oregon st.  thursday night.  6pm.  game on espn.  civil war on a weeknight?  go figure.  kinda hard to figure but when it’s civil war i guess the day and time really don’t matter.  once again, time will stand still for this one, my friends.  this is what college football is all about.  frazier/ali.  ali/foreman.  time to get some.  ducks get some and win.

8 and 4.  not shabby but no rose bowl bid on new years day for sure.  but then again, who knows?  we shall see.  for sure, good enough for one of those moneymaker/more practice time bowl games at the end of the year.  after all, it’s just my take on the upcoming season.  best of luck to chip kelly and his ducks.  may his reign be long and may the football gods give him better than i’ve predicted.  get some, ducks!!!

jmh

college football bowl picks 2008-09

yes, kids, it’s that time of year again.  kris kringle and the college football bowl season.  it also signals the long wait between now and september of next year when things get rolling again.  no more thursday nights spent sipping ale and watching the game with the cat while the brown eyed girl is at her sculpture class.  ah, fond memories.  it almost brings a tear to my eye.  but i drift.

last year i ran the whole lot of them down.  not this year.  just like during the regular season i’m only doing ten of the games.  which brings another digression.  my final stats for the regular season were 80 for 146.  nothing outstanding but better than 50%.  sorta.

ok.  so only 10 bowl games for me this year because they are probably the only 10 i’ll actually sit through.  for the most part most of the games are stinkers and the only folks interested are the hapless fools who actually travel from where ever to whatever to sit in the stands and drink over priced brews.  maybe if you’re lucky you can snag a beer or two.  maybe not. 

the bowl folks and chamber of commerce folks love them though.  most of the time they make enough money on the rubes who do go sit and cheer for the old home team.  espn also pays a bundle for the games.  but that’s another blog.

enough yammering let’s rock ‘n’ roll.

dec 20, las vegas bowl, las vegas.  byu vs arizona.  arizona favored by 3 points.  it seems like byu is a perennial for this bowl game.  i guess the vegas wags figure that the mormons like to let their hair down once a year in vegas and the game gives them a chance to party down.  at any rate, for some reason arizona is the favorite.  i don’t think so.  byu doesn’t go to vegas to drink and mess with the hookers.  they go to play football.  take byu to win or cover the spread.

dec 23, poinsettia bowl, san diego.  boise st vs tcu.  tcu favored by 2.5 points.  san diego is fun any time of the year.  it’s just getting there that’s the hard part.  at least if you drive.  any the ways, this one is probably one of the best match-ups of the bowl season.  boise’s offense meets tcu’s defense.  the kicker being it’s a neutral field.  sweet.  no home smurf turf and boise gets to play a pretty good team.  take the horned toads frogs or whatever to win and cover.  in simple english, take tcu.

dec 24, hawaii bowl, honolulu.  notre dame vs hawaii.  hawaii favored by 1.5 points.  no one is really sure just why the golden domers are going to any bowl game this year.  the only reason being it’s a good bet the faithful will travel to the islands and while getting the sunburn of their lives go to see notre dame get beat.  it’s that simple.  charlie and the boys lose another one.  take hawaii.  hey, it’s christmas eve grab some absolut and hunker down.  merry christmas.

dec 27, emerald bowl, san francisco.  cal vs miami.  cal favored by 7 points.  if it’s not raining this could be an interesting game.  if cal shows up in a playing mood they might even cover the spread or win.  all they have to do is cross the oakland bay bridge and they are there.  seems simple enough but cal is disappointing most of the time.  take miami to win or cover the spread.

dec 30, holiday bowl, san diego.  oklahoma st vs oregon.  oklahoma st favored by 3 points.  another sleeper here kids.  this one is going to be a good one.  or at least it seems so on paper.  plus san diego once again.  i’m counting on my ducks to pull this one out of the almost new years eve hat and win.  take the ducks to cover the spread or win.  GO DUCKS!!!!

dec 31, sun bowl, ft worth.  oregon st vs pittsburg.  oregon st favored by 3 points.  yes, another pac 10 team.  your point?  oh, i’m a homer.  you bet i am.  this one could get ugly if the beavers take out their rose bowl frustrations on pitt.  i’m counting on it.  take the beavers to win and cover.  happy new year.

jan 1, rose bowl, pasadena.  usc vs penn st.  usc favored by 10 points.  it should be a good game.  if usc can find an offense and score more points than joe pa’s boys i’ll be a happy camper.  that’s the problem.  usc and their semi sorta offense.  actually i’m kind of glad sarkasian is leaving.  sue me.  the usc defense is the best in the nation.  at any rate, take usc to cover the spread and win.   

jan 2, cotton bowl, dallas.  texas tech vs ole miss.  texas favored by 5.5 points.  it’s nice to see ole miss in a bowl game.  to bad they have to play the red raiders from texas.  my sorta alma mater of sorts.  it should be a good game.  or at least i hope so.  take texas tech to win and cover the points.  also take the time to visit: http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/

jan 2, sugar bowl, the big easy.  utah vs alabama.  bama favored by 10.5 points.  usual readers know i’m an old tide fan.  i love em.  i’m also a fan of utah this year.  a dilemma for sure.  guess what?  take utah to cover the spread and maybe even win.  yep, they are probably already tired of hearing how badly the tide is going to stomp them.  i don’t think so.  utah, take em.

jan 8, bcs championship game, maimi.  oklahoma vs florida.  florida favored by 3.5 points.  i may or may not even watch this one.  i’m usually fed up with the bowls by this point in time.  simple easy.  take florida to win or cover.

that’s it.  the games i’ll more than likely watch.  maybe.  forget about the rest of them.  just remember not to get stupid and take my advice and put any money on any of these games.  games where anything can happen because the wait is too damn long after the regular season.  most of the kids will have been robbing liquor stores and smoking crack during the month before the games.  only a fool bets bowl games.  capice?  good.  enjoy the holidays and the games.  no more college football till september 09.  crap.  is it september yet?

jmh

just another weisacre(?)

earlier this week charlie weise slid into home and won himself another year at the helm of the fighting irish and their once vaunted football team.  followers of the golden domers and team touchdown jesus know that the irish have been in the doldrums for a number of years.  it was rumored that charlie was gonna get the ax if he lost to the trojans again this year. 

he did lose but somehow or another he saved his job.  one wag on a message board put it bluntly to the fact that charlie is white.  a not to subtle jibe at the golden domers and their bungling of the ty willingham deal.  yes, bungling.  ty has since come out and given notre dame credit for keeping charlie around.  ty willingham is a class act and a great human being.  however, this isn’t about ty.

veers and tangents scream through my addled brain here.  ty willingham’s wife and notre dame.  charlie weis and notre dame.  both a problem in a similar vein?  i don’t know i wasn’t or ain’t there.  but i hear stuff.  maybe you do too.  hear stuff like charlie is only into charlie.  no inroads in friend making or hang time with anyone.  plus he can’t seem to win with the kids he has.  

ok.  so charlie has a face to face with notre dame’s new athletic director, jack swarbrick.  fine.  charlie wasn’t doing well.  reportedly jack laid it out for charlie.  improve next year or adios.  next year everyone on the team will be charlie’s recruits.  sink or swim time.

i think the real reason charlie is still around is that mr. swarbrick didn’t want his first major act as athletic director to be the firing of charlie weis and his 3 or 4 super bowl rings.  yeah, i know charlie is also white.  or is charlie weis just another pro coach that can’t make it in the college game because he’s to arrogant and comes across as such.  and a majority of the kids can’t get behind whatever he’s dishing out as a coach.

all that would be some sort of supposition on my part and a number of folks part as well.  maybe or maybe not.  let’s take a look at notre dame’s line-up for next year 2009. 

nevada, a home game to start the year.  no guarantee win here.  nevada played some ball this year.  depending on the number of returning starters for nevada this could well be charlie’s first loss.  nevada’s returning starters may not have anything to do with it.  yeah, it’s their first trip to the home of the golden dome but if properly kept in balance it’s a win for them.

at michigan.  another coach with problems.  maybe even more than charlie. 
michigan wins.

michigan st at home.  another loss.

at purdue.  they might win this one again.  might being the operative word.

washington at home.  they will probably win this one.

open week.  no one scheduled as yet.  here’s a chance for charlie and jack to schedule someone that isn’t a cupcake.  i don’t want to see some crappy school stuck in here just to give charlie a win.  i want somebody competitive tossed in here.  a true bcs caliber team.  we shall see what happens.

usc at home.  another loss.

boston college at home.  another loss.

washington st at san antone, tx.  say what?  yeah, that’s what it says and i haven’t a clue as to why.  at any rate charlie might pull this one out.

navy at home.  could go either way.

at pittsburgh.  pitt can’t wait for this one.

connecticutt at home.  a win maybe.

at stanford.  stanford wins this one.

there ya go.  things don’t look good on paper at this point for charlie.   a semi sorta schedule that doesn’t help out usc at all.  meaning notre dame plays cupcakes anymore and when usc thumps them everybody just yawns and the trojans don’t move up to where they ought to be.  yes, homer john and his trojans.  i want notre dame to be good.  i want them to play a better caliber schedule so when usc beats them it means something.  capice?  

so bottom line?  i think charlie will be gone after next year’s season.  if he were black he would already be down the road.

jmh

college football week 15 picks

yeah, i changed the title format. yep, sure did.  at any rate, i was a tepid 5 for 10 last week.  i would have done better but i got bit by the point spread on a couple of games.  life, as it were.  my totals for the year are, 77 for 140.  i’m getting closer to the dreadful 50% mark.  like i said before, your pet chicken could do 50% easy.

sadly it’s the final week of the regular college football season.  only thing left are the bowl games.  more on that when the bowls get dealt out.  just remember that taking anything you read here is borderline insanity  if you go to somebody who will take your action and you give them my ‘action’ you are just lame and probably should be put away for your own good.

i’m only doing 6 games this week.  only 6 because the rest of what is left i could care less who wins or why or what the harold.  capice?  all that being said let’s get down with the last week of regular season college football.  damn, i miss it already.  is it september yet?  let’s rock ‘n’ roll.

louisville at rutgers.  rutgers favored by 11 points.  probably a good game.  i’ll be at a holiday party with the brown eyed girl.  maybe the tv will be on and tuned to espn.  one can only hope.  if louisville or rutgers played boise st’s dance card they would be 12 and 0 as well.  take rutgers to win and cover the points.

navy at army.  navy favored by 11.5 points.  the yearly pentagon bowl.  ok.  i was army back in the day.  just a draftee but army none the less.  the old man was army as well.  ww2 wise.  yeah, take army to cover.  they may not but, yeah, this one is always for the ages. 

boston college at virgina tech.  boston college favored by 1 point.  a toss up, kids.  and a stellar game as well.  the deal?  deal is boston college wins the game.

alabama at florida.  florida favored by 9.5 points.  sadly the game is over for the tide.  they finally meet their waterloo this year. take florida to win and cover.  yeah, ok.  the tide might actually win this but i doubt it.  wait till next year bama.  florida wins and covers.

usc at ucla.  usc favored by 32.5 points.  tons of points once again for the battle for the city of lost angels and bragging rights there of.  norm chow meets pete in the rose bowl for some sort of homecoming.  the bruins don’t have the players.  usc has more than enough to seal the deal and a rose bowl bcs bid.  or maybe more if the big 12 turns to dust.  at any rate, that old weez about any team and any given saturday especially a rivalry as hot and heavy as this one is any thing could happen.  take the trojans to win and cover.

just remember to keep your wallet in your pockets and things will turn out ok.  enjoy the games.

that’s it, the sad end of the regular season 2008 for college football.  nine months of wandering the desert of no college football await.  yeah, there’s the bowl games but they ain’t the same.  is it september yet?

jmh