RazorPress

Ok, so this should get us caught up…

Top Ten Things Seen/Read/Heard from Week 12

1. How good is Florida? No idea, but WOW. Just WOW. Half a hundred on the ol' ball coach is impressive.
2. Whomever would like to win the ACC, please stand up. With 2 weeks left, 8 of the 12 teams are still in the hunt for the "coveted" ACC Championship.
3. So, you play football for 129 years and it only takes Rich Rodriguez one year to allow your team to lose 8 games in a season for the first time ever. Nice job there Rich Rod.
4. Quietly, the Beavers are moving on up. They "control their own destiny", just like everyone else in college football. Win out, go to Rose Bowl.
5. After spotting Idaho 7, the Broncos rolled off 45 straight for a 45 - 10 win over the Vandals.
6. After leading 48 - 17 in the 3rd quarter, the Ducks had to hold off "Desert Swarm" to beat the Wildcats 55 - 45. Geez, gotta love that PAC-10 D.
7. Oh so close. Just ever so close to seeing "Pear Bryant" melt-down. The Irish hold off a serious last minute rally by Navy to beat the Midshipmen.
8. The Trojans avenge their loss to the Cardinal by stopping them late. The Cardinal played valiantly though.
9. Wow. You go from BCS Darling three weeks ago to hoping you can somehow win your conference. Tulsa gets just pummeled by Houston. Cougs 70 Tropical Depression 30. Wow!
10. And finally, how do you give up a 31 - 3 lead with 16:26 left in the game? And lose 40 - 31? If you are Troy that is how. Just run the ball!!!

Brick of the Week

Wow, this week it was either, everyone got the pick correct, or no one got the pick correct. It was a tale of dichotomies if I ever have seen one. However, we did have one person who sank to depths not seen by the other contestants this week. Everyone correctly predicted that Ohio State would once again win on the road in the Big 10(1). Even if it was against Illinois and ALL of that talent Zook has. Remember, someone still needs to coach that talent. So, alas, the BOTW this week goes to Mr. Jason "I need some more Juice" Shirey. Sorry bud.

Pick of the Week

Well this one was almost as easy to award as the BOTW was. However, it took some very good courage to step up to the plate and make this pick. Let's consider the evidence. This team had previously lost to Fresno State and NAVY! They had been playing well as of late, but to pull off a win over a conference foe on the road? A conference foe who had beaten Kansas?? Well, for picking the Rutgers Scarlett Knights to upend the Bulls of South Florida, the POTW this week goes to Mrs. Tammy "It's all about Ozzie and Ellie now" Tucker. Congratulations!

Champion of the Week

Once again, in a topsy turvy kind of week, we had some very unique picks this week. There were three individuals who were 7 - 3 and everyone else was 6 - 4. Yeah, pretty amazing actually. Those three who only missed 3 picks this week all missed North Carolina and Florida State losing. Thus we went to the Tie-breaker again this week. Becoming a pattern, eh? This weeks tie-break scores were not as good as last week though. In third place this week with a 24 tie-break score was Mr. Ben "All about the line" Gilbert. Runner-up this week with a tie-break score of 17 was Mr. Jon "You should see my cell phone" McCurdy. And that leaves this weeks COTW with a tie-break score of 13, that honor belongs to Mr. Steven "Bring on Boomer!!!" Leija. Congrats bud!

Ohio State 30
Illinois 20

Rutgers 49
South Florida 16

Georgia 17
Auburn 13

South Carolina 6
Florida 56

North Carolina 15
Maryland 17

California 21
Oregon State 34

USC 45
Stanford 23

Vanderbilt 31
Kentucky 24

Mississippi State 7
Alabama 32

Boston College 27
Florida State 17

7 - 3
Steven Leija (13)
Jon McCurdy (17)
Ben Gilbert (24)
6 - 4
Lisa Hill
April Mashburn
Jonathan Butcher
Jerry Tucker
Jason Shirey
Jessica Leija
Lance Williams
Gene Strode
Brian Mashburn
Tammy Tucker
Travis Stout
Damon Hill
Carroll Walls
No Picks
Chaz Brandon
Jamey Vaught
Jim Carter
Lee Smith

85 - 35

Jerry Tucker
84 - 36
Carroll Walls
83 - 37
April Mashburn
82 - 38
Gene Strode
Brian Mashburn
Steven Leija
81 - 39
Jason Shirey
79 - 41
Tammy Tucker
Ben Gilbert
78 - 42
Jessica Leija
Lisa Hill
73 - 47
Damon Hill
72 - 48
Lance Williams
77 - 33
Travis Stout
73 - 37
Jonathan Butcher
Jon McCurdy
33 - 17
Jamey Vaught
20 - 9
Jim Carter
11 - 9
Chaz Brandon
12 - 7
Lee Smith

Here are the results for Week 11.

Brick of the Week

This week saw some VERY good picks being made across the board, as the average number of correct picks was 7.75. Not too shabby for our 15 contestants submitting picks this week. However, there were a couple who stood out for their unfortunate ineptitude this week. The winner however, thought that surely the Cal Bears would put up enough of a fight to take down the mighty Trojans. However, they did not, and therefore as the only one thinking they could pull the upset, the BOTW goes to Mr. Brian "Really? I get it for that pick?" Mashburn. Sorry bud.

Pick of the Week

As is sometimes the case, this week, we really had no clear "PICK" that was worthy of the moniker POTW. There were several games that could have gone either way, but they didn't. When the worst percentage for the week is over .500 for any one game, it is hard to say that one person or even two or three should get the POTW. Therefore, this week, we will go with the 4 games that every single contestant correctly picked as being the POTW games. Those were Ohio State over Northwestern, Georgia over Kentucky, Florida State over Clemson, and Florida over Vanderbilt. Congratulations for each contestant for correctly picking those games.

Champion of the Week

Well, when you have as many correct picks as we had this week, that typically means we will have to use the tie-breaker and of course we did. Not only did we have two individuals get 9 out of 10, this week we had 3!! Therefore, we go to the tie-breaker and all three correctly picked Alabama over LSU. The tie-break scores were incredibly low as well. Coming in third with a tie-break score of 8, was Mr. Brian "I hate Berkley" Mashburn. And the runner-up this week with a tie-break score of 7 was Mr. Jason "I love me some Pear Bryant" Shirey. The winner this week, with a tie-break score of 2, was Mr. Gene "Just call me a homer" Strode. The only game Gene missed this weeK? Yep, Arkansas @ South Carolina It's okay bud.

Actual Scores of the Week

Ohio State 45
Northwestern 10

Georgia Tech 7
North Carolina 28

Georgia 42
Kentucky 38

Clemson 27
Florida State 41

Arkansas 21
South Carolina 34

Oklahoma State 20

Texas Tech 56

California 3
USC 17

Florida 42
Vanderbilt 14

Notre Dame 0
Boston College 17

Alabama 27
LSU 21 OT

Standings for Week 11

9 - 1
Gene Strode (2)
Brian Mashburn (7)
Jason Shirey (8)
8 - 2
April Mashburn
Jonathan Butcher
Ben Gilbert
Carroll Walls
Jerry Tucker
Travis Stout
7 - 3
Lisa Hill
Steven Leija
Jessica Leija
Lance Williams
Tammy Tucker
Damon Hill
No Picks
Chaz Brandon
Jamey Vaught
Jim Carter
Lee Smith
Jon McCurdy

Overall Standings After Week 11

79 - 31
Jerry Tucker
78 - 32
Carroll Walls
77 - 33
April Mashburn
76 - 34
Gene Strode
Brian Mashburn
75 - 35
Steven Leija
Jason Shirey
73 - 37
Tammy Tucker
72 - 38
Jessica Leija
Ben Gilbert
72 - 39
Lisa Hill
67 - 43
Damon Hill
66 - 44
Lance Williams

71 - 29
Travis Stout
67 - 33
Jonathan Butcher
66 - 34
Jon McCurdy
33 - 17
Jamey Vaught
20 - 9
Jim Carter
11 - 9
Chaz Brandon
12 - 7
Lee Smith

Here they are. They are due in my inbox no later than 10:00 AM CST Saturday, November 22, 2008.

1. NC State @ North Carolina (ACC vs ACC)
2. Tennessee @ Vanderbilt (SEC vs SEC)
3. Arkansas @ Mississippi State (SEC vs SEC)
4. #15 Michigan State @ #8 Penn State (Big 10(1) vs Big 10(1))
5. Mississippi @ #18 LSU (SEC vs SEC)
6. #14 BYU @ #7 Utah (MWC vs MWC)
7. #20 Pittsburgh @ #19 Cincinnati (Big East vs Big East)
8. #21 Oregon State @ Arizona (PAC-10 vs PAC-10)
9. Florida State @ #25 Maryland (ACC vs ACC)

Give the Score

10. #2 Texas Tech @ #5 Oklahoma (Little XII vs Little XII)

1. #11 Ohio State @ Illinois (Big 10(1) vs Big 10(1))
Once again, another game in the Big 10 for the Buckeyes means another win for the Buckeyes. Illinois does have speed and that gives the Buckeyes fits, however, the Illini have underachieved all year, so don't expect miracles now.
Buckeyes 27 Illini 17
2. Rutgers @ South Florida (Big East vs Big East)
Rutgers has turned things around, sort of, as the year as gone along. However, when you play in the Big Least week in and week out, that is kind of easy to do. Look for the Scarlett Knights to give them a run, but in the end the Bulls are too strong at home.
Knights 20 Bulls 31
3. #10 Georgia @ Auburn (SEC vs SEC)
This season can't end soon enough for Tubberville. The question is, will it be his last on the plains? Phat Phil's era has ended in Knoxville and many predict that the season that wasn't is about to end for Tubberville, along with his coaching career there. Remember, this team started in the Top 10 pre-season. YIKES! Stafford has a heyday on the Plains.
Bulldogs 42 Tigers 20
4. #25 South Carolina @ #4 Florida (SEC vs SEC)
The final hurdle that Super Tebow will face in the regular season of the SEC. They still do have the Seminoles the last weekend, but honestly, the Seminoles play in the ACC, not the SEC. The Gamecock defense is pretty good. I say pretty good because my Hogs moved the ball at will on them, when they didn't shoot themselves in the foot. So, if Tebow can keep it between the lines, the Gators should roll in the Swamp.
Gamecocks 17 Gators 31
5. #16 North Carolina @ Maryland (ACC vs ACC)
Butch Davis and the Tarheels continue to surprise week in and week out. This will be a very tough test for this young team, but I think Davis will have them ready and it is late in the year, so those Freshmen are really Sophomores by now. Look for a close game though.
Tarheels 31 Turtles 28
6. California @ Oregon State (PAC-10 vs PAC-10)
In Corvalis, the Beavers are just too tough. They knocked off USC already there, so look for them to take care of the Bears from Berkley. The diminutive backs of Oregon State get lost in the OL and pile up the yards on the ground.
Bears 20 Beavers 35
7. #6 USC @ Stanford (PAC-10 vs PAC-10)
They say pay-backs are hell. Well, hell could come in Stanford today. After the monumental upset of the century in the Coliseum last year, the Cardinal now face a Trojan defense that is MUCH better than last year and an Offense that struggled last week. I think they were looking ahead to this game, honestly. Pete Carroll will take the opportunity to run up the score to impress voters. He hates the BCS.
Trojans 52 Cardinal 13
8. Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (SEC vs SEC)
The Vanderbilt Commodores are just free-falling. Remember when they were the feel-good story of the College Football season at 5 - 0?? Yeah, well after 5 straight wins to start the season, they have tanked and followed that up with 4 straight losses. The depth just isn't there for the Commodores and any type of injury REALLY affects them. The Wildcat offense appeared to find its stride last weekend again the Bulldogs. They came up just a little short. They won't this week.
Dores 17 Cats 38
9. Mississippi State @ #1 Alabama (SEC vs SEC)
Alabama continues to end streaks this year. 8 straight years of not winning the SEC West. Ended. 3 straight losses to LSU. Ended. 2 straight losses to the Bulldogs from Starkville? Ends today. Look for the Tide defense to once again rise to the occasion and possibly pitch another shut-out. JPW does just enough and the #1 Tide roll late.
Bulldogs 6 Tide 31

10. Boston College @ #19 Florida State (ACC vs ACC)
Bobby has suspended 5 WR for this game after an on-campus brawl in the Union at Tallahassee. This one though probably won't be decided through the air. The Noles have one of the best ground games in the country. However, the Eagles have one of the best run defenses in the country. This game will be decided up front. Can the Noles OL open up enough holes for the RB to work? Will the BC LB fill those holes enough to completely stop the Noles RB? I am going with the Noles at home, even if they don't have 5 of their WR.
Eagles 13 Noles 27

They say don’t waste your time
You simply cannot find
An ounce of good within the heart of man

They say we’ve got to lay
In the bed we’ve made
And live this life without a second chance

But I’m inclined to say
There must be something more

We’ve been told that the heart is just too far gone to save
But grace tells us another story
Where glory sends hopelessness away
Oh grace tells us another story

They say we cannot change
There is no other way
Get used it cause this is all there is.

They say don’t raise your voice
Cause we don’t have a choice
We’re dealt this hand so learn to live with it

Well I have to believe
There must something more

And though we may not understand
Why You’d give us another chance
We praise You who lets us start again

Here are the games for week 12 of the contest.
Picks are due in my inbox no later than 10 AM CST, Saturday November 15, 2008.

1. #11 Ohio State @ Illinois (Big 10(1) vs Big 10(1))
2. Rutgers @ South Florida (Big East vs Big East)
3. #10 Georgia @ Auburn (SEC vs SEC)
4. #25 South Carolina @ #4 Florida (SEC vs SEC)
5. #16 North Carolina @ Maryland (ACC vs ACC)
6. California @ Oregon State (PAC-10 vs PAC-10)
7. #6 USC @ Stanford (PAC-10 vs PAC-10)
8. Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (SEC vs SEC)
9. Mississippi State @ #1 Alabama (SEC vs SEC)

Give the Score

10. Boston College @ #19 Florida State (ACC vs ACC)

Here are the results from week 10:

Brick of the Week

The fall of the mighty Volunteer empire in college football is pretty much complete. What Phillip Fulmer had built in Knoxville he has completely demolished now after staying well passed his welcome it appears. He has decided to step down at the end of the season and therefore saving the university millions of dollars in meal charges as well as countless sheep will be spared from having their wool dyed to make those hideous volunteer orange sweater vests for Fulmer in size XXXXXL. That being said. There were a couple of individuals who felt that this announcement was coming and that the Volunteers would be fired up to play the Ol Ball Coach and actually win in Columbia. However, that wasn't the case, and therefore, the BOTW goes to Mr. Chaz "I am late, but let's get the party started" Brandon and Mr. Lance "The Vols could be as bad as my Raiders" Williams. Congratulations guys.

Pick of the Week

The PAC-10 is an anomaly all unto itself. It's members can be world beaters one week and then can't beat their own shadows the next week. It lends itself to a very difficult task when trying to decide which side of the coin a given team in the PAC-10 will land on any given week in college football. Thus we are taken to our POTW game with the might Ducks of Oregon visiting the Bears of Berkley and the University of California. The Ducks have played outstanding offensive football for years and the Bears have been up and down in Teford's tenure in Berkley. This was the Ducks year, or so we thought. The Bears defense (with help from mother nature) stepped up and the Bears came away victorious and handed the POTW to Mr. Travis "It's all about the pheasants" Stout and Mr. Jason "Arkansas stopped the Gus Bus" Shirey. Congratulations guys.

Champion of the Week

As the weeks fly by, and the contests enters the final stages, it is becoming oh so evident that we will not have a perfect week this year in the Pick-Em. That will be the first time that has happened in the 8 years I have been running this contest. That my friends is either showing the every growing parity of college football or the every increasing ineptitude of us the spectators. Either way, it is something to keep an eye on. The COTW this week did pull out a stellar 8 - 2 record for the week and if not for two last second plays he would have been 10 - 0. However, he still had a good enough record to win this week and therefore the COTW for Week 10 is Mr. Travis "Wreck-em Rambling Wreck" Stout. Congratulations bud.

Scores for the Week

Auburn 7
Ole Miss 17

Northwestern 24
Minnesota 17

Tulsa 23
Arkansas 30

Florida 49
Georgia 10

Florida State 28
Georgia Tech 31

Nebraska 28
Oklahoma 62

TCU 44
UNLV 14

Tennessee 6
South Carolina 27

Oregon 16
California 26

Texas 33
Texas Tech 39

Standings for the Week

8 - 2
Travis Stout
7 - 3
Steven Leija
Carroll Walls
Jon McCurdy
Jerry Tucker
6 - 4
Lisa Hill
April Mashburn
Jessica Leija
Damon Hill
5 - 5
Jonathan Butcher
Gene Strode
Lance Williams
Brian Mashburn
4 - 6
Ben Gilbert
Jason Shirey
Tammy Tucker
Chaz Brandon
No Picks
Jamey Vaught
Jim Carter
Lee Smith

Overall Standings After Week 10

71 - 29
Jerry Tucker
70 - 30
Carroll Walls
69 - 31
April Mashburn
68 - 32
Steven Leija
67 - 33
Brian Mashburn
Gene Strode
66 - 34
Tammy Tucker
Jason Shirey
Jon McCurdy
65 - 35
Jessica Leija
64 - 36
Ben Gilbert
Lisa Hill

60 - 40
Damon Hill
59 - 41
Lance Williams

63 - 27
Travis Stout
59 - 31
Jonathan Butcher
33 - 17
Jamey Vaught
20 - 9
Jim Carter
11 - 9
Chaz Brandon
12 - 7
Lee Smith

Ohio State @ Northwestern
Buckeyes are too tough in their conference and win another one on the road. Buckeyes 24 Northwestern 17

Georgia Tech @ North Carolina
This is a tough one to call. Carolina seems to win games they shouldn't and Tech has just ran over people this year. I think the Jackets get a big win on the road. Jackets 24 Heels 21

Georgia @ Kentucky
The wildcats have a great defense unless you are the Gators and Georgia has struggled on offense at times. Right doesn't lose another SEC game though. Bulldogs 28 Wildcats 14

Clemson @ Florida State
No Bowden Bowl so who cares?? I think Florida State could win this one with their eyes shut. Tigers 13 Noles 31

Arkansas @ South Carolina
This one will be whomever can score 20 first wins. The offenses have been less than stellar and the defenses have been par. Hogs 24 Cocks 20

Oklahoma State @ Texas Tech
The emotion from the huge win over Texas last week will be the Red Raiders undoing this week against a very good Cowboy team. Cowboys 35 Raiders 31

Cal @ USC
Once again the men of troy have no problem against the nerds from berkley. That is if they can break from the protesting of Prop 8 long enough to play the game. Bears 17 Trojans 35

Florida @ Vanderbilt
The Gators are this year's Georgia team except they control their own destiny. Bowl eligibility waits another week fir the Dores. Gators 42 Dores 20

Notes Dame @ Boston College
The boys from BC have too much D and the Urish are deflated from the 4OT loss to Pitt. Irish 17 BC 28

Alabama @ LSU
Sabah goes back to the Bayou but brings a tremendous team with him. The Tigers have been lost on both sides of the ball recently and that doesn't bode well for them this weekend. Bama 27 Tigers 21

Here they are.
They are due in my inbox no later than 10 am CST Saturday, November 8, 2008.

1. #11 Ohio State @ #24 Northwestern (Big 10(1) vs Big 10(1))
2. #20 Georgia Tech @ #19 North Carolina (ACC vs ACC)
3. #13 Georgia @ Kentucky (SEC vs SEC)
4. Clemson @ #22 Florida State (ACC vs ACC)
5. Arkansas @ South Carolina (SEC vs SEC)
6. #9 Oklahoma State @ #2 Texas Tech (Little XII vs Little XII)
7. #21 California @ #7 USC (PAC-10 vs PAC-10)
8. #5 Florida @ Vanderbilt (SEC vs SEC)
9. Notre Dame @ Boston College (Independent VS ACC)

Give the Score:

10. #1 Alabama @ #16 LSU (SEC vs SEC)