2017 Six-Pick Week 4

An even worse week than last week awaits us, with loser-leaves-town matches going on at a couple of venues this Saturday. Again no perfect picks last week; since the odds of 8-for-8 are 1 in 256 (I finally get some real-world use out of my Discrete Math class), you'd think we would have had somebody get them all now. Several got 7-of-8. Not me, as the law of averages drives me back to 12-12 on the season.

Remember, you make your picks at CBSSports.com (LINKY HERE).

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Texas A&M (-3) at Arkansas
Factoid #1: An uptick in sales of Duluth Trading's Armachillo Cooling Cargo Pants in College Station this season was brought on by Kevin Sumlin's absurdly hot seat.
Factoid #2: Bret Bielema is on the rules committee, which is worth at least +1 in turnover margin per game.
PICK: Neither of these teams makes you feel very confident here. I'll take A&M.


Factoid #1: Since the start of 2013, NC State has a total of 2 wins over P5 teams that finished the year with a winning record. Pictured: their typical behavior in their losses.
Factoid #2: Colorado State has already played 4 games going into the weekend, while FSU has played only 1.
PICK: This is FSU's first game without Deondre Francois, but it won't matter because NC State has hit their ceiling under Dave Doeren. FSU covers.

Michigan (-10) at Purdue
Factoid #1: Michigan has gained 1 yard or less on 43 of their 88 first down plays on offense.
Factoid #2: Purdue is one of the few schools bold enough to name their team after an alcoholic drink. Kudos to them.

PICK: This looks like quite the little trap for Michigan, with Mike Hart's favorite little brother up for them next week. I'm taking a greatly improved Purdue team to cover, and wouldn't be surprised if they spring the upset.

Mississippi State at Georgia (-5)
Factoid #1: MSU pounded LSU last week, just their third win over LSU since 1992.
Factoid #2: Kirby Smart indicated QB Jacob Eason may have lost his starting job due to injury Tuesday. Don't see that one too often.

PICK: I believe MSU's better this year, but not as good as they looked against an LSU team that'll underachieve. Georgia covers.

Florida (-3) at Kentucky

Factoid #1: Florida's last-second TD against Tennessee last week was their first completion over 10 yards the entire game.
Factoid #2: Kentucky has somehow appeared in the top 8 games two weeks in a row. Like, Kentucky football. Huh.
PICK: Florida gets caught on the road against an improved Kentucky squad.

Penn State (-10) at Iowa
Factoid #1: Penn State RB Saquon Barkley returns after calling out Iowa's defense following last year's game.
Factoid #2: Kirk Ferentz is the longest tenured coach in FBS, having taken over from Craig T. Nelson after his show was cancelled.

PICK: While I'd love to take Iowa here, they're well on their way to a typical 8-4 finish and can spare this loss. Penn State covers.

Notre Dame (-4) at Michigan State
Factoid #1: Did you know this is a trophy game? They apparently play for a megaphone. Midwest rivalries are weird.
Factoid #2: This is the last time Michigan State will play Notre Dame until 2026. Conference realignment is gross sometimes.

PICK: I wonder if Mark Dantonio hasn't entered late Beamer territory. Give me Notre Dame.

UCLA at Stanford (-7)
Factoid #1: UCLA managed to lose as a ranked team to a G5 team last week (Memphis).
Factoid #2: Stanford managed to lose as a ranked team to a G5 team last week (San Diego State). Plus the lights went out.

PICK: Stanford's loss can be excused as a hangover, but Memphis actually looked like the better team vs. UCLA. I'll take Stanford and lay the points.

DRINK OF THE WEEK:

I've always liked Gentleman Jack, the mellower, less bar-fight oriented version of it's older brother Jack Daniels. The fact that they had it on sale for $28 at my local liquor store made it a must-get this week. Come to think of it, I've never seen it at a discount before anywhere. Is it not as popular as I thought it was?

Remember, we're making our picks on CBSSports.com (LINKY HERE), though feel free to let everybody know what the correct answers will be in the comments.

DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Comments

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Amateur superstar and idiot extraordinaire.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. " Rocky B.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in bad humor.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I love a good nap. Sometimes that's all that's getting me out of bed in the morning.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you play it, they will win.

"How the ass pocket will be used, I do not know. Alls I know is, the ass pocket will be used." -The BoD

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What kind of person would throw away a perfectly good dog?"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you play it, they will win.

"How the ass pocket will be used, I do not know. Alls I know is, the ass pocket will be used." -The BoD

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you play it, they will win.

"How the ass pocket will be used, I do not know. Alls I know is, the ass pocket will be used." -The BoD

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"You know when the Hokies say 'We are Virginia Tech' they're going to mean it."- Lee Corso

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I just sit on my couch and b*tch. - HokieChemE2016

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I just sit on my couch and b*tch. - HokieChemE2016

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

There's always a lighthouse. There's always a man. There's always a city.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..