The first week of October and its already week 6. Some teams will be halfway done with the regular season after this week. This a bit weird, as its barely even fall.
Like everyone, I have a couple of College Football crushes that are outside Blacksburg. No. 1 will always be Steve Spurrier, but my current no. 2 is MANBALL. No one, not even Alabama plays more MANBALL than Stanford. They often line up 8+ Offensive Linemen/Tight ends to mash face and then do it. /SWOON. Now they are working on a 9 man Offensive Line package. Oh my.
The Games:
Thursday, October 3rd
(12) UCLA -4.5 at Utah ~~ 10:00 pm FS1
- For those of you that are insomniacs, in college or non-essential gubbies, this could be worth your while to stay up late at night with a double sixer in
- UCLA fans are living high. Things haven't been this good in Westwood since the Cade McNown years and now with USC imploding, can they make the move to conference elite?
Pick: Utah getting the points as a home dog on televised Thursday night game.
***
Saturday, October 5th
(25) Maryland at (8) Florida State -14.5 ~~ 12:00 pm ESPN
- A fever dream, but I think the Terps are ranked. We gave HC Randy Edsall a lot of crap, but he deserves a tip 'o cap for what he and the back of Mike Locksley's van have produced in two short years
- Another kind of dream (wet) are the coeds, even during the last decade when FSU fans were humbled, they always proved ELITE. Fear the spear
Pick: Maryland getting the points, they'll keep it to less than two touchdowns.
***
Georgia Tech at (14) Miami -4.5 ~~ 3:30 pm ESPNU
- Swagger and BACK jokes are more than bit played, but Ill be the first a-hole to roast the Canes and their fans when the trip up
- Bad option team my ass, Paul Johnson, the GiT offensive line got their lunch handed to them. This week will tell us a lot about their OL and the Canes improved DL
Pick: Da U laying the points. The Canes always play the Jackets tough and they have a lot better offense to exploit GTs defense.
***
(24) Ole Miss -2.5 at Auburn ~~ 7:00 pm ESPNU
- Yes, this is the SEC kiddie table, but a lot of mash taters and gravy gonna be thrown at each other while the adults arent looking
- DJANGO Defense (H/T @Fightin_Gobbler) will be in full effect this game. This will look more like the Big 12 than the SEC
Pick: Auburn getting the points. I think Ole Miss has a little more talent, but being road favorites in a tough place to play after a tough loss ... feeling Malzahn here.
***
(4) Ohio State -5.5 at (16) Northwestern ~~ 8:00 pm ABC
- Gameday is at Northwestern. Let that sink in. This feels like one of their pity locations, but Im sure the dozens and dozens of Fighting Wilbons will make the set feel like Bristol
- If you hate tOSU, pray for the Wildcats to ball out of their minds because it's this game, then five B1G Ten punching backs before a date with Michigan
Pick: Ohio State by a couple of touchdowns. This will be a drubbing.
***
(15) Washington at (5) Stanford -6.5 ~~10:30 pm ESPN
- The Cardinal have this time slot all to themselves, they could have the nations undivided attention, though more than a few (myself included) will be blotto
- Think Sark sent Kiffin a "How my ASS taste" text on Sunday? If the rumors are true, when they were co-coordinators at USC, it was Sark who did the heavy lifting
Pick: Stanford by a touchdown and a field goal feels right, they'll cover and win at the line of scrimmage.
***
Beer of the Week:
After the Hokie game, I'll be heading to a neighborhood Oktoberfest party, with a couple kegs of homebrew to be drunk while enjoying the afternoon games, listening to live music and playing cornhole.
Overview:
UCLA -4.5 at Utah
Maryland at Florida State -14.5
Georgia Tech at Miami -4.5
Ole Miss -2.5 at Auburn
Ohio State -5.5 at Northwestern
Washington at Stanford -6.5
Please pick and leave comment against me and other TKPers (against the spread.)
Comments
UCLA
Maryland (they'll keep it closer than 14.5, but they'll lose)
Miami
Auburn
Northwestern (COME ON SMART PEOPLE)
Stanford
UCLA - A SoCal team I don't mind cheering for
FSU - BC dumped some cold water on their heads
GT - ANGER
AU - they have Malzahn back who actually won that NC
OSU - Those boys are rolling all the way to Pasadena
Stanford - Like you said, those boys just play smash mouth football
UCLA
FSU wins, but Maryland covers
Miami
Auburn
OSU
Stanford
Right there with you.
yeah, i got suckered on that line of thought too.
It's the half point...they get you EVERY time with that little bit of candy. 14, eh, maybe. 14.5! Bingo, they will cover THAT!
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Auburn
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA -4.5
Maryland +14.5
Miami -4.5
+2.5 at Auburn
Ohio State -5.5
Stanford -6.5
UCLA (and winning)
Maryland (covering only)
Miami (and winning)
Auburn (and winning)
Ohio State (and winning)
Washington (I actually pick this as an upset)
UCLA
Florida State (It'll be close though)
Georgia Tech (I'm thinking vengeance)
Ole Miss (It'll be close)
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA- too much offense
Maryland- will keep up, and might win cuz FSU's D is a work in progress
GT- hope they are ticked off
Ole Miss- see above, after goose egg in Tuscaloosa
tOSU- failed to cover last week, but worth another shot
Stanford- Man ball for sure
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Auburn
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
F$U - When you are back you are back
Rambling Wreckage - (GT)
Ole Miss - Go fighting Ackbars
tOSU - Does Northwestern have a D?
Stanford
UCLA
UMD
Miami
Ole Miss
OSU
Stanford
UCLA
FSU
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Washington
should be a good weekend of football
Da Bears
Derp Terps
Nerds over thugs
Hotty Toddy
Buckeyes
Bigger Nerds over Dogs
Bruins
Terps
DA U IS BACK FOREVER
War Eagle
Gotta go with the cats (please)
Hippie Tree
Utah
Maryland
Miami
Ole Miss
OSU
Stanford
Beer:
Barnhouse Brewery Banshee Irish Red
http://www.barnhousebrewery.com/Pages/Home.aspx
UCLA
Twerps
Da U
Ole Miss
tOSU
Trees
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Ole Miss
OSU STanford
Beer: Schlafly Biere de Garde
Also doing a fall beer tasting with friends: Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale, New Belgium Coconut Curry Hefeweizen, and Ommegang's Biere de Garde.
Don't ever ever EVER drink the New Belgium coconut curry hefe. It's like drinking curry powder with a little beer in the background. Disgusting. I ended up chugging so I didn't have to taste because well, college.
UCLA
UMD
Canes
Auburn
OSU
Stanford
UCLA
Turtles to cover
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
FSU
GT
Ole Miss
Ohio State
WA
Go Hokies! Good times at the moon tower Saturday afternoon/night!
UCLA
Maryland
Da U
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
Beer: Either Sam Adams Octoberfest or Dogfish Punkin Ale
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
UMD
Miami
Auburn (toss up of the week)
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA -4.5
Maryland +14.5
Miami -4.5
Auburn +2.5
Ohio State -5.5
Stanford -6.5
UCLA
Florida State puts a hurtin on the turtles
Miami vad lee combust
Ole Miss they can't be shut out twice in a row, right?
Ohio State
Seinfeld...I mean Stanford
Beer: Shock Top.
UCLA
Twerps only because I think F$U won't completely blow them out
Miami won the toss
Rebs by at least a FG
Ohio State - #BeattheFightingJournalists!
Washington won the toss
oh yeah, and beer is Guinness because Jax locals only brew IPA's apparently
4-2 if the Huskies keep within 7 of Stanford
3-3 if not.
UCLA
FSU
GT
OLE MISS.
BUCKEYES
STANFORD
Bruins win and cover
Maryland gets the points, FSU gets the win. And dadgum it, I have a real hard time adequately hating FSU when you post pics like that!
GT gets the win outright in an upset
Ole Miss wins and covers
tOSU wins in a beatdown
Stanford wins and covers in a demonstration of big-boy football
UCLA
FSU (their d is embarrassed and you can't hang around with girls like that when you let BC hang 38 on you)
Miami
Auburn, ole miss has been exposed
OSU
Stanford pulls away in the second half
UCLA
Florida State
Miami
Auburn
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Auburn
Northwestern
Washington
UCLA
Maryland covers
Miami
Auburn covers
Ohio State
Washington
UCLA -4.5
Murland +14.5 (but barely...I don't see them being in this game at all...)
Miami -4.5 the Wreck will live up to their name
Auburn +2.5 The bulldog is not what they thought they were this year. Someone has to disappoint in the $EC.
Ohio State -5.5 Easy street....
Washington +6.5 U Dub!!!
I think these are the toughest picks of the year so far, but here we go...
1. UCLA
2. FSU
3. da U
4. Ole Miss
5. Buckeyes
6. Washington
UCLA
FSU
Miami
Auburn
Ohio State
Stanford
Bruins
Twerps
Da U
Rebels
Buckeyes
Cardinal
UCLA
FSU
GT
Ole Miss
tOSU
Stanford
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
Maryland
Georgia Tech
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
Florida State
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
FSU
Miami
Auburn
tOSU
Cardinals/Trees
UCLA
Maryland
Georgia Tech
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA
FSU
Miami
Auburn
Ohio State
Washington
UCLA (i should watch more west coast ball, these are the games I'm always pulling out of a hat for the pick 6)
Maryland (awful big spread for ol' free shoes u)
Miami (TheArchitect's lock of the week - a feature I may or may not be starting today. Follow along at your own risk)
Ole Miss (I'll take the fightin' freshmen over War Damn Eagle here)
Northwestern (And my weekly 'wishful thinking' pick...)
Washington at Stanford -6.5
Doh! I usually copy/paste your summary at the end, and then delete to make my picks... Looks like I didn't make the last pick. Since I still have a second before it works, let me take Stanford... If I didn't come in under the gun, feel free to give me the loss. Thanks!
Utah
MD barely
Miami
Auburn
Northwestern
Stanford
Some toss-ups in there.
UCLA
UMD
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
Let's hope this gets me back on track...
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA --Hundley is good.
FSU -- Famous Jameis is good.
GT -- Vad Lee is go....haha jk. I think PJ verbally abused them enough after all the false starts and bad play to the point that they're afraid of losing.
Ole Miss -- Have to win after last week.
Ohio State -- Their QB situation is a lot like our DB situation.
Washington -- Sarkisian needs something he can make 72 font size and bold on his resume before sending it to USC.
Utah +4.5
Florida State -14.5
Georgia Tech +4.5
Auburn +2.5
Ohio State -5.5
Washington +6.5
Back to .500, pushing for more
UCLA - Feel that they impress on national stage and stay undefeated until they play Stanford
Maryland - Sleepy first noon game for FSU
Miami - I'd love to be wrong on this one
Ole Miss - Think they get a bounce back game
Ohio State - Already booked by hotel in Columbus for next year #BEATOSU
Stanford - Tough football wins out, I'm a big fan of Stanford as well
Ucla
Florida st
Georgia tech
Ole miss
Ohio state
Stanford
Utah
MD
GT
Auburn
tOSU
Stanford
UCLA
UMD
UM
Auburn
OSU
Stanford - Sarkasian will be in LA. If you hadn't heard the news yet, there's an opening for head coach at USC.
Doin' Bruins - I've seen Utah choke at home on a TV night game a few times.
FSU - UMd gets exposed, and Jimbo pours it on because it looks good to pollsters to slap the shit out of a ranked team.
GT - just got a feeling.
Auburn - If they were doing Hotty Toddy on the Grove, I'd feel different.
OSU - Think the Buckeyes have something here.
Stanford.
Really hit the nail on the head of the fsu Maryland game... Hahaha good stuff.
UCLA
Not-so-Terriblepins
Hurricanes - before NCAA sanctions
Ole Miss - It's a Trap, but I literally flipped a coin
OSU
Stanford
What they call pickups in Australia... AKA Utes
Ninja Turtles
Da U
War Eagle
Buckeyes
Cardinal
UCLA
FSU
Miami
Ole Miss
OSU
Stanford
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Auburn
OSU
Stanford
UCLA
Maryland (wins. Yes, I'm calling for upset. Jameis goes blind looking at the shiny helmets Maryland will no doubt wear)
GT (Miami looked pretty weak, and GT comes out pissed we beat them at their stadium when they were turning 100)
Auburn beats the spread and loses
OSU
Stanford
UCLA
MD
GT
War Eagle
OSU
Stanford
UCLA
Twerps
Canes
Auburn- The other Tigers
Ohio State
Stanford
Beer this week:
Heading back to the Burg for my annual HC trip...So it will be random, continuous beers in Macado's Schooner glasses.
First off I love how college football just continues to gain steam as the season goes along. I'm definitely looking forward to this week's slate of games, especially in the ACC.
UCLA -4.5 at Utah: Hard for me to get into this one, but I'll take the baby Bruins
Maryland at Florida State -14.5: Even if MD loses, it will say a lot if they can keep it close. I'll take the Turtle getting the points.
Georgia Tech at Miami -4.5: Miami will score enough to get the win, but I'll take the Jackets to keep it close.
Ole Miss -2.5 at Auburn: The Rebels
Ohio State -5.5 at Northwestern tOSU and it won't even be close
Washington at Stanford -6.5 The Cardinal will roll
C'mon, 12-0! (ignoring my first one, of course...)
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Auburn
Northwestern
Stanford
UCLA
Maryland covers
Miami
Auburn
OSU
Stanford
UCLA
FSU
Miami (but maybe Vad Lee surprises?)
Auburn
OSU
Stanford
Les Vins d'Alsace with the wife.
UCLA
Free Shoes U
GIT
Ole Miss
OSU
Stanford
Utah
UCLA is on a roll but playing away on a Thursday night is going to be the bump in the road as the Bruins are already looking ahead to USC.
Saturday picks later...
...and now to my Saturday Picks...
F$U
Winning makes people forget almost anything. Randy Edsall is still a dick but he is at his dream job and he is got the Terps ranked and on a hot streak. F$U has famous Jameis, if he isn't the second coming, he is as close as it gets. He will restore F$U back to their glory days or not. I think Maryland can cover, if the game was only 2 quarters instead of 4. Plus the hot girl pick gets me every time.
daU
If you play GiT and don't watch tape of every VT game then you should be looking for a job outside of football. You may not have a Fuller (who does? Foe-rensics will tell us) but the blueprint is there. GiT will be fired up as only CPJ can get them, which is not much. daU should win fairly easy.
Ole Miss
I am going with the not as bad QB over the bad QB. It may be ESS EEE CEE but not a marque game by any stretch.
tOSU
Just like with Wisconsin last week, I really want tOSU to fail this week. Not going to happen. Northwestern doesn't have the defense to hang with tOSU. It will be close for maybe a quarter. (h/t to the I in the picture, How ya doing?)
uDub
This is a total homer pick but uDub is rolling and at least 8 people in Seattle are excited about it. I think Stanford will win but the Huskies have a good defense and Bishop Sankey, which is a great name and he is setup perfectly if he ever decides to enter the priesthood. Stanford is not afraid to line up 54 offensive lineman on certain plays and they will wear uDub down, but I think it will be close. On a side note, I will have my first beer around 9:00am, my guess is my wife will not be talking to me by the time this game kicks off.
These picks are brought to you by Ayinger Oktoberfest. A little bit darker of a beer than I normally drink but still good and fairly light. I also didn't have much to choose from at my semi-ghetto mini market. It will be Rogers Pilsner tomorrow.
Go Hokies!
UCLA
Maryland
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio St
Stanford
Utah
Florida State
Miami
Ole Miss
Ohio State
Stanford
Gettin these in fairly late:
UCLA
derps
the U
Ohio State
Auburn
Stanford
UCLA -4.5 at Utah (missed kickoff so give me the losing team)
Maryland at Florida State -14.5
Georgia Tech at Miami -4.5
Ole Miss -2.5 at Auburn
Ohio State -5.5 at Northwestern
Washington at Stanford -6.5
UCLA - Going back to my old methodology for picking, they have way more attractive women. Covering the points and winning.
Florida State - Much like UCLA, lots of attractive women, will not cover the spread but will win
Miami - has seen how to stop GT, but does not have the athletes to do so. They will however score way more than we did, so Miami will cover and win
Ole Miss - Despite having their a-'s handed to em they're still better than Auburn. Ole Miss for the cover and win.
Ohio State - will cover and win... in spite of me and how much I don't like their pretentious "the"
Stanford - someone else said it, but they plan man football and will thus win and cover
*Edit* My drink will be water because I am week 2 into a whole 30
psst ... ucla played last night already.
Ugh I forgot they played last night. I knew there was a game on I wanted to see and all I could find on TV was Texas vs Iowa State. Turned out to be a pretty close game, but I would have rather seen UCLA. I get FS1, I wonder why I didn't see it while I was flipping around channels.
Ha! I was worried about that. Didn't look at the schedule and forgot to do this earlier... Glad I at least picked correctly, but I know I don't get credit, no drama.
I didn't realize these needed to be in last night, so if its ok, please just give me a loss for UCLA/Utah
For the rest:
Maryland
GT
Auburn
Ohio State
Stanford
UCLA, because Utah struggled against BYU (who lost to UVA, in case you forgot) and lost to Oregon State who lost to an FCS school.
Finally, a chance to pick FSU! They're going to be great this year (just ignore any games that happened in Chestnut hill last week, kay?)
MIAMI! Another team from my favorite state! The Jackets really stand no chance here, did you see how they struggled against VT last Thursday?
AUBURN because Ole Miss let me down last week. They looked worse against Bama than Bama did against Va Tech.
OSU because, well, OSU. Until they show that they're no good, they're good.
WASHINGTON. Stanford beat Army by 14. You know who else beat Army by 14? Wake Forest.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 6-0
AND OHIO STATE COVERS ON THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME