Most of these are just gut feelings. Other than Ohio State not making it in because of the Maurice Clarett fiasco:
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma vs Miami Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs Virginia Tech Rose Bowl: Penn State vs Washington Orange Bowl: North Carolina State vs Auburn
"Each time I've met Huffington, I wondered if she was not somehow the long-lost daughter of Madame Nicolai Ceaucescu, or a genetic cross between Martha Stewart and Count Dracula. Had this Greek-born harpy lived in medieval times, she would have been sewn up in a bag with a rooster and two snakes and thrown into the nearest river." -- Eric Margolis, Toronto Star
Hey, don't count OSU out yet. Even without Clarett, they still have 10 other returning starters on offense, a great defense, and Lydell Ross is no slouch at tailback either. I see OSU or *shudder* Michigan ahead of Penn State easily as the Big Ten rep this year.
Otherwise though, I like your picks for the games. I hope the Bucks repeat, but I don't see the luck lasting through two years straight. Miami-Oklahaoma would be a fantastic game.
The rationale for Clarett was less the lack of players but the ensuing circus surrounding the situation...
"Each time I've met Huffington, I wondered if she was not somehow the long-lost daughter of Madame Nicolai Ceaucescu, or a genetic cross between Martha Stewart and Count Dracula. Had this Greek-born harpy lived in medieval times, she would have been sewn up in a bag with a rooster and two snakes and thrown into the nearest river." -- Eric Margolis, Toronto Star
Originally posted by GrimisThe rationale for Clarett was less the lack of players but the ensuing circus surrounding the situation...
Of course, the opposite of that could be that the Bucks don't have that complacent attitude that most defending champs had after hearing all summer about how good they are. I mean, hell, when was the last time you heard "defending national champion" and "Ohio State" in the same sentence recently? Besides, everyone thinks they were a fluke last year, and that they possibly couldn't win those close games again. They'll have something to prove.
That said, I don't think they repeat. As diehard a fan I am, history's not on their side. Plus, they've got to go to Ann Arbor AND University Park AND Madison this year. It will be hard to sweep all three. Wisconsin's my sleeper in the Big 10 this year, by the way. No Michigan or Penn State on the schedule.
My picks:
ACC: NC State Big East: Miami Big Ten: Michigan (ugh, it KILLS me to type that) Big 12: Oklahoma Pac 10: Washington SEC: Auburn
Here's a hypothetical for the group: Going by my picks, Michigan wins the Big 10 undefeated and goes to the Sugar, and OSU finishes behind them with one loss. OSU goes to the Rose, right? But if Washington wins the Pac-10, they go to the Rose as well, which would be a rematch of their first game of the season. Does the Rose scratch the traditional matchup for two years in a row to grab, say, Notre Dame, or do they go with a rematch, which would be likely to draw less?
Edit: It might actually help if I actually put in my bowl picks...
(edited by Battlezone on 26.8.03 2233) "So you're Ben Affleck. You're sitting next to Jennifer Lopez, who's your fiancee, you're eating a eight-foot high sundae, and members of the Boston Red Sox are coming up to you and asking for autographs. If that's not heaven, what is?" - Tony Kornheiser, PTI
Originally posted by BattlezoneHere's a hypothetical for the group: Going by my picks, Michigan wins the Big 10 undefeated and goes to the Sugar, and OSU finishes behind them with one loss. OSU goes to the Rose, right? But if Washington wins the Pac-10, they go to the Rose as well, which would be a rematch of their first game of the season. Does the Rose scratch the traditional matchup for two years in a row to grab, say, Notre Dame, or do they go with a rematch, which would be likely to draw less?
That probably all depends on how they finish. If Washington has 1 loss, an OSU/Wash matchup would probably happen. Then again, if OSU has 1 loss they might go to another bowl game instead.
Incidentally, Florida beat Florida State in the 97 Sugar Bowl after losing to FSU in the regular season, but this was before the BCS.
"Each time I've met Huffington, I wondered if she was not somehow the long-lost daughter of Madame Nicolai Ceaucescu, or a genetic cross between Martha Stewart and Count Dracula. Had this Greek-born harpy lived in medieval times, she would have been sewn up in a bag with a rooster and two snakes and thrown into the nearest river." -- Eric Margolis, Toronto Star
ACC- NC State Big Ten- Ohio State Big East- Pittsburgh Big Twelve- Kansas State PAC 10- USC SEC- Georgia
Sugar Bowl- Kansas State/Pittsburgh Rose Bowl- Ohio State/USC Fiesta Bowl- Florida State*/Georgia Orange Bowl- NC State/Virginia Tech* *=at large
(edited by Ffej on 27.8.03 0825) WIENER OF THE DAY! July 6, 2002!
If I lived back in the wild west days, instead of carrying a six-gun in my holster, I'd carry a soldering iron. That way, if some smart-aleck cowboy said something like "Hey, look. He's carrying a soldering iron!" and started laughing, and everybody else started laughing, I could just say, "That's right, it's a soldering iron. The soldering iron of justice." Then everybody would get real quiet and ashamed, because they had made fun of the soldering iron of justice, and I could probably hit them up for a free drink.
God I hope your wrong Ffej and K State doesn't get rewarded for that weak non conferance schedule, anyway my picks:
ACC- Maryland Big East- V Tech Big 10- Michigan Big 12- Oaklahoma Pac 10- Washington SEC- Auburn
Sugar- Michigan vs. V Tech Rose- Notre Dame vs. Washington Fiesta- Oaklahoma vs. Miami Orange- Maryland vs. Auburn
Now you will receive us. We do not ask for your poor, or your hungry. We do not want your tired and sick. It is your corrupt we claim. It is your evil that will be sought by us. With every breath, we shall hunt them down. Each day we will spill their blood, 'til it rains down from the skies. Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. These are not polite suggestions, these are codes of behavior, and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost. There are varying degrees of evil. We urge you lesser forms of filth, not to push the bounds and cross over, in to true corruption, into our domain. For if you do, one day you will look behind you and you will see we three, and on that day you will reap it. And we will send you to whatever god you wish. Collin & Murphy MacManus
Time for my picks, and yes, there will be a bias shown on one pick. I'll leave K-State out of the mix, because I really wasn't impressed one bit with their defense against a Cal team replacing most of their offense.
ACC: NC State. Have the QB, have apparently the mind behind FSU, and will go into Columbus and knock off Ohio State in a non-conference game.
Big East: I'll go against the grain and pick Pitt, by beating Miami in late November at Pittsburgh. Virginia Tech is my early pick as 'biggest disappointment'.
Big Ten: Wisconsin as Alvarez ends his coaching career on a high note.
Big 12: Oklahoma State. I'm really reaching here, but Texas and K-State still can't win the big ones, and Oklahoma has been knocked off by State the last 2 seasons.
Pac 10: I'll take a flyer on Oregon State.
SEC: I think Florida has a shocking bounce back season.
BCS Bowls:
Sugar: Notre Dame (one loss but a Baton Death March Schedule) vs. NC State (undefeated with a non-conference win at Ohio State).
Rose: Oregon State vs. Wisconsin.
Fiesta: Florida vs. Pittsburgh.
Orange: Miami vs. Oklahoma State.
Ok, so Ted Williams is decapitated now? What will his son do next, sell him to the Japanese dog food company that bought former Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand?
Glad to see i'm not the only one picking Florida. They have a major advantage this year in scheduling in my opinion. There are six ranked teams in the SEC (in atleast one of the polls). Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee.
Georgia has to play all five of the others. They have the Alabama schools at home but play at Tennessee and LSU. And then of course there is the FLorida game which i think they've only won once in like 13 years?
Tennessee plays four of the other ranked teams. The get Georgia at home, but the other 3 (Florida, Alabama and Auburn) are all away.
Florida only plays three of the other ranked teams (Georgia, LSU, Tennessee) since Auburn is no longer an annual game. Both Georgia and Tennessee are at home. Meaning only one good away game. Plus they are 19 - 5 against those three teams over the past 8 years. If Florida only wins 1 of the 3 they still likely go 6 - 2 which is possibly good enough to tie for the SEC East lead. But I don't think it's out of the question that they win 2 out of 3 and go 7 - 1 in the SEC. Then I guess Auburn would be the likely opponent in the SEC Championship, but they are the most overrated team in football so I don't see them being a problem.
Wisconsin's my sleeper in the Big 10 this year, by the way. No Michigan or Penn State on the schedule.
Actually, Wisconsin is Penn State's Homecoming game this year, but don't let that change your sleeper pick. I'll be happy if we go .500 in conference play this year.
Conference picks: Big Ten: Michigan Big Twelve: Oklahoma Big East: Virginia Tech SEC: Auburn ACC: Florida State PAC: Washington
National Champions: Michigan
Here's a hypothetical for the group: Going by my picks, Michigan wins the Big 10 undefeated and goes to the Sugar, and OSU finishes behind them with one loss. OSU goes to the Rose, right? But if Washington wins the Pac-10, they go to the Rose as well, which would be a rematch of their first game of the season. Does the Rose scratch the traditional matchup for two years in a row to grab, say, Notre Dame, or do they go with a rematch, which would be likely to draw less?
Doesn't the BCS override tradition in these situations, like with Iowa and USC playing in the Orange Bowl last year?
Originally posted by StegDutchieDoesn't the BCS override tradition in these situations, like with Iowa and USC playing in the Orange Bowl last year?
The BCS overrides tradition, at least in the Rose Bowl only under two circumstances;
1. When the # 1 or # 2 team is from the Big 10 or Pac-10(last year)
2. When the Rose Bowl is the national title game(2001-02) when the "Rose Bowl" matchup is the Fiesta Bowl.
"Each time I've met Huffington, I wondered if she was not somehow the long-lost daughter of Madame Nicolai Ceaucescu, or a genetic cross between Martha Stewart and Count Dracula. Had this Greek-born harpy lived in medieval times, she would have been sewn up in a bag with a rooster and two snakes and thrown into the nearest river." -- Eric Margolis, Toronto Star
Originally posted by StegDutchieWisconsin's my sleeper in the Big 10 this year, by the way. No Michigan or Penn State on the schedule.
Actually, Wisconsin is Penn State's Homecoming game this year, but don't let that change your sleeper pick. I'll be happy if we go .500 in conference play this year.
Oops. My bad. I swear I heard Herbstreit say that last week. I'm still sticking with them as my sleeper though. No Michigan, and they've got Ohio State, Purdue and Iowa at home.
Here's a hypothetical for the group: Going by my picks, Michigan wins the Big 10 undefeated and goes to the Sugar, and OSU finishes behind them with one loss. OSU goes to the Rose, right? But if Washington wins the Pac-10, they go to the Rose as well, which would be a rematch of their first game of the season. Does the Rose scratch the traditional matchup for two years in a row to grab, say, Notre Dame, or do they go with a rematch, which would be likely to draw less?
Doesn't the BCS override tradition in these situations, like with Iowa and USC playing in the Orange Bowl last year?
Nope. If I remember correctly, the Orange Bowl got first pick of the remaining teams due to Miami being in the championship game, so they grabbed Iowa. Normally, though, it will stay with the conference tie-ins where possible. I do remember the Rose Bowl folks screaming bloody murder when it came out that the Orange was taking Iowa.
"So you're Ben Affleck. You're sitting next to Jennifer Lopez, who's your fiancee, you're eating a eight-foot high sundae, and members of the Boston Red Sox are coming up to you and asking for autographs. If that's not heaven, what is?" - Tony Kornheiser, PTI
Big East: Pitt Big Ten: Michigan Pac 10: USC Big 12: Texas ACC: Virginia SEC: Florida
Sugar: Texas/Pitt Fiesta: Virginia/Florida Rose: USC/Michigan Orange: Oklahoma/NC State
Nat'l Champs: Pitt
Yes, I'm from Pittsburgh (now in State College), and yes, it's a homer pick, but it cannot be denied that 1. The Panthers have probably the best offensive trio in the Big East (Rutherford/Fitzgerald/Miree), 2. The best and most experienced QB in the Big East 3. They have a terrific D, the best in the conference and 4. That they went into V.Tech and came from behind to win, while statistically dominating everywhere but in the close final score, and they were about six inches too long on a final pass from sending their game AT Miami into OT.
This is a talented, experienced, loaded for the future team, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them win it all this year.
Pac-10: USC Big 10: Michigan (and about damn time, by the way) Big East: Miami ACC: NC State Big 12: K-State (why not?) SEC: ....as much as it pains me to say it.... Georgia.
On a side note, Auburn is hands-down the most overrated team in the nation to begin the year. (To be equally fair, my Vols are probably the second-most overrated. 8-5 does not equal 12th in AP.) I don't have a huge problem with you guys picking Florida - you're wrong, but whatever floats your boat.
National champeeeeeeeen: Survey says! Michigan. Why not?
Its almost like the UFL doens't want anyone to know that they exist this year. I've been following them since they announced the league (since we can always use more football). And their marketing has been head scratching at best.
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I'll be happy if we go .500 in conference play this year.
