There are two games on Thursday -- so I'll need those picks in by kick-off. The others are all on Saturday.
The rules:
1. Pick the winner in EACH game.
2. Predict how many points the team you pick to win the designated Game of the Week will win by. This will be used for tiebreak purposes. This week it is the Iowa at Ohio State game (yes, for you eastcoasters, it's a couple of those "I" or "O" states that lay somewhere out there west of the Appalachians
).3. The first pick is needed by the kickoff of the first game -- Thursday evening.
4. Picks MUST be submitted either via the Private Message function or E-mail. My email address is dcbucky2000@hotmail.com -- please do not post your picks here. Include your Outsports nickname with your picks.
The games:
Thursday, October 16
1. Air Force (6-1 / 3-0) at Colorado State (4-3 / 1-1)
Key battle in the Mountain West – AF wants to keep up the conference leaders Utah – but Colorado State and stud QB Bradlee Van Pelt badly need to win.
Last season: Colorado State 31 - Air Force 12
2. Clemson (4-2 / 2-1) at North Carolina State (4-3 / 1-2)
The Tigers still aim to win the conference (they host FSU in November), but they need this game to do it. NC State, in the meantime, barely got by UConn last week.
Last season: NC State 38 - Clemson 6
Saturday, October 18
For commentary on the three games in the topsy-turvy SEC, visit the "SEC Fan’s Forum" thread. Florida, Auburn and Georgia all pulled off impressive road wins last week – what will happen on Saturday?
3. LSU (5-1 / 2-1) at South Carolina (4-2 / 0-2)
Last season: LSU 38 – USC 14
4. Alabama (3-4 / 1-2) at Ole Miss (4-2 / 2-0)
Last season: Alabama 42 – Ole Miss 7
5. Florida (4-3 / 2-2) at Arkansas (4-1 / 1-1)
6. Florida State (5-1 / 4-0) at Virginia (4-2 / 3-1)
Probably the Noles' toughest ACC road game left on the schedule. UVA hit a bump in the road last week - are they ready to get back on track for the biggest game of their season? Can Rix and FSU get over last week’s tough loss to Miami? (watch the weather forecast – Bowden may not have any rain to blame this week)
Last season: FSU 40 – UVA 19
7. Colorado (3-3 / 1-1) at Kansas State (4-3 / 0-2)
Colorado faces its second team from Kansas in two weeks. They edged out the Jayhawks in OT – can they do the same against K-State?
Last season: Colorado 35 – K-State 31
8. Missouri (5-1 / 1-1) at Oklahoma (6-0 / 2-0)
The Tigers are the surprise team of the Big XII, but have to take their game to Norman, and take on clearly the most dominant team in CFB.
Last season: Oklahoma 31 – Missouri 24
9. Texas A&M (3-3 / 1-1) at Nebraska (5-1 / 1-1)
The Huskers dropped from the list of unbeatens, and now look to build another winning streak.
Last season: Nebraska 38 – TAMU 31
10. Texas Tech (5-1 / 2-0) at Oklahoma State (5-1 / 1-1)
A shoot-out in Stillwater as BJ Symons and the "High-Tech" passing attack (almost 500 yards per game) go on the road. O-State is coming off their big win vs. K-State.
Last season: Texas Tech 49 – O-State 24
11. Michigan State (6-1 / 3-0) at Minnesota (6-1 / 2-1)
Minnesota hosts its second Michigan team in two weeks. This time it's the upstart Spartans, the surprise of the Big Ten. How let down will the Gophers be after their awful record-setting 4th Q. against Michigan?
Last season: Minnesota 28 – Michigan State 7
12. Purdue (5-1 / 2-0) at Wisconsin (6-1 / 3-0)
The talented Boilermakers come into Madison to take on the Badgers, who are coming off one of the biggest regular-season win in the Alvarez years. Purdue starts their daunting Big Ten road schedule (facing Michigan after that and OSU down the line). ESPN Game Day, complete with outsports fave Kurt Herbstreit, will be broadcasting from Mad-Town, adding to the terrific atmosphere.
13. Southern California (5-1) at Notre Dame (2-3)
The Irish may be back on track after the impressive win at Pitt. Long time rival Trojans want to get back in the Sugar Bowl mix, and need a impressive road win of their own.
Last season: USC 44 – ND 13
14. Washington (3-3 / 1-1) at Oregon State (5-1 / 2-0)
Washington needs a win to keep in the Pac 10 race, but two losses in a row, including a NC one to Nevada (??) doesn’t bode well. B**v*rs need this one before heading on the road next week to take on co-leader Wash. State.
Last season: Washington 41 – Oregon State 29
15. Iowa (5-1 / 1-1) at Ohio State (5-1 / 1-1) – GAME OF THE WEEK TIEBREAKER -- predict by how many points the victor will win.
The "if you can’t beat 'em, choke 'em" Buckeyes still possess a terrific 13 game home win streak. The game everyone wished for last year is finally upon us.
Cut-and-paste:
Thursday, October 16
1. Air Force at Colorado State
2. Clemson at North Carolina State
Saturday, October 18
3. LSU at South Carolina
4. Alabama at Ole Miss
5. Florida at Arkansas
6. Florida State at Virginia
7. Colorado at Kansas State
8. Missouri at Oklahoma
9. Texas A&M at Nebraska
10. Texas Tech at Oklahoma State
11. Michigan State at Minnesota
12. Purdue at Wisconsin
13. Southern California at Notre Dame
14. Washington at Oregon State
15. Iowa at Ohio State -- TIEBREAKER -- by how points will the victor win?
[ October 14, 2003, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: DCBucky ]
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