Week 10 - Getting Back to Basics

Sorry this week's article is late. I was napping during a meeting with T.O.

When I started doing this weekly "pick-em" thing 5 years ago for the World Famous Half-Jewish Sports radio show on WRGW (Thursdays from 4-6 only on GWRadio.com), I would pick some of the least interesting games (I probably even made up a few spreads for some games like Steven F. Austin vs. Sam Houston State) in the country. I almost always picked a MAC game - usually the Golden Flashes of Kent State. After going 2-3 for what seems like the 10th time this season, I'm going back to basics (though I'm staying away from the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils game this week). GMAC Bowl, here we come!

One other quick note. I'd be remiss as both a Boston sports fan and GW alum if I didn't mention the passing of Red Auerbach, one of the all-time legends in Boston sports and the NBA. As many of you may know, I am an insane Red Sox fan (mostly due to my Mom's dad having no sons and passing along his love of the Sox to his daughter and grandsons), but my Dad's dad was quite the basketball junkie (he captained his WPA team to the league championship in the 1930's) and was as big a fan of the Celtics and Red as anyone I've ever met. Seeing Red on my way to classes twice a week, smoking his cigar before racquetball games always made me think of my grandfather (who had passed away after I started my freshman year) and my connections to home. Red will truly be missed by both GW and Celtic fans alike. Okay, enough of the sob story, Lee. Make us laugh already.

Maurice Clarett nominee of the week: The Southeastern Conference has told the University of South Carolina that they can only play a Gamecock crow during timeouts, after a score, before the game, during halftime and when the game ends. The Gamecock's trademark sound was used mostly to pump up the home crowd during key 3rd downs, defensive plays, and on fourth quarter drives. "We are certainly disappointed that we have to limit the Gamecock crow, as we know its a crowd favorite, but obviously we will comply with the Southeastern Conference rules and regulations," said Jeff Crane, the athletics marketing director. That really is too bad - I've always heard how much people from South Carolina love the sound of a Cock. On to the picks.

Last Week: 2-3
This Season: 23-21-1

Boston College -3½ WAKE FOREST

I was listening to an interview with BIG EAST Commissioner Mike Tranghese last night, and when the topic of BC was brought up, the Commish could not have sounded more dejected about losing BC to the ACC. However, he did note that the Eagles were having a great year and he's not sure why they are so underrated. I agree with him, which is why I'm a bit confused that BC is only favored by 3½ this week. I will agree that Wake Forest is having one of the most surprising years in college football (7-1, 3-1 ACC), but none of those 7 wins have come against teams over .500. Boston College on the other hand, has beaten two ranked teams already (Clemson and VA Tech), and has their sights set on a third. Led by QB Matt Ryan, the Eagles have outscored their opponents by an average of 12.5 points per game - not overly impressive until you consider the fact that BC has only given up 2 TDs in their past 4 games. This game is shaping up to be the poor man's Big East match up from last night. That must be a gut punch to the ACC. I can only imagine that having your big game of the year referred to as less exciting than a Big East contest must be the equivalent of your younger brother drinking you under the table - you never saw it coming, and while you're puking in the bushes he's taking pictures of you with his camera phone to post on Myspace. Not that anything like that has ever happened to me . . . I'm just saying. I'll take BC to cover the spread on this one.

Louisiana State -3½ TENNESSEE

This week, Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton articulated his displeasure as the scholars attending the University of Tennessee employed "embarrassing language" for the duration of a football contest which took place against the Crimson Tide of Alabama and asked said academics to use "good judgment" in voicing their support for the Volunteers football squad. Well &@#$ you, Mike Hamilton, and &@#$ LSU too! Tennessee takes the points and wins the &@#$ing game.

Ohio U. -6½ EASTERN MICHIGAN

Here it is, the big MAC face-off you've all been waiting for. The showdown in Ypsilanti. Evidently, there's this other Ohio team that has a shot of winning their conference title this year too. Outside of a 3 game slide this year, the Bobcats of Ohio have been dominating most teams they've played this season. On the other hand, Eastern Michigan is 1-7 and getting outscored by their opponents on average by 11 points a week. Not to mention, the Eagles leading rusher is also their QB. However, they do play in Ypsilanti, which is fun to say. Ohio should have no problem covering the spread in this one.

Central Michigan -18½ TEMPLE

High school football -- if you make the most of it and you play hard, and you practice, and you make an effort to be prepared, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck at Temple. Central Michigan covers the spread.

I'm a little bummed about there being no posted spread on the UL - Monroe / FIU game. I mean these are two of the absolute worst teams in the nation. Seriously, you'd think that a game between teams with a combined 1-15 record would warrant a little action. Screw you gambling gods - you're forcing me to pick . . .

TEXAS TECH -16 Baylor

I really can't figure out the Red Raiders this season. They started off the year 3-1 after mauling SMU and SE Louisiana (neither of which are top tier programs), but were shut out for three quarters by a 1-8 Colorado squad. Baylor, on the other hand, is 4-5 and hasn't really had a "break-out" game this season. I'm really not sure what intrigues me about this game. Maybe it’s the fact that both teams came within a quarter of major upsets against ranked teams last week. Maybe I just needed another reason to make a "Red" reference this week. Nah, it’s probably the fact that Texas Tech had two players kicked off the team after they were arrested for burglary after “allegedly” stealing a laptop computer and an iPod (rumor has it they'll be transferring to UConn). Even though Baylor and Texas Tech are the two "other" Big 12 teams from Texas, I see this one shaping up to be a good game. I'll take Baylor with the points in this game.

Until next week . . .