Week 15 - Championship Week

News out of South Bend this week is that Charlie Weis will stay on for next season. The good news is that Charlie will be the coach of Notre Dame next season. The bad news is that Charlie Weis will be the coach of Notre Dame next season.

BONEHEAD OF THE WEEK

This week, we have a tie - between the writers at ESPN.com and the Nittany Lion. First, ESPN.com - for this headline alone:

Gators' top rusher Rainey to play with groin injury

I don't know, but I always heard that if you keep playing with it, it'll fall off . . .

As for the Nittany Lion - a co-member of the "Fellowship of the Foam and Fur" - he was suspended for the season after his arrest for DUI this week. I really wish he had been in costume for it. I would have loved to have seen the mugshot. Not that I ever did anything stupid/intoxicated in the George costume . . . Self-appointed deputy traffic cop Joe Paterno must be rolling in his grave upset about this one.

On to the picks . . .


Navy -11 ARMY

After nearly being shutout by a middle of the road Rutgers team last week, the Black Knights take on one of the better Navy teams in recent history - and one that beat the same Rutgers team that Army lost to last week. This Army squad is greatly improved over past seasons (currently ranked 9th in rushing yards per game with 254.2), but are they improved enough to hang with Navy and at least make a run at ending their 5-year losing streak? I say no. Navy's #1 run game is just too potent, and even with top-named QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada questionable with a hamstring injury I like the Middies to cover. Next week watch them take on these guys in a post-season tune-up.


WEST VIRGINIA -7 South Florida
West Virginia has a great running game, and South Florida has nearly as good of a run defense. Logic says that USF is 2-4 in the Big East, and their 7-4 overall record is due mostly to a weak OOC schedule (wins against UT-Martin and Florida International). Then again, this is the Big East. Whatever could go against logic usually does. The Bulls were crushed by Rutgers, but last week beat a better-than-average UConn team. I think it could easily be a push. Or a Mountaineer blowout. Last night I was leaning heavily towards USF with the points. Now I'm thinking there's just no way that could be right. Oh well, I'll go with West Virginia to cover in this battle of Last Year's Great QBs Who Faded in 2008.


TULSA -12.5 East Carolina

I'm picking the Pirates to finish the season strong. And while we're on the subject, this whole Somali pirate thing is deeply upsetting to me. Pirates are supposed to look like this, not this. These guys aren't wearing blouses or eye patches, they don't carry parrots, and I'm pretty sure they don't say "Yarrrr!" or "Matey."Come on, pirates, show a little pride! Even this guy knew how to dress for the occasion. I'll take ECU with the points.

FLORIDA -10 Alabama

I really want to take the Gators giving ten, and I know this is the one that I'll kick myself over on Sunday. So, being the coward smart person that I am, I'm going to pass on this one. Plus, I really couldn't think of any jokes for it.

USC -35 UCLA

I just don't think the Trojans can get over this emotional hurdle and still win by 5 TD's - even if they do get to wear their home uniforms. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel has agreed to call a time-out at the start of the game, thus negating any advantage the Bruins would have gained due to Pete Carroll's refusal to do laundry. Seriously? I understand sportsmanship and everything, but you can't tell me this is the "greatest rivalry in sports" when one coach is willing to hurt his own team to make things "fair." Here's a heads-up, Rick. You guys are going to get slaughtered this week. At home. AND you're allowing your rivals to wear their home unis too? Please, save tradition for the alumni association. You're there to win football games. Which, if everything goes as planned, you'll have done only 33% of the time this year - the first sub .500 regular season since 1999. I'm sure Theo Epstein would be fine with handing the Tampa Bay Rays $100 million dollars so they have a "fair shot" at re-signing David Price when he becomes a free agent in 2013.

Man do I hate Pete Carroll.

I'll take USC giving the points, only so I can listen to them complain next week when they're the odd team out of the National Championship game.


TROY STATE -11 Arkansas State

Troy State just has to win to be the Sun Belt Champs, not blow the Red Wolves out. However, Troy has not one, but TWO guys name Lee on their team - Khalil and Boris (whose name suggests he might run a Russian-Chinese restaurant in the off season). I'm going with Troy to cover the spread.

Stay tuned for the Bowl Picks - coming soon!!