JR = 1-1
MK = 0-3
MR = 1-0
JG = 1-0
New year...same leaders in the clubhouse! Some things may never change I guess!
I do have to point out I hit 5/6 last night on my overall picks, however, I put MIA(OH) (my only loss) as one of my 15 picks for the week...nice choice.
I'm hoping I can keep this 5/6 mentality going all year. I would take that!
Only action tonight is MK with his RICE -3 pick...chance to get that 1st win for the year and even things up in the win column going into the 1st Saturday of the year.
Enjoy the weekend.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
MK's Week 1 thoughts
And we're back for another big college football season...they had the Appy State/Michigan game replay on late last night and that's got me fired up for another season.
First of all, the home-standing Golden Gophers are going to roll up Northern Illinois this weekend. We all remember last year's clunker of an opener against BGSU, but that's not going to happen this weekend. I expect the offense to look shaky at certain points, but able to sustain enough drives to be able to get into the 30s. Look for the defense to try to get aggressive, something they were not able to do last year because of lack of speed, and the fact that they were consistently down by 21 points most of last year. 37-17 Gophers.
Other thoughts around the nation...
I think Appy State is going to throw LSU a little scare before they bow out gracefully in the 2nd half...am really looking forward to this one on ESPN late Sat afternoon.
Clemson...the stars are aligned for you to make a run...don't throw it away in week 1 against a Bama team you should outclass.
I agree with the Tree...Utah dusts Michigan in week 1. And the maize and blue crazies will be be grumbling in August for the 2nd year in a row.
Florida hammers Hawaii...Mizzou will whack Ill...you'll always have that 2nd rate Rose Bowl team of '07 Illini...you guys think a 36.5 spread for the Jayhawks is too much to cover? Bah, they win by 40+...and in keeping with tradition I will start by yearly picking against USC in week 1, as I think a fired up Cavs team keeps it within shouting distance.
My National Championship Game Prediction: Oklahoma vs. Florida
Heisman Trophy Winner: Chase Daniel QB, Mizzou
First of all, the home-standing Golden Gophers are going to roll up Northern Illinois this weekend. We all remember last year's clunker of an opener against BGSU, but that's not going to happen this weekend. I expect the offense to look shaky at certain points, but able to sustain enough drives to be able to get into the 30s. Look for the defense to try to get aggressive, something they were not able to do last year because of lack of speed, and the fact that they were consistently down by 21 points most of last year. 37-17 Gophers.
Other thoughts around the nation...
I think Appy State is going to throw LSU a little scare before they bow out gracefully in the 2nd half...am really looking forward to this one on ESPN late Sat afternoon.
Clemson...the stars are aligned for you to make a run...don't throw it away in week 1 against a Bama team you should outclass.
I agree with the Tree...Utah dusts Michigan in week 1. And the maize and blue crazies will be be grumbling in August for the 2nd year in a row.
Florida hammers Hawaii...Mizzou will whack Ill...you'll always have that 2nd rate Rose Bowl team of '07 Illini...you guys think a 36.5 spread for the Jayhawks is too much to cover? Bah, they win by 40+...and in keeping with tradition I will start by yearly picking against USC in week 1, as I think a fired up Cavs team keeps it within shouting distance.
My National Championship Game Prediction: Oklahoma vs. Florida
Heisman Trophy Winner: Chase Daniel QB, Mizzou
TREE's WEEKEND PREVIEW
Alrught fellas, the much anticipated 2008 season is finally upon us. I feel the need to share with you all what is going to happen this weekend before we all watch it. Please feel free to call me a moron when I'm wrong!
* GOPHERS 38 NIU 13
I think the Gophers offense comes in and rolls, much like it did last year without the turnovers. This is a game they can use their early energy to put it out of reach in the first half. NIU was 2-10 last year, everyone is back...but is that a good thing? They have a 1st year coach making his debut, and they have a terrible defense and they like to run the ball. So, we should have no problem scoring - Weber will go for 300+ and 3 scores, and I think (hope)our running game really gets going as well. As for the defense, stopping the run will stop the Huskies. I think we have the scheme and personnel in place to win the line of scrimmage and stop the run on Saturday. This will force them to throw, espeically if we can roll up some points early. Then the true test will happen - is our secondary that much improved? I think the answer is yes (maybe because it is, maybe because I'm an eternal Gopher optimist who dirnks the kool-aid daily). I'm expecting a huge play or two out of Sherals in the return game or on defense, and I think the Gophers get a lot of the young guys some time and cruise to an easy win and cover in week 1.
What else is going to happen...I'll tell you:
* SC will roll tonight, this team might be for real this year...not SEC title level, but top of Tier 2 in the SEC.
* HAW will cover the 33.5 vs. FLA, Gators are looking ahead to the Canes next week and resting A LOT of people with minor injuries. I don't think HAW will completely fall off the table without Brennan and Coach Jones, I like a sneaky cover at 41-10 Gators.
* Clemson will continue to get the hopes and dreams of their rabid fan base going with an easy win over Bama. Saban's crew is building to something great, just not in 2008. I still like Clemson to tank it later this year, but they will ride that pre-season hype to a nice victory in week 1...27-10.
* MIZZOU will look special and Illinois will look very average in the opener. The Illini will shoot themselves in the foot and miss Mendenhall and J Leman a lot more than they realize...Tigers win 31-14.
* Michigan 2008 offense looks like Gophers 2007 offense early in the season and lose to Utah. The Utes are experienced and the mormons don't get intimidated by the Big House - Michigan will play defense this year, but a lack of scoring will cost them earlty and often...UTES 24-13.
* FRESNO will start their run of preseason upsets by winning at SUNJ. Fresno, much like Utah is experienced and road tested. Rutgers will greatly miss the reliability of Ray Rice and I just don't think they were ever that good to begin with! Dogs win 30-20.
Those are the sure things I'll give you for this week. Always lots of good stories and info coming out of this first week of the season. I will provide game recaps on all games on the tracking spreadsheet, so if you missed something you can always go back to that and check it out.
Good Luck Fellas! Go Gophers!! Let's match 2007's win total in week 1!!
* GOPHERS 38 NIU 13
I think the Gophers offense comes in and rolls, much like it did last year without the turnovers. This is a game they can use their early energy to put it out of reach in the first half. NIU was 2-10 last year, everyone is back...but is that a good thing? They have a 1st year coach making his debut, and they have a terrible defense and they like to run the ball. So, we should have no problem scoring - Weber will go for 300+ and 3 scores, and I think (hope)our running game really gets going as well. As for the defense, stopping the run will stop the Huskies. I think we have the scheme and personnel in place to win the line of scrimmage and stop the run on Saturday. This will force them to throw, espeically if we can roll up some points early. Then the true test will happen - is our secondary that much improved? I think the answer is yes (maybe because it is, maybe because I'm an eternal Gopher optimist who dirnks the kool-aid daily). I'm expecting a huge play or two out of Sherals in the return game or on defense, and I think the Gophers get a lot of the young guys some time and cruise to an easy win and cover in week 1.
What else is going to happen...I'll tell you:
* SC will roll tonight, this team might be for real this year...not SEC title level, but top of Tier 2 in the SEC.
* HAW will cover the 33.5 vs. FLA, Gators are looking ahead to the Canes next week and resting A LOT of people with minor injuries. I don't think HAW will completely fall off the table without Brennan and Coach Jones, I like a sneaky cover at 41-10 Gators.
* Clemson will continue to get the hopes and dreams of their rabid fan base going with an easy win over Bama. Saban's crew is building to something great, just not in 2008. I still like Clemson to tank it later this year, but they will ride that pre-season hype to a nice victory in week 1...27-10.
* MIZZOU will look special and Illinois will look very average in the opener. The Illini will shoot themselves in the foot and miss Mendenhall and J Leman a lot more than they realize...Tigers win 31-14.
* Michigan 2008 offense looks like Gophers 2007 offense early in the season and lose to Utah. The Utes are experienced and the mormons don't get intimidated by the Big House - Michigan will play defense this year, but a lack of scoring will cost them earlty and often...UTES 24-13.
* FRESNO will start their run of preseason upsets by winning at SUNJ. Fresno, much like Utah is experienced and road tested. Rutgers will greatly miss the reliability of Ray Rice and I just don't think they were ever that good to begin with! Dogs win 30-20.
Those are the sure things I'll give you for this week. Always lots of good stories and info coming out of this first week of the season. I will provide game recaps on all games on the tracking spreadsheet, so if you missed something you can always go back to that and check it out.
Good Luck Fellas! Go Gophers!! Let's match 2007's win total in week 1!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Week 1 Picks
Here we go guys - here's who we are all rooting for in Week 1:
THUR
JR and MK both have MIA(OH)
JR also has SC
JG likes WF
MK took OREST and MR took STAN
FRI
MK likes UTEP and RICE
SAT-UR-DAY!, SATURDAY! (god I miss TBS football)
MK and JG like VTECH
JR and JG took HAW, MR took FLA
JR took WYOMING
MR took USC, MK and JG took VIR
JR and MK took LTECH
Everyone loves the Gophers...except MR who took NILL
JG took BC
We all love CLEMSON
MR and MK like CAL
We all love MIZZOU
MK likes OREGON
MR and JG like AKRON over Becky
JR took ARKST
MR and JG took TEXAS
MR and MK took KANSAS, JG likes FIU and their 36 1/2 point lead
MR took AZ
JR took SO.MISS
MR and JG took AUB
JR took OLE MISS
MR took KST
MK took NW
JR and MK took UTAH, MR and JG took MICH
JG took WKY
JG took NEB
JR took LOU
JR likes COLST
JR likes FRESNO
MR took TENNESSEE
That's all for the week. This might be insanely hard to read, so I'll send out the full sheet via email. I have also included my picks for all the games as well as Phil Steele (respected magazine author) and Pete Fiutek (CFN Guru) for all games against the spread.
We're all set - good luck gentleman!
THUR
JR and MK both have MIA(OH)
JR also has SC
JG likes WF
MK took OREST and MR took STAN
FRI
MK likes UTEP and RICE
SAT-UR-DAY!, SATURDAY! (god I miss TBS football)
MK and JG like VTECH
JR and JG took HAW, MR took FLA
JR took WYOMING
MR took USC, MK and JG took VIR
JR and MK took LTECH
Everyone loves the Gophers...except MR who took NILL
JG took BC
We all love CLEMSON
MR and MK like CAL
We all love MIZZOU
MK likes OREGON
MR and JG like AKRON over Becky
JR took ARKST
MR and JG took TEXAS
MR and MK took KANSAS, JG likes FIU and their 36 1/2 point lead
MR took AZ
JR took SO.MISS
MR and JG took AUB
JR took OLE MISS
MR took KST
MK took NW
JR and MK took UTAH, MR and JG took MICH
JG took WKY
JG took NEB
JR took LOU
JR likes COLST
JR likes FRESNO
MR took TENNESSEE
That's all for the week. This might be insanely hard to read, so I'll send out the full sheet via email. I have also included my picks for all the games as well as Phil Steele (respected magazine author) and Pete Fiutek (CFN Guru) for all games against the spread.
We're all set - good luck gentleman!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Week 1 Game List
VAN
MIAOH -3
NCST
SC -11.5
WF
BAY 12.5
OREST
STAN 3
TROY
MDTN 6.5
UTEP
BUFF -3
TEM
ARMY 7
SMU
RICE -3
ECU
VT -10
HAW
FLA -33.5
OHIO
WY -10
USC
VIR 19.5
TCU
NM 6.5
MISST
LT 9
NILL
MN -9
BC
KENT 9.5
ALA
CLEM -5
MSU
CAL -5.5
ILL
MIZZ -9
WASH
ORE -14
AKR
WIS -26.5
ARKST
A&M -20.5
BGU
PITT -12.5
FAU
TEX -23.5
FIU
KAN -36.5
IDAHO
AZ -27.5
ULL
SOMISS -10.5
ULM
AUB -26.5
MEM
OLE -8
NTEX
KST -24
OKST
WASU 6
SYR
NW -12
TULSA
UAB 14
UTAH
MICH -3.5
UTST
UNLV -12.5
WKY
IND -21
WMU
NEB -14
UK
LOU -4.5
COL
COLST 11.5
FRES
RUT -5
TN
UCLA 7
Monday, August 25, 2008
Week #1 is finally here
Now I'm getting excited. We are just a couple evenings away from the kickoff to the 2008 season, finally. Finalize those picks over the next couple of days and get me your 15 teams for this week by EOD WEDNESDAY. I'm trying to speed things up a bit this year rather than cutting it close with the Thursday Noon deadline...so please get to me on WED if possible.
On THUR I will post my Week 1 preview, including all of our picks for the week.
VEGA$
We are locking this down this week. It will be the 4 of us (assuming everyone is still in) and probably 3 or 4 others including my Dad. I will get a final price for you guys for 3 nights at the Mirage plus airfare...hoping to keep it around $650, might balloon up a bit depending on the package we can get - I will let you all know. Once we finalize it, I will need to get a check as soon as you can. Greg is fronting the cash, but will need payback sooner rather than later.
My early Monday feeling on the Gopehrs is 51-19...but maybe I'm being a little too optimistic. I'll throw out an official prediction on Thursday.
Talk to you all this week - get me your picks when you can.
On THUR I will post my Week 1 preview, including all of our picks for the week.
VEGA$
We are locking this down this week. It will be the 4 of us (assuming everyone is still in) and probably 3 or 4 others including my Dad. I will get a final price for you guys for 3 nights at the Mirage plus airfare...hoping to keep it around $650, might balloon up a bit depending on the package we can get - I will let you all know. Once we finalize it, I will need to get a check as soon as you can. Greg is fronting the cash, but will need payback sooner rather than later.
My early Monday feeling on the Gopehrs is 51-19...but maybe I'm being a little too optimistic. I'll throw out an official prediction on Thursday.
Talk to you all this week - get me your picks when you can.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Confidence is high
Wow...3 for 3 in the Gophs to win 6 games this year. I think this year might be a bit premature, but I love our confidence in the Maroon and Gold.
My confidence is also high in Florida State this year....to suck again! I am putting the Gophers to win more games than FSU this year. I think this may be Bowdens last year.
My confidence is also high in Florida State this year....to suck again! I am putting the Gophers to win more games than FSU this year. I think this may be Bowdens last year.
ESPN previews
What's up???
Not sure if you guys saw the ACC preview for last night on ESPN. Both May and Holtz both picked mighty Wake Forest to take down the BCS spot for the conference. I know they were able to make it two years ago in a very, very down year for the ACC...but no way do I think they can take it down again.
I might be riding the bandwagon, but if Clemson can't get it done this year I don't know if they ever can. Tommy's job might depend on the outcome of their season. I think the Hokies, Deacs, and maybe even the Noles can give them a run, but I think it's gotta be Clemson's year.
And they had better get it now, because once Shannon gets Miami going again, the Canes will be back in full force...contending for conference title in '09, and back for sure in 2010. But we'll see.
Mike
Not sure if you guys saw the ACC preview for last night on ESPN. Both May and Holtz both picked mighty Wake Forest to take down the BCS spot for the conference. I know they were able to make it two years ago in a very, very down year for the ACC...but no way do I think they can take it down again.
I might be riding the bandwagon, but if Clemson can't get it done this year I don't know if they ever can. Tommy's job might depend on the outcome of their season. I think the Hokies, Deacs, and maybe even the Noles can give them a run, but I think it's gotta be Clemson's year.
And they had better get it now, because once Shannon gets Miami going again, the Canes will be back in full force...contending for conference title in '09, and back for sure in 2010. But we'll see.
Mike
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
How Important is Week #1 in the Football Challenge?
I've gone through the archives and done some research on the past 2 years of the Football Challenge. Last year, Week #1 was the most successful overall week for us as far as picking correctly all season long! JR and MK each had their best week of the entire season, and JG had his #2 week of the entire 14 week season. MK also had his #1 week of the year during the first set of games in 2007.
Last year we collectively went 27-13, .675 and in 2007 we went 26-14, .650 - both of these records are good enough to make some serious dollars if we can hold that kind of pace. Unfortunatley, things usually go downhill after week 1 as the linemakers catch on and we apparently get dumber.
What does it all mean - don't be afraid when MK hits 13/15 in week 1...it won't last! I'm expecting us all to win at a 65-70% clip in week 1 (10-11 wins at least), and carry it over throughout the year...we're seasoned vets at this point and we can't have a letdown this year. Let's make sure at least one of us is on fire going into the most important weekend of the year (OCT 10th-13th) so we have somebody's back to jump on when we start to get stupid.
One other thing to watch, I didn't mention Mr. Roe in the above paragraphs because he usually saves his best performances for the end of the season, try 15-5 to close out last year and 12-4 to close out the season in 2007. That's a .750 winning % in the final 2 weeks of the year over 2007-2008...maybe we should push the Vegas trip out until then!!
Later.
Last year we collectively went 27-13, .675 and in 2007 we went 26-14, .650 - both of these records are good enough to make some serious dollars if we can hold that kind of pace. Unfortunatley, things usually go downhill after week 1 as the linemakers catch on and we apparently get dumber.
What does it all mean - don't be afraid when MK hits 13/15 in week 1...it won't last! I'm expecting us all to win at a 65-70% clip in week 1 (10-11 wins at least), and carry it over throughout the year...we're seasoned vets at this point and we can't have a letdown this year. Let's make sure at least one of us is on fire going into the most important weekend of the year (OCT 10th-13th) so we have somebody's back to jump on when we start to get stupid.
One other thing to watch, I didn't mention Mr. Roe in the above paragraphs because he usually saves his best performances for the end of the season, try 15-5 to close out last year and 12-4 to close out the season in 2007. That's a .750 winning % in the final 2 weeks of the year over 2007-2008...maybe we should push the Vegas trip out until then!!
Later.
Gopher Practice on TV
Hey just wanted to let you guys know that Big Ten Network is covering the Gophers practice tomorrow night (Thursday) at 10:30 I believe.
I've seen a couple of these from Mich, Ill, and Sparty, and they're pretty interesting. It's scheduled to be an hour of coverage just on Gophers football, so I figured that would be a good way to see how the "experts" from the BTN are seeing the upcoming season. Cheers to my cable company for adding BTN by the way...keeps me away from the bar at 11:00 in the morning the majority of Saturdays throughout the fall.
MK
I've seen a couple of these from Mich, Ill, and Sparty, and they're pretty interesting. It's scheduled to be an hour of coverage just on Gophers football, so I figured that would be a good way to see how the "experts" from the BTN are seeing the upcoming season. Cheers to my cable company for adding BTN by the way...keeps me away from the bar at 11:00 in the morning the majority of Saturdays throughout the fall.
MK
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
1st Post!!
Here we go guys - the blog should be up and running. I sent invites out to all of you, please create a username/password and get up and running. This will be used to post all picks, results, standings, $ situation, and most of all all the wonderful comments back and forth over who sucks and who doesn't. You should all have the ability to post on this site - if not, let me know.
I'll throw something out there, a bit of a historical look at the Football Challenge sometime soon. Until then, feel free to start positing whenever you want.
We should all receive an email update whenever a new post is made.
I'll throw something out there, a bit of a historical look at the Football Challenge sometime soon. Until then, feel free to start positing whenever you want.
We should all receive an email update whenever a new post is made.
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