Justice Is Served

Shonn Greene honored as Best Running Back in the nation by winning the Doak Walker Award. Well done Greene. Thank you for putting together the best season by an Iowa back in history...

College Picks

Quick Post-

Virginia Tech +1.5 over Boston College

UCLA +33 over USC

UCLA is not winning, but they're losing by 30 either

Arizona -11 over Arizona St.

And once again, like a moron, i pick games involving ASU...

Oklahoma -17.5 over Missouri

Alabama +10 over Florida

This game is decide in the first ten minutes. If Florida gets up 10-14 early, they will blow out Alabama. But i think the Tide's defense is good enough to keep Florida in check and keep it close...

College Football Picks

3-2 last week, 28-27-2 on the year. I think next year i was cut it down to three picks each week. Three picks are usually easy to find good games. I start reaching after that, hence my chappy record. Anyway, on to the picks!

Penn St. -15.5 over Michigan St. (W)

Penn St. will get back to their dominating ways this week against an overrated Spartans team. 

LSU -3.5 over Mississippi (L)

LSU hasn't looked dominating this year, at all, but with the way they finished last week's game i think they come out on fire. 

Oregon St. +3 over Arizona (W)

A lot of people seem to like Arizona here, but i like the way the Beavers have been playing. I still think they lose at Oregon though...

Stanford +8 over California (L)

I'm riding this Stanford bandwagon right now. I like them to cover. 

Texas Tech +7 over Oklahoma (L)

Everyone has written this off as a loss for the Red Raiders, though i'm nto sure why. They still have the best offense in the country, and they're getting 7 points. I like them to at least cover, and possibly win outright. 

College Football Picks

I'm having one hell of a crappy season, and with only three weeks left, i need to make an incredible run. I don't think it will happen, but you never know. 25-25-2 on the season. On to the picks!

Penn St. -35 over Indiana (L)

I don't usually like lines this big, but Penn St. is at home and will be mad. And Indiana is really, really bad.

Ohio St. -9.5 over Illinois (W)

Illinois is kind of in disarray, plus the Buckeyes lost to them last year and will be looking for revenge. 

Georgia -10 over Auburn (L)

Georgia rolls the teams it's supposed to roll. 

Standford +24 over USC (W)

Stanford is not pulling another upset this year, but USC hasn't been covering on the road, and Standford is playing fairly well.

Texas -14 over Kansas (W)

This might be my lock of the year. Texas ROLLS. They will destroy Kansas by about 35 points...

College Football Picks

Jesus i had a crappy week last week. That's what happens when you're on the road and can't properly prepare. Anyway, 2-3 on the week which puts me at 23-22-2. At for good measure i'm late getting this so i can't even predict the Big Ten games, which i watch the most of. God i suck at this...

Pittsburgh +5.5 over Notre Dame (W)

Not sure why, just feeling Pittsburgh in this game. My blind hatred for Notre Dame not withstanding...

Florida -8 over Georgia (W)

I hate Florida more than most, but after what happened last year, with Georgia winning and doing their celebration thing on the first TD, i think Florida exacts some revenge this time around.

Oregon +3 over Cal (L)

My upset special of the week.

Boston College -3 over Clemson (L)

Clemson has almost given up on the season, and BC is playing better as of late.

Texas -4 over Texas Tech (L)

If the last few years have taught us anything, it's that Texas Tech can't hang with the big boys. I'd love to see a Tech upset so Penn St. would be in the National Championship game, but it's not gonna happen this time.

College Football Picks

Still in Pittsburgh, so another short post. 21-19-2 on the year. 

Northwestern -8 over Indiana (L)

It's only been a week, and Indiana hasn't gotten any better. They're still a horrific team. 

Wisconsin +3 over Illinois (W)

Wisconsin has been kicked around pretty bad the last few weeks, but they're back at home and i think they return to some semblance of the team that started the year on a roll. 

USC -15 over Arizona (L)

Sorry, UA isn't hanging in this game. 

Michigan +4 over Michigan St. (L)

We all know Michigan isn't a good team, but i still like them at home against the Spartans. 

Penn St. -2.5 over Ohio St. (W)

I am very, very nervous about this game for Penn St. But, i've been riding them all year, and they're a good team. So i'll pick them again. 

College Football Picks

3-2 last week, 18-17-2 on the years. Yikes. On to the picks!

Ohio St. -3 over Michigan St. (W)
Seems like it could be a trap game for the Buckeyes with Penn St looming next week, but i think OSU takes care of business on the road. Michigan State isn't as good as everyone thinks they are.

LSU -3.5 over South Carolina (W)
Speaking of teams that aren't very good...

Illinois -15.5 over Indiana (W)
Indiana is bad. Like, really, really bad.

Missouri +5 over Texas (L)
Not really sure why i'm taking this to be honest, but i don't like Texas after their big win last week, and i like Mizzou coming off a loss.

Georgia -14.5 over Vanderbilt (L)
Umm, i hate to break it to you, but Vandy isn't really that good. Georgia rolls.

CFB Picks

So apparently i forgot to do my recaps of my picks last week. My only defense is that i was without internet from sunday night to thursday night. Actually, that's kind of a good excuse...

Anyway, i went 2-2-1 on my college picks last week, which puts me at 15-15-2 on the season. Talk about a lesson in mediocrity. On to the picks!

Oklahoma -7 over Texas (L)

Hard to take a 7 point favorite in a game featuring two top-5 teams, but i still like Oklahoma and their QB Sam Bradford. Texas' secondary is young and inexperienced. 

Arizona St. +28.5 over USC (W)

(Sigh) God help me, i can't for the life of me figure out why i'm betting on any game involving ASU... To be clear, there is no way in hell ASU wins this game, but USC struggles as a big favorite in conference games. 

Penn St. -6 over Wisconsin (W)

As i said last week, i'm riding Penn St. until they fail me. They've been a huge money-winner so far this season. 

LSU +6 over Florida (L)

I can't bet against LSU in any bigtime, SEC night games. 

Michigan St. -2 over Northwestern (W)

There is zero chance NW is a 6-0 team. Hell, they shouldn't even be a 3-0 team. I think Javon Ringer will bounce back and go for about 160 and MSU controls the game. 

College Football Picks

13-13-1 on the season. Need a good week this week to get a jump. To the picks!

Alabama -16 over Kentucky (L)

It looks like it could be a trap game, admittedly, but Bama has next week off and i think Saban will be pushing them hard to finish.

Ohio St. -2 over Wisconsin (W)

Ohio St. struggles against spread offenses. Wisconsin is not a spread offense. Ohio St. dominates the Big Ten.

USC -16.5 over Oregon (W)

Oregon has once again lost it's starting QB. Oh, and USC is coming off a bye. And a loss. And they're at home.

Penn St. -14 over Purdue (Push)

Penn St. is this year's 'ride them till they collapse' team. Did you know they're averaging 50 points a game? And they haven't given up more than 24 in any game?

Kansas -12 over Iowa St. (L)

I don't have nearly enough time to go into detail about ISU's struggles against Kansas lately, but let's just say KU owns ISU. And that was before Kansas was good...

CFB Picks Review

2-3 on the week, which puts me at an even 13-13-1 on the season. Not great, but not getting killed either. Need to get better starting soon though...

College Football Picks

11-10-1 on the year. I have no idea about this week, i'll admit that now. On to the picks!

Michigan St. -8.5 over Indiana (W)

Indiana's not very good this year. And Michigan St. does one thing really, really, really well. They run the ball better than maybe everyone else in the country. That, my friends, is Big Ten football. And i love it. 

Penn St. -16 over Illinois (L)

Illinois may be ranked, but i'm not sold on them. Juice turns the ball over too much, and their defense isn't the same this year as it was last year. And Happy Valley is a tough place to play, especially at night. And, oh yeah, Penn St. is averaging 54 points a game this year...

Nebraska -7 over Virginia Tech (L)

Night game, in Memorial Stadium, against a big-time (sort of) opponent, for a program that appears to be back on the rise. I like Nebraska. 

Maryland +11 over Clemson (W)

Clemson, as usual for my picks, has massively underwhelmed this year with a team that should have been good. Maryland has been inconsistent, but Friedgen usually has his boys up for big games. 

Florida -22.5 over Mississippi (L)

Florida in the swamp will be looking to roll. 

CFB Picks Review

Another crappy ass week for College picks. Remind me to never, ever, EVER bet on Tennessee again. Jesus i'm a fucking retard. 11-10-1 on the year. Losing money now...

College Football Picks

Ok kids, i'm back and better than ever. Or, just back really.

After a horrible week in Week 3, it's time for a rebound. 9-7-1 on the year. On to the picks!

Auburn +3 over LSU (L)
Neither team has an offense worth a damn, and both teams have a great defense. Have to go with the home team getting points here.

Michigan St. -9 over Notre Dame (W)
Much like the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and ASU in college, Notre Dame screws me every time regardless of whether i pick with them or against them. And yet here i am again. Notre Dame's coming off a big win over Michigan, MSU is at home, and MSU can run the ball. I like the Spartans big.

Arizona State +7 over Georgia (L)
I'm not sure ASU can actually pull off the win, but they're been waiting for this game for 9 months. A night game, on the road, on the West Coast, a place Georgia hasn't been in 50+ years. ASU will be geared up for this game.

Penn St. -29 over Temple (W)
Penn St. is averaging something like 54 points a game, and are at home. Expect a blowout...

Tennessee +8 over Florida (L)
Again, i'm not sure the Vols can pull off the win, but i think they hang tough. Florida rolled them last year, then taunted them afterwards. Tennessee has also been looking forward to this game since then. I like Tennessee to keep it close. [EDIT: (Florida up 17-0 in 1st quarter): I'm a fucking moron. Tennessee is officially on my list of teams to never, ever, ever, under any circumstance, EVER bet on. Fuck them...]

College Football Picks Review

2-3 on the week, thanks to Georgia and Oregon not managing to cover. Record after three weeks is 9-7-1. Still at 56%, which is turning a profit. Here's to a better week next week...

College Football Picks

OK kids... The NFL is obviously not my bag, but college i'm doing ok in. 7-4-1 on the year. Here's the picks for the week. 

Oregon -8.5 over Purdue (L)

Purdue (Big Ten) sucks. 

Georgia -7.5 over S. Carolina (L)

This line just seems wrong. Georgia is a national title contender right?

USC -12 over OSU (W)

No Beanie Wells? No OSU cover...

Missouri -26.5 over Nevada-Reno (W)

Missouri just has a crazy offense.

Michigan - Notre Dame under 38 (L)

I don't normally bet over/unders, but these two teams might not combine for 20 points...

College Football Picks Review

3-1-1 on the week. Florida had a lower line earlier in the week, but i was late getting on it. Puts me at 7-4-1 on the season. I can deal with that...

College Football Picks

That's right kids, they're back! It's picks time!

I finished a pedestrian 39-34-2 last year, for a .520 winning percentage. Not the 55% you need to break even. Man i suck...

This year i'm trying to stick to picking 7 games each week. Last year i was kinda all over the board on how many picks i would make.

On a side note, picking the first week is always the hardest because i haven't seen anyone play yet. Also, you should know i'm not nearly as informed and prepared going into the season as i was last year. It happens.

On to the picks!

South Carolina -14.5 over N.C. State (W)
South Carolina is at home. Also, this game is tonight (Thursday), so i just threw it in there to have something to root for tonight.

Hawaii +35 over Florida
To be clear, i am not picking Hawaii to win. I am picking them to cover a 35 point spread, which is ridiculous. Then again, it is Florida and Hawaii lost their QB and coach... Screw it, i just changed my mind. Florida -35 over Hawaii (W).

Michigan -3.5 over Utah (L)
A lot of people are calling this a trap game for a Michigan team that a) lost their 4-year QB, b) lost their 4-year RB, c) lost their coach, and d) is installing a new system. Especially since they managed to lose at home to Appalachian St. last year. And Utah should be good this year. All that being said, i think Michigan will have enough to beat Utah by 4 or more...

Nebraska -14.5 over W. Michigan (W)
Bo Pelini is the coach Nebraska should have hired last time they were looking for a coach when they hired Bill Callahan instead. Pelini has restored the defense to where it should be, and their QB Ganz should have a good year. Memorial Stadium will be rocking.

Clemson -4.5 over Alabama (L)
I think Clemson could have a great year, and this is where it will begin. Plus they are at home, which is actually a tough place to play.

Missouri -9.5 over Illinois (W)
Consider me one of the people who doesn't think Illinois can repeat what they did last year. I've seen the Zook up close and personal, and he is a terrible game coach. Terrible. I can't even describe to you how bad he is. Example A is the stampeding Iowa put on a Zook-led Florida team in the Outback Bowl in 2003. They will miss Mendenhall. And Missouri should be good.

Tennessee -7.5 over UCLA (Monday night) (L)
Ok, i will admit i changed this pick Friday morning. I'm not sure what i was thinking. Tennessee rolls...

So there you go. I managed to pick all favorites. Next time i'll do better...

College Football Previews

Unlike last year, when i devoted entire posts and previews to each of the BCS conferences, i'm doing a more stream-lined version this year. The reason for this is two-fold: One, you probably don't really care about most of what i have to say except for the actual picks (if you even care for those), and two it's a little late to get rolling on all of those in too much depth since the football season starts in two days (two days!).

So, with that said, here's a streamlined college football preview, where i pick the winners of each conference and various other things.

Big Ten: Ohio St. Obviously. Should roll through the Big Ten, with only Wisconsin giving them any trouble.

Big Twelve: Oklahoma. Poised for a great year behind QB Sam Bradford.

Pac 10: USC. Self-explanatory.

ACC: Clemson. Great backfield. North Carolina isn't ready yet, and Miami and FSU are still struggling a bit.

Big East: W. Virginia. Let's see if this team can continue to burn me anytime i pick them to do anything...

SEC: Georgia. After claiming the #1 ranking in both polls, there has been a lot of backlash about their schedule and inexperience at key positions. I like Stafford, love Moreno, and think they can pull it off.

National Championship Game: Georgia vs. Oklahoma. Georgia will probably have a loss, but with the SEC strength can probably still get in. I like Georgia to win it as well.

Heisman Trophy Winner: Sam Bradford. Had a fantastic freshman season, should really breakout this year. Don't look for Tebow to repeat, he's no Archie Griffin. That's still a taboo.

That's it for me preview this season. Of course, i will resume my picks each week. Hopefully i can do better than i did last year on that front...

End Of An Era

Those of you who follow this blog know i'm a die-hard Hawkeye and try to keep my eye on what's going on back in IC. Today, an Iowa City icon has come to an end.

The Press Citizen is reporting that famed Hawkeye football tailgating spot Olive Court has been sold and will not be open this fall, or ever again, for tailgaters.

According to the report the lot has been sold to a developer who plans to build condo's on the site. While long-rumored and considered inevitable the last few years, it's still a shock to see a place i spent many, many drunken saturday mornings at closed up forever.

With the building up of the Fieldhouse parking lot, and other lots near the stadium having been designated alcohol-free long ago, the places for tailgating close to the stadium are dwindling for Hawkeye Fans. The Dental lot is still there (i believe?), but is either reserved or costs a boatload. I have a feeling the Finkbine lots will be where the party moves, but at this point it's hard to tell.

I only wonder what this will do to all the vendors along Melrose, including the 'Big-Ass Turkey Legs!' guy.

R.I.P. Olive Court. You will be missed.

Jake Christensen

This post over at Black Heart Gold Pants is pretty mean, yet i find it wildly hilarious.

And yeah, i've been linking over to BHGP a lot lately, but they're a way better source for Hawkeye news and crude humor than i am. What can i say, i'm lazy.