Cheer up, Phil… it’ll only get worse

While many seem to be looking at this year’s Outback Bowl as another showcase for the SEC versus the Big 10, I wholeheartedly disagree. Vegas might have the Volunteers as more than a field goal favorite, but I’d be surprised if Tennessee was within seven points of the Badgers by the time all is said and done. Don’t get me wrong, I root for SEC teams in all the bowls but if Tennessee wins, I’d be more than pleasantly surprised; I’d be shocked.

Let’s look at this scenario. On one hand we have a young, mistake prone and distracted team in Knoxville facing a slightly more mature, disciplined and focused Badger team. Tennessee is one of the softest teams in the SEC with a porous defense that managed to push the old “bend but don’t break” cliché to the very limit. The Vols’ success this season rested entirely on the production and leadership of senior quarterback Erik Ainge and the offensive mind of David Cutcliffe. Ainge will enter a game a seasoned veteran but will also be thinking about his NFL future while Cutcliffe is coaching his last game with the Vols before taking over the head coaching position at Duke.

Fulmer found himself under the gun all season by those who dearly wanted this to be his swan song. Several other coaches could end up leaving for new opportunities after this bowl game much like rats jumping from a sinking ship as the closure of the Fulmer era seems to be more a matter of “when” than “if“. Given all this staff turmoil Tennessee has also seen two starters from its much maligned and suspect defense suspended with four other players also deemed academically ineligible. On the flip side, rumors from Madison are that PJ Hill, one of the nation’s top and most physical running backs, will be able to play in the game. (more…)

Here we go, back again for another round of the Pick ‘Em.

Before we continue, here are the standings as of 9/20/2007. Remember that everyone started with $1,000 in Week 1.

1st place: Rob G (of course), $2,250

2nd place: Keltic Gator at $1,750

3rd place: Gatorpilot and Gator Boys, our favorite O&B Hue reader other than Gatorhippy, are tied at $1,600

4th place: Swampster, taking the Rear Admiral slot convincingly with $475

The Pick ‘Em, to date, has been surprisingly successful for most Huers. Rob G is once again earning the grudging respect of his fellow bloggers by cranking out the wins, week by week. He doesn’t miss very often.

KG put his money where his mouth was last week, betting big on Florida for $500 and moving up accordingly. Gator Boys managed to tie Gatorpilot for 3rd on the strength of one losing week and two big wins. After a first round which saw his funds depleted to $400, he bet it all on LSU to double his money, then bet it all again on Florida to find himself up to $1,600 in imaginary money. Congratulations, Gator boys.
Swampster had his first successful outing in Week 3 but it was not without controversy. Swampster went down from his starting $1k to $775 in week one, then went 0-5 in his week 2 picks, ending at a miserable $325 total. Then, in an amazing turnaround, he went 4 for 5 (not including the Arky/Bama push) but made one glaring error: he bet more money than he had.

The Huers convened and decided an appropriate punishment was to levy a 50% fine on Swampster’s winnings. He’s now at $475, but with many weeks left in the season, a rousing comeback is always possible.

Without further ado, the Week 4 Pick ‘Em. This week’s games were selected by Swampster.

Texas A&M -2.5 @ Miami
Air Force @ BYU -11
Georgia @ Alabama -3.5
Florida -23 @ Ole Miss
Penn State -3 @ Michigan

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Sorry for the abbreviated format this week, folks, but I’m rushing out the door for a glorious day of tailgating in Gainesville.

GATORPILOT’S PICKS

Tennessee (24) +8
@ Florida (3) -8 $300

Love the Gators to win big here, especially after Troy trounced Oklahoma State last night. That’s got to leave both the Vols and the Dawgs feeling very nervous.

Notre Dame +7.5
@ Michigan -7.5 $200
Crip fight… Notre Dame can’t put up any points against a stiff breeze.

Ohio State (10) -4.5
@ Washington +4.5 NO ACTION
Logic tells me Washington should win this one. But we’re talking Tressel vs. Willingham here. I like UW.

Arkansas (16) +3
@ Alabama -3 $300

Here’s the dealio. The Tide should win this easily. Last year it took three missed FGs and a botched PAT in OT to lose this game to the Hogs. This year the coaching is vastly improved and there’s no question that the Tide field a better quarterback. Arkansas has D-Mac and Felix Jones running wild out of the backfield but what happens when they get behind by two scores? They gotta pass… and Marcus Monk is out with an injury. This is also the Tide’s first home SEC matchup with Satan Saban roaming the sideline. Easy pick here.

Louisville (9) -6.5
@ Kentucky +6.5 NO ACTION
Great home ‘dog picks. Go Cats. Unfortunately I had a vivid dream last night in which Louisville destroyed them. No action.

The Gators bring their impeccable record under Urban Meyer into the Swamp and face divison rival Tennessee who could certainly surprise. The offensive line despite young is aided by Tebow running more of the true option this year. The defense has got to play better especially with Ainge who is one of the better QBs in the conference. I am taking Gators despite the team not being battle tested like the Vols are, having already played a top tier team in Cal. FLA @ $100

Notre Dame +7.5
@ Michigan -7.5

Who will be the biggest loser? Obviously, the greater talent lies on the Michigan sideline, but getting Lloyd to harness it is another thing. The past few weeks the Wolverines have burned me and maybe they put it together finally. MICH @ $200

Ohio State (10) -4.5
@ Washington +4.5

I’d say this is a bad week for OSU. We’ll see how bad the depth is lacking in the Big 10. I’d say Tyrone’s squad delivers. WASH @100

Arkansas (16) +3
@ Alabama -3

I hate Saban. Arkansas has Nutty game with their monster RB Duo. ARK @100

Louisville (9) -6.5
@ Kentucky +6.5

The surprise pick of the weekend. Kentucky shows they are for real. KY @100

Tennessee (24) +8
@ Florida (3) -8 This is going to be a game dictated by offenses. Florida has a young defense and Tennessee has NO defense. Florida enjoys the home field, better special teams, more team speed, more talent, better wide receivers and a QB who can throw deep. Tennessee has some slightly better running backs, although their offensive line is too bad to take advantage of that. This doesn’t look to be a close game in my book. I like Erik Ainge and think he will have some success but not enough to keep it close. Gators win big here unless the defense is much worse than we’ve been led to believe (but could it be worse than Cal’s???).

Bet Florida for $500

Notre Dame +7.5
@ Michigan -7.5

Oh my Gawd!!! What kind of matchup is this? They should create a new bowl game called the lemon bowl dedicated to matching up the two teams that suck the most. If so maybe we could see these two teams in a rematch. For now we have a sad ND team without much talent versus a poorly coached Michigan team without much defensive talent. I don’t think Michigan can deal with fast teams but Notre Dame doesn’t present that to them. Unless Weis is able to take his young offense and exploit Michigan’s vulnerabilities. With a team this young I don’t think he can do it. It’s a lot of points to give but I think Michigan can run the ball and play Michigan football for a change.

Bet Michigan for $50

Ohio State (10) -4.5
@ Washington +4.5

Washington is one of the weaker teams in a tough conference and Ohio State is one of the tougher teams in a weak conference. To me that means this game is even. Sure, I know OSU has better talent and a battle tested coaching staff but this game is at Washington giving the Huskies the emotion. If Dubya wins it will be the ultimate embarassment to a conference already teetering on the bring of insecurity and insult. The past says this is a matchup Tressle probably wins but maybe I’m just caught up in all the Pac 10 supreme talk but I’m going with the home team on this one.

Bet for Washington for $50

Arkansas (16) +3
@ Alabama -3

Ouch . . . another tough game with two teams I haven’t seen. Saban inherited a decent team and he’s playing at home. However Arkansas has all everything mandroid Darren McFadden. Still . . . Nutt versus Saban isn’t a close comparison and the Hogs are too one dimensional to score many points. If John Parker Wilson can just manage this game well I think the Tide rolls.

Bet for Alabama for $100

Louisville (9) -6.5
@ Kentucky +6.5

This could be a shootout. Louisville is one of those high scoring Big East teams that can’t play defense while Kentucky is a much improved SEC bottom feeder. But if the Wildcats can do anything it’s score points. With one of the top QBs in the country and a good cast of WRs I think UK will take the home field advantage and pull the upset. The pressure is on the Cardinals and it’s Steve Kragthorpe’s first foray into this state rivalry. This might be the last chance for Kentucky to beat their in-state rivals for a while.

Bet for Kentucky for $100

I am too biased to place a real bet involving Florida, so give me the Gators at 100.

Notre Dame +7.5
@ Michigan -7.5

Hilarious game, ridiculous that we’re giving it this attention though. We’re just as guilty as the real media for pumping up these programs. Give me Michigan at 250.

Ohio State (10) -4.5
@ Washington +4.5

Honestly, I have no idea. The Pac 10 has been more impressive than the Big 10 lately, and the Washington is at home. So I’ll put 300 on Washington.

Arkansas (16) +3
@ Alabama -3
Humanity Advanced and company vs. the Tide. I think I’ll go with the proven team over the hype. Saban has to show me that this ‘bama is for real, before I drop money on them. 250 on the Hogs.

Louisville (9) -6.5
@ Kentucky +6.5

I can’t believe this line is so small, then again, Middle Tennessee State. I really, really don’t want to cheer against the SEC in this game, but I can’t justify betting a lot of money on Kentucky with such a small line. Let’s say, UK at 100.

Heeeeeere we go, folks. When you look back on the history of the Pick ‘Em, week one held no surprise for da Hue as Rob G took an early and somewhat commanding lead. Here’s the breakdown:

1st place: Rob G. 3-2, great pick on the Georgia Tech game (and a big bet too). +$400. Total: $1,400.
2nd place: Gatorpilot. 3-2, +$150. Total: $1,150.
3rd place: Keltic Gator. 2-3, -$200. Total: $800.
4th place: Swampster. 1-4, -$225. Total: $775.
5th place: Gator Boys. 3-2. Total: $400.

Notes: Swampster had a dreadful showing, getting only one pick correct, but played it safe with enough bets so as not to cause irretrievable damage… Keltic put most of his money on the line but got lucky with his Auburn pick… Gatorpilot yet again suffered at the hands of ND, and has yet to make a correct pick involving the Irish since the 2006 season, but pulled out the rest of his picks minus Tennessee. and Rob G is becoming the most hated man at the Hue. Rob G, make sure look both ways when you cross the street to deposit our money in the ATM. Gator Boys is a Hue reader who despite going 3-2 bet most of his wad on Tennessee and Auburn. He’s down to $400 after just one week.
Onward and upward with week #2! This week we’re going with:

- Miami @ #6 Oklahoma -10.5
- Oregon @ Michigan -8.5
- #9 Virginia Tech @ #2 LSU -12.5
- Notre Dame @ #15 Penn State -17.5
- South Carolina @ #12 Georgia -4.5

Click the (more) link for the picks.

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Welcome to the 2007 Pick ‘Em. This day has long been anticipated by your four Huers. Three of us look to exact a toll of vengeance on Rob G, who casually (and some would say callously) beat the Hue’s collective hindquarters with a 2″ diameter cane in the 2006 mid-season Pick ‘Em.

This year, Rob G will have to do more than pick five sets of games well. He will have to perform for an entire season.

And he has a target painted on his back. Myself (Gatorpilot), Keltic Gator, and Swampster are all gunning for the dude. Rob G, you’ve been warned, my man.

Our rules are simple: each week one of our Huers will pick five games for us to bet on. We start with $1,000 in virtual currency and continue until we either run outta dough, or the season ends. We bet on lines only this year (last year we did straight up picks, too, but the group elected not to do so this season) and a $1.50 Personal Foul penalty is assessed for non-participation. We’ll keep score weekly and tabulate the results for you here at O&B Hue.

Feel free to play along. If any Hue readers out there would like to participate, simply use the comment box and submit your picks and bet amounts. Minimum bet is $50. I will accept participants for the first two game weeks of the season and you will be awarded $1000 in currency to use. After that, we’ll close the doors.

Without further ado, our first week’s picks are:
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Is it me or does college football seem to get more exciting as the year goes along? There are more upsets and great games in November than any other time of the year.

Let’s review the O&B Hue Staff Picks, along with other games of note. As you know there is quite a competition going on between columnists to prove their football intuition. Last week, Swampster made his move from 3rd to 2nd place after going 8-0. However it was essentially a 3 -man race, as editor GatorPilot had squandered too much of his football fortune to really be of consequence anymore. Unfortunately, after this week, it looks like a two man race… a race for second place as Rob G extended his lead by an amount that seems insurmountable, and GatorPilot fell further behind the pack. (more…)

In yet another stunning “reversal of fortune” (to use a term for failure from Eating Competition), three of four Huers have climbed well into the black, while the original OB, the Fool on the Hill — Gatorpilot — has sunk to a new low.

“All I can say is, I want to cry,” said the Huer, who yet again won all of his smaller bets but lost most of his larger ones. The current tally puts Rob ‘I hurt my foot’ G in the lead at $1248.50, Swampster (who went a perfect 8-0 in Week 11!) firmly in second with $1225, Keltic ‘Watch Your Back’ Gator at $1200, and Gator-’I bet on Saddam in the Iraqi War’-pilot at… gulp… $500.

Picks follow…

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Week 11 rolls around with Swampster vowing to regain ground. He flip-flopped dramatically from Week 9 to Week 10, going from up $300 to down $400. Gatorpilot went up $50 during Week 9 and dropped $250 in Week 10.

Gatorpilot’s strategy? “Even it out, man, even it out,” said the Huer while chugging H20 and riding his exercycle. “I’m gonna start riding the odds. Keep the bet sizes manageable. No more balls-out stuff. That’s crazy.”

Of course, Keltic Gator rode wielded that method to greatness in Week 10, sticking a huge roll on LSU at Tennessee… and winning. And Rob G took the lead simply by injuring his foot, failing to submit his picks, and accepting the $1.50 O&B Hue Personal Foul fine in the process. (”I think it’s a good thing none of us are professional gamblers,” said Rob.)

What about Swampster, the former leader turned Rear Admiral?

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Week 10 — which is only Week 2 for the Huers as a whole — was an unmitigated bloodbath for former consensus #1 Swampster and #2 Gatorpilot.

Swampster, who enjoyed a comfortable lead last week, went a dreadful 1-7 on his picks. Gatorpilot didn’t fare much better, managing only 3-5. But Keltic Gator engineered a stunning comeback after tanking in Week 9. Despite a so-so 4-4 record for the day, KG wisely abstained from betting on the weaker games and put his money right where it counted. His decision to ride LSU -3 hard (for $250) proved to be the equivalent of a 4.0 ML earthquake, the likes of which altered the entire O&B Hue Picks ‘Em landscape.

Ironically, Rob G’s foot, which, thanks to being used as a table battering ram and putting our High Priest on the O&B Hue Injured Reserve, may have done its owner a favor: Rob G has shot into the lead via absentia. Rob G lost only $1.50 (the fine for a Personal Foul in the Pick ‘Em.) Trailing Rob G are Keltic Gator, now in 2nd place, Gatorpilot in 3rd, and Swampster, who has fallen a long way indeed from a lofty perch above the rest of the Huers, and now resides in last place (4th.)

The Final Scoreboard for Week 10:

Arkansas -2 @ South Carolina

Result: Arkansas 26, South Carolina 20

Gatorpilot: Picked USC +2, lost $100

Swampster: Picked USC +2, lost $100

Keltic Gator: Picked USC +2, lost $150

Rob G: Injured Reserve

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Week 10 brings a case of Swampster’s Finest, directly from the aforementioned Huer’s cellar.

A sad note, however. Rob G has fallen.

Literally. With stitches holding his foot together, and broken bones rattling around under the pasty epidermis, our fourth Huer, our High Priest of the Church of Albert, our hometown Golden Boy, has been placed on the O&B Hue Injured Reserve and will not be participating in this week’s Pick ‘Em.

Despite his fellow Huers screaming, “JACK YOUNGBLOOD PLAYED WITH A F*#%ING BROKEN LEG, YOU PUSS!” and other deragotory statements made in the name of teamwork and sportsmanship, Rob G chose to accept, by default, a fine for failing to submit his picks. His week two net change will be -$1.50, dropping him from $1,000 to $998.50.

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