Ah, the elusive perfect week strayed just so slightly out of my grasp. After nailing the first 9 picks, Mizzou let me down and received a old fashioned butt-kicking from Texas. A few observations before this week’s selections.
1- Despite Philly’s win in Game 1, I still like Tampa in 7. This World Series is tough to pick though…both teams look evenly matched.
2- Is anyone else feeling the same joy I am over the recent collapse of the Dallas Cowboys?
3- Folks who missed the Temple-Ohio game on Tuesday (which would include…oh, everyone in America) missed this great intro.
I’m at a loss for words to describe that, so onto the Week 9 picks…
WEEK 9: BUTLERS PICKS- DIDN’T YOU USED TO BE AN NFL COACH? EDITION
1- Auburn @ W. Virginia. Remember the good ole days…the days when Auburn and West Virginia were considered top 10 teams and national title threats? That was actually earlier this season, but it seems like ages ago. Neither team is even in the top 25 at this point, and both are displaying offenses that a good peewee football team could stop. ESPN thought they had a killer matchup when the season started, but it’s now more likely it will just be a killer to watch.
PICK: W. Virginia 13 Auburn 10
2- Wake @ Miami. We move from a matchup of offensively challenged teams to a matchup of…more offensively challenged teams. Sure, Miami put up a bunch of points last week, but Duke’s not exactly a defensive powerhouse. Wake looked useless against Maryland, and it is clear their MVP is a kicker. Without Sam Swank, the Deacs struggle. I really feel like Miami’s gonna win, but Jim Grobe’s too good of a coach to let Wake look pathetic 2 weeks in a row, right?
PICK: Wake 17 Miami 16
3- Texas Tech @ Kansas. Enough with the sorry offenses. This Big 12 showdown should feature points, and a lot of them! Texas Tech has been lighting up the scoreboards in Lubbock for years now, and is off to its best start in over 30 years. Coach Mike Leach also likes to run up the score, as was indicated last week against Texas A&M. He won’t be able to run up the score against Kansas, but Leach and the boys from Lubbock will get enough points to stay unbeaten.
PICK: Texas Tech 42 Kansas 34
4- BC @ UNC. Carolina tries to rebound from a disgraceful loss to UVA. I say disgraceful because UNC gave the game away. Having held UVA out of the end zone all day by playing good, aggressive defense, the Tarheels inexplicably played prevent on the last drive. It worked…as the defense “prevented” UNC from winning the game. I will never understand coaches who employ that defense. BC is looking a lot better, but QB Chris Crane is still fighting the interception bug. UNC leads the country in interceptions. That’s a bad combo for the Eagles.
PICK: UNC 23 BC 18
5- Oklahoma St @ Texas. I’ve picked Texas to lose the past two weeks, and instead, the Longhorns have flattened their opponents. The beatdown Texas imposed on Mizzou was Secretariat-like in the Belmont. Not too surprising then, that it’s “Colt” McCoy responsible for the unstoppable Longhorns attack. Oklahoma State’s a terrific team, but that hasn’t made much difference lately for Mack Brown’s club.
PICK: Texas 38 Oklahoma St 34
6- Duke @ Vandy. For about 2 1/2 quarters, it appeared Duke was on its way to another win, and possibly bowl-contention. Then the Blue Devils gave up a bajillion points in the last 20-25 minutes or so, and that was that. Speaking of bowl contention, we’re still waiting to see Vanderbilt reach the necessary 6 wins to be considered. As we’ve eluded to before, Vandy hasn’t been to a bowl game since the days of Genghis Khan. But that, my friends, is finally about to change…
PICK: Vandy 34 Duke 33
7- NC State @ Maryland. Last time these two hooked up, State needed a win to make a bowl game. What State made was a mess, losing 37-0…an embarrassing loss in Raleigh. This year, State needs a win period. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got one, because Maryland seems to play down to their competition. In the end though, State’s got too many problems. Expect Maryland to be like Ron Cherry here and give State the business!
PICK: Maryland 28 NC State 21
8- Georgia @ LSU. It wouldn’t be a real week of picks without an SEC showdown, and that’s what we’ve got down in the Bayou. The Bulldogs and the Tigers aren’t quite as good as they appeared to be a month ago. Georgia just hasn’t dominated teams like they’re capable of, and LSU’s defense went on vacation against Florida two Saturdays ago. LSU is really strong at home, but under Mark Richt, Georgia’s been pretty doggone good on the road. In a really tough pick, I’m takin UGA.
PICK: Georgia 23 LSU 20
9- Va Tech @ FSU. The Seminoles are back in the rankings after taking advantage of NC State’s shoddy 3rd down defense to beat the Pack. On the climb back to the Top 25, FSU passed the Hokies, who were plummeting from the rankings themselves. Last year, Bobby Bowden lost to Va Tech for the first time ever. Well, dadgumit, that’s not happening for a 2nd year in a row.
PICK: FSU 26 Va Tech 13
10- Penn St @ Ohio St. It’s pretty sad to say this, but this is the last big game in the Big Ten this year. Outside of these two teams, the rest of the league stinks. OSU finds themselves in the rare position of being an underdog at home in the Horseshoe. They’ll face Penn St, who has rolled over everyone. Two problems for the Nittany Lions. 1- 167 yr old Joe Paterno has serious problems beating the Buckeyes and 2- Ohio State tends to dominate the rest of the Big Ten in the same fashion that they themselves get dominated by any decent nonconference opponent.
PICK: Ohio St 27 Penn St 20
I’m Kyle Butler, and I approved these picks. Paid for by the Principled Prognosticating Pickers Association of America.
LAST WEEK: 9-1 90%
OVERALL: 57-23 71%
