It?s time for another week of Pick Six. Last week we had two guests handicappers, plus the intern?s first week of selections. This week, we add one guest handicapper, ESPN Pick ?Em winner from last week, Ryan Montoya. Congratulations are in order for Ryan, who selected all ten games correctly for the second straight week.
Remember, weekly ESPN Pick ?Em winners receive a free t-shirt, plus a slot as out guest handicapper on the Pick Six. If you?ve NOT yet signed up to play, you can join the BON League and join the 100+ folks out there already participating:
1) Go to the ESPN Fantasy Home Page
2) Join the public group Burnt Orange Nation
3) Enter the password: Longhorns (Make sure you capitalize the 'L')
4) Make your picks
As always, our updated weekly standings for the Pick Six:
Week Four Pick Six Results| Handicapper | Week 4 Straight Up |
Week 4 Against Spread |
Season Straight Up |
Season Against Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PB | 4-2 | 4-2 | 19-5 | 15-8-1 |
| AW | 2-4 | 1-5 | 16-8 | 10-13-1 |
| Intern | 3-3 | 3-3 | 3-3 | 3-3 |
As I continue to blow AW out of the water, it looks like I?ll win our little side bet and he?ll have to buy me a steak sandwich. And a steak sandwich.
On to the games, which are rather tough this week.
PB: Does transitivity hold in college football? Missouri > Texas Tech and Texas Tech > Texas A&M, therefore Missouri > Texas A&M? Works for me. I?ll take Missouri and lay the points. Tigers 24-17.
AW: The Aggies cost me money last weekend. I refuse to learn. Missouri is much better than Tech who just beat A&M in College Station two weeks ago. If A > B and B > C, then A > C. I?ll take the Tigers. Mizzou 30-20.
AR: It seems I?m going to pick against A&M for all their remaining games. Eventually I?ll get it right, and the Tigers proved themselves last Saturday, so I?ll take the Tigers big: Missouri 45 ? Hicks 17.
RM: Chase Daniel and the Tigers have been improving and their win in Lubbock showed people that they are for real. A&M?s ground game could put up a fight, but the Tiger?s balance wins out. Mizzou 28-24.
Florida -1.5 at Auburn
PB: We were captivated by Auburn when they shut down LSU?s running game, but since then, we?ve learned that LSU can?t run the ball well, period. Florida?s got the better defense, so I?ll lay the points and take the Gators, 17-13.
AW: Florida is undefeated but has left Gainesville just once this season. Their trip to Knoxville was an impressive one. This one won?t be successful. Auburn at night after a home loss with Kenny Irons carving out 100+ against the vaunted Florida D. Auburn 20-17.
AR: In Opelika I?ll take the forlorn Tigers. My hope is that their defense will stiffen up after getting torched by Arkansas; besides Arkansas made most of their yards on the ground and the Gators are still Wynnless. Auburn, but not by much Tigers 10 ? LeakBow 7
RM: Auburn has looked very average the last two weeks and now they get a very good Florida team at home. If Kenny Irons can eat up yards and keep Auburn close they have a chance, but ultimately Florida?s dynamic offense and stingy defense win out. The more interesting subplot here is Tim Tebow taking crucial snaps away from Chris Leak. Gators 21?10.
PB: Manningham?s injury is a big deal, but it won?t matter in this game. The Wolverines should have no trouble neutering Penn State?s middling offense. I wonder whether Michigan will score much, but I have no doubt Penn State will score very little, if at all. Wolverines cover, 17-6.
AW: Without Manningham an upset becomes a possibility but not a reality. This is not the same Penn State team that last year upset OSU in a home night contest. Michigan?s defense will be too tough. Michigan goes to Mike Hart on the ground in this one. Wolverines 24-14.
AR: Michigan wins big, Anthony Morelli shows once again that he can look great against Akron but no one else, and Mario Manningham is not missed too much. Wolverines 56 ? Nittany Lions 14.
RM: A revenge game for Penn State? Happy Valley will be going crazy, but it won?t be enough to make up for their inconsistent QB and shaky secondary. Michigan has too many weapons on offense (even without Manningham) and their D is nasty. Michigan cruises 27-17.
California -9.5 at Washington State
PB: The Golden Bears are rolling, but that?s quite a few points to give up for a road team. Not enough to keep me away, though, as Cal?s offense is legitimately the best in the Pac 10. Laying the points is smart here - Cal 34-17.
AW: Let down alert. Cal cruised past Oregon last weekend and then gets a decent Wash. St team on the road. The Cougars nearly took down USC two weekends ago at home but won?t score enough to pull off the upset. Cal sleep walks through this one but still come out victorious. Cal 32-24.
AR: Washington State almost beat USC. Here?s Cal?s chance to prove themselves by comparison. I?ll take Cal 45 ? Wazzu 30.
RM: I would hate to go to Pullman every other year to play. After the game in Knoxville, though, Cal has been lighting teams up. Wazzu is better than people think but they don?t have enough talent to move the ball on offense or stop Cal on Defense. Cal 42-17.
PB: This is a big bounceback test for Graham Harrell, who was actually pulled from the Missouri game for a series. Colorado?s defense isn?t special, but that?s an awful lot of points for a road team that?s not shown any consistency this season. I?ll take Tech to win, but I?m taking the points. Tech 31-24.
AW: Baylor just went into Boulder and won. Tech may be having a down year but they should still be able to get through this one. Tech?s offense runs the CU defense ragged. Tech 42-20.
AR: Leach?s pirate school gets to rebound from a tough loss against a winless Colorado team. Don?t expect them to let up: Raiders 50 ? Team that lost to Baylor 12
RM: Wow ? Colorado is only getting 8.5 points against Tech. The Raiders haven?t been consistent this season but this is a great match up for them. They like to air it out and Colorado can?t stop the pass. Tech 45-21.
Iowa State +19 at Oklahoma
PB: There?s some chance the Sooners mail it in after such a frustrating defeat to their main rivals. But not with just one conference loss and a Heisman still within reach for Peterson. I think Oklahoma wins here, but that?s just a ton of points to give up. I?ll take the points, and a closer game than most expect. Sooners 31-24.
AW: First instinct is this line is too high. The Texas game had to leave the Sooners bruised and beaten. AP can only score so many points. The Sooners? defense should be able to limit Meyer?s effectiveness but their offense won?t score enough to cover this one. OU 24-10.
AR: Can Oklahoma rebound from that ass-whuppin? this weekend? I?ll bet they can against an Iowa State team that?s been pretty disappointing this season, but I think 19 is a little too big I?ll take OU 35 ? Iowa St. 25 - no cover.
RM: After getting knocked around by Texas, OU should rebound with a big win against Iowa State. Adrian Peterson will run wild (with his Dad in attendance) and Paul Thompson should be able to burn the Cyclone secondary. Peterson and the other guys 38-17.