Week 14 2012: Results are in!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am afraid we have come to a close for the regular season.  It’ll be alright though, because that means it is bowl season.  It is only Monday after week 14, but some of our experts are already throwing out bowl predictions on ESPN.  These picks may change, and as always we will be officially tracking their latest picks, but its still exciting if you’re me.  I’ll be tallying up the regular season results to post sometime this week so we can see where everyone stands.  With that knowledge we will know who are contenders for the 2012 championship here at Cole’s Gameday Blog, and we will also be able to keep an eye on who will finish at the bottom of the barrel.

Anyways, week 14’s results are in.  It was a light schedule, so it was a little lighter on picks than usual.  This week’s big winner is Dari Nowkhah at 9-1, with other winning performances coming from Lee Corso (10-2), Desmond Howard (6-1), Pat Forde (14-4), and Mark May making a rare appearance at 5-1.  Losers this week are Herbie (6-4), Lou Holtz (2-2), Christian Fauria (1-2) and Mark Schlabach (1-2).  Special guest picker Matt Ryan went 6-4.  Lee Corso also nailed his headgear pick going with Bama over Georgia.  The rest you can see below, so look and see how your favorite/most hated personality did this week.

Charles Arbuckle: 7-3
RIGHT NIU over Ken St
WRONG UCLA over Stanford
RIGHT OU over TCU
WRONG Okla St over Baylor
RIGHT Tulsa over UCF
RIGHT Boise St over Nevada
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
RIGHT KState over Texas
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Mike Bellotti: 0-1
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin

Matt Stinchcomb: 1-1
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
WRONG Georgia over Bama

Mark Schlabach: 1-2
WRONG Georgia over Bama (upset special)
RIGHT Stanford over UCLA
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin

Skip Bayless: 1-0
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Brian Griese: 4-1
RIGHT NIU over Kent St
RIGHT Stanford over UCLA
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Mark May: 5-1
RIGHT NIU over Kent St
RIGHT Stanford over UCLA
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
RIGHT Bama over Georgia
RIGHT KState over Texas

Lou Holtz: 2-2
RIGHT Wisconsin over Nebraska
WRONG Texas over KState
WRONG Georgia over Bama
RIGHT Stanford over UCLA

Trevor Matich: 1-0
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Brad Edwards: 1-0
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Ryen Russillo: 1-1
WRONG Georgia over Bama
RIGHT FSU over GaTech

Robert Smith: 3-0
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
RIGHT Wisconsin over Nebraska
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Christian Fauria: 1-2
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
WRONG Georgia over Bama

Woody Paige: 0-1
WRONG Georgia over Bama

JA Adande: 1-0
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Colin Cowherd: 4-1
RIGHT Bama over Georgia
RIGHT Stanford over UCLA
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
RIGHT KState over Texas

Ivan Maisel: 0-1
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin

Pat Forde: 14-4
WRONG Kent St over NIU
RIGHT Stanford over UCLA
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
RIGHT WVU over Kansas
RIGHT KState over Texas
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
WRONG MTSU over Ark St
RIGHT Boise St over Nevada
RIGHT Oregon St over Nicholls St
RIGHT Bama over Georgia
WRONG Okla St over Baylor
RIGHT OU over TCU
RIGHT Hawaii over S.Alabama
RIGHT Tulsa over UCF
RIGHT Tx St over NM St
RIGHT Cinci over UConn
RIGHT Pitt over USF
RIGHT Lafayette over FAU

Dari Nowkhah: 9-1
RIGHT NIU over Kent St
RIGHT Stanford over UCLA
RIGHT OU over TCU
WRONG Okla St over Baylor
RIGHT Tulsa over UCF
RIGHT Boise St over Nevada
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
RIGHT KState over Texas
RIGHT Wisconsin over Nebraska
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Mel Kiper Jr.: 2-0
RIGHT Bama over Georgia
RIGHT KState over Texas

Todd McShay: 4-2
RIGHT KState over Texas
WRONG UCF over Tulsa
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
RIGHT Bama over Georgia
RIGHT Wisconsin over Nebraska (upset special)
WRONG UConn over Cinci (upset special)

David Pollack: 4-3
RIGHT Bama over Georgia
RIGHT NIU over Kent St
WRONG TCU over OU
WRONG Okla St over Baylor
RIGHT KState over Texas
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin

Desmond Howard: 6-1
RIGHT OU over TCU
WRONG Okla St over Baylor
RIGHT KState over Texas
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
RIGHT Wisconsin over Nebraska
RIGHT Bama over Georgia
RIGHT Tx St over NM St

Kirk Herbstreit: 6-4
RIGHT TX St over NM St
RIGHT KState over Texas
RIGHT Tulsa over UCF
WRONG Nevada over Boise St
RIGHT Cinci over UConn
RIGHT Pitt over USF
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
WRONG TCU over OU
WRONG Okla St over Baylor
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Lee Corso: 10-2
RIGHT Stanford over UCLA
RIGHT Tx St over NM St
RIGHT Wisconsin over Nebraska
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
RIGHT KState over Texas
WRONG UCF over Tulsa
RIGHT Boise St over Nevada
RIGHT Cinci over UConn
WRONG USF over Pitt
RIGHT OU over TCU
RIGHT Baylor over Okla St
RIGHT Bama over Georgia (headgear pick)

Matt Ryan: 6-4
WRONG UCF over Tulsa
RIGHT Boise St over Nevada
RIGHT Cinci over UConn
RIGHT Pitt over USF
WRONG GaTech over FSU
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
RIGHT OU over TCU
RIGHT KState over Texas
WRONG Okla St over Baylor
RIGHT Bama over Georgia

Jennifer’s Picks: 8-3
RIGHT Tx St over NM St
RIGHT Tulsa over UCF
RIGHT Boise St over Nevada
RIGHT Cinci over UConn
RIGHT Pitt over USF
RIGHT FSU over GaTech
WRONG Nebraska over Wisconsin
RIGHT OU over TCU
RIGHT KState over Texas
WRONG Okla St over Baylor
WRONG Georgia over Bama (upset special)

Week 10 2012: Gameday review #saturdayselections

Its about noon here and we are in the middle of the morning slate of games, and that means we’ve put another edition of College Gameday in the record books.  Today the show was broadcasting live from Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the huge matchup  between #1 Alabama and #5 LSU.  While LSU has a ridiculous winning record at home (something like 36-1 in their last 37, forgive me if I’m wrong), it is the Alabama Crimson Tide who are about an 8 point favorite going on the road.  We opened this morning with Chris Fowler welcoming us to the show and doing some quick clerical duty running down the day’s schedule before handing off the hosting duties to Samantha Steele.  Samantha Steele tweeted this morning that she went to Chik-fil-a and witnessed a toddler fight in the playplace as well as a girl fight in the bathroom regarding Alabama.  Sounds about right for Baton Rouge.  Today her outfit was another FABULOUS one according to Jennifer.  She said she would like to have this shirt.  However, one must bring up the question: WHY ARE YOU WEARING WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY?  I MEAN COME ON, IS THIS AMATEUR HOUR?

Week 10: Samantha Steele

This morning we got a good bit of BCS Guru Brad Edwards breaking down potential scenarios based on future wins and losses.  He did a segment on both the early hour on ESPNU as well as the main show on ESPN later on.  He seemed to think that aside from Alabama, Kansas State is in the drivers’ seat as far as making the championship game (should everyone in the running win out).  The Big 12 is #1 in the computer rankings, so the KState strength of schedule is giving them the edge.  Notre Dame may have a pretty good resume on paper, but most of their tough games are behind them.  Oregon’s strength of schedule is peaking at the right time, but with Oregon State and USC losing, the Ducks winning out might not be enough to jump an undefeated Kansas State.  We are assuming a lot here.  Can’t wait to see how it ends up.

We got a replay of the De’anthony Thomas/Black Mamba/Snoop Dogg/Snoop Lion piece from about a month ago as filler material this morning.  Snoop discovered Thomas at one of his football league games and gave him a nickname: The Black Mamba.  The best morning segment today for me was when David Pollack and Samantha Steele were joined by GIGANTIC HUMAN BEING TREVOR MATICH.  They were breaking down matchups between the defensive line and offensive line in todays’ games.  David Pollack looked terrified pretending to go up against someone the size of Trevor Matich.  Keep in mind that in the picture below David Pollack is 6’2”.

Trevor Matich: Large human being

Coming back from commercial we got some great video of local Louisiana residents doing whatever boat things they do in the swamp.  You can tell I know what I’m talking about here.  The highlight of this quick segment was footage of someone who they said was a former Louisiana Tech quarterback from a while back.  Seems about right.

Former La Tech QB

To close out the first hour on ESPNU, we got some picks from Desmond Howard and David Pollack.  They both went with Bama over LSU to some nice booing from the crowd.  You can generally tell how live the crowd is each week based on how much they boo these two.  As the main show kicked off on ESPN, Fowler and the crew sent Samantha Steele to the bus and David Pollack to use the internet and tweet at the rubes.  This week Pollack arrived to the internet in the Batmobile.  I wish it had been the 1960s Batmobile.

Pollack likes Batman, likes internet

Early on in the show we got a breakdown of the big game today: the Battle for Myron Claxton’s shoes.  They just couldn’t wait til the end of the show to break down the Occidental/Whittier matchup, and neither could I.  The predictions were unanimous with Corso, Herbie and Des all picking Whitter over Occidental.  I think that’s a solid pick.  Before we get to the signs of the day, I do have to ask the question: Where were the Alabama fans?  Every time they showed the crowd it seemed like a sea of yellow and purple.  Maybe I wasn’t paying attention, but I wonder what the crowd will look like for the game tonight.  Anyways, the highlights of the signage today include the LSU “If we lose do we get a re-do?” sign, the “Miles eats grass taller than Saban” sign, and the “Saban is a Keebler elf” sign.  Today’s runner up was the “Alabama claims Lance Armstrong’s Titles” sign.  This might have won, except that it  was too late.  Texas A&M already claimed those titles.

Sorry, A&M already claimed the titles

Today’s official sign of the day has to be the following, presented without comment once again.

Hint: Top Left

We got another piece of beatnik poetry from Tom Rinaldi quiet-talking about the deeper meanings of a loss.  He asked coaches about how they handle losses and how they eulogize them in the locker room after the game.  They said lots of things about not taking it out on the players, about moving forward, appreciating the wins, and how it can be like a death.  Tom Rinaldi summed it up by saying losing is worse than death because it happens more than once.  Alright then.

Beatnik Tom Rinaldi performing live

We also got a piece by Gene W. about Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.  Apparently he grew up wanting to go to USC, but that didn’t work out.  Instead, Chip Kelly offered him a scholarship to Oregon before Mariota ever even started a game.  His response to Chip’s offer was “are you sure?”  I’m not sure that is the response I would give to such an offer.  We also got a Bald Man on Campus with Scott Van Pelt featuring AJ McCarron.  Apparently when he was young he made a list of things he wanted to be as a grown up, including football player, fireman, and car man (whatever that is).  The highlight of this segment was that McCarron said that when Nick Saban comes down on you hard “you feel as small as him”.  Lol.

Sam Steele & Lolo Jones just because

But let’s get serious.  Its time to get down to the business at hand.  It is time for picks.  The experts are leaning 20 to 3 in favor of Alabama over LSU as of mid-day today.  The full slate of picks can be found HERE for your reference.  Today’s special guest celebrity is former LSU track star Lolo Jones who was brought in to see if she could top Ryan Lochte’s performance.  She had some delightful insight including saying she could beat Denard Robinson in a foot race.  Since Denard Robinson is out with an injury today, that’ll go nicely with the rest of her sprinting challenges to injured football players.  I mean, she already knows she could easily beat Eric Legrand.  Anyways, she had little to contribute to the football discussion other than picking Kansas State over Oklahoma State because they wear purple like LSU.  Des and Dave both went with Alabama, and Herbie joined them riding the Crimson Tide.  Would coach Corso go with the home crowd favorite in LSU, or the actual favorite Alabama?  He had Sweet Home Alabama pumped through the speakers as he went back and forth egging on the crowd.  He finally chose Alabama over LSU to an overwhelming boo.  As he donned the headgear, Herbie wasn’t quite as scared as he was of live animals, but he continues to be awkward each week leaning away from Corso.  Another great Gameday.  Enjoy your Saturday.

Alabama over LSU!
Herbie having fun!

 

Week 4 2012: College Gameday Review

Welcome back.  College Gameday is just ending, the full day of games are just beginning, and its time for us to take a minute to reflect on this morning’s activities.  Things were a little hectic this morning as we suffered some technical difficulties involving the FIOS box, DVR, and their ability for me to view College Gameday.  Luckily we had a backup TV, but might have missed a couple of details while I was getting things back into working order.  Things are back online, and all is normal in the universe.

We kicked off things live from Tallahassee, Florida this morning for the big matchup between Clemson and Florida State.  Going into this show, they said FSU is only 3-5 when Gameday is present on their campus, so take note of this important information gamblers.  Coach Corso also comes into this week riding a two-week losing streak for his headgear picks.  Can he turn it around?  Tune in tonight to find out.  Who did he pick?  Read on and you will see (or just scroll down if you could care less about anything I say).  Things started off the first hour as always with Chris Fowler welcoming us to the presentation with Desmond Howard and David Pollack.  Then Samantha Steele took over hosting the first hour because, as she put it, the humidity was killing his hair.  We got discussions on all the games including tonight’s game, which has now been dubbed “The Battle of Jimbo and Dabo”.  We got a replay of last week’s Dewey Bozella piece and his inspirational story of being wrongfully imprisoned.  The first hour closed, as always, with picks from Desmond and David making picks.  They both took the Seminoles and got quite an ovation from the crowd.  Also, Samantha Steele’s shoes made another return, so Jennifer will be thrilled.  No outlandish suit from Desmond Howard; I am disappointed.

The Early Crew: Looking Sharp

As the second hour started, David Pollack was sent back to the bus to go use the internet.  I do apologize, but this was during our technical difficulties, and this is the closest picture I got of him tweeting, when the FSU cheerleaders threw one of their members at him and he managed to catch her.  Well done David.

Pollack put away the internet; catches cheerleader!

During today’s show, we got some footage of Lee Corso’s time spent playing for Florida State back in the mid  1950s.  I don’t know about you, but I love watching vintage college football clips.  Nothing better than a lazy day watching “Southwest Conference Legends” on Fox Sports Net that used to air a few years ago.  Coming back from one commercial, we got a piece by Tom Rinaldi called “Chopped” about FSU, and the piece lasted about 25 seconds.  I thought this was going to be a full Tom Rinaldi quiet-talking segment, but it was really short and didn’t have much of a point.  I don’t understand why we needed a full title card for “Chopped: by Tom Rinaldi” for a piece less than a minute long.  However, we did get a full Tebow Memorial Segment by Tom Rinaldi about Jimbo Fisher’s son Ethan who suffers from Fanconi Anemia.  Apparently its a blood disorder that his son has, and the life expectancy is about 25.  It sounds pretty horrible, because even if you get a bone marrow transplant to fight the disorder, you are still susceptible to all kinds of cancers.  Heartbreaking stuff, but you would never know it looking at Ethan.  The kid doesn’t look like he has a care in the world, so best of luck to him.

We got a discussion between Pollack, Herbie and Jesse Palmer back in the studio about Mizzou’s QB James Franklin refusing the needle and sitting out last week’s game.  Jesse Palmer chimed in with a great looking opinion that Franklin made the right decision.  He talked about his own choice to use painkillers to get through a game, and how it messed him up for weeks after that because he couldn’t feel the damage he was causing to his body.  Pollack said if he heard the opposing QB had a bad shoulder, he was coming for the shoulder.  We also found out FSU does not like Jesse Palmer, as it rained down boos when he came on the screen.  They must be jealous of his good looks.

We saw the return of Bald Man on Campus with Scott Van Pelt, which we have missed the last two weeks.  His initial piece was him hanging out on campus with Denard Robinson, and this week was him hanging out on campus with Collin Klein; Kansas State QB.  Comparisons were made to Tim Tebow.  Both white. Both home schooled.  Both religious. Both rugged.  Both bring their lunch pale.  Both great leaders.  They talked about Klein always getting bloodied up from taking the big hits, and he said he always looks at his teammates in the huddle who take bigger hits to help him out.  Apparently he supports Tebow, and Tebow supports him.  Klein also plays the piano, violin and mandolin.  Great segment, and I’m glad we had SVP back.

Now its time to get down to the real business at hand.  You probably came here for picks, so its time for picks.  For the full slate of Saturday morning picks, check out THIS POST.  Last night on Twitter, Lee Fitting (@leefitting on Twitter) said he spent 30 minutes planning out the headgear pick with Lee Corso last night.  I could only imagine what they were coming up with.  There was also high speculation about who would be the guest celebrity.  My vote of former FSU star Burt Reynolds did not win.  What they managed to dig up is Tallahassee native and noted motocross driver Ricky Carmichael.  Ricky came onto the set with Fowler, Corso and Herbie and did a great job of contributing pretty much nothing to the presentation.  He had some great insight like “Gonna be a lot of points in this Oregon-Arizona game”, and “I’m going to the game tonight, so I gotta go with Florida State”.  Lee Corso was very unimpressed with this backwards-hat-wearing motorcycle jumper, and pretty much gave him a big MEH every time he picked a game.  This all built up to the big game tonight.  FSU only 3-5 all-time when Gameday is on campus.  Corso riding a two game losing streak on headgear picks.  Would he give the kiss of death to the Seminoles this week?  What was the big presentation Lee Fitting and Coach Corso came up with?  This should answer your question.  Also, I can’t be the only one who thought about this separated at birth comparison below.  Choose wisely, and enjoy your Saturday folks.

Corso goes with the Seminoles!
Mel Brooks: Separated at birth?