2013-14 Season Awards!

Yeah so it is a little bit delayed, but here are the awards for our 2013-14 season of Cole’s Gameday Blog Football Championship Stuff Edition!!!

2013-14 Bowl Co-Champions:
Phil Steele/Robert Smith (21-14).  It was a down year in the Bowl Pick’em leagues, but our two champs this year include multiple Bowl Pick’em winner Robert Smith, and newcomer (to this blog) Phil Steele.

Best preseason pick of the year: Colin Cowherd, Ole Miss over Texas.  It was supposed to be a bounce-back year for Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns, and nobody was predicting big things for the Ole Miss Rebels.  However, Colin went out on a limb and called this one week before the season started, and was amazingly right!

Best Weeks of the Year:
Colin Cowherd, Week 9 (11-0)
Bubba Watson, Week 5 (10-0)
Jennifer’s Picks, Week 5 (13-1)
Pat Forde, Week 4 (30-3)

Worst Week of the Year:
Robert Smith, Week 8 (0-9)

Best Picks of the Year:
Lou Holtz, Week 1: NDSU over KState
Lou Holtz, Fiest Bowl: UCF over Baylor
Nobody on earth would have picked either of these upsets.  Somehow Lou Holtz picked both.  What does this mean?  I don’t know, but it is impressive.

Upset Specialists:
Jennifer’s upset specials: 10-5, 66.67%
Mark Schlabach: 7-5, 58.33%
Todd McShay: 8-10, 44.44%
Brad Edwards: 6-8, 42.86%
Lee Corso: 2-3, 40%
Kirk Herbstreit: 1-4, 20%

2013-14 Cole’s Gameday Blog SEASON CHAMPION!!!
Pat Forde: 301-95, 76.01%
This year’s champion, Pat Forde, is unusual in the sense that not only did he finish with the strongest record amongst our competitors, but he also had the most picks of anyone this year.  I would say that is strong to quite strong.  The full slate of results is below, but let’s take a minute to congratulate Pat Forde for a historic season.

The first section is our true competitors this season, and the second section are those who didn’t have enough picks to qualify for the yearly awards.

Pat Forde: 301-95, 76.01%
Phil Steele: 102-36, 73.91%
Colin Cowherd: 115-43, 72.78%
Desmond Howard: 71-30, 70.30%
Jennifer’s Picks: 149-63, 70.28%
Mel Kiper Jr.: 54-27, 66.67%
Lee Corso: 128-50, 66.07%
Mike Bellotti: 26-14, 65.00%
Mark May: 46-25, 64.79%
Kirk Herbstreit: 114-63, 64.41%
Dari Nowkhah: 117-66, 63.93%
Jason Sehorn: 72-43, 62.61%
Brad Edwards: 31-19, 62.00%
Celebrity Guests: 95-60, 61.29%
Todd McShay: 65-44, 59.63%
David Pollack: 32-22, 59.26%
Mark Schlabach: 31-24, 56.36%
Robert Smith: 70-55, 56.00%
Lou Holtz: 38-31, 55.07%

Tim Cowlishaw: 3-0, 100.00%
Tim Tebow: 1-0, 100.00%
Kevin Blackistone: 1-0, 100.00%
Charles Arbuckle: 26-5, 83.87%
Ivan Maisel: 16-5, 76.19%
Chris Fowler: 12-4, 75.00%
Trevor Matich: 29-10, 74.36%
Tom Luginbill: 24-10, 70.59%
Paul Finebaum: 15-7, 68.18%
Bill Plaschke: 4-2, 66.67%
Matt Millen: 5-3, 62.50%
Ryen Russillo: 23-14, 62.16%
Danny Kanell: 12-8, 60.00%
Joey Galloway: 3-2, 60.00%
Andre Ware: 3-2, 60.00^
Jesse Palmer: 14-10, 58.33%
Skip Bayless: 9-7, 56.25%
Brian Griese: 21-18, 53.85%
Ed Cunningham: 18-17, 51.43%
Chris Fallia: 11-11, 50.00%
Kevin Carter: 4-4, 50.00%
Scott Van Pelt: 3-3, 50.00%
Woody Paige: 2-2, 50.00%
JA Adande: 1-1, 50.00%
Mike Golic: 1-1, 50.00%
Stephen A. Smith: 1-1, 50.00%
Matt Stinchcomb: 7-8, 46.67%
Brock Huard: 2-3, 40.00%
Jackie MacMullen: 0-1, 0.00%
Mike Greenberg: 0-2, 0.00%
Rod Gilmore: 0-4, 0.00%

2013-14 Bowl Season: Results are in! #bowlmania

In this reporter’s opinion, the 2013-14 Bowl Season was one that upfront looked like a disapointing schedule, yet turned out to be one of the more exciting bowl seasons I can remember.  The BCS era definitely went out with a bang thanks to four of five major upsets, and a championship game which will be remembered for a long time.  However, our panel of experts struggled this year with the bowl picks.  For reference, the previous bowl season champions are:

2006-2007 Bowl Season Champion: Howie Schwab @ 24-8, 75%
2007-2008 Bowl Season Champion: Colin Cowherd @ 25-7, 78.1%
2008-2009 Bowl Season Champion: Pat Forde @ 17-10, 63%
2009-2010 Bowl Season Champion: Jesse Palmer @ 18-16, 52.9%
2010-2011 Bowl Season Champion: Todd McShay @ 20-11, 64.52%
2011-2012 Bowl Season Champion: Tony Reali @ 25-10, 71.43%
2012-13 Bowl Season Co-Champions: Robert Smith & Jennifer, 25-10, 71.43%

So some years are up and others are down.  This wasn’t quite as bad as the 2009-10 season when Jesse Palmer won the championship basically because I already ordered the trophy and had to send it to somebody.  However, this year I would like to present to you a set of co-champions for the second year in a row.  This year’s winners are last year’s co-champion Robert Smith and newcomer Phil Steele.  They went 21-14 this season, which is low for a champion, but this is also a year in which none of our main competitors (defined as those who picked all 35 games) finished with a losing record.  It was a very tight group.  Check out the records below to see how your favorite (or most hated) personality did this year in the bowl games.

Qualifying Competitors:
Phil Steele: 21-14
Robert Smith: 21-14
Dari Nowkhah: 20-15
Jennifer’s Picks: 20-15
Pat Forde: 20-15
Todd McShay: 19-16
Mark Schlabach: 18-17
Ed Cunningham: 18-17

Others receiving votes:
Mel Kiper Jr.: 1-0
Mike Golic: 1-0
Chris Fowler: 1-0
Trevor Matich: 1-0
Tim Tebow: 1-0
Brad Edwards: 1-0
Scott Van Pelt: 1-0
Bill Plaschke: 1-0
Ivan Maisel: 1-0
Stephen A Smith: 1-0
Andre Ware: 3-2
Joey Galloway: 3-2
Matt Millen: 3-2
David Pollack: 7-7
Brian Griese: 3-3
Magic Johnson: 3-3
Ryen Russillo: 2-2
Kirk Herbstreit: 6-7
Lee Corso: 4-5
Desmond Howard: 2-3
Kevin Carter: 2-3
Brock Huard: 2-3
Danny Kanell: 3-4
Jesse Palmer: 3-5
Mark May: 2-4
Lou Holtz: 2-4
Mike Bellotti: 1-4
Tom Luginbill: 1-4
Matt Stinchcomb: 1-4
Colin Cowherd: 1-5
Mike Greenberg: 0-1
Paul Finebaum: 0-1
Skip Bayless: 0-1
Woody Paige: 0-1
Jackie MacMullen: 0-1
Rod Gilmore: 0-4

Week 11 2013: Results are in, picks are graded!

I know its a few days late, but the picks from week 11 have been graded.  Results were mixed this weeks since nobody on the planet picked Stanford to beat Oregon and a handful of close games.  Winners this week include Kirk Herbstreit (8-3) and Jennifer (8-3), but this week’s undisputed winner was Lee Corso at 9-2.  Corso also got his headgear pick right, going with Bama over LSU.

Losers this week include Todd McShay (3-4), Dari Nowkhah (6-5), Robert Smith (4-4) and Jason Sehorn (5-5).  Colin Cowherd had a mediocre week at 7-5, and everyone else was somewhere in the middle right there with him.

Our upset specials this week went great all around.  Celebrity guest picker Jake Peavy went 6-3 overall, but nailed his upset special of Vandy over Florida.  Expert analyst Jennifer continues to crush the upset specials with VaTech over Miami Fl this week.  Mark Schlabach and Brad Edwards both got on the board with Pitt over Notre Dame as well.  Todd McShay went with KState over TTU and completed our panel of upset specialists to a combined 5-0 this week.

We also saw the return of the Matt Millen show, which is always exciting.  He went 2-1 this week.  You’re welcome.

Joining our ranks this week is noted college football expert Phil Steele.  He went 3-1 this week.  I have been tracking him on and off for a while, but wasn’t sure exactly how to handle him.  Since he charges money for his content on ESPN insider, and since I don’t want to get sued, I am ONLY tracking the picks he makes on the ESPNU podcast and appearances on ESPN television.  So far he is absolutely crushing it on the year, so everyone else will need to step up their game.

Check out the full slate of picks below to see how your favorite (or most hated) personality did this week.

Lee Corso: 9-2
RIGHT Bama over LSU (headgear pick)
WRONG Miami Fl over VaTech
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
RIGHT Nebraska over Michigan
RIGHT Minnesota over Penn St
RIGHT Auburn over Tennessee
RIGHT UCLA over Arizona
RIGHT Texas over WVU
RIGHT Baylor over OU
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Arizona St over Utah

Kirk Herbstreit: 8-3
RIGHT Bama over LSU
RIGHT VaTech over Miami Fl
WRONG Michigan over Nebraska
WRONG Penn St over Minnesota
RIGHT Auburn over Tennessee
RIGHT Ariz St over Utah
RIGHT UCLA over Arizona
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
RIGHT Baylor over OU
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Texas over WVU

Desmond Howard: 4-2
RIGHT Bama over LSU
WRONG Arizona over UCLA
WRONG BYU over Wisconsin
RIGHT Auburn over Tennessee
RIGHT Baylor over OU
RIGHT Texas over WVU
RIGHT Ariz St over Utah

David Pollack: 2-0
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
RIGHT Bama over LSU

Jake Peavy: 6-3
RIGHT Bama over LSU
RIGHT VaTech over Miami Fl
WRONG Arizona over UCLA
RIGHT Ariz St over Utah
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
WRONG Michigan over Nebraska
RIGHT Vandy over Florida (upset special)
RIGHT Auburn over Tennessee
WRONG Penn St over Minnesota

Jennifer’s Picks: 8-3
RIGHT Bama over LSU
RIGHT VaTech over Miami Fl (upset special)
WRONG Michigan over Nebraska
WRONG Penn St over Minnesota
RIGHT Auburn over Tennessee
RIGHT Texas over WVU
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
RIGHT Baylor over OU
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT UCLA over Arizona
RIGHT Ariz St over Utah

Todd McShay: 3-4
RIGHT Bama over LSU
WRONG Tennessee over Auburn
WRONG Miami Fl over VaTech
WRONG Arizona over UCLA
RIGHT KState over TTU (upset special)
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Baylor over OU

Lou Holtz: 3-0
RIGHT Bama over LSU
RIGHT VaTech over Miami Fl
RIGHT Notre Dame over Pitt

Mark May: 2-2
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Bama over LSU
WRONG Miami Fl over VaTech
RIGHT Pitt over Notre Dame

Colin Cowherd: 7-5
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Baylor over OU
RIGHT Bama over LSU
RIGHT FSU over Wake Forest
RIGHT Mizzou over Kentucky
WRONG Tennessee over Auburn
RIGHT USC over Cal
RIGHT TAMU over Miss St
RIGHT Ariz St over Utah
WRONG Miami Fl over VaTech
WRONG ND over Pitt
WRONG Arizona over UCLA

Skip Bayless: 1-1
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Bama over LSU

Mike Bellotti: 2-1
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Fsu over Wake Forest
RIGHT Bama over LSU

Brad Edwards: 3-1
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT FSU over Wake Forest
RIGHT Baylor over OU
RIGHT Pitt over Notre Dame (upset special)

Trevor Matich: 3-1
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Bama over LSU
RIGHT Baylor over OU
RIGHT Fsu over wake

Jake Owen: 2-0
RIGHT Baylor over OU
RIGHT Stanford over Oregon

Matt Stinchcomb: 2-1
RIGHT Bama over LSU
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Baylor over OU

Tom luginbill: 2-1
RIGHT Bama over LSU
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Baylor over OU

Paul Finebaum: 1-0
RIGHT Bama over LSU

Matt Millen: 2-1
RIGHT Baylor over OU
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Bama over LSU

Mel Kiper Jr.: 4-3
RIGHT Baylor over OU
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
WRONG Miami Fl over VaTech
RIGHT Bama over LSU
RIGHT UCLA over Arizona
RIGHT Fresno St over Wyoming
WRONG Michigan over Nebraska

Dari Nowkhah: 6-5
RIGHT Vandy over Florida
RIGHT Minnesota over Penn St
RIGHT UCF over Houston
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
WRONG Michigan over Nebraska
RIGHT UCLA over Arizona
WRONG Miami Fl over VaTech
WRONG OU over Baylor
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Bama over LSU
WRONG Wyoming over Fresno St

Jason Sehorn: 5-5
RIGHT Minnesota over Penn St
WRONG Florida over Vandy
RIGHT UCF over Houston
WRONG BYU over Wisconsin
WRONG Michigan over Nebraska
RIGHT UCLA over Arizona
WRONG Miami Fl over VaTech
RIGHT Baylor over OU
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Bama over LSU

Mark Schlabach: 1-0
RIGHT Pitt over Notre Dame (upset special)

Phil Steele: 3-1
RIGHT FSU over Wake Forest
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
WRONG Arizona over UCLA
RIGHT Bama over LSU

Bill Plaschke: 0-2
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
WRONG Oklahoma over Baylor

Woody Paige: 1-0
RIGHT Baylor over Oklahoma

Brian Griese: 0-1
WRONG Oregon over Stanford

Pat Forde: 21-4
WRONG AF over UNM
RIGHT Louisville over Uconn
RIGHT UNC over UVA
RIGHT FSU over Wake Forest
RIGHT VaTech over Miami Fl
WRONG Notre Dame over Pitt
RIGHT Okla St over Kansas
RIGHT Indiana over Illinois
RIGHT Nebraska over Michigan
RIGHT Minnesota over Penn St
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
RIGHT Utah St over UNLV
RIGHT BC over NM St
RIGHT SD St over SJSU
RIGHT UCLA over Arizona
WRONG Florida over Vandy
RIGHT Mizzou over Kentucky
RIGHT Auburn over Tennessee
RIGHT Bama over LSU
RIGHT TAMU over Miss St
RIGHT KState over TTU
RIGHT CSU over Nevada
RIGHT Ariz St over Utah
WRONG Wyoming over Fresno St
RIGHT UCF over Houston

Ivan Maisel: 1-0
RIGHT Mizzou over Kentucky

Ryen Russillo: 2-2
RIGHT UCLA over Arizona
RIGHT Minnesota over Penn St
WRONG TTU over KState
WRONG Notre Dame over Pitt

Robert Smith: 4-4
WRONG Oregon over Stanford
RIGHT Bama over LSU
WRONG Arizona over UCLA
WRONG Miami Fl over VaTech
RIGHT UCF over Houston
RIGHT Wisconsin over BYU
RIGHT Minnesota over Penn St
WRONG Michigan over Nebraska