Ken
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Welcome to the 3rd year of our internal tBBC pick measuring contest. Two years ago, Scott beat Patrick. Last year, I beat Scott. They were mano a mano duels, using our epees. This year, it’s not mano a mano; it’s a melee. Several Staffers will guess the winning teams. Obviously, as the defending champion, I’ll be ‘choosing’, not ‘guessing’. Any commentary, appropriate, or otherwise, is included. Here we go:
Michigan @ Utah
Patrick: Utah
Ken: Utah – Wolverines may do well this season. Just not against Utah.
Mike: Utah
WVa: Utah
JC: Utah
Charles: Michigan – the false hope of an immediate turn around by Harbaugh will last another week
Joe: Utah – I hope Jimbo kept his receipt, he might need to return his khakis after the Utes soil the Wolverines in week 1.
Scott: Michigan – I would love to take Utah, but I think Harbaugh’s guys find a way.
Jeff: Utah
Mali: Utah
Far more Utes than Khakis for this one.
TCU @ Minnesota
Patrick: TCU
Ken: TCU – Gophers may make some noise in the B1G this season. This opponent has national title aspirations.
Mike: TCU
WVa: Minnesota
JC: TCU
Charles: TCU – TCU is probably the second best team in the country, Minny isn’t even close
Joe: TCU – I buy into the fact that the Gophers will be a scrappy team this season, but they are not equipped to stop Boykin and Co. (See J.T. Barrett against Minny last year)
Scott: TCU – How good is Minnesota? Not good enough.
Jeff: TCU
Mali: TCU
It looks like WVa is the man against the tide in this game. We’ll see.
Michigan State @ Western Michigan
Patrick: MSU
Ken: MSU – Spartans are 17 point favorite. It all depends on how much work Dantonio wants Connor Cook to get.
Mike: MSU
WVa: MSU
JC: MSU
Charles: MSU – Western Michigan is improving a lot but they aren’t even close to MSU’s level
Joe: MSU – As much as I want to take the rowing Flecks over Sparty in the upset, it’s hard to imagine Connor Cook being stopped by the Bronco D. Even if Flecks fly together.
Scott: MSU – Sparty Hearty
Jeff: MSU
Mali: MSU
Spartans unanimous pick.
Kent State @ Illinois
Patrick: Illinois
Ken: Illinois – The train wreck at Illinois is a 2 TD favorite? Yeah, Charles (below) is right.
Mike: Illinois
WVa: Illinois:
JC: Illinois
Charles: Illinois- Kent State is just awful
Joe: Illinois – Speaking of Western Michigan, Bill Cubit has been asked to be the stopgap at Illinois. The only gap stopping the Fighting Illini on Saturday will be the one being held at the Buffet line in preparation of Brady Hoke taking over in 2016.
Scott: Illinois – Interim coach circles the wagons
Jeff: Illinois
Mali: Illinois
Illini (!) unanimous pick.
Illinois State @ Iowa
Patrick: Iowa
Ken: Iowa – Well, I guess a win is a win, but c’mon Kirk..
Mike: Iowa
WVa: Iowa
JC: Iowa
Charles: Iowa – Even Ferentz can’t screw that up
Joe: Iowa – Kirk Ferentz is the kryptonite to Illinois State’s Superman! I love that Millions of dollars are going toward marquee wins over Illinois State in Des Moines. #TurnDownTheHawk
Scott: Ill State – No way Ferentz loses, right? Wrong
Jeff: Iowa
Mali: Iowa
Scott probably knows something and isn’t sharing
Norfolk State @ Rutgers
Patrick: Rutgers
Ken: Rutgers – Rutgers leads the series, 3-0. At least it isn’t that long of a drive from Norfolk, VA. Norfolk State’s new head coach came over from Richmond (see below).
Mike: Rutgers
WVa: Rutgers
JC: Rutgers
Charles: Rutgers – teams playing I-AA opponents
Joe: Rutgers – I’m tempted to take Norfolk State just so I can brag that I won this pick-em even though I gave my opponents the only gimme win on the Rutgers schedule. I’m a competitor though, and I won’t do that. Sorry Guys. You’re all going down.
Scott: Rutgers – No other comments
Jeff: Rutgers
Mali: Rutgers – There’s Norfolking way they lose this, right?
Scarlet Knights unanimous pick. Well, it is non-con, so…
Richmond @ Maryland
Patrick: Maryland
Ken: Maryland – I got nuthin’. I’d rather see a basketball game between these schools.
Mike: Maryland
WVa: Maryland
JC: Maryland
Charles: Maryland – See previous comment (Rutgers game)
Joe: Maryland – I fear Spiders. Anything with eight legs needs to be torched into non-existence. So yes, Maryland should have the right to torch Richmond’s helmets after they win, because they won’t be celebrating much this year.
Scott: Maryland – See above (Rutgers comments)
Jeff: Maryland
Mali: Maryland
Terps unanimous pick. Crab cakes on the house!
Stanford @ Northwestern
Patrick: Stanford
Ken: Stanford – A new Northwestern QB aside, Stanford’s “Big Boy” running game will wear Wildcats down. Early.
Mike: Stanford
WVa: Stanford
JC: Stanford
Charles: Stanford – I’m tempted to pick the pretty kitties to pull off the upset but not with breaking in a new QB.
Joe: Northwestern – If a tree falls in the woods, and the Northwestern defense hears it, did the tree really fall in the woods? The answer is no. The tree actually just got done smoking a Wildcat to open up the season.
Scott: Stanford – I apologize to my wife, a Northwestern alum, in advance. Gonna be a loooooong season.
Jeff: Stanford
Mali: Stanford
Joe thinks Midwestern Intellectuals > Western Intellectuals. We’ll see. Probably not.
BYU @ Nebraska
Patrick: Nebraska
Ken: Nebraska – The BYU playbook (see Joe’s comment, below) better have more than The Golden Plates to pull this one out. If for no other reason, I really like Mike Riley.
Mike: Nebraska
WVa: Nebraska
JC: Nebraska
Charles: BYU – The return of QB Taysom Hill will be too much for the Cornhuskers defense to handle
Joe: BYU – Everyone but Charles and MAYBE the sneaky Mr. Ken Kohl have taken the Cornhuskers to turn up the cornahol and whip up on the only good thing in Provo besides mountains. You know what, I think Charles is on to something. Joseph Smith is going to be proud on Saturday. There has been no comment though as of press time if he will be celebrating afterwards with his 40 wives.
Scott: Nebraska – New era in Lincoln starts with a win.
Jeff: Nebraska
Mali: Nebraska
Charles & Joe going with Book of Mormon. Mali going with self-defense.
Penn State @ Temple
Patrick: Penn State
Ken: Penn State – PSU scratches out a road win. This scheduling hearkens back a generation ago when JoPa and PSU were The Beast of The East.
Mike: Penn State
WVa: Penn State
JC: Penn State
Charles: Temple – Temple should have a top 10 defense this season and PSU’s o-line has questions
Joe: Penn State – In Philly, at a neutral site, the only problem is Owls hide in the day and come out in the night. Penn State holds on and wins a nailbiter in the last two minutes. #HackAttack
Scott: Penn State – Only because Bill Cosby likes Temple
Jeff: Temple
Mali: Penn State
Charles and Jeff go with Stone Temple Pilots.
Southern Illinois @ Indiana
Patrick: Indiana
Ken: Indiana – Is this game necessary? Go B1G!!
Mike: Indiana
WVa: Indiana
JC: Indiana
Charles: Indiana – The Hoosiers may as well get a win
Joe: Indiana – This will be win one for the Hoosiers in a stretch of four straight non-conference wins. Saluki! I mean salute Kevin Wilson, he’s going to do all he can to get this Hoosier team into a bowl game.
Scott: Indiana – Flipped a coin
Jeff: Indiana
Mali: Indiana
Indiana unanimous over Southern Illinois. Bonus points if you can define “Hoosier” and “Saluki”.
Wisconsin @ Alabama
Patrick: Wisconsin
Ken: Alabama – Well, Ohio State beat both of these teams in post-season last year. which is totally irrelevant, I just wanted to work that in. Alabama too strong, too early. Hopefully Wiscy keeps it close.
Mike: Alabama
WVa: Alabama
JC: Alabama
Charles: Alabama – Hope I’m wrong on this one
Joe: Alabama – Charles, what is wrong with you??!?!?! You hope you’re wrong? Seconding guessing yourself in this pick-em is like walking the plank. Wait What? I know Saban smells like old spice and 18 rounds of golf, but I rather wear that stench then reek like a stinkin’ Badger. #GetYourActTogether
Scott: Alabama – Hate to pick against the B1G but I gotta
Jeff: Alabama
Mali: Alabama
Patrick brings the cheese. No one else convinced
Purdue @ Marshall
Patrick: Marshall
Ken: Marshall – Another tough season for my fellow Muskingum alum, Darrell Hazell. The early betting line went from Purdue -2.5 to Marshall -7.5. Yeesh.
Mike: Marshall
WVa: Marshall
JC: Marshall
Charles: Marshall – Purdue continues to make the conference proud
Joe: Marshall – Since Darrell Hazell played Receiver at Muskingum, I think it should be mandatory that Ken has to select them to win in every single game this year. That’s fair right? Especially this week, considering Purdue has lost seven straight road openers.
Scott: Marshall – Good opening matchup
Jeff: Marshall
Mali: Marshall
We (all) are Marshall! Not a good omen for Boilermakers
Ohio State @ Virginia Tech
Patrick: Ohio State
Ken: Ohio State – Not sure if Buckeyes cover the spread (-13), I think OSU fans will just take a solid win. Don’t be fooled; VT will be a tough out for Ohio State.
Mike: Ohio State
WVa: Ohio State
JC: Ohio State
Charles: Ohio State – Revenge gets OSU through despite the suspensions
Joe: Ohio State – If watching Michigan’s offense is like witnessing paint dry first hand, then those that enjoy watching Scot Loeffler’s offense are the same idiots that love eating paint chips. Classic Defense versus Offense match up here in week one. Buckeyes handle business and get stronger heading into week 2 against Hawaii.
Scott: Ohio State – Duh.
Jeff: Ohio State
Mali: Ohio State
OSU starts its title defense with a win
The post Week 1: tBBC Staff Does Darts… appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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