We've got 3 more weeks of "High-5" contests left including this week, and 3 of the major conferences still don't have outright champions or division titles in the bag. This weeks matchups should help determine some of those outcomes, and we'll get to them shortly.
The SEC East & Western divisions are in the bag. Auburn's Cam Newton put controversy behind him, and Heisman in front of him to bury the Dawgs, (and shut me up....until Georgia Tech in 2 weeks!), and Marcus Lattimore carried 40 times for 212 yds and 3 TD"s for South Carolina, in shocking the Gators in the Swamp to clinch the SEC East. Nice touch, Mr. Spurrier.
We had a very strong turnout last week with 64 entries. Most bit on Florida taking out the Gamecocks, but we had an equally strong amount of entries banking on the Old Coach, with 8 picking all 5 games correctly. I hate that we can't send a FREE Original Retro Brand shirt to all 8, but we did choose 2 winners in the drawing this week, and they are.........Daniel Wright from Crawfordville, Florida, and Reid Fenlaw from Denver, Colorado. Congrats to both!
Before the games, the rules...
1) Each Tuesday I will preview 5 of the most compelling College Football Matchups for the upcoming weekend and offer my expertise, or more commonly lack thereof as witnessed by last week, as to who will win & why, along with a predicted final score.
2) Contestants will e-mail their picks for the same 5 games to me, and the person that beats me and/or the person who picks the most games correctly (no point spreads, straight up wins and losses) will win a FREE Original Retro Brand t-shirt of their choice. In the event of a tie, we will have a drawing to determine the final winner. Send your picks to me at andyphyman@gmail.com no later than kickoff of the first scheduled game to be counted!
3) I will announce the winner each Tuesday following the weekend’s games with the upcoming new picks on the blog. In addition to the FREE ORB T-shirt, the winner will also receive an imaginary heartfelt High- 5!
OK, NOW TO THE GAMES!
GAME 1: # 25 Florida State vs. Maryland: HUGE win for the Noles on a 55 yard field goal as time expired last week over Clemson. They'll need to beat Maryland, and get some help to stay in the hunt for the ACC Atlantic. Meanwhile, NOBODY thought the Terps would be in a position to win the ACC Atlantic, and they can do just that with wins over FSU & NC State. Maryland will be wearing special camouflage uniforms in support of the Wounded Warrior Project this weekend and I'm going with them. MARYLAND - 33, FLORIDA STATE - 24.
GAME 2: # 16 Virginia Tech vs. # 24 Miami: Don't forget the Hokies just missed beating Boise by a hair in the season opener before being shocked by James Madison (I know, James Madison?). They've managed to win 8 straight since, and with a win over the Canes, the Hokies would clinch the Coastal Division title and a spot in the ACC Championship game for the fourth time since joining the ACC in 2004. Freshman backup QB Stephen Morris has more than stepped in for injured Jacory Harris, and led Miami to 2 straight impressive wins over Maryland and Georgia Tech. This is a tough one!: VIRGINIA TECH - 28, MIAMI - 21.
GAME 3: # 9 Ohio State vs. # 13 Iowa: The Buckeyes have wreaked havoc since losing to the Badgers four weeks ago, and I believe they will continue to wreak. The Hawkeyes seemed to have lost their swagger since routing the Spartans, barely beating Indiana and losing to Northwestern last week. Havoc at home for Hawkeyes: OHIO STATE - 36, IOWA - 23.
GAME 4: # 8 Nebraska vs. # 19 Texas A&M: You've got to be impressed with the Aggies. They could have folded tent after dropping three straight, but instead they've roared back with four straight wins including drubbing a then # 8 ranked Oklahoma followed by another romp over upstart Baylor. They now host the latest # 8 in Nebraska, who is trying to clinch the Big 12 North. A&M is currently in a 3-way tie for first in the Big 12 South & could win it, but will need help from Kansas & Oklahoma. It could happen. TEXAS A&M - 28, NEBRASKA 23.
GAME 5: Army vs. Notre Dame: Ok, this game doesn't mean much in the scheme of things, but I like it because the Fighting Irish came out of nowhere to stun # 14 Utah, and Army needs this win as a gear up for the Army-Navy classic to follow....plus we have awesome new U.S. Military Academy t-shirts! NOTRE DAME - 28, ARMY - 17.
That's it - send your picks to andyphyman@gmail.com before kickoff to be counted, and GOOD LUCK!
PARTING FYI’S: My record now stands at 26-25 and I've yet to go 5 for 5. One of these weeks I won't bet with my heart and wishful thinking and maybe I'll win!.....Lot's of new Original Retro Brand product starting to pop up on the site - check out the JWilliams & Quad lines, for those who love the look, style, fit & feel of our shirts, but just ain't into chest logo's......this weeks "5 Questions with..." interview features former Arizona Wildcat & NFL Kicker Steve McLaughlin, who is also a successful singer-song writer.
FIGHTING ARMY
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