WHAT HAPPENS UPSTATE, STAYS UPSTATE.

The Super Bowl is behind us, spring training is on the horizon, and the NHL playoffs don’t kick in until the end of April.  What’s a sports fan to do?  RIVALRY WEEK! College hoops is heating up as the stretch to March Madness is officially under way!  You can be in the thick of the action by taking part in our weekly “What’s Your College Knowledge?” Basketball contest.  It’s free, easy, fun, and you can win a $50 Original Retro Brand Gift Card just like Ted Turich of  Denver, Colorado did!

Yes, Ted picked 4 of 5 games correctly last week and found himself in a 3-way tie for 1st place with Bob Jaye of Florida, and Jesse Robinson of Idaho, both of whom also went 4 of 5, setting up the drawing to determine the winner of the Gift Card  (for the record, I came in at 3-2 bringing my season tally to a less than thrilling 9-6).  Ted was the lucky winner.  Don’t feel too bad for Bob and Jesse as they have participated and won previous contests of ours before.  I will give Bob a heartfelt WAY TO GO BOB!, as he was the only person out of 30+ entries to pick Wyoming to knock off UNLV.  WAY TO GO BOB!

Before we get into the 5 games for Rivalry Week, here are the rules for those entering the contest for the first time:

SHE GETS THE POINT ACROSS

1) Every Monday or Tuesday, I will post my 5 top college basketball games of the week and give you my predicted winners and why.

2) You will enter your picks for the same games (no point spreads; straight up wins & losses) in the “leave a reply/Comment” section at the end of this post no later than tip-off time for the first scheduled game.  ****ONE ENTRY PER PERSON ONLY!!****

3) Each following Monday or Tuesday I will announce which person picked the most winners, and that person will win a $50 Original Retro Brand Gift Card! In the event of a tie, all of the entries will be entered into a drawing to determine a winner.  If I beat everybody, nobody wins – this HAS never happened! It’s FREE, FUN, and that simple!

We’ll run this contest right up until the opening round for March Madness.  At that time we’ll step up our game with our 2nd annual “Bracket Ballers Challenge,” in which you’ll get the opportunity to test your picking prowess for the full bracket of 68 – $700 worth of Original Retro Brand gear will be up for grabs!  NOW TO THE GAMES FOR RIVALRY WEEK # 4!

THE BEARS WILL HAVE TO..

GAME 1:  2/8 – # 12 Georgetown (18-4) @ # 2 Syracuse (23-1): Customer Bobby By requested I feature the upcoming UCONN – SU matchup, but I just couldn’t resist this one (heck, the Huskies have lost 8 games this year), as it could be the last time they play if SU goes to the ACC.  The Hoyas come into the Carrier Dome with a shot at pulling within one game of the Cuse in the Big East with an upset victory.  The Beast in the East (and beyond) remains in upstate New York.  ORANGE – 68, HOYAS – 63.

GAME 2:  2/8 – # 10 DUKE (19-4) @ # 5 North Carolina (20-3): Duke will win this mammoth hoops rivalry by 1 point.  I say this based solely on info pulled from ESPN that points out this point about points:  DUKE has outscored UNC 5,858 – 5,857 over their last 75 meetings and that’s good enough for me.  Get the point?  BLUE DEVILS – 78, TAR HEELS – 77.

GAME 3:  2/8 – # 7 Kansas (18-5) @ # 6 Baylor (21-2): I really like what the Bears have accomplished this year.  Unfortunately I’m thinking they will have to Bear the brunt of a very pissed off and fired up Kansas team coming off a brutal (as in choke) loss at Mizzou. JAYHAWKS – 80, BEARS – 72.

GAME 4:  2/9 – # 16 St. Mary’s (22-2) @ Gonzaga (18-4): The Gaels go for the season sweep of their bitterest WCC Rival on the road.  They’ll put their 11-0 conference record on the line behind standout junior Matthew Dellavedova.  Not the same intensity you’ll find at a DUKE-UNC matchup, but close.  Zags play spoiler.  BULLDOGS – 77, GAELS – 72.

ZAGS SAY NO TO GAELS 11-0

GAME 5:  2/9 - Ole Miss (14-8) @ # 20 Mississippi State (18-5): It’s highly unlikely that the Bulldogs will go down a second time to the Rebs on their homecourt as they look to avenge an early season defeat.  A win here, with 3 sub .500 SEC games in a row they should win before they face # 1 Kentucky, will have the Mighty Maroon in the thick of the SEC title hunt. BULLDOGS – 75, REBELS – 68.

OLE MESS FOR OLE MISS.

Those are my picks for Rivalry Week, and just for fun I’m going to pick Florida to upset the Wildcats tonight @ Rupp Arena.  It’s easy to pick an upset when the game isn’t officially part of the picks!  NOW LET’S SEE YOURS, AND GOOD LUCK!

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THE I'S HAVE IT

Two very different games played last night.  The first game between Bowling Green and Idaho, was an exciting back and forth scoring fest that was decided on an all or nothing 2-pt conversion for the Vandals with 4 seconds left to play.  The second game was a blowout for Nebraska over the Arizona Wildcats, who let too many opportunities slip through their hands before things slipped out of control.  The Humanitarian Bowl that featured Idaho and Bowling Green was not part of the Original Retro Brand’s 12 BOWLS OF CHRISTMAS CONTEST, but the game was so good, that I had to give props.  With the Wildcats going down to the Cornhuskers in the Holiday Bowl, I was able to go up a game in the win column on my fellow ORB compadres.  Thus the standings look like this:

Andy 8-3         Cassidy 6-5         Marc 5-6         Rick 5-6

HUSKY HEART

My hypocrisy when it comes to the SEC rolls on.  I still firmly believe that the conference is superior overall to the rest, yet as I pick the UCONN Huskies to beat the South Carolina Gameocks in the Papajohns Bowl, it marks the 4th straight bowl game that I’m betting against the SEC (Auburn, LSU, & Florida going down!).  The Huskies played with more heart than any team in the nation this year, even before the tragic death of star Jasper Howard.  After losing so many close games in the waning seconds to the likes of Cincinnati, Rutgers, and Pitt, they were able to beat Notre Dame with the heaviest of hearts in South Bend for the biggest win in school history.  UCONN – 34, South Carolina – 20. (I’m the only staffer picking the Huskies)

COWBOY UP

Another bowl game featuring an SEC team?   That means another black eye for the conference.  The Oklahoma State Cowboys started their season with an SEC beatdown (My Georgia Bulldogs), and will end the season with another, when they take on the Ole Miss Rebels in the Cotton Bowl.  Both teams started the season ranked in the top ten, but both didn’t live up to expectations with the Cowboys losing star receiver Dez Bryant to suspension, and Rebs qb Jevan Snead not living up to his hype.  Both ended the regular season with a thud, getting hammered by in state rivals Oklahoma and Mississippi State.  The Cowboys will have a home field advantage under the eyes of Big Tex at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, so they’ll have the edge.  Oklahoma State – 23, Mississippi State – 17. (Cassidy the only staffer picking Ole Miss)

KILL, BUBBA, KILL!

With the firing yesterday of Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, will the Red Raiders show up and “win one for the Gipper,” or will they cave to an inferior Michigan State Spartan team in the Alamo Bowl?   They cave.  Michigan State – 24, Texas Tech – 20. (I’m the only staffer picking the Spartans, and that’s because my favorite football player ever was a Spartan: Bubba Smith)

That’s if for picks until Monday folks, when the winners for Fiesta, Orange and the BCS title game will be revealed.  By then, another dozen games will have been decided, and the ORB 12 BOWLS OF CHRISTMAS standings will have changed drastically.  Tomorrows post will feature the Grand Prize Winner of the “ORB IN ACTION” photo contest, so after you sleep in, be sure to check it out…

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY-HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

T-TIME

I have to say this, and if you’re not a Georgia Bulldog fan, you may throw up….HOW ‘BOUT THEM DAWGS??!! Well, they laid an egg before getting on the board with two td’s in a span of sixty seconds just two minutes before the first half ended on an 81 yard kickoff return by Brandon Boykin (his 3rd for a TD this year), and a blocked punt that led to a quick score from two yards out.  They went on to crush Texas A&M 44-20 yesterday in the Independence Bowl.  This is a good thing for the Original Retro Brand staffers involved in the 12 BOWLS OF CHRISTMAS CONTEST.  This was one of only 2 games out of the 26 Bowl games in the contest, that was picked unanimously by all (Oregon over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl is the other).  Thus the standings are as follows after all picked up a W:

Andy 7-1         Marc 4-4         Cassidy 4-4         Rick 4-4

(In case you missed yesterday’s post, click here to see my predictions for tonight’s UCLA-Temple, & Miami-Wisconsin games, plus tomorrow’s Arizona-Nebraska)

TREE TIME

Am I one of those SEC snobs who believes no other conference really stacks up?  I shouldn’t be, but I am.  A good case in point is my belief that the Tennessee Vols will nip the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl.  The Vols routed the Georgia Bulldogs, kept things close with Florida when it was supposed to be a rout, and nearly beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa.  I’ll give VT credit for knocking off ranked teams in back-to-back weeks (Nebraska & Miami), but they were supposed to win the ACC this year, and fizzled when they ran into Georgia Tech and North Carolina.  VOLS – 24, VT – 21 (Marc, Rick & Cassidy all picking VT)

The Oklahoma Sooners are an inconsistent team that I just can’t count on either way.  Are they the team that shut out # 12 Oklahoma State to end the regular season, or the team that got whooped by a sub-par Texas Tech team the week before 41-13?  I actually don’t think it matters either way, as they take on a superior Stanford Cardinal team in the Sun Bowl.  Toby Gerhart scored 26 touchdowns this season – 26!!  The Cardinal are an offensive juggernaut, putting up 50+ points against PAC -10 tough guys Oregon & USC on consecutive weekends.  The Stanford D may give up 30, but they will match their 36 pts per game average to win.  Stanford – 36, Oklahoma – 30. (Pac-10 lovers Marc. Rick, & Cassidy all picked Oklahoma?)

NO GOATS VS. MIZZOU

NAVY quarterback Ricky Dobbs will be carrying the weight for the Midshipmen (led team in passing AND rushing) as they take on the Missouri Tigers and Blaine Gabbert, in the Texas Bowl.  NAVY nearly knocked off Ohio State to open the season, and beat Notre Dame for the second time in three years enroute to their 7th straight season with at least 8 wins.  Mizzou stormed out to a 5-0 start before dropping 3 straight to ranked fellow Big 12 teams.  They even dropped one to a horrible Baylor Bears team, before righting the ship to win their last 3 games.  Former NAVY and current Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson left  a positive mark on the academy program,  and that still reverberates to this day.  NAVY – 31, Missouri – 27. (Marc is with me on this one, while Rick and Cassidy are going with the Tigers)

GOLDY GETS IT

I can’t think of any game on the Bowl schedule that matches up more identical teams than the Minnesota Gophers and the Iowa State Cyclones in the Insight Bowl.  Both have 6-6 overall records, and both were 3-5 in their respective conferences.  Both have identical records at home (4-3) and on the road (2-3).  More?  The Gophers scored 259 points…just 6 more than the Cyclones.  A little more?   The Gophers gave up 295 points…just 24 more than the Cyclones.  What does this all mean?  It means it will be a close game and I’m picking the Gophers because I like Goldy the Minnesota mascot better than the cardinal mascot of Iowa State.  Gophers – 23, Cyclones – 20. (Marc is lone staffer picking Iowa State on this one.)

Enjoy the action tonight, and be sure to check out my next batch of picks tomorrow.

BE SURE TO CHECK THIS POST TOMORROW AFTERNOON FOR YOUR 25% OFF CODE TOWARDS  LSU AND ALABAMA MERCHANDISE THAT WILL BE FEATURED ON ORIGINALRETROBRAND.COM IN THE  PICK OF THE WEEK  SECTION.

NOT THIS TIME

Well of course the Tigers can beat Bama.  They have dominated them the past 9 years, taking 7 of those meetings en route to their 2003 & 2007 National Championships….. but they won’t beat them this Saturday.  The Tide will continue to roll for several reasons;  1) LSU is ranked dead last in the SEC in total offense going up against an Alabama defense that ranks # 1 against the rush, and # 2 in total defense.   2)  Bama running back Mark Ingram is a monster averaging 6.6 yds per carry, and is currently neck and neck with Florida‘s Tim Tebow in the Heisman Trophy race.   3)  The Tide will ride the emotional wave of momentum provided by linebacker Terrence Cody, whose 2 blocked field goal attempts last week against the Vols, snatched victory from sure defeat.

If LSU does pull off this upset, they have a very good shot at surpassing Alabama, and winning the SEC West.   LSU finishes up with a somewhat demoralized and overrated Ole Miss team, and then Arkansas at home.   Meanwhile, Alabama has two very tough road games against an underrated Mississippi State, and a very hungry arch rival  Auburn Tiger team.   All of this being said, BAMA  will use the home field advantage to keep their record perfect.   Final Score:  Alabama 28, LSU 20.

STILL PERFECT

AND SPEAKING OF PERFECT….Darn Virginia Tech kept me from a perfect 6-0 on my picks last week by losing to North Carolina.  I nearly landed the Georgia-Florida, and Texas-Oklahoma State game scores ON THE NOSE.  How bout them Oregon Ducks??!!   After a disastrous 7-12 record to date, a 5 win week gets me back in the hunt with a 12-13 record.  What hunt I don’t know, but I’m in it!!   Since I am a sucker for underdogs, I may not be in the hunt after this weekend with these insane picks….

INGRAM TOO MUCH FOR TIGERS

After a heart wrenching loss to Temple last week, I say the midshipmen shock the Irish in South Bend:  Navy 30, Notre Dame 28.    The CAL Bears are just so inconsistent this year, while the Beavers have given ranked teams (Cincinnati, Arizona & USC) very tough games.  Oregon State 35, CAL 21.   Illinois is coming off a stunner over Michigan after dropping 5 straight games while the Gophers have had a brutal three game stretch against Ohio State, Penn State and a hard fought victory over Michigan State last week.   Illinois shows new life while Minnesota is just too tired.   Illinois 24, Minnesota 14.

WHO’D A THUNK IT?  With the Indians circling the Bobby Bowden Wagon, the Florida State Seminoles have rallied around the living legend to win two straight, and can still win the ACC Atlantic division with a win over Clemson in Death Valley, then Wake Forest and Maryland.  FSU will do just that.  FSU 38, Clemson 35.

BE SURE TO CHECK THIS POST TOMORROW AFTERNOON FOR YOUR 25% OFF CODE TOWARDS  LSU AND ALABAMA MERCHANDISE  THAT WILL BE FEATURED ON ORIGINALRETROBRAND.COM IN THE  PICK OF THE WEEK  SECTION.

You know what else is downright scary?  My ability to make decent college football picks!  Going into this past weekend, I had a 5-7 record, and eagerly devoured and dissected the smorgasbord of  big games on the schedule in anticipation of leap-frogging over the .500 mark and then some.  The final result of my efforts resulted in 2 wins and 5 losses, bringing my “expert” pick tally to a deplorable 7-12 (.368).  A few of the teams I picked did cover the spread (Tennessee nearly pulled it off over Bama, but got beat by the SEC refs, and Mississippi State got a little of the same against Florida…SEC officiating worse than my picks this year!), but I’ve been basing the record on straight up W’s & L’s, and must take my medicine and hope the Halloween Gods will be in my corner this Saturday.   DON’T FORGET TO ENTER CODE HWEEN AT CHECKOUT AND RECEIVE 25% OFF ORIGINAL RETRO BRAND GEAR FOR OUR FEATURED TEAMS (Florida, Georgia, USC, Oregon) FOR GAMES/PICKS OF THE WEEK!!

NICE GUY WILL FINISH LAST VS. FLORIDA

GAME # 1: Surely an easy way to improve my record will be to forget betting with my heart, and pick the Florida Gators to rout my beloved Georgia Bulldogs in the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party.   Let’s face facts: The Dawgs just ain’t SEC great this year.  The running game does not have the usual breakaway threat, and Joe Cox at QB is likeable enough, but he’s just not Matthew Stafford, David Greene, Eric Zeier, Mike Bobo, or Fran Tarkenton!  They did step up and open the season out of conference on the road, but lost a tough battle against a very strong # 10 ranked, Big 12 Oklahoma State Cowboy squad.  Certainly they got ripped off against LSU (reference SEC refs in first paragraph), but still should have taken care of business between the hedges.   The Gators are ranked # 1 for a reason: They find a way to win no matter what.  They are favored by 17, and why not?  They own the Dawgs in Jacksonville, having taken 16 out of the last 20 meetings.  I love coach Mark Richt, but his mellow persona seems to have rubbed off on his team, and being mellow does not cut it in the SEC:  Florida  42,  Georgia 21.     That was painful….and so will the trip home from Oregon for the USC Trojans……

BOBBING FOR TROJANS

GAME # 2:  Certainly this is the Pac-10 marquis game of the year (since USC clobbered CAL).  The # 10 Oregon Ducks are flat out rolling, outscoring their last 5 opponents 192 -62.  They crushed the same Washington Husky team that gave USC their only loss of the season handily on the road in Washington, 43-19.   At the same time, the # 5 Trojans were not able to cover the spread in their last two victories over Notre Dame and Oregon State.   Both teams are basically neck & neck in all statistical team categories in the Pac-10, but I think the home field advantage will lift Oregon to victory.  USC QB Matt Barkley does lead the conference in passing, but Oregon QB  Jeremiah Mesoli is not far behind and has 7 touchdown on the ground.   Can’t wait to see what quacky uniform the Ducks will wear as they continue to roll in big upset:   Oregon 28, USC 21.

Tricks and Treats:  I thought # 3 Texas would have a tougher time against Mizzou last week, but they routed them, and will do the same against # 14 Oklahoma State in Stillwater: Longhorns 38, Cowboys 17…..# 25 Ole Miss has to travel to Auburn who has dropped 3 straight after opening 5-0.  The Tigers will rise to the occasion: Auburn 28, Mississippi 24…..Both # 13 Virginia Tech and North Carolina lost brutally hard fought games to ACC rivals Georgia Tech and Florida State respectively last week.  The Hoakies must win out to have any shot at the ACC Championship game and the Tarheels are looking for their first conference win:  VTech 35, North Carolina 14.….Purdue has proven they are much better than their 3-5 record after shocking Ohio State, and Wisconsin has lost 2 straight after busting out 5-0.   Wisconsin nearly ended # 11 Iowa’s dream season and will not drop another at home:  Badgers 24, Boilermakers 14.

One last prediction for this week:  The Yankees will beat the Phillies…..in Game # 1.  Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Today I am honored to be speaking with Emmy-award winning sportscaster Gil Tyree, who  is the weekday sports anchor for CBS Atlanta

Q:  You have covered hundreds of sporting events over your career, from High School to the Super Bowl.  Does any one event, or series stick out in your mind as the most memorable or enjoyable you can recall?

A: The 93 NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls.  The Bulls won the series 4-2.  Michael Jordan was unbelieveable. Spending time at the old Chicago Stadium and late night visit to the Cabrini Green – one of Chicago’s most notorious public housing projects.

Q: You spent a good portion of your career in Arizona before coming to Atlanta.   Where was your heart when the Dawgs made a rare trip out west and played the Sun Devils last year?

A: I was rooting for the DAWGS.  I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF THE SEC AGAINST THE PAC-10. I have always felt no conference plays a better brand of college football than the SEC.

Q: You have been a big fan of Original Retro Brand sweatshirts and tees.  Have a favorite?   What is it about the gear you like so much?

A: The Original Retro Brand makes a great product.  I love the throwback tees.  We can not have enough reminders of old school or back in the day.  There has to be a point of reference and historical perspective when it comes to sports.  The Original Retro Brand product does that.
Q: I have personally seen you host the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame dinner and introduced guys like Hank Aaron and  Dominique Wilkins.  I’ve also seen you hundreds of times over the years do your nightly sportscast .   Never a bead of sweat!  Ever get nervous?   Any bloopers you can share ?

A: I have had many bloopers.. The one that stands out the most is when the Tempe High School Football team ran over me coming on to the field while I was reporting.  That was pretty funny…It made a national TV bloopers show.

Q: You have been very active in the Atlanta Community when it comes to charitable causes including the Special Olympics and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to name a few.  Any cause that is particularly close to your heart, and could you tell our readers how they can help?

A: I volunteer and give clothes and help feed the homeless at the the Salvation Army Homeless shelter.  I am also in the process of getting involved to work to find a test and cure for pancreatic cancer (www.cancer.org/pancreatic.)  My father died of this dreaded disease in 1983. I urge everyone in some way shape or form to get involved in your respective communties, and social causes.

Thanks for taking the time today Gil.  I’ll look for you on the tube tonight!