A few people have expressed interest in participating in an AtQ Bowl Pick'em. I have decided to make things easier on myself by simply creating a group in ESPN's Bowl Mania game.

It appears that we are simply picking winners.  I have also set up the league to use a confidence scoring system, so you rank your picks according to how confident you are in them.  You simply rank the games from 1 to 34 (there are 34 bowls).  The rank is associated with the number of points you will win for a correct a pick.  So, if you rank Oregon beating Oklahoma State with 34 points, you earn 34 points when Oregon wins.

Important note: all entries must be made prior to the kickoff of the first game, which is Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 8:00 am PT.

The group name is Addicted To Quack and the password to join is goducks.

Let me know if anyone has any problems joining.

Here are the official results from the 2008 AtQ Jersey Contest.  This year, we had a grand total of 101 posters submit at least one week's worth of picks.  Of those, we had 22 posters submit picks in all 15 weeks -- and quite a few others that only missed a week or two.  After all that, Jared had the highest number of correct picks with 50.  However, because Jared is ineligible to win the jersey, it will go to the runner up, buffduck, who finished with 49 correct picks.  Congrats to buffduck.  (Jared will contact you through your AtQ-registered email address).  Here's how the top 5 looked this year:

For the complete scoreboard, follow the jump...

Continue reading this post »

Alabama vs. Florida (Atlanta, GA)

Jared: Florida

Florida could be derailed by the absence of Percy Harvin, but I still think they have more playmakers. Florida has been impressive in its victories, while Alabama has not. I think this game will be close, as each team tries to impose it's style on the game.

Nick: Florida

Look for Florida to earn a berth in the BCS title game, as I believe they just have too much speed for Alabama to contain.  Also, after a relatively slow start, Tebow has exploded over the last seven games, averaging just under four TDs a game.   I'll go with a one-loss Florida team has looked a lot better than an undefeated 'Bama team.  .

Missouri vs. Oklahoma (Kansas City, MO)

Jared: Oklahoma

If Oklahoma doesn't win this game, I would be shocked. Missouri has a terrible defense, and Oklahoma has one of the most prolific offenses in the nation. Meanwhile, Chase Daniels has been less than impressive this year. Oklahoma wins this in a rout.

Nick: Oklahoma

The Sooners are just stacked. The stats they have racked up are something you'd expect to see in a video game: Bradford has a 46:6 TD:Int ratio and 4,000 yards and their two RBs have combined for 1,990 yards and 31 TDs with both averaging at least 5.6 ypc. While Missouri has also looked very impressive on offense this season, their pass defense allowed Colt McCoy to go 29-32 for 337 yards.   While clearly not the threat with his legs that McCoy is, if that defense doesn't tighten up, Bradford should have very little trouble picking them apart.

Boston College vs. Virginia Tech (Tampa, FL)

Jared: Boston College

This is a battle of two teams that have overcome a large amount of losses, and won their divisions. And yet, I couldn't care less, with the best team in the ACC (Georgia Tech) being absent. While both defenses are good, BC has actually shown life on offense, and I think they pull it out.

Nick: Boston College

Bah.  I can't get very excited to see two offensively impotent teams square off.  The line right now is a pick'em.  When these two teams met earlier, BC QB Chris Crane threw three picks (two of which were returned for TDs) and fumbled, yet BC still won by five. That's enough for me.

East Carolina at Tulsa

Jared: Tulsa

East Carolina has struggled after a quick start had them at the forefront of college football. A loss to NC State killed that. Tulsa has a spectacular offense, and not much defense. I think they manage to get enough points on the board to take the Conference USA title.

Nick: Tulsa

While ECU had a couple of top-25 upsets to start the year, the closest they have come to playing a team with the offensive firepower of Tulsa was in a loss to Houston (who, coincidentally, also blew out Tulsa).  Tulsa currently ranks 6th nationally in passing yards per game, seventh in rushing yards per game (good for 2nd nationally in total yards per game) and second in scoring.

Arizona State at Arizona

Jared: Arizona

Mike Stoops, I have picked you too many times this season. And I will do so one more. ASU is a very bad football team. They couldn't even get an offensive touchdown against UCLA. I think that Arizona will shut them down, and will be motivated. Mike Stoops manages to lose close football games, but I don't think this one will stay close.

Nick:  Arizona

When I first picked this game, I thought I'd pick ASU.  But, picking ASU because I think Stoops is a dick is probably the sort of reasoning that has led me to do so abysmally this year in the pick contest.  This game is at Arizona -- combine that with the fact that ASU is just terrible and not even the chance of becoming bowl eligible will be enough to save the Sun Devils.

This is it -- the final week of picks (barring a tie at the top). The location of the championship games is listed in parenthesis for each game.  Good luck!

Alabama vs. Florida (Atlanta, GA)

Missouri vs. Oklahoma (Kansas City, MO)

Boston College vs. Virginia Tech (Tampa, FL)

East Carolina at Tulsa

Arizona State at Arizona

Here's the results of the jersey contest heading into the final week -- and Jared maintained his two point lead.  Overall, there were only 38 entries this week, which is 10-15 fewer than normal. I am assuming that the long holiday weekend was to blame.  Congrats to OSU and GustyJ who both managed to identify all five winners.  DuckJess, on the other hand, managed only one correct pick.  Here's the complete distribution for the week:

34 out of 38 posters had the Sooners winning -- though that game was close until the end.  The Clemson victory was the "hardest" pick of the week, with only 11 people making that pick.  Here's the rest of the game-by-game breakdown:

As always, the complete scoreboard is after the jump...

Continue reading this post »

I hope everyone had a great (and safe) Thanksgiving. Here are the blogger picks for this week.

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

Jared: Oklahoma

I really want to pick Okie St, but I can't. They won't be able to handle Oklahoma's offense, and the Sooners are out there for blood. If they win this convincingly, on the road, there is a great chance they'll go to the Big 12 title game. I think they win big.

Nick: Oklahoma

Despite the fact that OSU is coming off a bye week, Oklahoma looked too good last week when they destroyed Texas Tech for me to think about picking against them.

South Carolina at Clemson

Jared: Clemson

This game is miserable. I don't know what to make of either team. I'm going with Clemson, at home.

Nick: South Carolina

I'll go with the team who owns a 4-4 SEC conference record over a 4-4 ACC conference record.  Also, while South Carolina is coming off of a blowout loss to Florida, their other three losses have all been relatively close (7 points). 

Maryland at Boston College

Jared: Boston College

Boston College has one of the best rushing defenses in the country. Maryland has been up and down, you just never know what team will show up. In Boston, I like the Eagles.

Nick: Maryland

Hooray for the ACC!  I don't want to waste any time thinking about this game -- I'd rather go see about some Thanksgiving leftovers.

Vanderbilt at Wake Forest

Jared: Wake Forest

Vandy has fallen apart, and Wake is still a decent team. At home, they should win it.

Nick: Wake Forest.

One of the rules that I live by is: Don't pick a team that lost to Duke in football.  That almost resulted in me following an AtQer in ignoring this game.  But, thankfully, WF pulled out a victory in OT.

Kentucky at Tennessee

Jared: Kentucky

Kentucky has played a lot of teams teams tough this season, and have a solid team. Tennessee, not so much. They have no offense, and very little defense. Go Rich Brooks!

Nick: Kentucy

Kentucky has had a total of seven games that have been decided by seven points are less.  Their record in those games is 3-4, but that includes losses to Georgia and Alabama.  Tennessee has just been awful this season, which was highlighted by a 13-7 loss to Wyoming a few weeks ago.

Here are this week's games. As an FYI, I try to pick matchups where I think the AtQ community will have people picking on both sides (which is why the civil war is out). But, that's an explanation for all the ACC love.

Good luck!

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

South Carolina at Clemson

Maryland at Boston College

Vanderbilt at Wake Forest

Kentucky at Tennessee

This week we had a total of 51 entries. And, we had two posters correctly identify all five winners. Congrats to myself and tj4eck.  Despite scoring 12 points over the last three weeks, I am still hopelessly behind most posters who have submitted an entry each week.  But, that's what happens when I amassed a total of seven points over a brutal five week stretch.  Boosting my spirits, however, were two posters who are doing their best to make me look good.  Both GoDux503 and theshwags did not get a single game correct.  Here's the complete distribution this week :

On the whole, this week's slate of games did not appear to be too challenging for the ATQ community.  The lone exception was the thrilling Apple Cup upset by Wazzu.  Go Cougars!   Here's the complete breakdown:

As always, the complete scoreboard is after the jump...

Continue reading this post »

If you have not yet made your picks, you can do so here. The deadline is 11.59 pm PT tonight

Texas Tech at Oklahoma

Jared: Texas Tech

A lot of people are jumping on the Oklahoma bandwagon. But, I'm not sold on the Oklahoma defense. They gave up 48 to Texas, not being able to stop the run, they have given up a lot of points to bad Big 12 teams, and I think that Texas Tech will do just enough to score more points.

Nick: Oklahoma

As much as I'd love to see Tech in the title game, I think they'll run into some problems playing in Norman.  The Red Raiders will be able to move the ball, but as long as the Sooners can force a couple of turnovers, they should come away with a win.

BYU at Utah

Jared: Utah

I'm not sold on either team. BYU could break out and score a ton of points, but they could also fall apart. At home, I think the Utah defense gets the job done, while the offense controls the ball.

Nick: Utah

I'd like to pick the BYU upset here, but I just don't think I can.  Utah will be playing at home and featuring a defense that has been performing well of late.  They also should have an advantage running the ball.  Look for the Utes to run their record to 12-0.

Oregon State at Arizona

Jared: Oregon State

I'm done questioning the Beavers. The Rodgers brothers are crazy good. James is one of the fastest players I've seen, while Jacquizz is a bull. They will control the ball much better than Oregon, and their pass rush should be able to disrupt Tuitama enough to force a few errors.

Nick:  Oregon State

I am looking forward to the Ducks going into Corvallis and crushing their Rose Bowl dreams.  For that to happen, the Beavers need a win on the road this weekend.

Pittsburgh at Cincinatti

Jared: Cincinatti

This Pitt team is up and down and poorly coached. Cincinnati has won some big games on the road, and their losses look much better. At home, I think they win it.

Nick: Cincinatti

On Monday, this game seemed like a much better idea.  Now, I find that I don't really care.

Washington at Washington State

Jared: Washington State

This game is so much of a toss-up, that I have no idea. This could be the worst played game that has ever been nationally televised. I will be rooting for WSU, and hoping for that big 0-12.

Nick: Washington State

I don't understand wty people aren't more excited about this game.  I have honestly been awaiting this game for weeks. It's the bizarro Texas Tech - Oklahoma matchup.  That said, I was all set to pick UW -- they've played a few teams much closer than Wazzu.  Then, I saw that that Wazzu is currently favored by a TD or more.  This spread is the absolute opposite of what I would have predicted -- which makes me wonder what I don't know.  I'll pin my hopes on the "experts".

Here are this week's games.  No ACC games this week: you're welcome.  One Big East game: I'm sorry.  But, we finally made it to the Apple Cup!

Good luck!

Texas Tech at Oklahoma

BYU at Utah

Oregon State at Arizona

Pittsburgh at Cincinatti

Washington at Washington State