Football Pool Subsidy

Every year during this time Mike Lange pressures me to participate (by that we mean subsidize) the college football bowl pool. As is well-documented, I know nothing about college athletics, so this is truly about building up the pool for the winner. Last year I was pleased to find out that with something like six bowls to go I was the only one who could have caught the eventual winner Andy Burkhardt - until Mike explained to me that I was in that position because my picks were so ridiculous that I was the only one who could have benefitted from six straight improbable potential upsets (so, as Bill Murray opined in Caddy Shack, I got that going for me). Anyway, out of my respect for my constant pursuit of truth, I'll go ahead and post my picks (which I'll be including a running commentary as Mike explains to me how far behind the leaders I am). When we got together last week to watch college basketball we pulled out my picks and began trashing them then, so, much like the Reds normally, I'll probably be mathematically eliminated after the first game. I'll also try and include the picks of my friend Cyndi Brandenburg. Apparently I am the brother that Cyndi never had so she is archly competitive around me (hence the chicken wing eating competition last year). She filled out her bracket using the brilliant strategy of circling all the teams in the left column, except for a few in the right column she had heard of before (or something like that). And yet she still felt the need to talk smack about how she was going to cream me in the pool. I think I left her picks on my desk at school so it will require me walking there from the Q, but I am all about the truth. OK, here are the bowls and my picks will be in bold, if not particularly bold (or bright). I was not going to participate this year, but, as you can see, Mike can be very persuasive.

New Mexico Bowl - 18 December
BYU vs. UTEP
Brandybuck's pick: UTEP
I picked BYU because I have Big Love for their program.
Win for BYU - head to head: Scudder 1-0 & Brandybuck 0-1

Humanitarian Bowl - 18 December
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Brandybuck's pick: Fresno State
I can honestly state that I have never bet against Northern Illinois in a bowl game.
Win for Northern Illinois - Scudder 2-0 & Brandybuck 0-2

R+L Carriers Bowl - 18 December
Ohio vs. Troy
Brandybuck's pick: Troy
It's hard to believe that the Buckeyes had to settle for such a lame bowl . . . or maybe I'm confusing an Ohio state university with The Ohio State University (and, yes, Mike Lange is the biggest OSU fan in the world). Also, I really love the Illiad, so I have to back Troy.
Win for Troy - Scudder 3-0 & Brandybuck 1-2
Score & Commentary: Oddly, so far I'm 3-0 in the pool, which I'm pretty certain is one of the signs of the apocalypse. Even stranger, Lange and Brandybuck are both 1-2, so I have fleeting bragging rights.

St. Petersburg Bowl - 21 December
Southern Mississippi vs. Louisville
Brandybuck's pick: Lousville
Now this would be a much more interesting bowl game if it were played in St. Petersburg, Russia. I picked Louisville because they're a traditional University of Cincinnati rival (yes, I know that little about college football that I'm making decisions based on rationale like that).
Win for Louisville - Scudder 4-0 & Brandybuck 2-2
OK, stop the madness. I know this all has to come crashing down around my feet very soon, but 4-0 - come on.

Las Vegas Bowl - 22 December
Utah vs. Boise State
Brandybuck's pick: Boise State
Well, my first thought is - did anyone consider the economic viability of turning a bunch of Mormons loose in Las Vegas? Not since I attended the national economics conference on search committee business has such potential for fun been dashed by a poor match-up. Still, I will be led by my friend Sandy's constant rant about the ghettoization of Boise State and pick them.
Win for Boise State - Scudder 5-0 & Brandybuck 3-2
Yeah, this is just getting spooky now . . .

Poinsettia Bowl - 23 December
Navy vs. San Diego State
Brandybuck's pick: Navy
The stadium where this is played is apparently flooded - how can Navy not win? Oh, that's how. Well, at least the illogical streak has come to an end and the world can return to normal.
Win for San Diego State - Scudder 5-1 & Brandybuck 3-3

Hawaii Bowl - 24 December
Hawaii vs. Tulsa
Brandybuck's pick: Tulsa
The Hawaii Bowl, Brandybuck, not the Tulsa Bowl. I can only assume that one of the times that Cyndi was in witness protection she must have been located in Tulsa and thus has some attachment to it.
Win for Tulsa - Scudder 5-2 & Brandybuck 4-3
OK, the bleeding has started and soon I will be 5-27 (yes, years of being a Vikings fan has made me that fatalistic).

Little Caesars Bowl - 26 December
Florida International vs. Toledo
Brandybuck's pick: Toledo
I picked Toledo because I imagine it is fairly close to Winesbug, Ohio, the site of my favorite American novel (of the same name). Now, the fact that Winesburg is fictional should not anything away from the brilliance of the pick. At the very least I can't lose any more ground to Brandybuck.
Win for Florida International - Scudder 5-3 & Brandybuck 4-4
Apparently the Toledo defense was just as fictional as Winesburg, Ohio. OK, Team Scudder is now in complete free-fall, although it feels much more normal.

Independence Bowl - 27 December
Air Force vs. Georgia Tech
Brandybuck's pick: Air Force
Win for Air Force - Scudder 6-3 & Brandybuck 5-4
I'm not quite certain why I picked Air Force in this game. My "hometown" pick should have been Georgia Tech because of my time in Atlanta. I'm guess it's good I didn't have time to apply my usual "logic" to this pick.

Champs Sports Bowl - 28 December
West Virginia vs. NC State
Brandybuck's pick: NC State
Win for North Carolina State - Scudder 6-4 ^ Brandybuck 6-4
Team Brandybuck has surged back to tie, and the local papers are calling for me to be fired.

Insight Bowl - 28 December
Misouri vs. Iowa
Brandybuck's pick: Iowa
Win for Iowa - Scudder 6-5 & Brandybuck 7-4
OK, so I have to admit that I picked Missouri just to annoy Mike and Jamie, who are big Iowa fans. I guess I should base these decisions on something other than their potential ability to annoy my friends, although why should this be any different than any other decision in my life? Team Brandybuck has now blown past us in the pool and I've sacked my entire front office.

Military Bowl - 29 December
East Carolina vs. Maryland
Brandybuck's pick: East Carolina
I need Maryland to play a good game so that I can catch up to Brandybuck. Happily she's obviously not paying much attention to the games - or she left her pool picks on her desk - because she hasn't been bombarding me with abusive emails.
Win for Maryland - Scudder 7-5 & Brandybuck 7-5
I've pulled back into a tie in the second division category where Brandybuck and I reside.

Texas Bowl - 29 December
Illinois vs. Baylor
Brandybuck's pick: Baylor
I picked Baylor because of my general anti-Big 10 bias, although that then interfered with general anti-Texas bias. After making the pick I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Baylor was supposed to be pretty good - emphasis on supposed to be very good.
Win for Illinois - Scudder 7-6 & Brandybuck 7-6

Alamo Bowl - 29 December
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
Brandybuck's pick: Oklahoma State
Win for Oklahoma State - Scudder 8-6 & Brandybuck 8-6
There are four games on the 30th, and oddly Brandybuck and I have picked four different teams, which means they neither of us have any idea what's going on.

Armed Forces Bowl - 30 December
Army vs. SMU
Brandybuck's pick: Army
I never pick Army in bowl games or land wars in Asia. I do find it interesting that Brandybuck picked Army, Navy and the Air Force Academy to all win their bowl games - apparently she likes men in uniform.
Win for Army - Scudder 8-7 & Brandybuck 9-6

Pinstripe Bowl - 30 December
Kansas State vs. Syracuse
Brandybuck's pick: Syracuse
Win for Syracuse - Scudder 8-8 & Brandybuck 10-6
After falling to a .500 record I suppose I should say something like "how the mighty have fallen," but I didn't think I'd do that well (grin - uh, groan). It was the 5-0 start which messed up my perceptions. Brandybuck may now be unstoppable.

Music City Bowl - 30 December
North Carolina vs. Tennessee
Brandybuck's pick: Tennessee
Win for North Carolina - Scudder 9-8 & Brandybuck 10-7
Well, that was one of the more illogical victories I've ever seen, but at this point I'll take it.

Holiday Bowl - 30 December
Nebraska vs. Washington
Brandybuck's pick: Washington
Win for Washington - Scudder 9-9 & Brandybuck 11-7
This one is doubly painful. First off, my utter collapse continues. With the exception of North Carolina's completely insane victory over Tennessee I'd have gone 0-4 for the day, so it was a bloodbath. And NC's win kept Brandybuck from going 4-0 - she is obviously either a force of nature or a closet gambler. Nebraska is also my favorite college football team, as much as I have a favorite college football team. I "chose" all of my favorite teams in 1970, which apparently the year (having turned 10) that I became truly aware of sports. And it seems like teams that were good in 1970 were ones I adopted: Nebraska, Reds, Vikings, North Carolina college basketball, etc. Now, some people would move on and evolve, but not me. However, with the exception of the Vikings (which must be a Norse word for "curse of god") they have all delivered championships to me at one time or another.

Meineke Care Care Bowl - 31 December
South Florida vs. Clemson
Brandybuck's pick: Clemson
Win for South Florida - Scudder 9-10 & Brandybuck 11-8
I never bet against SEC teams - oh, Clemson is in the ACC . . .

Sun Bowl - 31 December
Notre Dame vs. Miami
Brandybuck's pick: Miami
Win for Notre Dame - Scudder 9-11 & Brandybuck 11-9
Yes, I'm one of those Hoosiers, and there are more than a few, who hate everything about Notre Dame.

Liberty Bowl - 31 December
Georgia vs. UCF
Brandybuck's pick: UCF
Win for UCF - Scudder 9-12 & Brandybuck 12-9
OK, this was a complete "homer" pick for me going back to my Atlanta days. It is rather amazing that UGA is not better. Georgia is a football hotbed and with the exception of Georgia Tech you have first dibs on all that talent. Neiboring Florida has, I think, something like five teams in bowls this year so the talent gets dispered a little more competitively. My friend Janan must be beside herself.

Chick-fil-A Bowl - 31 December
South Carolina vs. Florida State
Brandybuck's pick: South Carolina
Win for Florida State - Scudder 9-13 & Brandybuck 12-10
Wow, what a bloodbath. Today's 0-4 massacre makes yesterday's 1-3 day seem like the Golden Age.

TicketCity Bowl - 1 January
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Brandybuck's pick: Northwestern
My strategy for today's game is a simple one - pick for the SEC and against the Big 10. My time in the South made, if not an outright fan of the SEC, at least appreciative of what great fans they are. This, of course, annoys my friend Mike Lange (the guardian of the college football pool and staunch Big 10 defender) no end, which is another advantage.
Win for Texas Tech - Scudder 10-13 & Brandybuck 12-11

Outback Bowl - 1 January
Florida vs. Penn State
Brandybuck's pick: Florida
Side note - I watched most of these games at the Gentlemen of Excellence meeting at Mike's house on his 52 inch monster TV: Mike Lange, Steve, Erik, Mike Kelly, Andy, Heidi and myself (decked out in my fantastic new Ric Flair t-shirt, which was a gift from Mike Kelly and family for watching Gus over the holidays). Lots of great food, beers and football excellence.
Win for Florida - Scudder 11-13 & Brandybuck 13-11

Capital One Bowl - 1 January
Alabama vs. Michigan State
Brandybuck's pick: Michigan State
Win for Alabama - Scudder 12-13 & Brandybuck 13-12
So far the strategy is brilliant and I'm half way to a much-needed sweep. I was trying to engage folks in a discussion of whether or not Michigan State's 49-7 thumping at the hands of Alabama is, in fact, the worst showing by a top 10 team in bowl history, but they are all so stunned and bloodied by the Big 10 debacle that they don't want to talk about it.

Gator Bowl - 1 January
Mississippi State vs. Michigan
Brandybuck's pick: Michigan
Win for Mississippi State - Scudder 13-13 & Brandybuck 13-13
Finally, I've caught up with Brandybuck. However, we've picked the same for the final two games of the day so I won't be making up any more ground, at least on her. I think our TCU pick is in the minority.

Rose Bowl - 1 January
Wisconsin vs. TCU
Brandybuck's pick: TCU
Win for TCU - Scudder 14-13 & Brandybuck 14-13
Over .500 again! A win for the "little" guys of TCU. I had no idea they only had around 9000 students. Amazing. However, my facination with them went out the window with all the Bible quotes by the players after the game. Oh, that is what the C is for (doh!). Actually, in this case I think it's OK because these kids actually go to a religious school, as compared to the ones who parade out their "religion" solely for show. However, I do hope I live long enough to see a player score a touchdown and then point down to the ground instead of upwards towards heaven.

Fiesta Bowl - 1 January
Connecticut vs. Oklahoma
Brandybuck's pick: Oklahoma
Win for Oklahoma - Scudder 15-13 & Brandybuck 15-13
Wow, a 6-0 day, and that still brought me back to just barely over .500. That 4-13 stretch after my 5-0 killed any chances of winning the pool, but at least it's not as embarrassing as it was.

Orange Bowl - 3 January
Stanford vs. Virginia Tech
Brandybuck's pick: Virginia Tech
Win for Stanford - Scudder 16-13 & Brandybuck 15-14
Finally, I sneaked ahead of Brandybuck again.

Sugar Bowl - 4 January
Ohio State vs. Arkansas
Brandybuck's pick: Arkansas
Win for Ohio State - Scudder 17-13 & Brandybuck 15-15
Did I tell you how much I love the Big 10 and the Buckeyes? This was the one Big 10 team that I picked in the bowl pool. My understanding is the foundation of statistics is that nothing is impossible only improbable, so I went out on a limb and backed Ohio State.

GoDaddy.com Bowl - 6 January
Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio)
Brandybuck's pick: Middle Tennessee
Win for Miami - Scudder 18-13 & Brandybuck 15-16
Yes, as with all things related to college football, it always comes down to the GoDaddy.com Bowl . . . Team Scudder, while destined to finish out of the winnings, is now assured of finishing with a record above .500.

Cotton Bowl - 7 January
LSU vs. Texas A&M
Brandybuck's pick: LSU
Win for LSU - Scudder 19-13 & Brandybuck 16-16
The win streak stetches to 10 bowl games. I think that Mike "Slice" Kelly has the pool wrapped up, but I'm making it interesting.

Compass Bowl - 8 January
Pittsburth vs. Kentucky
Brandybuck's pick: Kentucky
Win for Pittsburth - Scudder 20-13 & Brandybuck 16-17
It was the best of days, it was the worst of days. The improbable win streak has now reached 11 bowl games, with a goodly chance to reach 13 after the last two are wrapped up. However, even though I'm in the top six I've been mathematically eliminated. Still, as I pointed out last year, by not finishing last I've in fact won and have already spent my winnings. Apparently my great friends Erik Esckilsen, Mike "Slice" Kelly and David Rous still have a chance to win and it all comes down to the National Championship game. A great time was had by all. Wonderful job by "Original" Mike Lange for putting it all together.

Fight Hunger Bowl - 9 January
Nevada vs. Boston College
Brandybuck's pick: Nevada
Win for Nevada - Scudder 21-13 & Brandybuck 17-17
Well, the bowl win streak has reached 12 games and if you just looked at the won-lost record you would almost think that I knew what I was doing, which, of course, I do not. Still, it has been fun and I've, for probably the first time, actually paid attention to the bowls.

National Championship - 10 January
Auburn vs. Oregon
Brandybuck's pick: Oregon
Win for Auburn - Scudder 22-13 & Brandybuck 17-18
Apparently 2011 is going to be a great year because I'm undefeated in the new year - a perfect 13-0 - and I almost crept into the money in the football pool. I finished tide for third, behind the king of kings, David Rous, and the valiant Erik Esckilsen and Mike "Slice" Kelly. A great time was had by all. My always pick the SEC team, especially when they are facing the Big 10, paid off handsomely.