Hatchline’s Week 9 Pick-em Picks

Georgia @ No. 1 Florida (3:30 PM ET on CBS)
No. 3 Texas @ No. 14 Oklahoma State (8:00 PM ET on ABC)
Indiana @ No. 4 Iowa (12:00 PM ET on ESPN/360)
No. 5 USC @ No. 10 Oregon (8:00 PM ET on ABC)
UNLV @ No. 6 TCU
San Jose State @ No. 7 Boise State (3:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 8 Cincinnati @ Syracuse (12:00 PM ET on ESPNU)
Tulane @ No. 9 LSU (8:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 11 Georgia Tech @ Vanderbilt (7:30 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 12 Penn State @ Northwestern (4:30 PM ET on ESPN/360)
North Carolina @ No. 13 Virginia Tech (Thursday)
Wyoming @ No. 16 Utah
New Mexico State @ No. 17 Ohio State (12:00 PM ET on Big 10 Network)
Southern Miss @ No. 18 Houston
No. 19 Miami (FL) @ Wake Forest (3:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
No. 21 West Virginia @ South Florida (Friday)
No. 22 South Carolia @ Tennessee (7:45 PM ET on ESPN/360)
Washington State @ No. 23 Notre Dame (7:30 PM ET on NBC)
No. 24 California @ Arizona State (3:30 PM ET on ABC/360)
No. 25 Mississippi @ Auburn (12:21 PM ET on ESPN 360)


A couple of big upsets this week. One in particular. As much as I love USC, I don’t think that they can get it done in Eugene. I just don’t think that USC can hold off the Duck’s Flying V of an offense for four quarters. They might be able to do it for three in the first, second, and fourth, but this year the Trojan defense has had abysmal third quarter defense. Things seem to work in the first half, but once the other team makes adjustments in the locker room, it takes them about 12 minutes of clock time to get adjusted themselves. Plus Pete Carrol’s USC has always been troubled in Oregon, whether at Corvallis or Eugene. The last and only loss to Oregon in the last 5 years came in 2007, the last time they were there.

Hatchline’s Week 8 College Pick-em Picks

No. 1 Florida @ Mississippi State (7:30 PM ET on ESPN/360)
Tennessee @ No. 2 Alabama (3:30 PM ET on CBS)
No. 3 Texas @ Missouri (8:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
No. 4 Boise State @ Hawaii (11:05 PM ET on ESPN 360)
Louisville @ No. 5 Cincinnati (3:30 PM ET on ESPNU)
No. 6 Iowa @ Michigan State (7:00 PM ET on Big 10 Network)
Oregon State @ No. 7 USC (8:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
No. 8 TCU @ No. 16 BYU
Auburn @ No. 9 LSU (7:30 PM ET on ESPN2/360)
Clemson @ No. 10 Miami (FL) (3:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
No. 11 Oregon @ Washington (3:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
No. 12 Georgia Tech @ Virginia
No. 13 Penn State @ Michigan (3:30 PM ET on ABC)
No. 15 Oklahoma State @ Baylor
Southern Methodist @ No. 17 Houston
Air Force @ No. 18 Utah
Minnesota @ No. 19 Ohio State (12:00 PM ET on ESPN/360)
South Florida @ No. 20 Pittsburgh (12:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
UCLA @ No. 22 Arizona
Connecticut @ No. 23 West Virginia (7:00 PM ET on ESPNU)
Vanderbilt @ No. 24 South Carolina (7:00 PM ET on ESPNU)
Oklahoma @ No. 25 Kansas (3:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)

After last week’s poor showing, this is a make up week with a lot of not-so-exciting games and a relatively safe week with only 1 upset, which is only really an upset on paper, Sooners over Jayhawks. With officiating being ridiculed on all fronts (Football, Basketball, and definitely Baseball!), this is sure to be a more tightly watched weekend. Look for the once favored teams (FLORIDA… ahem) to not (GET THE GAME HANDED TO THEM… ahem) have the same sort of advantages (REFEREES UNDER INVESTIGATION… ahem… sorry, I’ve got this cough that translates into my typing. I don’t know what the deal is. This is weird) that they had last week. Fortunately for the big boys, they’re all playing lesser teams. Gators at Miss State, Volunteers at Bama, Longhorns at Missou and Hawkeyes at Spartans; those should all be winners. Once again, the PAC-10 shows that they’re the only ones with consistently difficult schedules. Oregon State at USC might be a blowout, but we all know what the Beavers did to the men of Troy last year, and just like the SEC, 80% of the teams are legit. Only there’s less teams in the PAC-10 and they all play each other. The PAC-10 isn’t the best conference, but it’s certainly much tougher than people give them credit for.

Hatchline’s Week 7 College Pick-em Picks

Winners in BOLD. Picks are for winners only, not to cover point spread.

Arkansas @ No. 1 Florida (3:30 PM ET on CBS)
No. 22 South Carolina @ No. 2 Alabama (7:45 PM ET on ESPN/360)
No. 20 Oklahoma @ No. 3 Texas (12:00 PM ET on ABC)
No. 4 Virginia Tech @ No. 19 Georgia Tech (6:00 PM ET on ESPN2/360)
No. 5 Boise State @ Tulsa (Wednesday PM)
No. 6 USC @ No. 25 Notre Dame (3:30 PM ET on Notre Dame Broadcasting Channel [or NBC])
No. 7 Ohio State @ Purdue (12:00 PM ET on Big 10 Network)
NO. 8 Cincinnati @ No. 21 South Florida (Thursday, 7:30 PM ET on ESPN/360)
No. 9 Miami (FL) @ UCF
No. 11 Iowa @ Wisconsin (12:00 PM ET on ESPN/360)
Colorado State @ NO. 12 TCU
Minnesota @ No. 14 Penn State (3:30 PM ET on ABC)
Texas Tech @ No. 15 Nebraska (3:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
Missouri @ No. 16 Oklahoma State (9:15 PM ET on ESPN2/360)
No. 17 Kansas @ Colorado
No. 18 BYU @ San Diego State
No. 23 Houston @ Tulane
No. 24 Utah @ UNLV

I’m telling you though, this week it was really tough for me not to go crazy and pick South Florida over Cincinnati and Missouri over Oklahoma State on top of my upsets already. But thought I’d play it safe and just pick Oklahoma over Texas and Wisconsin over Iowa.

Check back next week for my victory. Or check back next week for my shame.

Hatchline’s Week 6 College Pick-em Picks.

Winners in BOLD. Picks are for winners only, not to cover point spread.

No. 1 Florida @ No. 4 LSU (8:00 PM ET on CBS)
Colorado @ No. 2 Texas (7:15 PM ET on ESPN/360)
No. 3 Alabama @ No. 20 Mississippi (3:30 PM ET on CBS)
Boston College @ No. 5 Virginia Tech (12:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
Wisconsin @ No. 9 Ohio State (3:30 PM ET on ABC)
No. 10 TCU @ Air Force
Florida A&M @ No. 11 Miami (FL) (7:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
Michigan @ No. 12 Iowa (8:05 PM ET on ABC)
No. 13 Oregon @ UCLA (3:30 PM ET on ABC)
Eastern Illinois @ No. 14 Penn State (ESPN Classic/360)
No. 15 Oklahoma State @ Texas A&M
Iowa State @ No. 16 Kansas
No. 17 Auburn @ Arkansas (12:00 PM ET on ESPN/360)
No. 18 BYU @ UNLV
Baylor @ No. 19 Oklahoma (3:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
No. 21 Nebraska @ No. 24 Missouri (Thursday @ 9:00 PM ET)
No. 22 Georgia Tech @ Florida State (8:00 PM ET on ESPN2/360)
Kentucky @ No. 25 South Carolina (12:30 PM ET on ESPN 360)

Check back next week for my victory. Or check back next week for my shame.

Hatchline’s Week 5 College Pick-em Picks

Winners in BOLD. Picks are for winners only, not to cover point spread.

No. 3 Alabama @ Kentucky (12:21 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 4 LSU @ No. 18 Georgia (3:30 PM ET on CBS)
UC Davis @ No. 5 Boise State (8:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 6 Virginia Tech @ Duke (12:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 7 USC @ No. 24 California (8:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
No. 8 Oklahoma @ No. 17 Miami (8:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
No. 9 Ohio State @ Indiana (7:00 PM ET on Big 10 Network)
No. 10 Cincinnati @ Miami (OH) (1:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
Southern Methodist @ No. 11 TCU
No. 12 Houston @ UTEP
Arkansas State @ No. 13 Iowa (12:05 PM ET on ESPN2/360)
No. 15 Penn State @ Illinois (3:30 PM ET on ABC)
Washington State @ No. 16 Oregon (9:15 PM ET on XOS Webcast)
Utah State @ No. 20 BYU
No. 21 Mississippi @ Vanderbilt (7:00 PM ET on ESPNU)
No. 22 Michigan @ Michigan State (12:00 PM ET on Big 10 Network)
No. 25 Georgia Tech @ Mississippi State (7:30 PM ET on ESPN 360)


Check back next week for my victory. Or check back next week for my shame.

Hatchline’s Week Four College Pick-em Picks

Winners in BOLD. Picks are for winners only, not to cover point spread.

No. 1 Florida @ Kentucky (6:00 PM ET on ESPN2/360)
UTEP @ No. 2 Texas
Arkansas @ No. 3 Alabama (3:30 PM ET on CBS)
No. 4 Mississippi @ South Carolina
Iowa @ No. 5 Penn State (8:00 PM ET on ABC)
No. 6 California @ Oregon (3:30 PM ET on ABC/ ESPN 360)

No. 7 LSU @ Mississippi State (12:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 8 Boise State @ Bowling Green (7:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 9 Miami (FL) @ No. 11 Virginia Tech (3:30 PM ET on ABC/ESPN 360)
Washington State @ No. 12 USC
Illinois @ No. 13 Ohio State (3:30 PM ET on ABC)
Fresno State @ No. 14 Cincinnati (12:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
No. 15 TCU @ Clemson (3:30 PM ET on ESPN 360)
Grambling State @ No. 16 Oklahoma State
Texas Tech @ No. 17 Houston (9:15 PM ET on ESPN2/360)
South Florida @ No. 18 Florida State (12:00 PM ET on ESPNU)
Colorado State @ No. 19 BYU
Southern Miss @ No. 20 Kansas
Arizona State @ No. 21 Georgia (7:00 PM ET on ESPNU)
No. 22 North Carolina @ Georgia Tech (12:00 PM ET on ESPN 360)
Indiana @ No. 23 Michigan (12:00 PM ET on ESPN2/360)
No. 24 Washington @ Stanford
Louisiana-Lafayette @ No. 25 Nebraska

Check back next week for my victory. Or check back next week for my shame.

Hatchline’s Week Three Top 25 Pick-em Picks

Winners in BOLD. Picks are for winners only, not to cover point spread.

Tennessee @ No. 1 Florida
Texas Tech @ No. 2 Texas
No.3 USC @ Washington
North Texas @ No. 4 Alabama
Temple @ No. 5 Penn State
SE Louisiana @ No. 5 Mississippi
Florida State @ No. 7 BYU
No. 8 California @ Minnesota
Louisiana-Lafayette @ No. 9 LSU
No. 10 Boise State @ Fresno State
No. 11 Ohio State @ Toledo
Tulsa @ No. 12 Oklahoma
No. 19 Nebraska @ No. 13 Virginia Tech
No. 14 Georgia Tech @ No. 20 Miami
Texas State @ No. 15 TCU
Rice @ No. 16 Oklahoma State
No. 17 Cincinnati @ Oregon State
No. 18 Utah @ Oregon
Duke @ No. 22 Kansas
No. 23 Georgia @ Arkansas
East Carolina @ No. 24 North Carolina
Eastern Michigan @ No. 25 Michigan

Check back next week for my victory. Or check back next week for my shame.

Super Bowl Champs Pull Out a Squeaker, NFL Back on Top

The NFL season is upon us, and the first game of the year certainly didn’t disappoint. Big Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers overcame the Titans 13-10 in overtime. But it came with a price, former USC Trojan Troy Polamalu went down and will be out approximately 6 weeks. As the biggest impact player on the Steelers defense, his presence will be greatly missed. These two big physical teams certainly showed that they’re two of the best teams in the NFL and will probably be hanging around at the end of the season. This was probably a preview for the AFC Championship game. Although the Patriots defied all odds and went undefeated, it’s near impossible to win every game, and the Titans will certainly rebound.

In terms of popularity, NFL is still the undisputed heavyweight champion. The season-opening game received incredibly high rating of 17.75 rating. To put that in perspective, it’s the highest TV rating by about 5 points in the last several months. People are aching for football and the NFL has masterfully turned their product into a year-round anticipatory experience. I’m as unbiased a fan as I can possibly be, but I would’ve dropped everything to watch a Raiders vs. Rams opening game, but to see the two of the four AFC powerhouses battling for a good foothold on homefield playoff advantage in September, that’s almost the best opener you could ask for.

There’s really about 4 or 5 teams in the AFC that are relevant and everyone else can be forgotten: Pittsburg, Tennessee, New England, Indianapolis, and Baltimore. AFC Playoffs: #1 Pittsburg (assuming they can still win without Polamalu over the next few weeks), #2 New England, #3 Tennessee, #4 San Diego (because of a weak division), #5 Baltimore (Wild Card), and #6 Indianapolis (Wild Card) – although the Texans might surprise some people and beat the Colts out for this spot.

The NFC is a little more complicated. They’re more like the NBA’s Western conference, there’s a lot of good in the top half, as opposed to the other conference’s top three. The NFC East is going to be a nasty division and the best one to watch. I’ll go ahead and predict the Giants making it to the NFC Championship game and coming out of the division on top, but Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, and Redskins… someone could potentially win 11 games in that division and not make the playoffs. I’ll go ahead and make my playoff prediction though, but will also refer to the major disclaimer in my previous syntax. NFC playoffs: #1 Giants, #2 Seattle, #3 Minnesota, #4 Carolina, #5 Dallas, & #6 Arizona.

I’ll stick by my AFC predictions, but if my NFC predictions fall through, I’m deleting this post. Enjoy the NFL season everybody. Football is officially back.