2006 Football Season Bowl Pick 'Em

[Sonny]

just goes to show why they are called STUDENT athletes. I'd have to call into question what their definition of "on a regular basis" is when it comes to checking students progress. Even though they were seniors, it would still be pretty obvious if they even checked spuratically cause if you're failing or close to it, that level of work doesn't just happen the last week!

Actually it does happen like that sometimes.

You can be doing your minimal work to skate by and then bomb the final to fail the class at the very end of the semester. Furthermore, they are given all sorts of tutors and additional help that normal (non-athlete) students are not given. This one is on the students.

[Beta]

I have LESS respect for football players that fail since the world is handed to them. Maybe not at other schools, but at least at ones that rhyme with "Georgia Tech". Maybe he completed his test, but turned it into a UGA professor...just like he did with most of his passes ....

[cjwilhelmi]

Gentlemen, I will be posting the votes later on today. I apologize for the delay but I have been receiving late votes. Thanks a lot Beckner (and several others, but especially Beckner since I was about to post it and got yours just now).

[Sonny]

I have LESS respect for football players that fail since the world is handed to them. Maybe not at other schools, but at least at ones that rhyme with "Georgia Tech". Maybe he completed his test, but turned it into a UGA professor...just like he did with most of his passes ....

The world maybe "handed to them." however, they spend tons and tons of time at practices, team meetings, coach meetings, film study, in the weight room, working out, etc. Especially in season. All the while, they are expected to be a normal, productive college student and represent their school in a positive manner. Oh and by the way, win championships, bowl games, etc.

I would have a little more sympathy for them. Especially at a school that rhymes with "Georgia Tech" that is academically challenging to say the least. Many GT regular students end up on academic warning or probation for a portion of their scholastic career. To act as if athletes are above that academic pressure is naive.

P.S. Given the way that RB has been treated by the GT fan base over his career, I can't say that I blame him for feeling the way that he does.

[Beta]

They spend time playing football and 90% of them are on scholarship...I would hope they spend time doing something for the team. I respect the athletes with legit academics. I had an elective with ole Reg and we sat next to each other. To find out he's not eligable to play isn't surprising to me...it took too long to figure out more than anything.

It's any athlete's job to balance school, work and play. If they can get into somewhere for their "smarts" then good. If not, and the only way they can get in is because of football...then they better perform or else it'll get taken away. For how much Halo he played and driving around campus in his new truck, it looked like time well spent on a full scholarship when he can't even stay eligable. I'll respect a 4th string, non-scholarship linebacker that's an electrical engineer that can make the grades than someone that skipped everyday of Psychology1101 except test day, x-mas tree-ed his exams and made an A.

[Sonny]

then they better perform or else it'll get taken away

College ain't the pros. These kids aren't getting paid to play college (varsity) sports.

I'll respect a 4th string, non-scholarship linebacker that's an electrical engineer that can make the grades than someone that skipped everyday of Psychology1101 except test day, x-mas tree-ed his exams and made an A.

So you attend of lot of Ivy League games, I assume?

[Beta]

College ain't the pros. These kids aren't getting paid to play college (varsity) sports.

They don't get $$$ handed to them, but I'd take $40k+ in scholarships to be a back up punter. Get a ridiculous gift package for going to a bowl game (PS2s, portable dvd players, Xboxes). Have serious athletic academic pull when it comes to changing grades.

My "eh" paying job didn't nearly total half of that stuff. Let alone the fact that I had to get loans on top of the HOPE scholarship. Their job is indeed football...even though the paycheck comes in the form of a great degree and loads of free stuff. Not to mention the Delta jobs they work out for student athletes that pays $15 an hour for handle luggage part time and gives all of the free flights they want.

So you attend of lot of Ivy League games, I assume?

Just Yale hockey . Im not saying I don't respect every football player and the goodies they get. Just the ones that can't be good at 1 of the 2 things they are given in college. A free education and a collegiate athletic career.

[FLAK]

4-0 so far... wish I knew how I stood against everyone else.....

[cjwilhelmi]

Alright, the participants are: GrayBear (GB), Campbell (C), Shrekjr (S), FLAK (F), CULax (CU), CJWilhelmi (CJ), Laxfan (L), Madlax (M), Beckner (B)

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
TCU – C, S, F, L, CJ,
Northern Illinois – GB, CU,
*** Madlax and Beckner both get losses for the first game since their votes were given to me after completion.

Las Vegas Bowl
Oregon – GB, C, CU, L, B,
BYU – S, F, CJ, M

New Orleans Bowl
Troy – F, L, CJ, M,
Rice – GB, C, S, CU, B,

New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico – C, S, F, CU, L, M,
San Jose State – GB, CJ, B,

Papajohns.com Bowl
East Carolina – C, CU,
South Florida – GB, S, F, L, CJ, M, B,

Armed Forces Bowl
Utah – GB, S, F, CU, L, CJ
Tulsa – C, M, B,

Hawaii Bowl
Arizona State – C, F,
Hawaii – GB, S, CU, L, CJ, M, B,

Motor City Bowl
Central Michigan – GB, C, S, CU, L, CJ
Middle Tennessee – F, M, B,

Emerald Bowl
Florida State – F, B,
UCLA – GB, C, S, CU, L, CJ, M,

Independence Bowl
Oklahoma State – GB, S, CU, L, CJ,
Alabama – C, F, M,
*** Beckner gets a loss for this game since he didn’t give me a prediction.

Holiday Bowl
California – GB, S, F, CU, CJ, M, B,
Texas A&M – C, L,

Texas Bowl
Kansas State, C,
Rutgers – GB, S, F, CU, L, CJ, M, B,

Champs Sports Bowl
Purdue – B,
Maryland – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, CJ, M,

Music City Bowl
Kentucky
Clemson – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, CJ, M, B,

Sun Bowl
Missouri – F, M,
Oregon State – GB, C, S, CU, L, CJ, B,

Insight Bowl
Minnesota
Texas Tech – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, CJ, M, B,

Liberty Bowl
Houston
South Carolina – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, CJ, M, B,

Alamo Bowl
Texas – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, CJ, M, B,
Iowa

MPC Computers Bowl
Nevada – F, CU, M,
Miami – GB, C, S, L, CJ, B,

Meineke Car Care Bowl
Boston College – GB, S, F, CU, L, CJ, M, B,
Navy – C,

Chick-fil-A Bowl
Virginia Tech – GB, C, S, F, CU, CJ, M,
Georgia – L, B,

Gator Bowl
Georgia Tech - F
West Virginia – GB, C, S, CU, L, CJ, M, B,

Cotton Bowl
Nebraska – M,
Auburn – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, CJ, B,

Outback Bowl
Penn State – C, CU, L, CJ, M, B,
Tennessee – GB, S, F,

Capital One Bowl
Arkansas – S, CJ, B,
Wisconsin – GB, C, F, CU, L, M,

International Bowl
Western Michigan – C, F,
Cincinnati – GB, S, CU, L, CJ, M, B,

GMAC Bowl
Southern Miss – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, CJ, B,
Ohio – M,

BCS GAMES

Rose Bowl
Michigan – S, F, CU, L, CJ, M,
USC – GB, C, B,

Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma – GB, S, F, CU, M, CJ, B,
Boise State – C, L,

Orange Bowl
Wake Forest – F,
Louisville – GB, C, S, CU, L, M, CJ, B,

Sugar Bowl
Notre Dame – B,
LSU – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, M, CJ,

BCS Championship Game
Ohio State – GB, C, S, F, CU, L, M, CJ,
Florida – B,

[laxfan25]

I loaded all of the picks into a spreadsheet I set up for my pool at the office, so we can get quicker updates.
Here are the standings through Friday night's games;
CJ - 15/16 - Outstanding!
ShrekJr- 13
LaxFan25 & GrayBear - 12
FLAK - 11
CULax, Madlax & Beckner - 10
Campbell - 6

Good luck on this busy weekend. This is your time to bust a move!
By the way, I've got some special priozes for the winner...

[cjwilhelmi]

I was trying to create a spreadsheet that would do it but couldn't get the format down. I also dont know enough about how to write "if 1=yes, then....".

[laxfan25]

After Saturday's games, CJ retains a two game lead with 17 wins, followed by the wise old farts, laxfan and ShrekJr at 15.
Tomorrow's action should tell the tale.

[laxfan25]

After the early afternoon New Year's games - CJ still holds the lead with 21 correct, followed closely by yours truly with 20. I need a big win by the Smurfs from Boise St. to pull even. Given that the picks are similar on the remaining games to a large degree - if the Sooners win, Corbin should emerge victorious and claim the special prize package.

[Brent Burns]

I am really happy to see the Mountaineers bounce back from a 17 point deficit to win the Gator Bowl over Georgia Tech. From watching TV late this afternoon, I found it interesting that the WVa coach called the senior group the "Land of the Misfits."

[cjwilhelmi]

Almost got the Arkansas upset. Did get the Penn State one though.

OU v Boise really worries me. It may be my utmost distaste for everything sooner (Hook 'Em) or it might be that I like to see the little guy win. Ugh!