It didn’t take long for my winning streak to evaporate.
Tulane’s Green Wave fell at the Alamo midweek.
An omen before I was even able to greet anyone with “Joyeaux la veille de la Toussaint.” The script was written. I didn’t need any admonition from Father Brennan, something like, “You’ll see me in hell, Seedy, there, we will share out our sentence.” The Waves’ L was enough to warn me my weekend was going to be a rafting adventure down the River Styx. No meet up with Damien necessary.
Auburn’s Plainsmen lost to UK — Stoops said it was a comin’ right? — which was such an embarrassment that they fired their coach.* Harsh.
*There are guys eyeing these jobs with extreme longing. Like a one-eyed cats peepin’ in the seafood store.
Vanderbilt visited the Burnt Orange just as they caught fire in Austin. A late surge wasn’t enough.
Utah bopped the Satterfields. Indiana is a season long killer, not just All Hallow’s Eve weekend. Ask the Terps, who suffered the Hoosiers fifth fiftyburger of the campaign. Louisville escaped thanks to the UPS RBs.
Hello mediocrity, my old friend.
3-3 for the weekend. 39-22 for my less than desirable season.
But the calendar’s flipped to November, Grantland Rice/ light the fireplace weather. When the days are colder and grayer and I’ll feel less guilty spending all day Saturday eating popcorn and pizza while watching football.
My stretch run of correctitude commences.
Honoring the sorority sisters at Bama, who take dressing up for football seriously. At least according the prexy of the Tri Delt’s:
“The football players, they’re walking in doing the Walk of Champions,” says Tri Delta president Finley Lowe, a Louisville, Ky., native. “They’re all suited up, they take so much pride in that. And in the same way, we take pride in how we look.”
While not dressing up, I’m taking pride in this week’s winners:
Nebraska @ UCLA. Because he’s a pal of Penn State’s in-need-of-a-coach AD, Matt Rhule just got an extension in a circle the wagons move in the corn belt. Even though his record against the big boys is no better than the former Nittany Lions coach. The Bruins fairy tale of run came to a sudden and precipitous loss of altitude somewhere over Brown County last week. (They aren’t the first this season.) But this one is interesting. To start off a weekend of off the chart selections, I’m thinking how 45 years later I still can’t shake the vision of the UCLA cheerleaders at the Final Four in Indy. Saturday they shall be joyous. Westwooders.
Oregon @ Iowa. Their wardrobe of unis is easily the best in the land. And the Quack’s record is glossy on its face. But a close look — OK make that a quick glance — at their schedule indicates they really haven’t beaten a team of note. They played IU as tough as anybody has so far. Except perhaps their foe, the Hawkeyes. Whose only other L was to intrastate rival Cyclones away. What is “they” say about Iowa City, it’s where dreams go to die? Another one bites the dust. Ferentzs prevail.
Indiana @ Pennsylvania State. Until proven otherwise, I’m stickin’ with Coach Google Me. Crimson & Cream.
Florida @ Kentucky. No, I do not trim trees for Limbwalker. Climbing up trees with a chainsaw is not my thing. But in this space, here I go. Cats find a way.
California @ Louisville. According theathletic.com, here are the tiebreaker scenarios in the ACC:
As far as head-to-head wins among the top six teams, Virginia has one over Louisville, Georgia Tech has one over Duke, and Louisville has one against Pittsburgh.
After head-to-head results, win percentage against common opponents is the next tiebreaker. After that, it’s win percentage against common opponents based on their order in the ACC standings.
Louisville appears to be in the best spot to be rewarded in the next tiebreaker — combined win percentage of conference opponents. The Cardinals’ ACC opponents have the best combined win percentage in league play.
Here’s where the combined win percentage of conference opponents stand for the top six teams entering Week 11: Louisville (.536, 22-19), Duke (.476, 20-22), Virginia (.450, 18-22), Georgia Tech (.418, 18-25), Pittsburgh (.404, 17-25), SMU (.357, 15-27).
What can the Cards do for themselves? Win out! Sort of a trap game here. But aren’t they all, or so it seems. No Brown, Isaac. Brown, Keyjuan shall deliver. Brohm and the boys seem to find a way. Cards.
— c d kaplan