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Beer, Chili, Football - Life's Grand

If you love great food and drink like I do, you need to check out The Atlantic’s Food Channel.  I must confess that I work for The Atlantic Media Company so I am biased, but this section is simply outstanding.  With this in mind;

 

Beer of the Week:  Andechs Dopplebock Dunkel

Food of the Week:  Chili.  The Nor’easter created by Ida has sat over DC for about three days now.  This has put me in the mood for chili.

Movie of the Week:  Without a doubt, Friday the 13^th, Part I. 

 

 

Week Eleven

 

Last week, I went 4-2 again.  I called the Stanford over Oregon upset.  Blew it big time with PSU over the Buckeyes.  Glad to be wrong on that pick.  Six unbeatens remain; Texas, Florida, Alabama, TCU, Boise and Cincinnati.  The flaws of the BCS system will again rear its ugly head. 

 

BCS Bowl Projections:  (always sub to change based on results)

 

Rose:  OSU vs. Oregon

Orange:  Clemson vs. Boise

Sugar:  Florida vs. Cincinnati

Fiesta:  TCU vs. USC

Title:  Alabama vs. Texas

 

Games of the Week:

 

ACC

 

Florida State vs. Wake.  Hard pick over the Miami vs. North Carolina game. I am picking this game because the loser will not make a bowl game.  In the past, Wake not making a bowl game was common.  Jim Grobe changed the expectations in Winston-Salem, and has made Wake a consistent ACC challenger.  If FSU drops this game, the will miss making a bowl for the first time in 27 years – this is assuming the Seminoles lose to Florida and end up with seven losses.  Ouch.

 

Big East

 

Cincinnati vs. West Virginia.  It’s plug and play down in the Queen City.  Pike goes down, Collaros comes in and shines.  All coaches should be so fortunate.  WVU has been playing rather poorly over the last month.  The Bearcats should roll over the Mountaineers, but crazier things have happened.  Just not in this game.  Bearcats win 42-17.

 

Big Ten

 

OSU vs. Iowa.  It’s funny how one week makes a difference in a season.  When OSU lost to Purdue, the sky was falling.  When they beat PSU, they are gaining momentum at the right time of the year.  Last week’s win confirms what most people already know.  OSU owns the Big Ten, and if the Buckeyes do not turn over the ball, they do not lose a game.  Period.  The talent gap is just that wide.  Iowa comes into the Shoe with a chance to win the Big Ten.  They’ll have to do this without their QB Ricky Stanzi who had surgery on his ankle is done for the regular season.  Buckeyes win pretty comfortably 28-10.

 

Big 12

 

This is a tie.  Oklahoma St vs. Texas Tech and Kansas State vs. Missouri.  The OSU/TT game is a battle for 2^nd place in the Big 12 South division which may include a trip to the Cotton Bowl.  OSU will win this high scoring game.  Kansas State’s rise to the top of the Big 12 North standings did not take long under head coach Bill Snyder.  Snyder built this program in the 90’s, left for a few seasons, and now has the Wildcats eyeing the North championship in his first season back on the sideline.  Missou has looked awful since losing to Nebraska last month.  KState is home so I like them to win, 23-17. 

 

PAC 10

 

Stanford vs. USC.  The loser is out of the conference championship race.  Stanford’s unlikely upset over USC two years ago was the beginning of Jim Harbaugh’s influence over the Cardinal program.  This looks like a very good game.  Stanford runs the ball well (Toby Gerhart 1200 yds/16TD’s) and passes well (Andrew Luck 2000 yds/11TD’s).  If the game was in Palo Alto, I’d pick Stanford.  It’s not so I am going with USC in a fourth quarter battle, 24-21. 

 

SEC

 

Auburn vs. Georgia.  Old, bitter rivalry.  Georgia is 5-4 with three tough games remaining.  The Bulldogs are in serious trouble, and might not make a bowl game.  With back to back wins over Ol Miss and Furman, Auburn appears to have recovered from the three game losing streak in the middle of October.  Keep in mind, Georgia’s gotten the better of Auburn for three straight seasons.  I don’t think the Dawgs will make it four.  Auburn wins 31-24. 

 

Other Notable Game:

 

TCU vs. Utah.  TCU is ranked 4^th in the BCS Standings, Utah 16^th.  Last year, the Utes barely edged the Horned Frogs in Provo.  The Horned Frogs will get their revenge at home, 34-21. 

No Way LSU Beats Bama This Week

Beer of the Week:  Fat Tire Amber.  First had it in 1995 thanks to a dear friend, and I’ve love it since. 

 

Sports Movie of the Week:  Rocky.  On again last night and just as good as the first time I watched it.

 

Food of the Week:  NY Strip with a nice big baked potato. 

 

Evidence the world might be ending:

 

Most people know I grew up in Westerville, Ohio.  Until recently, there were two high schools, North and South.  Traditionally, both were football powerhouses in central Ohio.  North went 0-10 this season.  How in the world does this happen?  Where is Warrior pride?  0-10?  Wow. 

 

Games of Week 10

 

4-2 last week.  Here’s an interesting statistic demonstrating the roll USC has been on this decade.  USC’s eight losses from the 2003 season up to the Oregon loss were by a combined 29 points.  The Trojans lost by 27 to the Ducks.  Amazing.

 

ACC

 

Clemson vs. Florida State.  No longer the Bowden Bowl, but the stakes are still high this season.  Clemson is trying to make their first ACC championship game.  Bowden’s long time defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews announced this would be his last season.  I think Clemson is an 8.5 favorite, but the game will be much closer.  Tigers win 28-24.

 

Big East

 

Cincinnati vs. Connecticut.  The Bearcats are undefeated and trying to keep their BCS title game hopes alive.  UConn is coming off two emotional losses.  UC wins big 45-10.

 

Big Ten

 

OSU vs. Pa State.  Both teams are strong defensively.  Pa St’s offense is better than OSU’s offense.  OSU’s special teams are better than Pa State’s ST.  Game is at Happy Valley.  Last year, PSU scored a rare victory in the Shoe.  The loser likely gets a first class ticket to the Cap One Bowl.  Looks like Southwest should get some planes fueled in Cbus in late December because the Lions roar, 27-14.

 

Big 12

 

Oklahoma vs Nebraska.  This used to be the premier game in the Big Eight conference.  The luster has slipped lately, but Bo Pelini has the Huskers clawing their way back to FBS relevance again.  The Sooners win 27-17, but the game is close until late 4^th Quarter.

 

PAC 10

 

For the second straight week, Oregon is playing in the game of the week.  They play at Stanford.  Stanford is good team this season.  Don’t be surprised to see the Cardinal pull the upset.  Stanford wins 38-35.

 

SEC

 

Alabama vs. LSU.  Saban coached LSU to a BCS title in 2003, left for the NFL and returned to the SEC West as the Tide’s coach.  Both teams are playing well, and this will likely determine the SEC West title.  Game is at Bama.  I like the Tide in romp.  31-10.