I'm not one to complain about gainful employment but it is taking away from my more pressing manners like BUCFP administration. I've been lax in this department but trying to make it up to you, I promise. That said, I'm short-cutting this week with a three in 1 entry: Main Pool, Elimination, and Rumination all in one! I actually spent more time ont he Rumination piece than any other - and even that wasn't a lot:
Main Pool
Still Vegas. I'll get into the stats next week. A lot of people are trying, but cant' seem to make up the gap with two weeks to go.
Best Pick
Givin' it to the Utah State pickers
Worst Pick
Anyone taking Cal, because its Cal
Elimination Pool
Three men enter, three men leave:
Rumination
Well, I've been lying in wait to attack the BCS and the backdoor title game shenanigans on display and then the bombshell hit on Monday. Thuis, it's Hammer Time:
(to the tune of U Can't Touch This)
My my my revenue stream is so large,
Makes me say "Oh My God!"
Thank you for blessing me,
With a team near the Apple and near DC,
That's right, I roll with the Knights,
And the Maryland Terps they make it right,
And though, the football sucks,
This is a league, you can't touch
I told you, BCS(You can't touch this)Yeah, that's how we living and you know(You can't touch this)
Look at my bottom line, man(You can't touch this)Yo, let me bust the BCS(You can't touch this)
The Big East got Boise? Whatta jokeEast going West, they gonna be broke,So move, outta your seatYes you got hoops but you can't compete
While I'm rollin', hold onI'm bustin' up the ACC like Genghis KahnYou think I'll stop with that?The Heels are next so watch yo backSo ya know, I'm too muchAnd this is a league, uh, you can't touch
Yo, I told you(You can't touch this)Why you standin' there, man?(You can't touch this)Yo, sound the bell, school is in, sucka(You can't touch this)
Give me a fanbase or market,I'll find the next team, and put 'em in the targetOf my scopeThe Irish came beggin' and I said nope
My league is hype and tightOther commissioners are sweatin' so pass them a wipeOr a manual, to learnWhat's it gonna take in in 2030 to burnThe ratings? LegitEither expand or you might as well quitMy name, is Jim DelaneyI'm scoring for the Big10 so don't blame me
Break it downStop, TV time
You can't touch thisYou can't touch thisYou can't touch this
Break it downStop, Delaney time
Every time you see meDelaney's just so hypeI'm dope on the sly and I'm magic with the hype
Now why would I ever stop doing this?The bigger the league the bigger the hitsMy league is country wide, from DC to the plainsIt's "Pick ME, please Pick ME, Pick ME, yo, Pick ME"'Cuz they know I make the dollars rain
You can't touch thisYou can't touch thisYou can't touch this
Yeah, you can't touch thisI told you, you can't touch thisToo hype, can't touch thisGet way outta here, you can't touch this
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Week #11 - Main Pool Update
I am still recovering from a weekend trip to Hilton Head. Joining me in the action was Eagles, Show Me the Money, and Shajawilsav. Say, speaking of Eagles, I, Ultimate Bill, carded an eagle by knocking one in from 110 yards out on a par 4. This was witnessed by Shajawilsav who proceeded to scream like a little girl. Sadly, this was the only under par score carded by any of the four participants on any hole over the course of the weekend. That said, I brag about because there is little else for me to brag about, as you will see.
Movers and Shakers
Vegas scored in the double digits, knotting 10 points to maintain his lead of three points overall. Springfield Atoms and Eagles each scored week's best 12 point performances which was good for a 2nd and 3rd place year to date rank. The top eight players are still within striking distance of Vegas.
Poor Uncle Buck's free fall from the top spot continues as his 6 point week moved him into 17th place a mere four weeks after holding the top spot. Not too many other moves of note outside of the simple observation that BigOrange mailed it in.
Poor Uncle Buck's free fall from the top spot continues as his 6 point week moved him into 17th place a mere four weeks after holding the top spot. Not too many other moves of note outside of the simple observation that BigOrange mailed it in.
Best Pick Award
AugustaDayStrippers, Boardwalk Empire, and Hoke-y for Texas State.
Worst Pick Award
Derek Dooley, Show Me the Money, and Vol Nation for TCU.
Stat of the Week
I got nothin.
Week #11 - Elimination Picks
Our three brave survivors carry on!
Eliminated
Eliminated
None.
Nervy Picks
None.
Close Calls!
Springfield Atoms pick of Rutgers kept it close with Army.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Week #10 - Main Pool Update
Movers and Shakers
Vegas continues his winning ways, stretching his first place lead to 5 points with a very strong 13 point week. The five remained strong with Springfield Atoms holding the second place spot and a three way tie for third between Penn State, GatorBo, and Boardwalk Empire. Uncle Buck, who was the leader in week's 7 and 8 fell from his week #9 second place spot, all the way to 8th place after scoring a six point week. Six points is REALLY bad considering that I, Ultimate Bill, also scored six. Watch the company you keep Buck. Interesting to note that Buck only had one right in the first ten games. A very strong evening slate kept it from being a total disaster.
Other big moves, good or bad: Illhaveanother moved from 15th to 8th place and continues her upward climb from her week #5 24th spot. CousinEddie's 15 point week, the best in the pool, moved him from 26th to 19th place. Hoke-y continues to move up after his Week 7 gaffe when he forgot to pick. This week his 13 points put him in 25th place. After week #7, he was in 35th - a spot occupied currently by yours truly. I've managed the pool's worst performance among participating players for two weeks running.
Other big moves, good or bad: Illhaveanother moved from 15th to 8th place and continues her upward climb from her week #5 24th spot. CousinEddie's 15 point week, the best in the pool, moved him from 26th to 19th place. Hoke-y continues to move up after his Week 7 gaffe when he forgot to pick. This week his 13 points put him in 25th place. After week #7, he was in 35th - a spot occupied currently by yours truly. I've managed the pool's worst performance among participating players for two weeks running.
Best Pick Award
Only four people took Missouri to cover Florida and only four took San Diego State to cover (and actually best) Boise St. I was in both of those groups so I'm struggling to call that the best of anything. For what it is worth, these two picks netted me 33% of my correct picks for the week.
Worst Pick Award
A total brain flatulence left me selecting Texas-San Antonio straight up against Louisiana Tech. I thought I was the only one until I saw my good buddy cock-a-doodle-doo came along for the crazy ride.
Stat of the Week
Week #10 - Elimination Picks
It was all or none this week as our survivors all put their faith in Louisiana Tech.
Eliminated
Eliminated
None.
Nervy Picks
None.
Close Calls!
None.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Week #9 - NCAA Ruminations (Halloween Edition)
If popular NCAA figures were scary movie characters, who would they be?
(Character descriptions come from from Yahoo!'s "The Most Famous Horror Movie Villains:Michael Myers & Other Horror Movie Icons" Chance McMillan, Yahoo! Contributor Network)
THE CHARACTER: Michael Myers, Halloween:
THE PROFILE: Myers is typically depicted as a tall man, who is abnormally intelligent and likes to murder his victims with knives and scalpels rather than guns and other weapons. Michael is a mute killer with a seemingly calm, methodological demeanor, always walking after his victims. He also possesses the ability to recuperate very quickly and has done so from being shot, burned, electrocuted and other acts of physical punishment.
THE DOPPELGANGER: Nick Saban. Nick Saban may not be tall, but he most assuredly possesses abnormal football intelligence and, like his monstrous doppelganger Mike, he likes to use a finely tuned, precision instrument with which to finish his victims (disciplined offense, defense, and special teams units that just take care of business).
THE CHARACTER: Jigsaw, The Saw Movies:
THE PROFILE: Jigsaw is supposed to be seen as more of a scientist than a serial killer in that he kills people unconventionally by placing them in symbolic death traps which they can escape from via self-mutilation and other forms of psychological and physical torture. Darren Lynn Bousman, the director of Saw II, III and IV, has stated on the character's role "He's not Jason or Freddy. He's not even Hannibal Lecter. He's a person with extreme beliefs and he really thinks he's making a difference. He's a vigilante if anything. He thinks he's making a difference,"
THE DOPPELGANGER: Mike Leech didn't come from football lineage. He was going to be a lawyer at one point in time. But somewhere along the way he discovered he was good at teaching gimmicky offenses to college aged men. He also found out that he loved psychological torture. Whether placing Craig James' pretty-boy son in solitary confinement or describing his seniors on his current Washington State squad as possessing an "empty corpse quality", Coach Leech is simply making a difference in his own special way.
THE CHARACTER: Freddy Krueger, The Nightmare on Elm Street Movies:
THE PROFILE: Kreguer is the main fictional character in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. He was created by Wes Craven and portrayed by Robert Englund. Kreuger is an undead serial killer who attacks victims in their dreams, thus killing them in their sleep. He's is characterized by his face scarred by burns, his striped shirts, fedora hat and metal glove featuring knives extending from the fingers. Perhaps the worst part about Freddy was that he killed children, though in a surprising turn of events he was eventually killed by his own daughter when she lured him into reality and killed him with his own glove.
THE DOPPELGANGER: John L. Smith at Arkansas. Not that I think John L. Smith is evil in a way Freddy Kreuger is evil but he most definitely haunts the dreams of the Arkansas brass that hired him for inexplicable reasons after the departure of Bobby Petrino. That said, the comparison is apt, for this reason. If any coach was capable of so screwing up the multiple golden platters he's served, it would be John L. Smith who, in the wake of stumbling and bumbling through a season with Top Ten talent, is also facing a multi-million dollar bankruptcy process. Let's face it, if Coach Smith donned a bladed glove, would it be so far-fetched to assume that someone would get him with it?
THE CHARACTER: Jason Voorhees, The Friday the 13th Movies:
THE PROFILE: Voorhees is the fictional character (they're all fictional so I could stop writing that I guess) in the Friday the 13th series. Jason has been portrayed by many different actors and stunt man and was not even intended to be the series main villain. The trademark mask did not become a part of the character until Part III. Though Jason started out as a mentally disabled young boy, he quickly became a non-verbal, indestructible, machete holding maniac. He's been described as a man with no personality that you cannot defeat, you can just hope to survive. Eventually Jason is supposedly depicted as a man who murders those who do wrong in acts of vengeance and thus is slightly more human than Myers and Kreuger - though in many polls Jason has been deemed the scariest because it seems he "enjoys his killing so much."
THE DOPPELGANGER: Charlie Weiss, Kansas. Coach Weiss continues to wear the mask of Belichick. He was anointed as a genius since his days at New England were so successful (pay no heed to the fact that the Pats have hummed along quite well without the mastery of Sir Weiss) That said, he is largely misunderstood by those of us who do silly things like look at win/loss records to measure the effectiveness of a coach. Coach Weiss, much like his Voorhees counterpart, doesn't care much for young, good-looking college student types, having looked to ban the KU student newspapers for having the audacity to report that his team sucked. Truthfully, he left Notre Dame in shambles, went onto to offensive coordinator failures in three places, including Gainesville, Florida and is currently taking Kansas, once feared and respected when another rotund individual named Mangino roamed the sidelines, into a mockery. I'm starting to think, like Jason, he simply enjoys killing programs.
THE PROFILE: Is the primary antagonist in the Child's Play films. Charles Lee Ray was a notorious strangler who was gunned down, but before he died managed to get into a toy store and fall on a pile of dolls. He then used voodoo to transfer his soul into one of the "Good Guy" dolls. He spends a lot of time trying to transfer back into a human and killing a lot of people with anything weapon he can get his hands on. One interesting fact is that the longer he inhabits the doll's body the more 'human' he becomes in that he bleeds like a human and has the ability to procreate, evidenced by the fifth installment, 'Seed of Chucky.'
THE DOPPELGANGER: This one was easy (for obvious reasons). Gruden. No question. Gruden is nicer than the Chucky doll, of course. In fact, he never has uttered a negative comment about anything that has happened on a college football field. Rumor has it he is eyeballing the Tennessee job. Look out SEC east - Chucky's coming for you!
THE CHARACTER: Hannibal Lector, The Silence of the Lambs/Hannibal:
THE PROFILE: Probably the most fascinating of all of these characters to me, maybe because he's a genius or maybe because Anthony Hopkins depicts him so well in The Silence of the Lambs, among others. In 2001 the American Film Institute voted him the most memorable villain in film history, (AFI). His M.O. is cannibalism and torture. He is known to be a brilliant psychiatrist who spends his time writing for medical journals whilst in prison.
THE DOPPELGANGER: Les Miles. Diabolical genius. Prisons (given LSU's roster). Eats grass. They're practically twins.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
MY BUCFPey FRIENDS!!!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Week #9 - Main Pool Update
Uncle Buck takes a tumble in Week 9 and Vegas was there to take advantage. Uncle Buck had distanced himself from the field with a strong run in Weeks 7 and 8. But with week #9 came a five point performance. After biding his time in a second place tie over the last few weeks, Vegas made his move. His pool best 11 point week made Vegas the first of our players to hit the triple digit mark at an even 100 points for the season. This was also good for first place. Uncle Buck is still hanging tight at 99 and in second all by himself.
Movers and Shakers
Last week Holy Mackeral IV moved up 10 places from 25th to 15th. This week she continues the charge, moving from 15th to 8th with her 10 point performance. TBWOTG bounced back from his bad week #8 to move from 19th to 11th place.
The underdogs took 11 games this weekend while the favorites took the other seven. I simply could have stuck to one or the other and easily exceeded the three points I scored this weekend. Three points. Out of eighteen possible. Is there any doubt, at this stage of the game, the BUCFP is simply a labor of love? After clawing my way from 25th to 19th in week #8, I dropped to 26th, second only to geauxboygeaux's drop from 12th to 20th in terms of lost position. Oh, and I sit one point ahead of Hoke-y who goose-egged week #7 with a no show.
The underdogs took 11 games this weekend while the favorites took the other seven. I simply could have stuck to one or the other and easily exceeded the three points I scored this weekend. Three points. Out of eighteen possible. Is there any doubt, at this stage of the game, the BUCFP is simply a labor of love? After clawing my way from 25th to 19th in week #8, I dropped to 26th, second only to geauxboygeaux's drop from 12th to 20th in terms of lost position. Oh, and I sit one point ahead of Hoke-y who goose-egged week #7 with a no show.
Best Pick Award
Springfield Atoms, Boardwalk Empire, Derek Dooley, and randomaxe for Washington.
Worst Pick Award
Those foolish enough among us, and there were many, to think Mississippi State stood a chance.
Stat of the Week
As a collective group, the 36 BUCFP players are correctly picking games 52.4% as of this point in the season. Our leader, Vegas, is at 58.1%.
Week #9 - Elimination Picks
Fitting that the last weekend before Halloween resulted in a bloodletting in the elimination pool.
Eliminated
Eliminated
Balee Dat, Derek Dooley, Boardwalk Empire, Eagles, WyoKat, WhoshureGurl, Go Terps, BigOrange, Penn State, and Just Take My Money Now.
Nervy Picks
Derek Dooley, a avowed enemy of Florida, took the Gators, and thusly cursed the UF squad to six turnovers. He was eliminated for the effort but kudos to you!.
Close Calls!
None.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Week #8 - NCAA Ruminations
Week #7 went AWOL for Ruminations, but in the words of the immortal L.L. Cool J, don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years. And thusly, here we go with Week #8 NCAA Ruminations.
Out-standings!
ACC Coastal Division leader? The Duke Blue Devils. That about sums up ACC football.
Big Ten Leaders Division leaders? Two teams ineligible for post-season play: Ohio State and Penn State. If the Buckeyes weren't gifted an end of regulation touchdown (and they were), and Purdue wasn't so...Purdue-like...we wouldn't be talking about Urban Meyer's ridiculously over-hyped squad. The Buckeyes are sitting at #9 on the strength of wins against Miami (OH), Central Florida, Cal, Alabama - Birmingham, and the following Big 10 disappointees: Michigan State (with whom they struggled), Nebraska (who the crushed), Indiana (with whom they struggled) and now Purdue (with whom they struggled). This is not a good team. Decent, but not top ten decent. They've managed to benefit from a very soft non-con schedule and a completely inept Big Ten.
In the Big 12, Kansas State sits clearly on top - the one hope for us all to keep Oklahoma from mucking up any title picture. So long as Kansas State wins out, the Sooners are locked out of the title game. It won't be easy. The Wildcats have Texas Tech next weekend (toss up), followed by Oklahoma State, road trips to TCU and Baylor, and then a home finale against Texas (and here's to hoping they hang 80 points on the Longhorns).
Speaking of the Sooners - the primetime matchup next week is a home date with Notre Dame. The winner of this game will receive media love as rarely scene in the world. I've actually been pretty strong on the Irish. I think they are a good squad. But most of their resume was either built at home (solid win against Stanford, shaky win against BYU) or against the Big 10 (see Ohio State). If the Irish notch a road win in Norman, they are a legit contender AND they really would knock Oklahoma out of the picture. Not quite a win win but I'll take it.
Let's talk, for a moment, about the league that always gets talked about - the SEC and in particular, the behemoths that were put upon a pedestal at the beginning of the year, and by golly, they are going to stay there. Yes, Alabama and LSU. Now, it is hard to find any fault in Bama whatsoever. The Tide is machine like in its decimation of opponents week after week. The opponents, to date, having been that strong (Michigan is reasonably good) but Bama has left nothing to question. LSU, on the other hand, remains in 6th despite being beaten like a drum in Gainesville. Granted, the Tigers have beaten back to back ranked opponents in the following weeks. The win over then #3 South Carolina, at home, was ugly and if Connor Shaw could protect the ball, would never have happened. The win over Texas A&M, was even uglier. The point is, a team from any other conference in the same situation as LSU, would not be sitting at #6 in the BCS rankings, ahead of unbeaten Oregon State. It's just the way the world has turned in regards to the SEC. Close and ugly wins in the SEC are the result of parity. Close and ugly wins in other leagues means the leagues aren't as strong. The Tigers record is 2 and 0 against solid ranked teams, 5 and 0 against a slate of teamsthat includes North Texas, Idaho, and Towson, one win Auburn, and 3-4 Washington. At this stage, LSU is still in the national title discussion - in part, because the season began with the expectation that the game with Bama would be for all the marbles. It will be a great game, don't get me wrong, but the SEC has three teams in the top 6 right now - fairly late into the season, when the resume would show at least one of those teams isn't quite as strong as expected.
I don't have much to say at this point in regards to the Pac 12 - all the big games are set up for November. We'll learn a lot more then, including Oregon @ USC, USC V. Notre Dame, Oregon v. Stanford, and Oregon @ Oregon State.
Other
Mack Brown went on record this week complaining that the newly formed Longhorn Network is providing entirely too much exposure to the Longhorns. Thusly, Texas' opponents have been able to leverage medical and practice footage into success on the field against the Longhorns. Obviously, without the benefits of the hours upon hours of practice video and interviews, Oklahoma never would have mustered the courage or ingenuity to hang 63 points on the Longhorns. How else would 3 and 3 Baylor have been able to put up a half a hundred this past weekend. If you weren't familiar with the disdain the rest of the Big 12 has for the Longhorns, Mack Brown's whining about the Longhorn Network provides a pretty good example.Confession time - looking at the standings of the less media savvy leagues, I noticed that UMass was a full fledged member of the Mid-America conference. When did this happen? I had no idea. I just assumed a lot of teams were getting a bye-week patsy game against the 0 and 7 Minutemen all season long.
Happy BUCFPing - next week, stay tuned for the Halloween edition of Ruminations!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Week #8 - Main Pool Update
Will anyone catch Uncle Buck? Last week's leader turns in a solid 11 point week but more importantly stretched his lead out to 5 games over second place GatorBo and Vegas. Only 5 points separate second place from 15th but if Buck keeps this up, it's all for the small trophy.
Movers and Shakers
Penn State scores a big 14 point week and with it a move from 16th to 5th place. BK all day and Holy Mackeral IV each moved up 10 places from 25th to 15th also on the strength of 14 point weeks. It should be noted that one of last week's no shows, Hoke-y, decided to show and came back big with a week's best 15 point performance.
On the other side, Cocka Doodle Doo plummeted from 11th to 24th place and TBWOTG dropped from 8th to 19th place each having suffered 8 point duds.
On the other side, Cocka Doodle Doo plummeted from 11th to 24th place and TBWOTG dropped from 8th to 19th place each having suffered 8 point duds.
Best Pick Award
Penn State, Show Me the Money, Boardwalk Empire, geauxboygeaux, Augusta DayStrippers, and Derek Dooley for having the stones to take USC giving up 40.5 points to the hapless Colorado Buffs.
Worst Pick Award
Hands down I PITY THE FOOL whose pick of Utah to cover Oregon State was, indeed, pitiful.
Stat of the Week
The difference between the best and worst performance of the week, in terms of points was 8. For the season to date, the biggest disparity came last week when we had no shows, resulting in a 16 point different between Uncle bucks huge week and the goose eggs. The closest week was week 6 when only 6 points separated the best from the worst.
Week #8 - Elimination Picks
Eliminated
Vol Nation, Augusta DayStrippers, BK all day, and randomaxe all get the boot this week leaving 13 to vie for the title.
Nervy Picks
None.
Close Calls!
Texas Tech was a 1.5 point favorite and closed out TCU 56 to 53 after a 17 hour (seemingly) overtime to the delight of A2 Boiler and Balee Dat.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Week #7 - Main Pool Update
Week 7 saw a historical performance.
Movers and Shakers
14 games into the weekend and Uncle buck hadn't missed one. 14 straight. Had Stanford been given credit for its OT touchdown attempt, Uncle buck would have hit 15 straight and I would start thinking that he is some sort of super space alien type dude...
Even given the push in the Cardinal Irish tilt, 15 without a miss is unreal. He did get a little shaky in the late evening action by missing ONE by one point (when LSU couldn't manage a 3 point cover - THANKS Les Miles). For all his hard work, Uncle buck put down the single most impressive week of the season, besting the next closest competitor by three points. The effort also helped buck leap from 4th into first all by himself. Illhaveanother had a solid week too, jumping from 19th to 11th place on the strength of her 12 point week. Sportschief nailed 13 correct to move up eight spots to 21st.
On the "Not so Good" side, within one week of my prediction that someone would miss a week of entries, Hoke-y AND BigOrange manage the feat. FOr those of us actually trying, there were a few duds but I'm not going to highlight those because AT LEAST YOU TRIED!
| Kneel before Uncle buck! |
On the "Not so Good" side, within one week of my prediction that someone would miss a week of entries, Hoke-y AND BigOrange manage the feat. FOr those of us actually trying, there were a few duds but I'm not going to highlight those because AT LEAST YOU TRIED!
Best Pick Award
Uncle buck, Derek Dooley, and Boardwalk Empire with Texas Tech.
Worst Pick Award
Derek Dooley and UTK 03 with Vanderbilt.
Stat of the Week
Uncle Buck's 89% week is a season high but falls short of the pool record 92% by Ultimate Bill in 2005 (my lone BUCFP achievement).
Week #7 - Elimination Picks
Eliminated
No one. Good thing Cincinnati decided to beat Fordham (weird mid October game!?!?!)
Nervy Picks
None.
Close Calls!
None.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Week #6 - NCAA Ruminations
Week #6 Ruminations begins with a list of things you can count on:
ULTIMATE BILL'S LIST OF THINGS YOU CAN COUNT ON!
Living in SEC territory where sports talk show hosts field questions like, "If Alabama played in the AFC South, by what point in the season would they lock up the playoff spot?", I tend to get a little tired of the SEC Can't be beat mantra. (Take it from me SEC fans, the longer things stay the same, the more likely they are to change - Virginia Tech's bowl streak, for example.) That said, while the SEC may not dominate forever, it is hard to argue with the theater it provides. To wit, take a gander at South Carolina right now. It's reward for thumping #5 Georgia? A trip to Baton Rouge to faced the wounded #9 LSU Tigers. At least they get a break after tha...no wait. Next up, the #4 Florida Gators...in Gainesville. Then Tennessee back in Columbia. Show me a four week stretch like that ANYWHERE else in college football.
Mountaineering
From 2006 through 2009, West Virginia rode on the shoulders of a quarterback named Pat. Today, it rides on the shoulders of a Quarterback named Geno. Hmmmmmm???

I did time in Philly so this is meaningful to me. Some other players are familiar with the terrain so they should also appreciate this.
On that note - loathe though I am to give Mountaineers credit for anything more than couch burning skills, I've got to look at the following line and think he's the most exciting player to watch:
166 completions on 204 attempts, 1,996 yards, 24 TDs, NO INTs, and a rushing score to boot.
How fun would it be to watch him carve up the rest of the Big 12 secondaries (look for him to throw for 750 against Kansas at the end of the year) on WVU's way to the title game against say, Alabama? I've got to say, right now, since Oregon has had its chance against an SEC titan in a title game - give the 'NEERs a shot. If they go unscathed through the season it means they will beat #6 Kansas State in Morgantown and #13 (for now) Oklahoma in Norman. Let's face it, the Sooners have another huge loss ahead of them. It ALWAYS happens.
Poll Perplexities
ULTIMATE BILL'S LIST OF THINGS YOU CAN COUNT ON!
- Sun rising in the east
- Florida State will "BE BACK" each year, only to lose and then "BE BACK" the next year
- Somebody will not make a full week's worth of picks in the BUCFP Main Pool
- A defensive unit will make a 4th down stop late in the 4th quarter, celebrate like they've won the Superbowl, watch their O go three and out, and then give up the go ahead score (see Florida State)
- Hollywood WILL remake "Breakin' II: Electric Boogaloo"
- Every day, somebody from the state of Florida WILL make the news on a for doing something amorous with an animal, putting illegal narcotics in a bodily orifice, ruining a national election, or eating someone's face. That's just the reality of Florida. I know - I've lived here over 10 years
- PAC12 teams WILL score like Brad Pitt at a Sorority Ball
- Shady things will always be afoot in the BCS world (see LSU-based AP voter who has 3-2 Washington ranked ahead of Notre Dame)
- College student athletes, with every opportunity in the world, will make you scratch your head: See Casey Pachall, TCU.
- Many college coaches will make you scratch your heads as they respond to their student athletes head-scratch inducing activity. See Kirk Ferentz
Living in SEC territory where sports talk show hosts field questions like, "If Alabama played in the AFC South, by what point in the season would they lock up the playoff spot?", I tend to get a little tired of the SEC Can't be beat mantra. (Take it from me SEC fans, the longer things stay the same, the more likely they are to change - Virginia Tech's bowl streak, for example.) That said, while the SEC may not dominate forever, it is hard to argue with the theater it provides. To wit, take a gander at South Carolina right now. It's reward for thumping #5 Georgia? A trip to Baton Rouge to faced the wounded #9 LSU Tigers. At least they get a break after tha...no wait. Next up, the #4 Florida Gators...in Gainesville. Then Tennessee back in Columbia. Show me a four week stretch like that ANYWHERE else in college football.
Mountaineering
From 2006 through 2009, West Virginia rode on the shoulders of a quarterback named Pat. Today, it rides on the shoulders of a Quarterback named Geno. Hmmmmmm???

I did time in Philly so this is meaningful to me. Some other players are familiar with the terrain so they should also appreciate this.
On that note - loathe though I am to give Mountaineers credit for anything more than couch burning skills, I've got to look at the following line and think he's the most exciting player to watch:
166 completions on 204 attempts, 1,996 yards, 24 TDs, NO INTs, and a rushing score to boot.
How fun would it be to watch him carve up the rest of the Big 12 secondaries (look for him to throw for 750 against Kansas at the end of the year) on WVU's way to the title game against say, Alabama? I've got to say, right now, since Oregon has had its chance against an SEC titan in a title game - give the 'NEERs a shot. If they go unscathed through the season it means they will beat #6 Kansas State in Morgantown and #13 (for now) Oklahoma in Norman. Let's face it, the Sooners have another huge loss ahead of them. It ALWAYS happens.
Poll Perplexities
Looking at the coaches poll this week:
- USC, on the strength of its shaky wins over Utah and Cal, and its loss to Stanford, sits comfortably at #9, 8 spots ahead of...one loss Stanford.
- Georgia, on the strength of its wins over Buffalo, Mizzou (3-3), Florida Atlantic, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee, and its shellacking at the hands of South Carolina, merits a #12 ranking ahead of #14 Oregon State which is undefeated with wins over two ranked teams and Arizona.
- Oklahoma is ranked #10 because it beat UTEP, Florida A&M, and Texas Tech and lost to Kansas State.
One of our own, Springfield Atoms, suffered a loss when his father passed away unexpectedly this week. He is personal friends with a few of the players that brought him in and I've had the pleasure to get to know him over the years he's played in this pool. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
BUCFP SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
As of today, October 7, 2012, the BUCFP2012 edition blog has received 1,513 page views, which is exactly 2 more views higher than the previous number for the entire season of BUCFP 2011, which had exceeded 2010, which had exceeded 2009, etc.
This is a special event though because we've passed this mark at week #6 of a 14 week regular season!
This is a special event though because we've passed this mark at week #6 of a 14 week regular season!
| YOU LOVE ME! YOU REALLY LOVE ME!!! |
Now this could mean one of many things:
1) The writing is better this year.
2) The players are just more interested this year.
3) The NEW players are actually interested this year and will then fall into the rut of not caring next year.
4) The Russian Mob is close to cracking my web code, and then moving onto my personal accounts.
In any event, it is special to me!
Week #6 - Main Pool Update
Week 6 saw a little shake-up at the top and some big action throughout the pool rankings. Just like the top 25 football action of the weekend.
Movers and Shakers
Ver1010 lost his 3 week grip on 1st place. His 6 point dud was tied for worst of the week and allowed Vegas and GatorBo to take the top spot. randomaxe scored big with his week's best 12 point performance, which vaulted him from 14th place to 4th for Week 6. Other big movers were Fat Little Girlfriends (17th to 9th), Derek Dooley and Cock-a-doodle-doo (each moving from 20th to 13th), and TigerTown (29th to 19th). Two other players matched randomaxe's 12 point spectacular. Just Take My Money Now and grana71 managed 12 points to move from a tie for 35th to a tie for 33rd. Hey, that's gotta count for something.
On the "Not so Good" side, BaleeDat and geauzboygeaux each tumbled from 11th to 17th with 7 point weeks and BK all day dropped from 14th to 23rd with a 6 point stinker.
On the "Not so Good" side, BaleeDat and geauzboygeaux each tumbled from 11th to 17th with 7 point weeks and BK all day dropped from 14th to 23rd with a 6 point stinker.
Best Pick Award
The handful of you that believed in Washington State and Cal, proving that somebody, somewhere, actually pays attention to Pac12 football..
Worst Pick Award
Eagles and Shajawilsav enjoyed a Friday afternoon of golf. I know because they texted me a picture as I droned away in my office. Apparently each imbibed a wee bit too much as both were the only players to think, erroneously, that Georgia Tech had a chance against Clemson.
Stat of the Week
The per player weekly point average through week 6 is 10.44 correct picks.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Week #6 - Elimination Picks
Twas a week the likes of which I've never seen in BUCFP history. Among the 30 remaining players in the elimination pool, 15 different teams were selected as elimination choices.
Ed. Note - Due to the selfless actions of I PITY THE FOOL, who noted that Springfield Atoms was, in fact, a survivor of the week with his South Carolina pick, I've managed to correct the error before further damage occurred. This is important to note for two reasons: 1) there are going to be some changes around here. That smarmy little incompetent boob that made that error is going to know who's boss from here on! and 2) I PITY THE FOOL represents all that is right in the BUCFP Universe. How about a round of applause for a guy who, despite feeling the sting of his own elimination, reached out to help a fellow BUCFPite?
Ed. Note - Due to the selfless actions of I PITY THE FOOL, who noted that Springfield Atoms was, in fact, a survivor of the week with his South Carolina pick, I've managed to correct the error before further damage occurred. This is important to note for two reasons: 1) there are going to be some changes around here. That smarmy little incompetent boob that made that error is going to know who's boss from here on! and 2) I PITY THE FOOL represents all that is right in the BUCFP Universe. How about a round of applause for a guy who, despite feeling the sting of his own elimination, reached out to help a fellow BUCFPite?
Of the 30 that still had hope Friday, only 17 remain. Yes, this was the bloodbath I was anticipating. So, to the following players, including one scrappy little guy named "Ultimate Bill", I bid thee adieu. As one of the most popular bands of the 90s would say, "We've come to the end of the road."
Tip your bottles to TBWOTG, Ultimate Bill, sportchief, CousinEddie, Vegas, Show me The Money, Cock-a-doodle-doo, Holy Mackerel IV, Fat Little Girlfriends, Shajawilsav, geauzboygeaux, TigerTown, and I PITY THE FOOL.
Nervy Picks
AugustaDayStripppers put his faith in the West Virginia Mountaineers, getting 6.5 points from Texas on the road. His faith was rewarded since WVU, apparently, scores at will.
Close Calls!
See above. All the other survivors enjoyed relatively comfortable wins.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Week #5 - NCAA Ruminations
Quick hits:
My parents are in town visiting their newest grandson. I don't have a lot of time to expound upon the world of NCAA football but since I didn't need much time to review my results in the pool, I still have some things to say ( or at least observe):
- The Hokies lose to Cincinnati in spectacular fashion by giving up the go-ahead touchdown in the last 1:30. The Hokies are undefeated in ACC play and 0-2 in the Big East.
- UVA loses, big, to Louisiana Tech (like Cincinnati, an undefeated team)
- Georgia Tech loses, for the first item since 1988, a second consecutive home game to Tennessee - no, correction, MIDDLE Tennessee.
- At least FSU put away South Florida (after a struggle) and UNC beat Idaho decisively. WOO HOO!
There was some overtime work put in by the scoreboard operators this weekend.
- Georgia and Tennessee exchanged 95 points in what looked like a Mountain West contest.
- Texas and Oklahoma State provided that the Big 12 has no time or trivial matters like defense in a 41 to 36 Texas victory.
- Oregon drops half-a-hundred +1, again, in blasting Washington State.
- And in the granddaddy of crazy games, West Virginia scored 70 on Baylor, who matched it with 63 of their own points. Yes, the Mountaineers scored 70 and didn't cover.
You down with SEC
- Does it trouble anyone else that it took the #3 team in the country 3 quarters to put away a team from the subdivision Colonial conference?
- South Carolina is #6 in the country and undefeated with wins over Vandy, East Carolina, UAB, Mizzou, and Kentucky. The next three weeks go like this: #5 Georgia, at #4 LSU, and at #10 Florida. I think that #6 ranking might be quickly corrected.
- Georgia is #5 in the country and undefeated with wins over Buffalo, Mizzou, Florida Atlantic, Vandy, and Tennessee. The Dawgs are at South Carolina next week, then get Kentucky, and then #10 Florida in Jacksonville. In November, they get Ole Miss, Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech at home with a trip to the Plains to take on Auburn. While I think SC gets corrected, I see UGA could easily go undefeated with two truly tough, but winnable games left. If so, it will likely face Bama or LSU in the SEC title game. Anyone thing the Dawgs could come within two TDs of the eventual West champ? Not me - not at this point.
- LSU's next five games: at #1 Florida, #6 South Carolina, at Texas A&M, #1 Alabama, and #20 Mississippi State. Even I get tired of the SEC rah-rah types but WOW, that's a big boy schedule.
Other Odditites
- The Big 12 has FIVE 4 and 0 teams.
- Conference USA has FOUR o and 4 teams.
- Northwestern could easily beat Michigan State at this point.
- Neither Purdue nor Michigan played a Big 10 team as of the end of September. They play each other next week. History SAYs - Wolverine win.
- Louisville is 5 and 0 and hasn't played a league game.
- Idaho is 0 and 5 and hasn't played a league game.
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