A Few Comments, Bowl Pool Update 1/4

Quick note: if you did not receive information on my NFL playoff pool, and would like to, email me or leave a note in the comments section and I will get it to you. Onto the comments and bowl pool update…

Look, you cannot blame Nick Saban for going back to the college ranks and heading to Tuscaloosa. After all, that is where his passion lies, and seemingly, it is what he is better at, if two seasons can be used as a fair barometer. And, oh, yeah, the $32 million guaranteed doesn’t hurt either. The only problem I have with his handling of the situation is that he pulled a “Read My Lips, No New Taxes” by saying emphatically he was not going to be the Alabama coach. And Don Shula should calm down. Just cause his boy got canned so that Alabama could steal the coach of the franchise he loves is no reason for him to whine and call Saban names.

Notre Dame proved once again last night what they have proved often in the last two years under Weis. They are overrated, not that good yet, and completely overmatched on a BCS stage. It amazed me that so many people thought Notre Dame could win or keep the game close. They have gotten waxed any time they have played superior competition. Do I think Charlie Weis is taking the program in the right direction? Absolutely, and in two more years they should be legitimate contenders. But their school has been gifted over $25 million during the last two years by taking BCS slots from teams that are better and more qualified.

Duke is 13-1 and back in the Top 5 again. People who watch them casually think they are way overrated because they do not a) put up 80+ points a game, and b) have someone who is scoring 20+ per game. My quick assessment heading into ACC play this weekend is that the Devils are an extremely young team who are not quite getting the depth they need and expected this year. Paulus, Henderson, and Lance Thomas have been disappointing to date (although Paulus is showing major signs of getting back where they need him). David McClure, however, has been a major revelation, as he is one of thos hustling role players who is always in the right spot and doing all the little things that every team needs. And Josh McRoberts, who is much maligned because his stats do not show him to be an All American, is a special player. His passing is remarkable, his defense and ball handling are strong to quite strong, and, overall, he is a very difficult match up for any team. Speaking of defense, Duke is playing the best team defense that I can remember, and their average margin of victory is actually up over last year despite their scoring being way down. Duke will take some lumps in the ACC, especially early (watch out for Va Tech this weekend who always plays Duke tough and is out for revenge after Dockery’s half court miracle at the buzzer last year), but this team could (not will, could) do some damage in March. This is still a work in progress, but they are a really fun team to watch.

Is it just me, or has Ohio St. taken a step back since Greg Oden has joined the lineup? I think this is just some digestion issues as they learn how to play with a true superstar (who joins a roster bursting with talent). If Motta does a good coaching job and can blend this team, look for strong February improvement from the Buckeyes, who, despite not looking like it now, should be a National title contender come March.

And how about Duke-grad Tony Barone for NBA coach of the year? Memphis lost their last 10 games in regulation under Fratello (11 of 12 overall including the two that went to OT), scoring an average of slightly over 90 a game. Since Barone took over, they are 2-1, scoring 110, 109, and 144 in those three! Sixer fans looking for Greg Oden are rooting for him!!! Speaking of the Sixers, they need to stop winning, having gone 4-4 in their last 8. They cannot even lose correctly!

I will be back on Friday with my remaining bowl picks, my NFL playoff picks for this weekend, and some more commentary. Now to the bowl pool update...

Standings (with potential total points):
1. Tom Maiden 305 (343)
2. Dils 297 (347)
3. Billy Bredt 295 (324)
3. Jeremy Hare #1 295 (358)
5. Mike Powers 286 (325)
6. Clint 285 (338)
7. Stitzer 279 (364)
8. Brownie 278 (371)...now controls his own destiny!
9. John McKeating 277 (314)
10. Needham Hines 274 (328)
11. Andy Smukler 273 (322)
12. Mike Maurer & Jon Reis 270 (319)
13. Kevin Gusinow 267 (312)
14. Rob Mitchell 266 (288)
15. Max Haber #1 265 (297)
Note: Matt Littman still could be a factor with 343 possible points

International Bowl Pick Summary:
Cincinnati (-8.5) Picks: 35
Western Michigan Picks: 39

GMAC Bowl Pick Summary:
Southern Miss (-6.5) Picks: 45
Ohio U. picks: 29

Name (Points to date), International & GMAC Picks & Weighting
Michael Albrecht (227) Cincinnati 6 Southern Miss 4
Tom Arnold (131) Cincinnati 8 Southern Miss 7
Bear (185) Western Michigan 7 Ohio 2
Joseph Beedon (206) Cincinnati 16 Ohio 12
Gregg Benedetto (237) Cincinnati 16 Ohio 15
Scott Bingham (134) Cincinnati 16 Southern Miss 5
Bryan Boisi (203) Western Michigan 2 Ohio 5
Barry Bredt (174) Western Michigan 17 Southern Miss 16
Billy Bredt (295) Western Michigan 6 Ohio 13
Brownie (278) Western Michigan 30 Southern Miss 31
Clint (285) Western Michigan 15 Ohio 16
Cow (253) Cincinnati 1 Southern Miss 2
Dils (297) Western Michigan 21 Southern Miss 7
Derald Emory (135) Cincinnati 30 Southern Miss 31
Matt Emory (174) Western Michigan 16 Southern Miss 32
Scott Fiedler (245) Western Michigan 17 Ohio 7
Flummer (209) Western Michigan 18 Ohio 21
Frank G (179) Cincinnati 27 Ohio 5
Sean Germon (250) Western Michigan 32 Ohio 10
Brian Getson (154) Cincinnati 13 Southern Miss 12
William Greenlaw (184) Western Michigan 13 Southern Miss 14
Darryl Griffin (Tm WalMart) (242) Western Michigan 6 Southern Miss 1
Jimmy Grossman (243) Western Michigan 31 Southern Miss 18
Kevin Gusinow (267) Cincinnati 9 Southern Miss 4
Max Haber 1 (265) Cincinnati 6 Ohio 5
Max Haber 2 (223) Cincinnati 17 Ohio 1
Jeremy Hare #1 (295) Western Michigan 12 Southern Miss 21
Jeremy Hare #2 (216) Cincinnati 3 Southern Miss 2
Eric Haron (206) Western Michigan 20 Ohio 19
Joe Hochhauser (251) Cincinnati 12 Southern Miss 31
Dave Holdsworth (228) Western Michigan 6 Ohio 16
Iceman (249) Western Michigan 4 Ohio 27
Rick Kaiser (260) Western Michigan 9 Ohio 8
KMart (192) Western Michigan 23 Ohio 8
Peter Krug (214) Cincinnati 12 Southern Miss 9
Charles Kulbok (167) Western Michigan 17 Southern Miss 20
Laughandwin (217) Western Michigan 16 Southern Miss 5
Beth Levine (240) Cincinnati 10 Southern Miss 30
Dan Levine (187) Western Michigan 21 Southern Miss 3
Matt Littman (250) Western Michigan 30 Ohio 31
Mark Loftus (209) Western Michigan 21 Southern Miss 28
Tom Maiden (305) Cincinnati 14 Southern Miss 15
Mike Maurer & Jon Reis (270) Cincinnati 13 Ohio 6
John McKeating (277) Cincinnati 9 Southern Miss 8
Rob Mitchell (266) Western Michigan 6 Ohio 7
Shawn Mitchell (234) Western Michigan 14 Southern Miss 1
Stephen Moss (261) Cincinnati 9 Ohio 4
Brian Murphy (186) Cincinnati 7 Southern Miss 18
Will Nadeau (213) Cincinnati 6 Southern Miss 8
Bobby P (185) Cincinnati 15 Southern Miss 16
Larry Parsons (231) Western Michigan 16 Southern Miss 22
Needham Hines (274) Western Michigan 18 Southern Miss 6
Glenn Peter (168) Western Michigan 26 Southern Miss 17
Mike Powers (286) Cincinnati 7 Ohio 3
Princess Bitch (214) Cincinnati 1 Southern Miss 2
Mark Rudofker (233) Western Michigan 27 Ohio 20
Jeff Saito (220) Cincinnati 18 Southern Miss 13
David Scherby (197) Cincinnati 7 Southern Miss 1
Greg Shields (209) Cincinnati 17 Ohio 9
Ed Smeltzer (173) Western Michigan 1 Southern Miss 2
Andy Smukler (273) Western Michigan 12 Ohio 5
Matthew Spanjers (165) Western Michigan 15 Southern Miss 19
Stitzer (279) Western Michigan 27 Southern Miss 28
Jon Taylor (156) Cincinnati 11 Southern Miss 3
Bob van Nortwick (230) Cincinnati 1 Ohio 2
Bob Wallace (157) Western Michigan 9 Ohio 26
Brian Wallace 1 (206) Western Michigan 20 Southern Miss 2
Brian Wallace 2 (229) Cincinnati 20 Southern Miss 8
Jodi Wallace 1 (261) Western Michigan 14 Southern Miss 13
Jodi Wallace 2 (221) Western Michigan 32 Ohio 5
Dirk Welzien (185) Cincinnati 13 Southern Miss 31
Steve Whiteford (174) Cincinnati 10 Southern Miss 13
AJ Whitehead (205) Cincinnati 17 Ohio 24
Wade Wilson (178) Cincinnati 12 Southern Miss 13