The alligatorSports Brand Picks Column is a long-standing tradition at our newspaper, the beginnings can be traced back through generations of student sportswriters.
So naturally, we decided to shake it up a little bit this semester.
We spit in the face of tradition.
No more interviews with lei shop owners in Hawaii, Uga handlers in Georgia or whiskey distillery managers in Tennessee.
From now on, we'll start out Picks Column with what we love most - arguing - but we'll still end it with some good, old-fashioned insults.
Each week, two of our writers will debate one of the most highly contested games in this column, and to add some legitimacy to our little operation, we've added five "professional" Florida beat writers to our picks section.
Oh, and this year we're picking against the spread, because we're men.
Alabama will easily win by more than 6.5 vs. Virginia Tech because… I'm not sure how anyone could seriously consider picking Virginia Tech in this one.
The Hokies come from an inferior conference, and their star player will be on crutches.
Sure, Alabama is breaking in starters at quarterback and left tackle, but wide receiver Julio Jones will make their jobs easier. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound playmaker will take advantage of whichever 5-foot-11 cornerback is covering him.
Also, Virginia Tech has never won a game in the Georgia Dome, where the game will be played.
Don't worry about the fact that the Hokies have only played there once. They still lost that game and will lose big to Alabama.
- BOBBY CALLOVI
Virginia Tech will obviously cover the 6.5-point spread because… Alabama hasn't defeated an ACC school to open the season since… one year ago. OK, the Tide are the obvious favorite to win this game, but I think the Hokies can keep it close enough to cover the 6.5-point spread. VT plays solid defense every year, commits to special teams and has a dynamic dual-threat quarterback named Tyrod Taylor.
Florida disposed of Alabama in last year's SEC Championship Game using the same formula: tough defense, a commitment to special teams and a dual-threat quarterback whose initials are TT.
- KYLE MAISTRI
Now, on to the picks!
Representing the Alligator, we have our five sprightly young football writers:
Mike "I can sense even the smallest human suffering" DiFerdinando, who will be trading in his Red Bull and cereal for hand lotion and tissues when Zac Robinson his beloved Oklahoma State Cowboys take on Georgia this weekend.
Bobby "I never have to worry about a DUI" Callovi, who, at the age of 21 and the height of 5-foot-6, still needs the rest of us to drive him around. He can drink alcohol, but he's still a growth spurt away from being allowed to sit in the front seat.
Phil "Go big, but mostly just go home" Kegler, who admittedly drank nothing but Bud Light on his weeklong trip to Vegas, where alcohol is free.
Mike "Draft to trade" McCall, who spitefully took a second defense in our office fantasy NFL draft because he was outbid on David Garrard as his third quarterback.
Kyle "I finally made it past midnight" Maistri, who recently broke his Joe DiMaggio-like streak of passing out before the change of day at a party in which liquor was prominently involved.
Representing the outside world which unfathomably exists beyond the Alligator, we have our five aging beat writers:
From the Palm Beach Post, welcome Ben "Back to school" Volin, who couldn't stay away from college-aged girls, so he enrolled in an MBA program.
From the Jacksonville Times-Union, welcome Mike "I'm a man, I'm 39" DiRocco, who is the longest-tenured beat writer in this column, and quite possibly the western hemisphere.
From the Orlando Sentinel, welcome Jeremy "Strictly business" Fowler, who was the only one not to laugh after he asked Urban Meyer if Matt Patchan's assessment of Lane Kiffin as a bozo was accurate.
From the Miami Herald, welcome Joe "Is a three-piece too formal?" Goodman, who may not outreport you, but he'll certainly outdress you.
And last and coincidentally least, from the Gainesville Sun, welcome Ed "Drunk, equal-opportunity Casanova" Aschoff, who "apparently" made out with three different girls of varying ethnicities the other night.
| MDF | BC | PK | MM | KM | |
| UGA(+5.5)-OSU | OSU | OSU | OSU | OSU | OSU |
| BU(+2.5)-WF | BU | BU | WF | WF | WF |
| MIZZ(+6.5)-ILL | ILL | ILL | ILL | MIZZ | ILL |
| BYU(+22)-OU | BYU | OU | OU | OU | OU |
| BAMA-VT(+6.5) | BAMA | BAMA | BAMA | BAMA | VT |
| MD(+21.5)-CAL | MD | MD | MD | MD | MD |
| UC(+6)-RU | UC | RU | UC | RU | UC |
| MIA(+6)-FSU | FSU | MIA | FSU | FSU | FSU |
| UN(+14.5)-ND | ND | ND | UN | ND | UN |
| CSU(+63)-UF | CSU | UF | CSU | CSU | UF |
| BV | MDR | JF | JG | EA | |
| UGA(+5.5)-OSU | OSU | OSU | UGA | UGA | OSU |
| BU(+2.5)-WF | BU | WF | WF | BU | BU |
| MIZZ(+6.5)-ILL | ILL | ILL | ILL | ILL | ILL |
| BYU(+22)-OU | OU | OU | BYU | BYU | OU |
| BAMA-VT(+6.5) | VT | BAMA | BAMA | VT | VT |
| MD(+21.5)-CAL | MD | MD | MD | CAL | CAL |
| UC(+6)-RU | UC | UC | UC | RU | RU |
| MIA(+6)-FSU | FSU | FSU | FSU | MIA | FSU |
| UN(+14.5)-ND | UN | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| CSU(+63)-UF | CSU | CSU | CSU | UF | UF |
