We're eight weeks in, and it seems the cream is already rising to the top. We invited five "real" writers to participate in the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column for the first time this fall, and so far, the only thing they are "real" good at seems to be losing. Four of the top five places are held by alligatorSports guys with Phil Kegler being the lone Alligator guy in the bottom five. We're sure it'll only be a couple more weeks before we bask in our complete dominance. Anyway, now let's debate a top-10 showdown that will likely determine the Pacific-10 Conference.
USC WILL COVER THE -3 SPREAD BECAUSE ... the Trojans always do? Is that too easy a solution? This is the game where USC reminds everyone of its dominance and all but clinches a share of the conference title for the eighth straight year. While Autzen Stadium poses a tough test, Trojans freshman quarterback Matt Barkley has the experience of a fourth-quarter, go-ahead drive against Ohio State earlier in the season. This should be the best defense the Ducks have faced this season since their season opener against Boise State, and Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli had a whopping 135 total yards against the Broncos. This is the week Kyle Maistri can stop quacking and realize USC will be the conference winner yet again.
-- PHIL KEGLER
OREGON WILL WIN BECAUSE ... The Ducks are simply the class of the Pac-10. For the second straight week, I'm sitting here telling all of you out there that Oregon will obviously cover the line, as the Quack Attack will be too much for the Trojans to contain in Eugene. DiFer foolishly tried to argue for Washington and his boy Jake Locker, but the Huskies were trampled 43-19 by the Ducks, who easily cleared the 10-point line. LaMichael James is just the latest in a long line of great LaInsertActualNameHere Oregon running backs, as the freshman has rushed for 657 yards and six touchdowns in his last five games. Plus, Phil Kegler went a pathetic 3-7 last week against the lines while I posted a less-than-modest 9-1 mark. The better man will surely win this one yet again, just ask DiFer.
-- KYLE MAISTRI
On to the picks!
Leaping to the top and ending Mike DiFerdinando's reign with a 44-35 record is Kyle "The Tuskers are the best professional sports team" Maistri, who will be heading to St. Pete tonight to catch a UFL game. That's certainly an improvement over his normal Friday night routine of watching Sex and the City reruns in a pink Snuggie before crying himself to sleep.
Also moving ahead of DiFer in second place with a 43-36 record is Bobby "I currently cover Gator gymnastics" Callovi, who hasn't updated his Facebook employment in a year and half. He lists Tamagotchi, Pokémon and Beanie Babies under his interests and nap time, recess and "going potty" under his activities.
Falling to third at 42-37 after ending his hopes for a wire-to-wire title is Mike "This is just like that movie with the fog" DiFerdinando, who woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, soaked in his own urine after having to drive through a light fog on our trip to Starkville.
Checking in at fourth at 41-38 is Mike "It's playoff time!" McCall, who was more interested in the start of the MLS playoffs than the beginning of the World Series.
Rounding out the top five and taking the top non-Alligator spot at 40-39 is the Gainesville Sun's Ed "Isn't my 70s basketball player costume hilarious?" Aschoff, who is way to excited to slip into a pair of John Stockton-esque shorts. At least there won't be any mini-Eds after the irreparable damage he is sure to do.
Beginning a two-way tie for sixth at 37-42 is the Florida Times-Union's Mike "Brandon James could eat peanuts off my head" DiRocco, who was used as a body double for Gimli in all three Lord of the Rings movies.
Also in sixth at 37-42 is Phil "What's the game tonight?"
Kegler, who inexplicably garners respect for his opinions on the latest sports lines. Picture Rain Man, without the aptitude for correctness.
Sitting in eighth at 36-43 is the Orlando Sentinel's Jeremy "My Giant" Fowler, who plays the Gheorghe Muresan to Bobby Callovi's Danny DeVito when they sit next to each other at football games.
Falling in at ninth at 31-48 is the Miami Herald's Joe "Tuscaloosa is due west of Starkville" Goodman, who grew up in Alabama, where he never learned Geography. He did better than most Alabamians, as he's only had sex with one of his second cousins.
Sitting in dead-last place with a dreadful 27-53 record is the Palm Beach Post's Ben "Paparazzi" Volin, who was happy to pass around his phone this week showing off pictures he snapped of scantily clad girls at a downtown lingerie party. How do you spell creeper? V-O-L-I-N.
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KM |
BC |
MDF |
MM |
EA |
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MSU (+3.5)-UK |
UK |
UK |
MSU |
UK |
UK |
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SC (+6)-Tenn |
SC |
SC |
Tenn |
SC |
SC |
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UT (-9)-OkSt |
UT |
UT |
UT |
UT |
UT |
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USC (-3)-Ore |
Ore |
Ore |
USC |
USC |
USC |
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KU (+6.5)-TT |
KU |
KU |
KU |
KU |
KU |
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UM (-7.5)-WF |
UM |
UM |
UM |
UM |
UM |
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Miss (-4)-AU |
Miss |
Miss |
AU |
Miss |
Miss |
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RU (+7.5)-Conn |
RU |
RU |
Conn |
Conn |
Conn |
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WVU (-3)-USF |
WVU |
WVU |
WVU |
WVU |
WVU |
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UGA (+15)-UF |
UF |
UF |
UF |
UF |
UF |
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MDR |
PK |
JF |
JG |
BV |
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MSU (+3.5)-UK |
MSU |
UK |
MSU |
UK |
MSU |
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SC (+6)-Tenn |
SC |
SC |
Tenn |
Tenn |
Tenn |
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UT (-9)-OkSt |
OkSt |
UT |
UT |
OkSt |
UT |
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USC (-3)-Ore |
Ore |
USC |
USC |
Ore |
Ore |
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KU (+6.5)-TT |
TT |
TT |
KU |
TT |
TT |
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UM (-7.5)-WF |
UM |
UM |
UM |
WF |
UM |
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Miss (-4)-AU |
AU |
Miss |
Miss |
Miss |
Miss |
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RU (+7.5)-Conn |
Conn |
RU |
Conn |
RU |
Conn |
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WVU (-3)-USF |
WVU |
WVU |
WVU |
WVU |
WVU |
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UGA (+15)-UF |
UGA |
UF |
UGA |
UF |
UGA |
