We’re nearing the home stretch of this year’s picks column, and maybe picking against the spread wasn’t such a good idea.
In alligatorSports Brand Picks Columns past, our writers would routinely put up impressive win-loss records, with under-.500 performances as tangibly real as guest picker Ben Volin’s chances of finishing above .500 this year.
Only three of us are above .500, and leader (and genius) Kyle Maistri is threatening to become the first to go 10-games over.
Of course, if you take out the “qualified” beat writers, the alligatorSports guys aren’t doing too bad except for our editor …
The genius and the disappointment will now argue the upcoming Alabama-Mississippi State game.
Mississippi State will cover the +12 spread because … Alabama will suffer a letdown after clinching the SEC West. The Crimson Tide have also shown an ability to allow lesser opponents to stick around much like the Gators. Plus, Dan Mullen needs a signature win in his first season after falling short against LSU, Georgia Tech and Houston at home. It’ll be two teams that love to run the ball, so I see the Bulldogs keeping it close.
— PHIL KEGLER
Alabama will cover the -12 spread because … the Crimson Tide are looking to make a point. After close wins against LSU and Tennessee in their last two games, the Bulldogs are the perfect red-headed stepchild for big, bad ‘Bama to beat the crap out of. Unless Johnthan Banks has a couple interception returns in him, I don’t see any way Mississippi State can score on the Alabama defense. Plus, Phil Kegler hates fun, football and America, so there’s no way any of his picks are going to hit this weekend.
— KYLE MAISTRI
Now, on to the picks!
In first place for the second straight week with a 54-45 record is Kyle “I’m going to go slip into a coma” Maistri, whose body shut down and immune system failed after playing two short hours of flag football Wednesday afternoon.
Nipping at his heels at 52-47 (because he’s short and Kyle’s heels are at eye level) is Bobby “I didn’t get enough nap time” Callovi, who refused to wake up before 10 a.m. to podcast today. It’s not our fault your babysitter forgot to warm up your bottle before putting you to sleep Thursday. We told her to dab a drop of alcohol on your gums to ease the teething pains.
The last picker above .500 at 51-48 is the Tampa Tribune’s Mike “Muphy’s Law” DiFerdinando, who lives his life by that standard: anything that can go wrong, will. We don’t want to say he worries about everything, but he’s been freaking out about whether or not the sun will rise for the past week.
Sitting in fourth place at 48-51 is Mike “Starbucks makes me gassy” McCall, who loaded up on coffee for his test and then unloaded on his classmates. At least he didn’t save it for the long trip to Columbia.
In a tie for fifth at 46-53 is the Gainesville Sun’s Ed “Hola, mami” Aschoff, who is attending LATIN LADIES NIGHT @ 101 DOWNTOWN. Como se dice, “Once you go black, you never go back”?
Tied with Ed is the Florida Times-Union’s Mike “How can we insult such a kind, elderly man?” DiRocco, who is old and short. We’re on deadline and uncreative. Enjoy!
Free falling to seventh place at 44-55 is Phil “Kontact” Kegler, who bulldozed one of our copy chiefs during our Veterans’ Day flag football game. Kegs obviously wasn’t clear on the rules, resulting in a collapsed lung for our poor friend.
In eighth place at 43-56 is Jeremy “What’s it like to write a check for $30K?” Fowler, who broke the rules of conversation with Urban Meyer. Never talk about politics, religion or money. He didn’t ask you what it was like to write that $6.49 check for got2b glued styling spiking glue, did he?
In ninth place at 40-59 and closing in on last is Joe “Do you look for holes when you run?” Goodman, who was proud to get Tim Tebow to say, “Yeah, I look for the holes,” in a quote. Way to go, Joe.
Holding down his usual position in dead-last place at 38-61 is Ben “I’m totally Mr. December” Volin, who was disappointed to be left out of the Nice Jewish Guy calendar. His wardrobe: a yarmulke and nothing else.
| KM | BC | MDF | MM | EA | |
| WVU (+9)-Cincy |
Cincy | WVU | WVU | WVU | WVU |
| UT (+4.5)-Miss | Miss | UT | UT | UT | Miss |
| UK (-3)-Vandy | UK | UK | UK | UK | UK |
| Iowa (+17)-OSU | Iowa | Iowa | Iowa | Iowa | Iowa |
| Stan (+11)-USC | USC | Stan | Stan | USC | USC |
| Bama (-12)-MSU | Bama |
Bama |
Bama |
MSU |
Bama |
| Aub (+4.5)-UGA | UGA | UGA | Aub | Aub | UGA |
| Utah (+19.5)-TCU | Utah | TCU | TCU | Utah | Utah |
| ND (+7)-Pitt | Pitt | ND | ND | Pitt | Pitt |
| UF (-15.5)-SC | UF | UF | UF | UF | SC |
| MDR | PK | JF | JG | BV | |
| WVU (+9)-Cincy | Cincy |
Cincy |
WVU | WVU | Cincy |
| UT (+4.5)-Miss | UT | UT | UT | UT | UT |
| UK (-3)-Vandy | UK | UK | Vandy | UK | UK |
| Iowa (+17)-OSU | OSU | Iowa | OSU | Iowa | Iowa |
| Stan (+11)-USC | USC | USC | USC | Stan | Stan |
| Bama (-12)-MSU | MSU | MSU | Bama |
MSU |
MSU |
| Aub (+4.5)-UGA | Aub | Aub | Aub | Aub | UGA |
| Utah (+19.5)-TCU |
TCU | Utah | Utah | Utah | Utah |
| ND (+7)-Pitt | Pitt | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| UF (-15.5)-SC | UF | UF | UF | SC | SC |
