Poolsville Picks 2013, Week #9

A day late, a dollar short, The Converter has a bye week this week, leaving me to do this by myself. So here goes:

1.  Boise State - BYU (7 point underbronco BSU worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : Classic Bronco leads.

Even though I'm calling it with perfect 20/20 (or, rather, 37/20) hindsight, it's hard to see how BYU loses this one. BSU for the win.

2.  Texas Tech - Oklahoma (7 point underraider worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : Raiders know the good stuff is in the wagon. 

Put your hat back on, red raider; your politeness has just cost you the game. OU for the win.
3.  South Carolina - Missouri
     NCAAFConverter : Parts is parts.

There won't be much to put back together after Missouri is done with Carolina (even though the Gamecocks will still score TWICE on the Razorbacks this Saturday). Mizzou for the win.

4.  Texas - TCU
     NCAAFConverter : Frog follower.

Well, the picture will not load. No matter; it was not a good one. Not much good at all. About as good as a 7-5 record (7-6 after losing its crappy bowl game). Where is the unhappiness quotient higher, Ft. Worth, or Austin? UT for the win! Mack Brown, you can keep your resume in your desk for another season!

5.  Stanford - Oregon State
     NCAAFConverter : WTF?

Uh, not that kind of cardinal. And not that kind of beaver. Stanford for the win.

Poolsville Picks 2013, Week #8

You would not believe NCAAFConverter is coming of its first 5-0 of the year. And that's because I picked against the machine in not one game (went for Arky instead of Carolina) but two (chose Georgia over Missouri). I always experience a frisson of thrill when hitting "send" on any email submitting upset pics (last week, Arkansas); watching Mizzou grab the upset ring makes the failed upset pick all that more depressing.

So this week, I'll stand back and let The Converter pick all five games without operator interference. Here we go:

1.  TCU - Oklahoma State (7 point underfrog TCU worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : You look ridiculous in that hat.

TCU's performance seems to have fallen off to a slight degree this year; maybe it is taking time to adjust to BCS conference play. And from The Converter's call on this one, it seems like TCU is still making adjustments to fit. This one looks a little tight, and the color does not suit the frog. OSU for the win; you can keep your bonus point, O Mayor of Poolsville.

2.  Florida - Missouri (UF by 3) 
     NCAAFConverter : You should turn around now.

Yes, I know Missouri just lost its star quarterback but with Florida coming off a loss to LSU and a not particularly impressive win over a disappointing Arkansas, I'm not sure the Gators have enough in the tank to get the job done. So I'm letting The Converter run with this one as well; Mizzou for the win.

3.  UCLA - Stanford (5 point underbear worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : Bear Air.

I will never pretend to understand what goes on in the Pac-12 or West Coast football in general. I'm always happy to see USC lose and I'll always be amazed at the quality of football in Oregon. Other than that, I'm inclined to once again rely on The Converter. UCLA for the win; gimme that bonus point, O Mayor of Poolsville.

4.  USC - Notre Dame (ND by 3)
     NCAAFConverter : How did he get up there?

I'm surprised at the narrow three-point spread; seems like Notre Dame should be the stronger favorite. Is it that bad for USC that firing Kiffin mid-season has actually improved their outlook this much? But apparently, not enough to throw that leprechaun off the back of the Trojan horse; Notre Dame for the win.

5.  Florida State - Clemson (FSU by 3)
     NCAAFConverter : That cat is just messing with you now, Chief Osceola.

 

Clemson has looked good from the very start of the season and I haven't seen anything yet that would change my opinion. Glad that The Converter agrees. Clemson for the win.

Poolsville Picks 2013, Week #7

Who in the world thinks that a 3-2 outing is something to be proud of? The Converter does, apparently. And I guess this should come as no surprise; 3-2 is NCAAFConverter's high water mark for the entire season to date! Keep it up, Converter; you can lord your mediocrity all the way to the scrap heap at the end of the season, if that's what you want.

So let's go - What do you have for us this week, Converter?

1.  Missouri - Georgia (8 point undertiger Mizzou worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : Tiger's got your tail.

It appears this playful tiger cub has grown too big to worry much about that bulldog. But if The Converter is predicting a win by Mizzou, I will respectfully disagree. UGA for the win. You can keep your shiny bonus point, O Mayor of Poolsville.



2.  South Carolina - Arkansas (6 point underhog worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : Chicken in the driver's seat.

This time, The Converter's going with the favorite, but I once again disagree; the underhog is ready to show he has learned much over the last three losses. Arky for the win.

3.  Florida - LSU (7 point undergator Florida worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : More than one predator in the swamp.

I agree with The Converter on this one; LSU for the win.

4.  Michigan - Penn State (Michigan by 2)
     NCAAFConverter : Wolverine pinned down.

Looks like the mountain lion has the jump on the wolverine.  Penn State for the win.
5.  Oregon State - Washington State (Washington State by 1)
     NCAAFConverter : [self-explanatory]

Agree with NCAAFConverter - Oregon State for the win.
 

Poolsville Picks 2013, Week #6

So here's the deal - NCAAFConverter picked exactly five winners over the course of the last three weeks. Every player may get a trophy in youth soccer but until Chinese overseas manufacturing figures out how to mass produce the Ramon Escobar Trophy, this kind of perfomance is absolutely unacceptable. NCAAFConverter has been put on notice; either the picks improve, or extreme repurposing may be in order (I'm considering relegating The Converter for duty as a patriotic clip art image sorter for Tea Party websites (American flag images in this folder, U.S. Constitution images in that folder, Founding Father images over there, and special subfolders for any of the above images that also depict Glenn Beck in heroic poses)).

Thusly put on notice, The Converter turns in the following picks:

1.  UCLA - Utah (UCLA by 4)
     NCAAFConverter : Unfortunate stereotyping still sells.

 

[Program note - It's a special kind of sadness you feel when posting a Poolsville pick the morning after the picked team (Utah for the win) lost. At this point, The Converter is flirting with danger, and not in a good way]

2.  Ole Miss - Auburn (Ole Miss by 2)
     NCAAFConverter : Bear pinned by vicious tigers.

Great match-up of former ASU head coaches here. Hugh Freeze may be doing great things for Ole Miss but The Converter believes the Black Bears are in hot water this week. Looks like this one goes to Gus. Auburn for the win.

3.  Arizona State - Notre Dame (5 point underdome Notre Dame worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : Ugly loss for the Leprechaun.

Quality control is sorely lacking in The Converter's submission; it if manages to make it through the season (thereby outperforming Lane Kiffin, at least), adjustments will be in order. But the message is clear here; the Sun Devils have the upper hand. Arizona State for the win.

4.  Ohio State - Northwestern (5 point undercat Northwestern worth a bonus point)
     NCAAFConverter : What in the world?

  I have no idea where The Converter found this image, or what sports team or school or organization or even species is supported here! The tea leaves are murky, so we'll go with alphabetical order on this one. Ohio State for the win. You can keep your shiny bonus point, O Mayor of Poolsville.

5.  Washington - Stanford (6 point underhusky worth a bonus point).
     NCAAFConverter : What in the world?

What a happy husky! It's like he doesn't even know The Cardinal is messing with him. Stanford for the win. You can keep your shiny bonus point, O Mayor of Poolsville.