Here are the FINAL CONFERENCE RATINGS for 2013-14.
What is interesting is to compare the actual ratings with some of the preseason picks. I will use Athlon, because it is the only one I purchased, and because they rank all teams from #1 to #125. First of all, I give them credit for #125 (Georgia State), but let's look at some that were not exactly on target. I list their pick, with my current rating in parentheses:
OVERRATED:
MINUS 65 [13. Florida (78)]
MINUS 57 [20. T.C.U. (77)]
MINUS 56 [55. California (111)]
MINUS 41 [49. Arkansas (90)]
MINUS 32 [56. West Virginia (88)]
MINUS 25 [11. Boise State (36)]
MINUS 24 [25. Oregon State (49)]
MINUS 24 [46. Tennessee (70)]
UNDERRATED:
PLUS 62 [92. Houston (30)]
PLUS 55 [110. North Texas (55)]
PLUS 46 [121. U.T.S.A. (75)]
PLUS 41 [51. U.C.F. (10)]
PLUS 41 [73. Duke (32)]
PLUS 39 [48. Missouri (9)]
PLUS 36 [69. Iowa (33)]
PLUS 35 [42. Auburn (7)]
PLUS 34 [36. Baylor (2)]
PLUS 34 [77. East Carolina (43)]
PLUS 34 [87. Bowling Green (53)]
Here are the
Here are
After all bowl games, I was 17-17-1 against the spread. Yuck!
Florida State, in spite of a terrible first half, came back to claim MY national championship over a tough Auburn team. Baylor stays at #2, followed by Michigan State, Alabama and Oregon.
Stanford moves up to #6, followed by Auburn, Ohio State, Missouri and U.C.F.
BOWL picks.
Picks for December 7:
RICE +6.5 vs. Marshall WIN
Utah State +2.5 at FRESNO STATE LOSE
Ohio State -5 vs. Michigan State LOSE
For Friday, November 30:
Iowa +2.5 at NEBRASKA WIN
I'm thinking about MARSHALL +3 vs. East Carolina WIN
I'll post Saturday picks later.
Picks for November 23:
WASHINGTON STATE -1 1/2 vs. Utah WIN
Brigham Young +1 at NOTRE DAME LOSE
Pick for October 30:
Cincinnati +2 at MEMPHIS WIN
Picks for October 31 - November 2:
U.S.C. +3.5 at OREGON STATE WIN
FLORIDA STATE -22 vs. Miami (Fla.)WIN
INDIANA -8.5 vs. Minnesota LOSE
Northwestern +6 at NEBRASKAWIN
These next two are in that doubtful category;
Boise State -7 at COLORADO STATEWIN
This next one gives me pause, but ...
T.C.U. -13.5 vs. West Virginia LOSE
It seems that the only pick of the week of October 26:
South Carolina +3 at MISSOURI WIN
Picks for the week of October 19:
These are in that second category - the unofficial picks - because, as you know, RULE #1 is NEVER to bet on a bad team (too risky). But, I don't know yet if these teams are bad or just mediocre. With that disclaimer, here they are (I ended up 1-1):
TENNESSEE +7.5 vs. South Carolina WIN
ILLINOIS +14 vs. Wisconsin LOSS
I was just 1-2 on picks for October 12:
PENN ST. +2 1/2 vs. Michigan
Florida + 7 1/2 at LSU
WASHINGTON +14 vs. Oregon
PICKS for October 5:
These are in that category of semi-official, because my rule #1 is NEVER to bet for a bad team. However, it is too early in the season to determine whether those teams in the middle are "bad" or simply "mediocre". In any event, here are the picks (HOME in all CAPS). NOTE: I was 1-1:
SYRACUSE +14 vs Clemson
TENNESSEE +12½ vs Georgia
RATINGS FOR
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January 5, 2014.
January 4, 2014.
January 1, 2014.
December 25, 2013.
December 7, 2013.
November 30, 2013.
November 23, 2013.
November 16, 2013.
November 9, 2013.
November 2, 2013.
October 26, 2013.
October 19, 2013.
October 12, 2013.
October 5, 2013.
September 28, 2013.