Brad Carroll's GameDay

COLLEGE GAMEDAY COLUMN: YANKEE FANS NEED TO KICK JAY-Z TO THE CURB RIGHT NOW

2009-11-07T00:29:00.003-05:00

Executive Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the top games of the day
Last Week: 4-3 (spread); 6-1 (overall); 1-1 (upset picks)
Craig's Week: 2-5 (spread)
This Season: 35-27-1 (spread); 50-13 (overall); 6-4 (upset picks)
Craig's Season: 29-33-1 (spread)

No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama; 3:30 p.m.; CBS
The Skinny: While a matchup featuring two of the Top 9 teams in the nation should be enough to get anyone exciting, the fact remains that this could be one very boring game. Both teams sport impressive defenses, as Alabama is fifth and LSU seventh in scoring defense, and both offenses are nothing special, so this could come down to the kickers. I’m hoping for an LSU upset, as it would shake up the BCS picture, but the Tide should have enough to hold off the Tigers at the end. The Pick: Alabama (-7.5) wins it 17-13.

Connecticut at No. 4 Cincinnati; 8 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: UConn has found new ways to lose games in the final moments this season, but Huskies fans should be happy because that won’t be the case tonight. Seeing as though the Bearcats average almost 40 points per game and outscore their opponents by nearly four touchdowns, this one should be over quickly, saving UConn from imploding again. The worst thing about the game, however, will be that ABC probably will stick with the broadcast until the very end. The Pick: Cincinnati (-17) wins it 38-14.

Northwestern at No. 8 Iowa; 12 p.m.; ESPN
The Skinny: Switching gears, after watching the end of the Yankees parade Friday afternoon, I think it’s finally time for New Yorkers to tell Jay-Z to take a hike. First, there is absolutely no reason for the guy to be on one of the parade floats. What the heck did he do anyway? And second, the line in his song that he performed at the Stadium and at City Hall is an embarrassment to Yankees Universe. The Pick: Iowa (-15.5) wins it 34-17.

No. 15 Ohio State at No. 11 Penn State; 3:30 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: The line in the Jay-Z song says “I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can.” Are you serious? That is the most absurd and embarrassing pieces of garbage that I’ve ever heard. And he has the gall to get on one of the floats at the Yankees’ parade? And I blame the Yankees too for caving into the guy. This bum isn’t a Yankees fan and shouldn’t be treated as such. The Pick: Penn State (-5) wins it 20-17.

Navy at No. 19 Notre Dame; 2:30 p.m., NBC
The Skinny: QB Jimmy Clausen is making his case for the Heisman, and seeing as though favorites Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy have all had their struggles, it could be his to lose. Today, he continues his quest against a Navy team that sports one of the most interesting offenses in the country. The Mids average less than 100 passing yards per game. The Pick: Notre Dame (-12.5) wins it 35-21.

No. 20 Oklahoma at Nebraska; 8 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: Oklahoma has won 4 straight games against a Nebraska team that used to pose one of the biggest challenges for the Sooners in years past. Of course, that past seems like a lifetime ago, as the Cornhusers are a shell of their former self. Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford is done for the year, and backup Landry Jones should play well enough to win the game. The Pick: Oklahoma (-4) wins it 34-27.

Central Florida at No. 2 Texas; 12 p.m.; FSN
The Skinny: Texas will continue its roll into the national championship game with a big win today. The Pick: Texas (-34.5) wins it 45-7. Here are Craig Carroll’s picks for the week: Alabama, UConn, Iowa, Penn State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas. Check out College GameDay Rewind at bradcarrollgameday.blogspot.com.

(AP photo)

GAMEDAY LIVE: GLASTONBURY AT NEW BRITAIN

2009-11-06T19:20:00.013-05:00

No. 2 Glastonbury 35, New Britain 28
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
G-Sean McQuillan 1 run, 5:27. (Robert Solecki kick).
G-Malcolm Crosson 8 run, 2:03. (Robert Solecki kick).
Second Quarter
NB-Kaiuway Boima 1 run, 6:58. (Rafal Garcarz kick).
G-Dylan Malara 26 run, 2:38. (Robert Solecki kick).
G-McCarthy 24 pass from McQuillan, :51. (Robert Solecki kick).
Third Quarter
NB-Boima 1 run, 3:36. (Garcarz kick).
G-McQuillan 1 run, 2:23. (Solecki kick).
Fourth Quarter
NB-Tebucky Jones Jr. 19 pass from Garcarz, 10:54. (Garcarz kick).
NB-Jones 35 pass from Garcarz, 2:35. (Garcarz kick).

GAMEDAY LIVE: PLATT AT BERLIN

2009-11-06T19:15:00.015-05:00

Berlin 38, Platt 14
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
B-Max DeLorenzo 9 run, 2:19. (Devin Silverman kick).
P-Justin Potts 16 pass from Kyle Laurendeau, 1:12. (Joshua Budwitz kick).
Second Quarter
B-Dave Campagna 1 run, 9:09. (Silverman kick failed).
B-Max DeLorenzo 4 run, 1:19. (Mason Powers from Dan Hackett).
Third Quarter
B-Max DeLorenzo 32 run, 9:40. (Silverman kick).
B-Max DeLorenzo 29 run, 1:05. (Silverman kick).
Fourth Quarter
B-Silverman 23 field goal, 8:22.
P-Jamir James 2 run, 3:52. (Potts kick).

GAMEDAY LIVE: SOUTHINGTON AT NEWINGTON

2009-11-06T19:14:00.013-05:00

Southington 32, Newington 21
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
N-Jeremy Rodriguez 44 run, 8:03. (Kick failed).
S-Kyle Lentini 4 pass from Connor Butkiewicz, 6:08. (Kick failed).
S-Anthony Florian 46 pass from Butkiewicz, 3:10. (Conversion good).
Second Quarter
N-Jeremy Rodriguez 74 run, 11:03. (Conversion good).
S-K.J. Gemmell 11 pass from Butkiewicz, 6:47. (Run failed).
Third Quarter
N-Freddy Ortiz 45 run, 9:35. (Kick good).
S-Tyler Dube 6 pass from Butkiewicz, 3:57. (Conversion failed).
Fourth Quarter
S-Dube 10 pass from Butkiewicz, 3:23. (Pass failed).

GAMEDAY LIVE: ST. PAUL AT ANSONIA

2009-11-06T19:13:00.015-05:00

Ansonia 45, St. Paul 29
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
A-Rob Kinnebrew 12 run, 4:51. (Mike Palmquist kick).
A-Tim Troy 17 pass from Nick O'Conner, 2:25. (Mike Palmquist kick).
Second Quarter
A-Rob Kinnebrew 1 run, 9:03. (Mike Palmquist kick).
SP-Byron Jones 25 pass from Tanner Bachand, 2:23. (Glen kick).
A-Mike Palmquist 29 field goal, :00.
Third Quarter
A-Rob Kinnebrew 25 run, 11:33. (Mike Palmquist kick).
A-Chris Sobin 85 run, 8:11. (Mike Palmquist kick).
SP-Tanner Bachand 10 run, 3:41. (Bobby Romano run).
Fourth Quarter
SP-Chris Bachand 4 run, 10:31. (Conversion failed).
SP-Travis Thomas 88 pass from Tanner Bachand, 6:15. (Jones from Bachand).
A-Montrell Dobbs 84 kick return, 5:55. (Palmquist kick).

COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND: YANKEES SAVE NEW YORK FROM WORST SPORTS DAY EVER

2009-11-02T14:09:00.006-05:00

It had all the makings for one of the worst sports days in New York history. The Giants and Jets had already lost in the afternoon and the Yankees were completely out of momentum heading into the ninth inning in Game 4 of the World Series Sunday night. The depression that was still lingering from the afternoon was back in full effect. With the Giants getting completely destroyed by the Eagles and the Jets somehow, someway losing to the Dolphins, it would only be fitting if the Yankees lost in devastating fashion as well. But these Yankees are the closest thing to the teams of the late 90s that would never accept losing, and barely did. These Yankees battled back from a crowd that was sent into a frenzy when the Phillies tied the game with a home run with two outs in the eighth inning and even more so when Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge got two easy outs in the top of the ninth. But Johnny Damon worked and worked and worked until he singled and then stole two bases on one pitch. It was an unbelievable play that was typical of these Yankees. Even in the ninth inning with the game tied, Damon was on top of his game. After a hit-by-pitch, Alex Rodriguez doubled to give the Yankees the lead. Then Jorge Posada finished things off with a two-run single. Enter Rivera, and exit Phillies. The Yankees saved the New York sports world last night and, more so, took full control of the World Series as they lead 3-1 heading into Game 5 tonight. Thanks to the Yankees, I’m sure the losses by the Giants and Jets hurt a little less today by their respective fan base. It doesn’t erase everything, but the Yankees saved New York sports for at least one day. And if you’re a Mets fan, well, you and depression go hand in hand, so good luck with that.

Now, on to College GameDay Rewind:

My Weekend: 4-3 (spread); 6-1 (overall); 1-1 (upset picks)
My Season: 35-27-1 (spread); 50-13 (overall); 6-4 (upset picks)
My Money: UP $530 (season)
Craig's Weekend: 2-5 (spread)
Craig's Season: 29-33-1 (spread)
Craig's Money: DOWN $730 (season)

Indiana +17.5 at No. 7 Iowa
My Pick: Iowa 27, Indiana 12
Actual Score: Iowa 42, Indiana 24
What the heck happened here? Indiana led by 10 in the fourth quarter and the Iowa offense was dreadful all game long … so, with the spread being 17.5, I was already thinking about going 7-0 on the day. Of course, I didn’t believe for a second that Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi would go 3-for-3 for 177 yards and two scores in the final period. The final stab through the heart came with 1:12 to go in the game when the Hawkeyes added a 27-yard touchdown run. Nice defense, Indiana. By the way, I’m watching the final seconds of UConn-Rutgers and the fans are cheering like it’s a basketball game. “Let’s Go Huskies … clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.” That’s not how you cheer at a football game, guys. Whatever … it’s UConn. Craig and I both get burned by the Hoosiers in a half-point loss to fall to 0-1. Before I move on, UConn took the lead in the final minute, but then just allowed Rutgers to complete an 81-yard touchdown bomb to Tim Brown to fall behind 28-24. What an embarrassing, ugly, humiliating loss for the Huskies. Again, when will coach Randy Edsall feel the heat? Well, never … because it’s UConn.

Georgia +14.5 at No. 1 Florida
My Pick: Florida 31, Georgia 14
Actual Score: Florida 41, Georgia 17
Even though the score would say otherwise, I had to sweat this one out as well, as Florida turned a losing 14-point lead into a winning 17-point advantage with a 44-yard field goal with under eight minutes to play. Soon after, the Gators put the game away with an interception return for a touchdown. During the game, Craig sent me a text message that said, “Georgia blows.” To that, I simply replied, “You blow for taking Georgia.” We all know Georgia can’t cover when facing a big-time opponent. And even though I thought for a long while about taking the Bulldogs in this game, luckily, I remembered that GameDay fact. So, I move to 1-1 on the day, while Craig falls to 0-2.
UNLV +35 at No. 8 TCU
My Pick: TCU 49, UNLV 7
Actual Score: TCU 41, UNLV 0
While watching Miami take the lead on Wake Forest in the final moments, I didn’t see the final few minutes of TCU’s victory over UNLV. When I finally got the chance to turn back to that game, it was over, and I thought for sure TCU had only won by 34 – giving me a one-point loss. After writing up the Florida-Georgia summary, I hesitantly went to ESPN.com for the score and got a minor shock – TCU 41, UNLV 0. Yes! Believe me, that doesn’t happen very often. TCU scored with 1:39 to play to give me the victory. I move to 2-1 on the day, while Craig went with the big-points and got the loss, 0-3.

No. 18 Miami -7 at Wake Forest
My Pick: Miami 28, Wake Forest 13
Actual Score: Miami 28, Wake Forest 27
Miami came from behind to beat Wake Forest in a game Craig probably enjoyed, but the Hurricanes didn’t do either of us a favor with the spread. Not much else to say, as this one never really had a chance to produce a positive result. I drop to 2-2, while Craig continues his march into the abyss with a 0-4 mark.

No. 12 Penn State -17 at Northwestern
My Pick: Penn State 33, Northwestern 10
Actual Score: Penn State 34, Northwestern 13
The Miami-Wake Forest game didn’t hurt as much as it should have, though. Why? Because it seemed every time I switched channels from Miami-Wake to Penn State-Northwestern, the Nittany Lions would score. I saw the Lions take a 20-13 lead with 12:27 to go in the fourth. Then, again, switched the channel in time to see quarterback Daryll Clark roll out and hit on a 53-yard score with 10:16 to go. The next time I switched, I got to see the best thing of all – a score that was covering the 17-point spread, with Penn State in front 34-13. But things are never that easy. Northwestern drove down to the 10-yard line with two minutes to go. The Lions defense came up big, however, causing a fumble and the offense sealed the game from there. That ends the early games with me clocking in with a 3-2 record. Craig finally breaks through with a win, improving to 1-4 with two late games to play. Of course, the Yankees take priority from here.

No. 3 Texas -9.5 at No. 13 Oklahoma State
My Pick: Oklahoma State 37, Texas 34
Actual Score: Texas 41, Oklahoma State 14
And … we pick up where we left off from the special Halloween College GameDay Rewind write-up. In my limited viewing of this game, it looked like an early turnover completely took Oklahoma State out of the game and the Cowboys never recovered. Texas went on to destroy Oak State and ruin my two-part upset special. Oh well. I drop to 3-3 while Craig improves to 2-4.

No. 4 Southern Cal -3 at No. 10 Oregon
My Pick: Oregon 28, Southern Cal 27
Actual Score: Oregon 47, Southern Cal 20
Oregon took complete control in the third quarter and bullied USC in the upset victory. This was a tough pick to make, believe it or not, because the Trojans never lose these type games. But the Ducks were up for the challenge and all but ended USC’s dominance in the Pac 10 – at least for this year. So, I was right on one of two upset picks, and end the day with a 4-3 record. Craig failed to capitalize on last week’s momentum, and ends Saturday with a 2-5 record.

(AP photo)

HERE'S A HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR EVERYONE - AN EARLY COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND EDITION!

2009-10-31T19:30:00.004-04:00

Consider this a Halloween treat from Brad Carroll's GameDay Blog - an early peek at my College GameDay Rewind column that will run in full in the next day or so. We still got two games to play tonight - the big ones, of course - so this is just a start. If you went with my picks, you got another treat so far, as you've turned an early profit. If you went with Craig's picks, well, sorry about that trick. There's a lot to be happy about tonight if you're a sports fan, with two huge college games and World Series Game 3, so enjoy this early installement and pray that the rain goes away in Philly so we can see some baseball.

Indiana +17.5 at No. 7 Iowa
My Pick: Iowa 27, Indiana 12
Actual Score: Iowa 42, Indiana 24
What the heck happened here? Indiana led by 10 in the fourth quarter and the Iowa offense was dreadful all game long … so, with the spread being 17.5, I was already thinking about going 7-0 on the day. Of course, I didn’t believe for a second that Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi would go 3-for-3 for 177 yards and two scores in the final period. The final stab through the heart came with 1:12 to go in the game when the Hawkeyes added a 27-yard touchdown run. Nice defense, Indiana. By the way, I’m watching the final seconds of UConn-Rutgers and the fans are cheering like it’s a basketball game. “Let’s Go Huskies … clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.” That’s not how you cheer at a football game, guys. Whatever … it’s UConn. Craig and I both get burned by the Hoosiers in a half-point loss to fall to 0-1. Before I move on, UConn took the lead in the final minute, but then just allowed Rutgers to complete an 81-yard touchdown bomb to Tim Brown to fall behind 28-24. What an embarrassing, ugly, humiliating loss for the Huskies. Again, when will coach Randy Edsall feel the heat? Well, never … because it’s UConn.

Georgia +14.5 at No. 1 Florida
My Pick: Florida 31, Georgia 14
Actual Score: Florida 41, Georgia 17
Even though the score would say otherwise, I had to sweat this one out as well, as Florida turned a losing 14-point lead into a winning 17-point advantage with a 44-yard field goal with under eight minutes to play. Soon after, the Gators put the game away with an interception return for a touchdown. During the game, Craig sent me a text message that said, “Georgia blows.” To that, I simply replied, “You blow for taking Georgia.” We all know Georgia can’t cover when facing a big-time opponent. And even though I thought for a long while about taking the Bulldogs in this game, luckily, I remembered that GameDay fact. So, I move to 1-1 on the day, while Craig falls to 0-2.

UNLV +35 at No. 8 TCU
My Pick: TCU 49, UNLV 7
Actual Score: TCU 41, UNLV 0
While watching Miami take the lead on Wake Forest in the final moments, I didn’t see the final few minutes of TCU’s victory over UNLV. When I finally got the chance to turn back to that game, it was over, and I thought for sure TCU had only won by 34 – giving me a one-point loss. After writing up the Florida-Georgia summary, I hesitantly went to ESPN.com for the score and got a minor shock – TCU 41, UNLV 0. Yes! Believe me, that doesn’t happen very often. TCU scored with 1:39 to play to give me the victory. I move to 2-1 on the day, while Craig went with the big-points and got the loss, 0-3.

No. 18 Miami -7 at Wake Forest
My Pick: Miami 28, Wake Forest 13
Actual Score: Miami 28, Wake Forest 27
Miami came from behind to beat Wake Forest in a game Craig probably enjoyed, but the Hurricanes didn’t do either of us a favor with the spread. Not much else to say, as this one never really had a chance to produce a positive result. I drop to 2-2, while Craig continues his march into the abyss with a 0-4 mark.

No. 12 Penn State -17 at Northwestern
My Pick: Penn State 33, Northwestern 10
Actual Score: Penn State 34, Northwestern 13
The Miami-Wake Forest game didn’t hurt as much as it should have, though. Why? Because it seemed every time I switched channels from Miami-Wake to Penn State-Northwestern, the Nittany Lions would score. I saw the Lions take a 20-13 lead with 12:27 to go in the fourth. Then, again, switched the channel in time to see quarterback Daryll Clark roll out and hit on a 53-yard score with 10:16 to go. The next time I switched, I got to see the best thing of all – a score that was covering the 17-point spread, with Penn State in front 34-13. But things are never that easy. Northwestern drove down to the 10-yard line with two minutes to go. The Lions defense came up big, however, causing a fumble and the offense sealed the game from there. That ends the early games with me clocking in with a 3-2 record. Craig finally breaks through with a win, improving to 1-4 with two late games to play. Of course, the Yankees take priority from here.

(AP photo)

GAMEDAY LIVE: WOODLAND AT ST. PAUL

2009-10-31T13:35:00.014-04:00

St. Paul 28, Woodland 27
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
W-Jack Debiase 40 run, 11:33. (Brandon Fowler kick).
SP-Byron Jones 12 pass from Tanner Bachand, 7:01. (Chris Bachand run).
Second Quarter
W-Brandon Fowler 50 pass from Steve Petracca, 5:54. (Conversion failed).
W-Jack Debiase 6 run, 1:19. (Brandon Fowler kick).
Third Quarter
SP-Chris Bachand 26 run, 3:12. (Chris Bachand run).
SP-Chris Bachand 39 run, 0:31. (Conversion failed).
Fourth Quarter
W-Brandon Fowler 51 pass from Steve Petracca, 11:03. (Fowler kick).
SP-Tanner Bachand 1 run, 3:17. (Conversion failed).

GAMEDAY LIVE: NEWINGTON AT GLASTONBURY

2009-10-31T13:31:00.011-04:00

No. 2 Glastonbury 34, Newington 20
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
G-Ryan McCarthy 10 pass from Sean McQuillan, 4:23. (Kick good).
N-Mike Buonocore 17 pass from Jonathan Snyder, 0:18. (Kick good).
G-Ryan McCarthy 34 pass from Sean McQuillan, 0:02. (Kick good).
Second Quarter
G-Malcolm Crosson 3 run, 9:09. (Kick failed).
G-Malcolm Crosson 29 run, 7:06. (Kick good).
Third Quarter
N-Jonathan Snyder 2 run, 4:04. (Kick good.)
G-Sean McQuillan 11 run, 2:50. (Kick good).
Fourth Quarter
N-Jonathan Snyder 1 run, 8:41. (Kick failed.)

GAMEDAY LIVE: NEW BRITAIN AT MIDDLETOWN

2009-10-30T19:14:00.012-04:00

New Britain 38, Middletown 0
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
NB-Tebucky Jones Jr. 41 fumble return, 7:25. (Rafal Garcarz kick).
NB-Tebucky Jones Jr. 26 pass from Larry Garcia, 2:52. (Garcarz kick failed).
Second Quarter
NB-Kian Downs 5 pass from Rafal Garcarz, 8:58. (Garcarz kick).
NB-Chris Linares 35 interception return, 8:08. (Garcarz kick failed).
NB-Chris Linares 13 pass from Rafal Garcarz, 4:27. (Garcarz kick failed).
NB-Kaiuway Boima 61 run, 1:04. (Run failed).
Third Quarter
None
Fourth Quarter
None

GAMEDAY LIVE: BERLIN AT BRISTOL EASTERN

2009-10-30T19:13:00.013-04:00

Berlin 21, Bristol Eastern 3
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
None
Second Quarter
BE-Nick Randles 23 field goal, 6:53.
B-Max DeLorenzo 53 run, 2:11. (Mason Powers pass from Dan Hackett).
B-Mason Powers 21 pass from Dan Hackett, 0:05. (Pass failed).
Third Quarter
None
Fourth Quarter
B-Max DeLorenzo 51 run, 2:31. (Devin Silverman kick).

GAMEDAY LIVE: SIMSBURY AT SOUTHINGTON

2009-10-30T19:11:00.014-04:00

Simsbury 29, Southington 26
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
S-Tyler Dube 6 pass from Connor Butkiewicz, 6:38. (Kick blocked).
SIM-Connely Cummings 2 run, 1:58. (James Poggio kick).
S-Anthony Florian 73 pass from Connor Butkiewicz, 1:42. (Pass failed).
Second Quarter
SIM-Safety, 9:20.
SIM-Kyle Decker 9 run, 6:08. (Poggio kick).
SIM-Connely Cummings 23 run, 4:03. (Poggio kick).
S-Mike Rhodd 24 pass from Connor Butkiewicz, 1:57. (Conversion good).
SIM-Connely Cummings 4 run, 0:54. (Poggio kick failed).
Third Quarter
S-Tyler Dube 17 pass from Connor Butkiewicz, 8:43. (Pass failed).
Fourth Quarter
None

COLLEGE GAMEDAY COLUMN: YOU WANT UPSETS? TWO OF THE TOP FOUR GO DOWN TONIGHT

2009-10-30T15:22:00.006-04:00

Executive Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the top games of the day
Last Week: 2-5 (spread); 6-1 (overall); 0-1 (upset picks)
Craig's Week: 5-2 (spread)
This Season: 31-24-1 (spread); 44-12 (overall); 5-3 (upset picks)
Craig's Season: 27-28-1 (spread)

Georgia at No. 1 Florida; 3:30 p.m.; CBS
The Skinny: This rivalry was taken to a new level two years ago, when after scoring an early touchdown, the entire Georgia team charged the field and celebrated like they just won the national championship. They went on to win the game. Then, last year, Florida coach Urban Meyer called two timeouts in the final minute when the Gators were leading 49-10 to rub it into the Bulldogs. So, what happens this year? I’m hoping for the upset, but I just don’t think Georgia can pull it off. The Pick: Florida (-14.5) wins it 31-14.

No. 3 Texas at No. 13 Oklahoma State; 8 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: Oklahoma State hasn’t beaten Texas since 1997 but the Cowboys believe this is their best (and possibly only) chance to beat the third-ranked Longhorns. The last time these two teams played in Oklahoma, Texas came back from 21 down in the fourth quarter to take a 38-35 victory. Colt McCoy threw three picks in that game, but has a solid history against the Cowboys, completing almost 80 percent of his passes. Still, I see Oak State shocking the world tonight. The Pick: Oklahoma State (+9.5) wins it 37-34.

No. 4 Southern Cal at No. 10 Oregon; 8 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: Everyone remembers the infamous punch at the end of Oregon’s loss to Boise State in the opening week, but since then, the Ducks have become one of the hottest teams in the country. And with a victory tonight against USC, Oregon could very well become a darkhorse national title contender. Southern Cal, on the other hand, needs a big victory to stay in contention. The Pick: Oregon (+3) wins it 28-27.

Indiana at No. 7 Iowa; 12 p.m.; ESPN
The Skinny: Iowa lost its second starting running back to a season-ending injury last week, so the pressure will be on quarterback Ricky Stanzi to keep the Hawkeyes undefeated season in tact today. While that shouldn’t be a problem against Indiana, Iowa has seemingly won every game this season in the final moments, so an absolute blowout probably won’t be in the forecast. The Pick: Iowa (-17.5) wins it 27-12.

UNLV at No. 8 TCU; 4 p.m., VS
The Skinny: TCU is in an unfortunate battle with Boise State to claim probably the one and only BCS berth reserved for a non-major conference team. That is the college football world we live in at the moment – and it’s not going to change. If TCU and Boise both win out, they should both get BCS bids, but it won’t happen. So, TCU is going to have to rout rival UNLV today. The Pick: TCU (-35) wins it 49-7.

No. 12 Penn State at Northwestern; 4:30 p.m.; ESPN
The Skinny: Northwestern had to rally from 28-3 down to beat Indiana last week 29-28, so I don’t like the Wildcats chances against an awesome Penn State defense today. Quarterback Daryll Clark and the Nittany Lions offense has been clicking as well, making this game a nightmare for a sub-par Northwestern squad. Hopefully Penn State isn’t looking ahead to Ohio State next week. The Pick: Penn State (-17) wins it 33-10.

No. 18 Miami at Wake Forest; 3:30 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: The Hurricanes should bounce back from a devastating overtime loss to Clemson last week. The Pick: Miami (-7) wins it 28-13. Here are Craig Carroll’s picks for the week: Georgia, Texas USC, Indiana, UNLV, Penn State, Miami. Remember to check out College GameDay Rewind at bradcarrollgameday.blogspot.com.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND: HOT DOG GATE AND THE YANKEES-PHILLIES WS PREDICTION

2009-10-28T14:10:00.006-04:00

I’ll start College GameDay Rewind with a controversy as big as anything in the sports world today – Hot Dog Gate. Well, not exactly, but it has created a stir. If you didn’t see it, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez ate a hot dog on the sideline during his team’s 38-0 win over the Raiders. Sanchez said he was feeling queasy and needed to eat something, and when someone offered a hot dog he took it. Of course, being New York, the episode has blown up into a mini-controversy. I laughed when I saw it on television but thought immediately that he was going to get heat for it. But when you sit down and think about it for a second, who really cares? I haven’t heard anything from the Raiders about it, so why should any of us care? We shouldn’t. Of course, it makes for good copy for the mid-week doldrums of covering professional football, so it won’t go away completely. Sanchez did turn the controversy into a positive, however, as he donated 500 hot dogs and 500 hamburgers to the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown, N.J. Now, he just has to go out and kill the Dolphins on Sunday.
For our second part of Rewind controversies, Jimmy Rollins went on national television saying that the Phillies were going to win the World Series in five games over the Yankees. Of course, the New York media has jumped all over it and put him all over the back pages. In both the Daily News and the New York Post the headlines were similar – Shut Him Up! I love it when newspapers get behind there teams and make it a war. And that’s what New York does best. On a small scale, I try and do that in The Bristol Press and the New Britain Herald. You can see a little bit of that in today’s Herald. As for the series itself, I’m going with the Yankees in six … close it out at the new Stadium. Post your predictions in the comments section, or e-mail me at bcarroll@centralctcommunications.com.

Now, on to College GameDay Rewind:

My Weekend: 2-5 (spread); 6-1 (overall); 0-1 (upset picks)
My Season: 31-24-1 (spread); 44-12 (overall); 5-3 (upset picks)
My Money: UP $460 (season)
Craig's Weekend: 5-2 (spread)
Craig's Season: 27-28-1 (spread)
Craig's Money: DOWN $380 (season)

Minnesota +16 at No. 18 Ohio State
My Pick: Ohio State 35, Minnesota 12
Actual Score: Ohio State 38, Minnesota 7
Ohio State blew the game open in the second half to turn a 7-0 halftime edge to an easy 31-point victory. A fumbled kickoff turned the tide early in the third quarter to start us off at 1-0. Craig also went with OSU to start 1-0.

No. 13 Penn State -4.5 at Michigan
My Pick: Michigan 23, Penn State 21
Actual Score: Penn State 35, Michigan 10
After Michigan took a 7-0 lead on the first drive of the game – the first team all season to score a touchdown in the first half against Penn State – I thought I had another upset pick in the bag. But that was the last of the good will the Wolverines would hand out at the Big House. Penn State went up and down the field on Michigan and ended its long losing streak at Michigan Stadium with a big win. Michigan looked terrible, especially at the end of the first half when it blew a chance to cut the lead to 19-14. What started as a first-and-goal from the two turned into a spike play on third down with a ton of time left and Michigan had to settle for a field goal. It was all downhill from there. I’m 1-1 on the day, while Craig improves to 2-0.

Tennessee +14.5 at No. 1 Alabama
My Pick: Alabama 12, Tennessee 10
Actual Score: Alabama 27, Tennessee 10
Tennessee had a shot to pull off the upset, but its last-second field goal was blocked and Alabama survived. Despite my pick of Alabama, I was rooting for the upset, as the last thing I want at the end of the season is having only Florida, Alabama and Texas with a chance to play for the national championship. Each of those teams have looked horrible (more than once) this season and I’m not happy in the least that it’s almost a lock that two of those will play for the title. I want some new blood and I would love if Boise State could somehow find its way into the game. I drop to 1-2 with the Alabama pick, while Craig falls to 2-1.

Boston College +7.5 at Notre Dame
My Pick: Notre Dame 33, Boston College 20
Actual Score: Notre Dame 20, Boston College 16
Looking back, I should have gone with Boston College and the points, seeing as though almost every game Notre Dame plays comes down to the wire. And that’s exactly what happened again, even though Boston College isn’t very good this year. The Eagles actually led at the end of the third quarter, but the Irish came back to end their hex against Boston College. In what is becoming a very bad day, I drop to 1-3. Craig, on the other hand, is making up some ground with a 3-1 record.

Auburn +7.5 at No. 9 LSU
My Pick: LSU 9, Auburn 6
Actual Score: LSU 31, Auburn 10
I don’t know how in the world that LSU could score 31 points on anyone, let alone an SEC rival. But the Tigers did and I have to take yet another loss on my record to drop to 1-4. Craig, of course, went with LSU to improve to 4-1 on the day.

No. 2 Florida -23 at Mississippi State
My Pick: Florida 45, Mississippi State 14
Actual Score: Florida 29, Mississippi State 19
I should have listened to what I wrote in my GameDay column and went with the former coach facing his old team. It almost always results in a well-played game that gives the underdog a shot at the end of the game. But I thought that Urban Meyer would run up the score after some disappointing victories in the last few weeks. But Florida just isn’t good enough to do that and the Gators had to survive a scare from Mississippi State. That’s just another reason why the top three teams can’t play in the national title game. I drop another game and clock in at 1-5 with one to play. Craig also went with the Gators to fall to 4-2.

No. 3 Texas -13 at Missouri
My Pick: Texas 35, Missouri 13
Actual Score: Texas 41, Missouri 7
Well, at least one team in the top three came to play on Saturday. Texas rolled to the win over Missouri to (finally!) get me back on the winning track. I end the day with a very disappointing 2-5 record. Craig makes a big jump back into the race with a 5-2 record.

(AP photo)

COLLEGE GAMEDAY COLUMN: WILL I EVER GO AGAINST THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES?

2009-10-23T23:09:00.005-04:00

Executive Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the top games of the day
Last Week: 4-2-1 (spread); 5-2 (overall); 1-1 (upset picks)
Craig's Week: 4-2-1
This Season: 29-19-1 (spread); 38-11 (overall); 5-2 (upset picks)
Craig's Season: 22-26-1

Tennessee at No. 1 Alabama; 3:30 p.m.; CBS
The Skinny: With Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy looking very ordinary lately, Alabama RB Mark Ingram has jumped into the Heisman Trophy race. Ingram rushed for 246 yards last week in a 20-6 win over South Carolina, the third highest in school history. Today against Tennessee, he could go a long way to jumping to the top of the class with a big game. But he’ll have to do better than last year against the Vols, where he rushed for a grand total of one yard. The Pick: Alabama (-14.5) wins it 27-10.

No. 2 Florida at Mississippi State; 7:30 p.m.; ESPN
The Skinny: Even though Florida dropped to No. 2 in the AP poll, the Gators are still tops in the BCS standings. Florida, however, will want to make a statement tonight against Mississippi State and coach Dan Mullen, the Gators former offensive coordinator. Typically, I would take the points when a big favorite is facing a former coach (remember Washington-USC?), but Urban Meyer is going to run it up on struggling Mississippi State. The Pick: Florida (-23) wins it 45-14.

No. 3 Texas at Missouri; 8 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: Missouri is nowhere near the team it has been the past couple seasons when they won back-to-back Big 12 North titles. That, coupled with the fact that the Tigers have had no success against Texas, says this one could and should be a rout. The Longhorns need to bounce back with an impressive performance, after a not-so-impressive win over Oklahoma last week. The Pick: Texas (-13) wins it 35-13.

Auburn at No. 9 LSU; 7:30 p.m.; ESPN2
The Skinny: This is one matchup that could turn out to be a barnburner — if you consider a game that ends 9-6 on a late field goal a barnburner. LSU has no offense and Auburn isn’t very good either, so this one has all the makings of a defensive showcase that will have viewers searching for an alternative. Playing at home will be the difference as LSU wins a close game. The Pick: LSU (-7.5) wins it 9-6.

No. 13 Penn State at Michigan; 3:30 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: The Big House hasn’t really been a place of horror for opposing teams in the recent past, well, except for Penn State. The Nittany Lions haven’t won in Michigan Stadium since 1996, which spans five games. The Penn State defense, however, has been very good this season and could very well end that streak today. Still, I think the Wolverines pull it out. The Pick: Michigan (+4.5) wins it 23-21.

Minnesota at No. 18 Ohio State; 12 p.m.; ESPN
The Skinny: Ohio State has fallen on such hard times that there is talk of benching quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who was a darkhorse Heisman candidate at the beginning of the year. Pryor had four turnovers in a stunning loss to a horrible Purdue team last week to sink OSU to No. 18 in the rankings. The Buckeyes should bounce back today at home. The Pick: Ohio State (-16) wins it 35-12.

Boston College at Notre Dame; 3:30 p.m.; NBC
The Skinny: Notre Dame came very close to pulling off the upset last week against USC ... today the Irish get an easy win. The Pick: Notre Dame (-7.5) wins it 33-20. Here are Craig Carroll’s picks for the week: Alabama, Florida, Missouri, LSU, Penn State, Ohio State, Boston College. bradcarrollgameday.blogspot.com.

(AP photo)

GAMEDAY LIVE: WINDSOR AT NEWINGTON

2009-10-23T19:08:00.009-04:00

Windsor 34, Newington 0
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
W-Dazahn Wilson25-yard pass from Pierre Narcisse, 5:24. (Kick good)
Second Quarter
W-Peter Tiemann 14-yard pass from Pierre Narcisse, 2:03. (Kick good)
Third Quarter
W-Aaron Beradino 1-yard run, 9:00. (Kick good)
Fourth Quarter
W-Aaron Beradino 1-yard run, 11:53. (Kick failed)
W-Aaron Beradino 5-yard run, 6:13. (Kick good)

GAMEDAY LIVE: ROCKY HILL AT BERLIN

2009-10-23T19:05:00.008-04:00

Berlin 20, Rocky Hill 0
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
B-Max DeLorenzo 56-yard run, 9:52. (Devin Silverman kick failed)
Second Quarter
None
Third Quarter
B-Max DeLorenzo 4-yard run, 5:50. (Pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
B-Taylor Tavarozzi 2-yard run, 5:52. (Brian Malloy from Dan Hackett)

GAMEDAY LIVE: MIDDLETOWN AT SOUTHINGTON

2009-10-23T19:03:00.013-04:00

Southington 35, Middletown 7
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
S-Mike Rhodd 75-yard kickoff return, 11:48. (Conversion failed)
Second Quarter
S-Anthony Florian 94-yard pass from Connor Butkiewicz, 10:12. (Conversion failed)
M-Devon Carrillo 5-yard pass from Jason Woods, 6:05. (Jason Sinagra kick)
S-Dylan Danko 8-yard run, 3:35. (Conversion good)
Third Quarter
S-Dylan Danko 36-yard run, 11:45. (Pass failed)
S-Dylan Danko 4-yard run, 4:45. (Pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
S-Dylan Danko 27-yard field goal, 8:47.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND: UNLIKE BASEBALL UMPIRES, WE NEVER MISS A CALL

2009-10-21T13:11:00.005-04:00

The umpiring in the baseball playoffs this year has been so dreadful that I would seriously consider dumping every umpire that has made these embarrassing calls over the past few weeks. Just yesterday, in the Yankees-Angeles game, there were countless errors. And none of them were of the bang-bang variety where the call could have gone either way. Tim McClelland made two boneheaded plays at third base and his explanation on one of them should be reason enough to get rid of the guy. In talking about his decision to call Nick Swisher out at third base on a tag-up, a call that can only be made if you’re absolutely sure, he said this: “I said in my heart I thought he left too soon, but the replay showed that he didn't.” So, we’re making decisions with our heart now and not our eyes? That’s exactly what you want to hear from an umpire. The only thing more embarrassing than the call is that explanation. Just so I’m not playing favorites, the Yankees were the benefit of two disastrous calls as well. The umpiring should be getting better and better, not worse and worse in the playoffs. Hopefully, MLB doesn’t let these umpires off the hook.

Now, on to College GameDay Rewind:

My Weekend: 4-2-1 (spread); 5-2 (overall); 1-1 (upset picks)
My Season: 29-19-1 (spread); 38-11 (overall); 5-2 (upset picks)
My Money: UP $810 (season)
Craig's Weekend: 4-2-1 (spread)
Craig's Season: 22-26-1 (spread)
Craig's Money: DOWN $660 (season)

No. 20 Oklahoma +3 vs. No. 3 Texas
My Pick: Texas 31, Oklahoma 27
Actual Score: Texas 16, Oklahoma 13
After watching Texas play so poorly in this game, I’m surprised the Longhorns are even considered a national title contender anymore. It was that bad. Playing against an Oklahoma team that lost Sam Bradford early, Texas should have taken control and erased any doubt of its status on the national stage. Instead, the Horns put forth an almost embarrassing display in barely escaping with the win. Oklahoma wasn’t any better, but without its star quarterback, that is almost expected. Fittingly, the game ended in a tie with the points, so it’s a wash to start.

No. 11 Iowa +2.5 at Wisconsin
My Pick: Iowa 24, Wisconsin 21
Actual Score: Iowa 20, Wisconsin 10
Iowa scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to give us the “upset pick” victory. The Hawkeyes made it interesting, trailing 10-3 at the half, but came through in the end to give both Craig and I our first win.

Minnesota +17.5 at No. 14 Penn State
My Pick: Penn State 35, Minnesota 10
Actual Score: Penn State 20, Minnesota 0
Well, the analysis of the game was spot-on; too bad the score was a little too close for comfort. Nevertheless, it’s another victory for both of us as Penn State’s defense came up big and didn’t allow Minnesota to get on the scoreboard. Both Craig and I improve to 2-0-1 on the day.

Arkansas +24.5 at No. 1 Florida
My Pick: Florida 31, Arkansas 17
Actual Score: Florida 23, Arkansas 20
I was already leaning toward giving Florida a loss in the SEC Championship game against (most likely) Alabama … now, I’m thinking it’s going to be an easy pick for the Crimson Tide. Florida barely escaped at home against a run-of-the-mill Arkansas team, needing a last-second field goal to win. The Gators have since dropped to No. 2 in the rankings. I said in GameDay that the Hogs would stick around in the fourth quarter, I just didn’t believe they would have had the chance to win – and they did. Luckily for Florida, Arkansas missed a field goal to set up the winning score. Craig and I both get another victory, improving to 3-0-1.

No. 6 Southern Cal -10 at No. 25 Notre Dame
My Pick: Notre Dame 31, Southern Cal 30
Actual Score: Southern Cal 34, Notre Dame 27
This may very well have been the first time I’ve rooted for Notre Dame to win a game – and we all know why. I went out on a limb and picked the upset for the Irish, and they were one play away from sending the game to overtime. But a few horrible plays near the goal line at the end of regulation ruined the pick and the game for ND. Matt Barkley was huge for USC and the sole reason why the Irish couldn’t pull off the upset. That’s a great sign for the Trojans going forward. With or without the upset, Notre Dame still improves my record to 4-0-1. Craig drops to 3-1-1 with the USC pick.

No. 4 Virginia Tech -3 at No. 19 Georgia Tech
My Pick: Virginia Tech 30, Georgia Tech 20
Actual Score: Georgia Tech 28, Virginia Tech 20
Virginia Tech had its chance to move into the national championship discussion and give the ACC some respect, but that all went up in flames at Georgia Tech. Not much else to say as I was preoccupied with the Yankees in the ALCS. I take my first defeat of the day, while Craig gets back with the win, as we both check in with 4-1-1 records.

No. 22 South Carolina +17.5 at No. 2 Alabama
My Pick: Alabama 38, South Carolina 24
Actual Score: Alabama 20, South Carolina 6
All I know about this game was random scoring updates as the Yankees were locked in a classic with the Angels. It would have been nice if Alabama’s offense could have showed up, so I take another loss to finish the week a very good 4-2-2. Craig also gets the winning week, finishing 4-2-2 as well.

(AP photo)

UCONN STARTING CB JASPER HOWARD STABBED TO DEATH NEAR CENTER OF CAMPUS

2009-10-18T12:37:00.003-04:00

STORRS (AP) -- A University of Connecticut football player died Sunday following an on-campus stabbing, hours after the team's victory over Louisville.

Twenty-year-old Jasper Howard of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, was stabbed during a fight early Sunday. A message posted on the university's Web site said the fight and stabbing happened near Hillside Road, which is near the center of the Storrs campus. The perpetrator was still at large.

University president Michael Hogan told The Associated Press that the stabbing is a tragedy for the entire university community. He says state police are working with campus police.

A message with UConn police was not immediately returned.

Howard was credited with 11 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in UConn's 38-25 victory Saturday over Louisville. He led the Big East in punt returns last season.

(Mike Orazzi photo)

GAMEDAY LIVE: BERLIN AT SIMSBURY

2009-10-16T18:45:00.010-04:00

Simsbury 28, Berlin 14
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
B-Dan Hackett 3-yard run, 6:48. (Devin Silverman kick).
Second Quarter
S-Connely Cummings 5-yard run, 5:54. (Jim Poggio kick).
S-Kyle Decker 3-yard run, 3:17. (Kick blocked).
Third Quarter
S-Connely Cummings 31-yard run, 11:14. (Decker run).
Fourth Quarter
S-Kyle Decker 1-yard run, 6:42. (Poggio kick).
B-Max DeLorenzo 17-yard run, 4:12. (Silverman kick).

GAMEDAY LIVE: NEWINGTON AT ROCKY HILL

2009-10-16T18:43:00.010-04:00

Newington 27, Rocky Hill 20
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
N-Anthony Szewz 28-yard pass from Jeremy Rodriguez, 7:15. (Kick good).
RH-Joey Carducci 25-yard interception return, :28. (Kick good).
Second Quarter
N-Golden Tate 5-yard run, 1:38. (Kick good).
Third Quarter
N-Malik Golden 24-yard pass to Jonathan Snyder, 4:40. (Kick good).
RH-Will Roccanello 2-yard run, :51. (Kick good).
Fourth Quarter
N-Daniel Vasquez fumble recovery, 7:36. (Kick failed).
RH-Mike Dance 7-yard pass from Bryan MacDonald, 3:42. (Kick failed).

COLLEGE GAMEDAY COLUMN: NOTRE DAME OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? YES ... I'M CRAZY

2009-10-16T14:35:00.004-04:00

Executive Sports Editor Brad Carroll takes a look at the top games of the day
Last Week: 3-4 (spread); 5-2 (overall); 0-1 (upset picks)
Craig's Week: 2-5
This Season: 25-17 (spread); 33-9 (overall); 4-1 (upset picks)
Craig's Season: 18-24

Arkansas at No. 1 Florida; 3:30 p.m.; CBS
The Skinny: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow should be back to full-strength (both physically and mentally) this week, but I don’t think the Gators will push him too much in what should be an easy win. Arkansas upset Auburn last week, but has no shot to win this game at The Swap – but that doesn’t mean they won’t be able to keep it close. With quarterback Ryan Mallett on the field, and the Hogs full of confidence, I can see them pushing the game into the fourth quarter. The Pick: Florida (-24.5) wins it 31-17.

No. 22 South Carolina at No. 2 Alabama; 7:45 p.m.; ESPN
The Skinny: South Carolina is looking to match its longest winning streak in the Steve Spurrier era, but winning that fifth straight game will be a monumental task tonight at Alabama. The Tide moved up to No. 2 in the polls this week, jumping Texas, but that ranking means little considering the potential SEC Championship showdown with Florida will determine everything. South Carolina has a tremendous defense, but no offense, which means Alabama rolls to the win. The Pick: Alabama (-17.5) wins it 38-14.

No. 20 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Texas; 12 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: The Red River Shootout doesn’t have the same hype that was expected when the season kicked off, as the Sooners lost two games with star quarterback Sam Bradford on the sidelines due to injury, but plenty is still at stake for Texas. If the Longhorns win out, they will play for the national title. For the Sooners, Bradford is back and healthy, so the game could go either way. The Pick: Texas (-3) wins it 31-27.

No. 4 Virginia Tech at No. 19 Georgia Tech; 6 p.m.; ESPN2
The Skinny: If you haven’t already noticed, today is a big day for college football fans. This ACC showdown is just another attractive game on the docket. Virginia Tech’s only loss on the season came in the season opener against Alabama, which doesn’t look so bad now. The Tech offense and defense are both playing at a high level, which isn’t good for the Yellowjackets and their porous defense. The Pick: Virginia Tech (-3) wins it 30-20.

No. 6 Southern Cal at No. 25 Notre Dame; 3:30 p.m.; NBC
The Skinny: Call me crazy, but I actually believe the Fighting Irish have a real shot to win this game today at home. I know, I know. I’m insane. But Notre Dame has been playing real well since its loss to Michigan. USC, on the other hand, hasn’t been a world-beater. That, coupled with the fact that the Irish are playing for Charlie Weis’ job, and we got ourselves a possible upset pick. The Pick: Notre Dame (+10) wins it 31-30.

No. 11 Iowa at Wisconsin; 12 p.m.; ESPN
The Skinny: Wisconsin really disappointed me last week in its big loss to Ohio State. But it did prove the Badgers weren’t ready for primetime. Iowa simply continues to win games, now up to 11 straight, despite not getting much offense. The Hawkeyes have won their last three games by three or fewer points, so this one could come down to the wire – again. Look for Iowa to win with a late field goal. The Pick: Iowa (+2.5) wins it 24-21.

Minnesota at No. 14 Penn State; 3:30 p.m.; ABC
The Skinny: This game features a bad offense (Minnesota) against a great defense (Penn State). That’s not a good thing for the Gophers. The Pick: Penn State (-17.5) wins it 35-10. Here are Craig Carroll’s picks for the week: Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Georgia Tech, USC, Iowa, Penn State. Remember to check out College GameDay Rewind at bradcarrollgameday.blogspot.com.

(AP photo)

GAMEDAY LIVE: ST. PAUL AT SACRED HEART

2009-10-15T18:10:00.021-04:00

St. Paul 60, Sacred Heart 29
FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
SP-Byron Jones 28-yard pass from Tanner Bachand, 10:50. (Conversion failed).
SP-Chris Bachand 29-yard run, 8:38. (Conversion failed).
SP-Tanner Bachand 30-yard run, 4:58. (Travis Thomas run).
SH-Rohan Ifill 1-yard run, :44. (Ruben Berger kick).
Second Quarter
SP-Chris Bachand 44-yard run, 11:41. (Bryon Jones reception).
SH-David Coggins 37-yard pass from Rohan Ifill, 9:13. (Kick failed).
SP-Chris Bachand 77-yard run, 6:34. (Conversion failed).
SH-Ruben Berger 85-yard pass from Rohan Ifill, 1:50. (Ruben Berger reception).
SP-Chris Bachand 17-yard run, :05. (Conversion failed).
Third Quarter
SP-Chris Bachand 19-yard pass from Tanner Bachand, 11:17. (Conversion failed).
SH-David Coggins 64-yard pass from Rohan Ifill, 5:04. (Ruben Berger reception).
SP-Chris Bachand 80-yard run, :46. (Tanner Bachand run).
Fourth Quarter
SP-Chris Bachand 19-yard run, 10:32. (Kick failed).

COLLEGE GAMEDAY REWIND: SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RED SOX SWEEPING TO THE WS, SOX FANS?

2009-10-12T18:08:00.007-04:00

Three sweeps in the first round of the Major League Baseball playoffs is a great thing. Why? Because it means TBS will be limited in its coverage of the playoffs. If you’ve watched any of the coverage, you know what I’m talking about. TBS has ruined playoff baseball, starting last year and continuing this month. The announcers are horrible – pathetic even. The graphics are bad – something that I wouldn’t even typically notice. The sound of the games is off too, as the crowds seem subdued when I know they aren’t. And the biggest thing is the network’s horrible decision to refuse to put the games on local television in the home markets that don’t have cable television. That is the most pathetic decision ever made and Major League Baseball should be called out on it. Even the big, bad NFL still puts games on local television when they are on cable. Unfortunately, those in the National League will have to suffer through the NLCS on TBS as well. I never thought I would be happy to see Joe Buck and Tim McCarver and the FOX crew in the ALCS.
By the way, where exactly are the Red Sox right now? All I heard from their fans over the past week was that they were going to roll into the World Series. It didn’t exactly turn out like that, did it? Red Sox fans have become the most hilariously misinformed and misguided people on the planet. (On a side note, anyone want to compare Jonathan Papelbon and Mariano Rivera anymore? Didn't think so.) Yankees fans, on the other hand, just laugh and say “we’ll see what happens” in response. And there you go.

Now, on to College GameDay Rewind:

My Weekend: 3-4 (spread); 5-2 (overall); 0-1 (upset picks)
My Season: 25-17 (spread); 33-9 (overall); 4-1 (upset picks)
My Money: UP $630 (season)
Craig's Weekend: 2-5 (spread)
Craig's Season: 18-24 (spread)
Craig's Money: DOWN $840 (season)

No. 17 Auburn -2.5 at Arkansas
My Pick: Auburn 22, Arkansas 17
Actual Score: Arkansas 44, Auburn 23
The worst part about this game was the fact that no other channel was offering a worthwhile alternative. So, I suffered through this game, which was already deemed a loss very early on. Thank God I took off to watch Ireland and Italy soccer early in the second half and didn’t have to watch the end. The only other thing to say is that Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino is still a quitter and a bum and a loser. Got any other adjectives? Craig and I both start with a loss.

No. 3 Alabama -4.5 at No. 20 Ole Miss
My Pick: Alabama 33, Ole Miss 24
Actual Score: Alabama 22, Ole Miss 3
As I’ve said for the past few weeks, Alabama is the real deal, and I’m starting to believe that the Crimson Tide could knock off Florida. This game was supposed to be close, but Alabama easily took care of the fakers from Ole Miss. This was a good way to rebound and even my record at 1-1. Craig also went with the Tide and, in fact, he only has one pick different than me this week – that can’t be good … can it?

UConn +7 at Pittsburgh
My Pick: Pittsburgh 33, UConn 22
Actual Score: Pittsburgh 24, UConn 21
Pittsburgh scored 21 points in the second half and outscored the Huskies 11-0 in the fourth quarter to take the victory, but it wasn’t enough to give me or Craig the win as we both drop to 1-2. UConn choked away a 21-6 lead with 3:56 to play in the third quarter, losing on a field goal with no time left. That is two horrible losses in the final moments for the Huskies this season, including losing on a safety to North Carolina. Is it time to get the hotseat warm for coach Randy Edsall? Well, of course not, because UConn and its coaches and athletes are untouchable in this state. There’s always this blog, I guess.

Wisconsin +16 at No. 9 Ohio State
My Pick: Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 17
Actual Score: Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 13
Ohio State led 14-10 at the half and things were looking good for our Wisconsin pick. But the Buckeyes took control in the second, outscoring the Badgers 17-3 to beat both Craig and I. This one hurt as I thought Wisconsin would show up and put up a fight – for more than just a half. Now I know why the previously undefeated Badgers were 16-point underdogs. Me and Craig both drop to 1-3.

Colorado +32.5 at No. 2 Texas
My Pick: Texas 49, Colorado 21
Actual Score: Texas 38, Colorado 14
This was an easy pick, although anyone can say that a couple days later looking back at a win. I didn’t think the spread should have been so high in the first place and it turned out to be true. Both Craig and I move to 2-3 on the day.

Michigan +8 at No. 12 Iowa
My Pick: Michigan 23, Iowa 21
Actual Score: Iowa 30, Michigan 28
Craig might still be complaining about this game – saying that Iowa dominated and the score shouldn’t have been as close as it was. I just sit back and smile as I win the only came we differed on the entire day. What Craig didn’t notice was that quarterback Tate Forcier was horrible and was benched in the fourth quarter, and yet the Wolverines still had a chance to win the game late. This one does hurt, as I lost my first upset pick of the season, six weeks into the season. Not to mention that I’m a Michigan fan. With that said, I still get the win, improving to 3-3 on the day. Craig drops to 2-4.

No. 1 Florida -7 at No. 4 LSU
My Pick: Florida 28, LSU 24
Actual Score: Florida 13, LSU 3
Alright, I knew LSU wasn’t the greatest team in the land. In fact, I know the Tigers aren’t very good compared to other teams in the SEC, despite their No. 4 ranking, which is inflated because there aren’t many great teams in college football this season. But is one touchdown too much to ask for in your home stadium in the biggest game of the year? Come on – a field goal is all you can muster? Really? If you told me Florida would score just 13 points, the only thing I would worry about is me losing my straight-up pick of the Gators. It was just a horrible loss for the Tigers. Craig and I both take the loss, with me finishing at 3-4 and him taking a 2-5 final record.

(AP photo)