11/9/2007 - Roy Exum: My 10 Picks – Week 11 - Sports

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July 4, 2009

Roy Exum: My 10 Picks – Week 11
by Roy Exum
posted November 9, 2007

Roy Exum

There is an ancient saying that goes, “The bones remember and the blood never forgets.” It is a fancy precursor to the more modern version, “What goes around comes around.”

So when the Notre Dame football team tripped once more last weekend, losing to Navy for the first time in over 40 seasons and falling to 1-8 overall in what is fast becoming the worst season in its oft-hallowed history, I thought again of my boy “Doogie.”

I know, I shouldn’t be like this, but right after I hired Steven Hargis as a sports writer, he was so innocent – and bumbling – his fellow writers immediately tagged him with the nickname of an innocent and bumbling TV sitcom star of the day.

Well, he’s since become a terrific writer while I’ve drifted away, but I keep up with him and one day his editors dispatched him to Dalton where the “legendary” Charlie Weis was giving a talk to a huge gathering of the Notre Dame fans.

Afterwards, when “Doogie” asked for a few minutes to interview the Fighting Irish coach, Weis not only shunned the kid, but he was cruel and vicious in the way he did it. It was uncalled for and I tucked that away because there was no call for that.

Well, Steven Hargis has since won more writing awards than Weis’ team has won games and, this summer, when the disgustingly fat Weis sued some doctors because his gastric bypass surgery had gone awry, there was quite a bunch of us who were pulling for the surgeons in that one and were delighted when the jury found the doctors completely innocent.

Now, as Notre Dame faces Air Force this Saturday, there are is a far greater number of “underground railroad” fans who don’t really care what happens tomorrow as long as it will hasten the day Charlie Weis is ridden out of South Bend on a rail.

The problem Notre Dame has is that last year they extended Weis’ contract through 2015 for somewhere between $30 and $40 million and a buyout may be impossible.

So as we continue to “shake down the thunder” after Navy’s 46-44 victory in overtime last Saturday, just remember this: the bones remember and the blood never forgets.

That said, here are my Top 10 picks this week:

TENNESSEE – In the SEC’s early game of the day, this one’s a “pick it” on the card so the fact it will be played in Neyland Stadium and the Vols are 25th in the BCS gives UT the edge. UA runner Darren McFadden is such fun to watch, but the UT secondary will focus more on the run and that too will help Tennessee, now 6-3, in what promises to be a thriller to the end. My Pick: Tennessee, 24-21.

AUBURN – The Tigers were in “idle” coasting by Tenn. Tech last Saturday, but Georgia had its hands full in that 44-34 win over Troy so look for big things out of AU’s nationally-ranked defense against the battered Bulldogs. UGa is 10th in the polls, but in this one that isn’t nearly as important as AU scoring points early in the 3:30 p.m. national TV game. This game is also a “pick it” so the home crowd (Athens) is worrisome. My Pick? Auburn, 27-18.

AIR FORCE – Normally this one wouldn’t even be on the sheet, but after Air Force soared over Army 30-10 last week while Navy was whipping you-know-who for the first time it seemed since World War II, the Irish are actually 3-point underdog! So for the love of the country and the flag and fighting men everywhere, the officials ought to throw a flag before the game ever starts for “piling on.” Incidentally, of the 119 teams that play NCAA Div. 1 football, Notre Dame is ranked 118th in scoring offense. My Pick: Air Force, 31-14.

MICHIGAN – The Wolverines, inching up on the BCS to 12th with eight straight wins since losing those first two, are a 3-point pick over Wisconsin, which isn’t rated after last week’s 38-17 whipping at Ohio State. So you’ve got to figure UM won’t dare louse this one up because it is the final piece of the puzzle before next week’s showdown when they’ll host the top-ranked Buckeyes. My Pick? Michigan, 31-21.

KENTUCKY – My soul screams Vandy since this one’s in Nashville, but the Commodores were too flat in losing 49-22 last week in Gainesville while Kentucky had a week for the bruises and lumps to heal. UK quarterback Woodson is such a game-breaker and a seventh win at this stage would be huge in UK’s bowl scheme so giving 4 points doesn’t seem like much. My Pick? Kentucky, 28-21.

NORTH CAROLINA – Since the beginning of time those in Chapel Hill have looked down on “State” and, while neither is in the Top 25 or even has a winning record, this is the one that matters. They’re playing at UNC and, if you add the four points the bookies are allowing, you have to think the ‘Heels will let it all out with those recruits in the stands. My Pick? North Carolina, 27-24.

SOUTHERN CAL – In the oh so dicey Pac 10, who would have thought this one would have been for “best runner up” to Oregon? USC, 7-2, is a paltry 17th on this week’s BCS, while Cal, barely 25th in the polls, can’t get a sniff in the big scheme so giving 4 and taking the Trojans in LA is a no-brainer. My Pick? Southern Cal, 30-18.

ALABAMA – It’s true Miss. State was off last week while Alabama was getting thumped in the closing minutes by LSU, but you’ve got to remember the Tide, with 6-3 respectability, has twice the athletic talent the Bulldogs do. MSU’s coach Croom, now 5-4, has done a great job, but he, an A-A under Bryant years ago, has no more eligibility. One more reason UA is a 6-point favorite is because a win here and another next week against La-Monroe would give Sabans’ kids eight victories going into the Iron Bowl and that’s huge.. My Pick? Alabama, 31-14.

FLORIDA – The Gators are giving 6 as they head into Columbia, but that’s not enough as the “ole ball coach” faces such talent. South Carolina has lost its sizzle with three straight losses, while Florida, 6-3, faces a “must win” in the still puzzling SEC East. The only thing fun about this week’s ESPN night game will be watching what Spurrier’s defense does to stifle UF’s Tebow. My Pick? Florida, 37-20.

CLEMSON – Clemson, 7-2, is too far out in the BCS (No. 21) for this to matter much and Wake Forest is too banged up after UVa snapped the Deacons’ four-game winning streak so look again at the talent factor and suffice it to say it’s easier to recruit at Clemson. The Tigers are giving 7, which is a lot when last week WFU just lost by 1, but this is in “Death Valley” and you know what happens when those CU players rub “Howard’s Rock.” My Pick: Clemson, 34-23.

ONE MORE – UT-Chattanooga, floundering at 3-6, took an unexpected blow when a redshirt player was arrested for rape this week so the mood will be somber when they close out the home schedule against Wofford. Unless the Mocs can make it a show from the start, there will be more people watching the TV game at T-Bones bar than will be in the bleachers at Finley Stadium. My Pick? UTC, 23-20.

LAST NIGHT – West Virginia, No. 7 in the BCS before Thursday night’s 38-31 win over Louisville, is now 8-1 and will play at Cincinnati next Saturday.

royexum@aol.com

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