The Goat Pen

Some drive-by NFL picks for this weekend:

Detroit 27, Minnesota 21
Cincinnati 20, San Francisco 16
Carolina 26, Jacksonville 17
Philadelphia 21, NY Giants 20*
New England 35, Buffalo 24
Baltimore 23, St. Louis 14
New Orleans 31, Houston 27
Cleveland 24, Miami 21
Oakland 23, NY Jets 20
San Diego 35, Kansas City 13
Tennessee 27, Denver 17
Chicago 24, Green Bay 23
Atlanta 27, Tampa Bay 22
Arizona 28, Seattle 19
Pittsburgh 28, Indianapolis 13
Dallas 24, Washington 20

(* Assumes Vick doesn't play)

Romo plays next week?

Jonquil the Dauphin wrote:I'd think East Carolina ends up in some sort of salvaged Big East, no?

ND isn't going anywhere as long as NBC is going to overpay for the rights to Irish football. And if they are going to go somewhere, would they rather be in a conference where virtually every school has stellar academics (Big 10, or B1G as some are calling it) or would they rather be in a conference that sports, among others, Miami, Florida State, and Clemson?

Miami is a good school academically. I'm pretty sure the ACC actually has a higher average ranking in US News than the Big 10, despite FSU being pretty low, especially since Nebraska is added to the mix.

a couple of things I just read on the UK message board

someone is reporting that WVU 's application was rejected by the SEC

and the Big 12/Big East are talking merger to maintain their BCS status and have access to several TV markets.

They can talk merger all they want, but there's no guarantee that they'll be able to maintain BCS status, especially if they leak a few more teams.

yea, several people are saying that they won't be one of the "big 4" if they do merge

also, it appears WVU is just deferred until the A&M thing is settled, not rejected.

Saint wrote:well, apparently East Carolina is getting serious about going somewhere.

Heh Heh. Ha Ha. Cute.

MWC / CUSA may be looking at some type of merger as well.

Miami is a good school academically. I'm pretty sure the ACC actually has a higher average ranking in US News than the Big 10, despite FSU being pretty low, especially since Nebraska is added to the mix.

Academic smack talk cheat sheet...

ACC
Duke-10
Virginia-25
Wake Forest-25
North Carolina-29
Boston College-31
Georgia Tech-36
Miami-38
Maryland-55
Clemson-68
Virginia Tech-71
Florida State-101
NC State-101

B1G
Northwestern-12
Michigan-28
Wisconsin-42
Penn State-45
Illinois-45
Ohio State-55
Purdue-62
Minnesota-68
Michigan State-71
Iowa-71
Indiana-75
Nebraska-101

Big 12
Texas-45
Texas A&M-48
Baylor-75
Missouri-90
Iowa State-97
Kansas-101
Oklahoma-101
Oklahoma State-132
Kansas State-143
Texas Tech-160

Big East
Connecticut-58
Pittsburgh-58
Syracuse-62
Rutgers-68
Cincinnati-143
Louisville-164
West Virginia-164
South Florida-181

Pac 12
Stanford-5
California-21
USC-23
UCLA-25
Washington-42
Colorado-94
Oregon-101
Washington State-115
Arizona-124
Utah-124
Arizona State-132
Oregon State-138

SEC
Vanderbilt-17
Florida-58
Georgia-62
Alabama-75
Auburn-82
Tennessee-101
South Carolina-111
Kentucky-124
LSU-128
Arkansas-132
Mississippi-143
Mississippi State-157

Hizzy III wrote:MWC / CUSA may be looking at some type of merger as well.

How is that supposed to work? C-USA has 12 teams and MWC has about 10, right?

And don't think I'm going to drop this separate football conferences idea. It makes too much damn sense.

Why pay for that travel for the swim team? Sure, ship the football team all over god's green earth 1/2 dozen or less times a year. But why fly your womens field hockey team from Austin to Corvalis?

week 1 survival

done

stupid browns

stupid bengals

friggin rat

So Hizzy appears to concur that San Diego is the lock solid pick for the week.

As much as I hear you re the Chargers losing those kinds of games in the past, the Chiefs are a sinking ship at this point. I really don't see any other attractive options.

I've been betting along w/ Sporticus this young season - and am UP UP UP!!!!!!

[youtube]n-f9O0eZjUI[/youtube]

Aside from the unbearable grammar and spelling mistakes, all in all, not a horrible effort.

Likely written by a West Virginian...

Mike DeArmound of the Kansas City Star is reporting that Missouri has an official offer from the SEC.

Well, the good news there is that we can finally get that Mizzou-Arkansas rivalry going as it should be.