[NU Sports] NU PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 1

Sun Aug 28 14:45:30 CDT 2011

What's that smell in the air??? That's right, it's FOOTBALL SEASON once again!

We're back for year 15 of the Pigskin Picks (already!) ... so it's time to fire up that grill, grab the remote, put on those purple-colored glasses and blast the NUMB CD!

Not a great lineup for opening week this year (Noles/Canes gets replaced by Terps/Canes for Monday night's ACC showcase? Yawn - that league is really tanking as a football conference), as most teams are loading up on creampuffs (thanks, stupid B(C)S!) ... but we do have a couple "preseason-NIT" bowl games in Dallas and Atlanta and an expanded Big Ten slate to give us 15 matchups. Don't forget the early kickoff in Madison, so get those picks in by THURSDAY night!

As always, pick straight-up winners ... no point spreads, no wagering ... this is just for fun and bragging rights (up-to-date hall of fame at the end of this note). And remember to reply back to me only (sjtruog at yahoo.com) and not the whole NU Sports List.

Let's get back to football!
GO CATS!!! BEAT THE EAGLES!!!

NU PIGSKIN PICKS - WEEK 1
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Name: 

BIG TEN
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GAME 1: Arkansas State @ Illinois
WINNER: 

GAME 2: Indiana vs. Ball State (@ Indianapolis, IN)
WINNER: 

GAME 3: Tennessee Tech @ Iowa
WINNER: 

GAME 4: Western Michigan @ Michigan
WINNER: 

GAME 5: Youngstown State @ Michigan State
WINNER: 

GAME 6: Minnesota @ Southern Cal
WINNER: 

GAME 7: Chattanooga @ Nebraska
WINNER: 

GAME 8: Akron @ Ohio State
WINNER: 

GAME 9: Indiana State @ Penn State
WINNER: 

GAME 10: Middle Tennessee State @ Purdue
WINNER: 

GAME 11: Nevada Las Vegas @ Wisconsin
WINNER: 

NATIONAL
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GAME 12: Louisiana State vs. Oregon (@ Dallas, TX)
WINNER: 

GAME 13: Boise State vs. Georgia (@ Atlanta, GA)
WINNER: 

GAME 14: Brigham Young @ Mississippi
WINNER: 

GAME 15: South Florida @ Notre Dame
WINNER: 

MY PICKS
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GAME 1: ILLINOIS ... Zookers run all over Arkansas State
GAME 2: INDIANA ... Wilson's crew squeaks by, but won't be back in the Oily Hoosier Dome any more this year
GAME 3: IOWA ... Hogeyes start slow but eventually overpowers for the win
GAME 4: MICHIGAN ... Big Blue wins big, kicking off the hype for the annual UM/ND "we're back?!?!" bowl
GAME 5: MSU ... but closer than expected
GAME 6: USC ... why are they on TV again?
GAME 7: NEBRASKA rolls ... welcome to the Big Ten
GAME 8: OHIO STATE comfortably ... they'll be glad to be on the field instead of in the headlines
GAME 9: PENN STATE cruises ... watch for Moye as a player of the year candidate for the Big Ten
GAME 10: PURDUE squeaks by ... this could be an upset, but I can't quite pull the trigger on it
GAME 11: WISCONSIN ... Bucky gets some prime time coverage to roll to a victory
GAME 12: OREGON ... was looking good for LSU until the long arm of the law made the Ducks' troubles look minor
GAME 13: BOISE STATE ... they'll be facing the home crowd and SEC hype, but Broncos have shown they can hang with big boys
GAME 14: MISSISSIPPI ... Cougars should have stayed in the WAC
GAME 15: NOTRE DAME ... Irish escape the revenge of Holtz Jr. and set up Michigan hoopla week

And off the board ...

* NORTHWESTERN 22, Boston College 21 - Another tough opener in enemy territory for the Cats, who will need Persa at full strength and a running game to hang on and avoid the upset ... let's go with the score from my first home game as an NU undergrad as the Cats squeak by for a must-have win in the opener.

Picks due by Thursday!
GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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## PIGSKIN PICKS - HALL OF FAME ##
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MATT HARTL "OVERALL EXCELLENCE" AWARD
Overall Pigskin Picks Champion
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> 1997 - Eric J. Steffe
> 1998 - Carl Pilger
> 1999 - Eric J. Steffe
> 2000 - Bill Praast
> 2001 - Harlan Heiber
> 2002 - Chuck Herron
> 2003 - Chuck Herron
> 2004 - Marilyn Zilka
> 2005 - Alan Wolfson
> 2006 - Marilyn Zilka
> 2007 - Marilyn Zilka
> 2008 – Marilyn Zilka
> 2009 – Bruce Taylor
> 2010 – Chuck Herron and Eric J. Steffe

ROB JOHNSON "IRONMAN" AWARD
Best record of those who have competed every week
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> 1997 - Eric J. Steffe (135-40)
> 1998 - Trey McAdams (120-40)
> 1999 - Bruce Taylor (111-39)
> 2000 - Steve Kandelman and Bruce Taylor (109-44)
> 2001 - Trey McAdams (107-43)
> 2002 - Chuck Herron (132-48)
> 2003 - Chuck Herron (130-40)
> 2004 - Marilyn Zilka (129-36)
> 2005 - Alan Wolfson (112-38)
> 2006 - Chuck Herron (113-37)
> 2007 - Stephen Truog (110-45)
> 2008 – Stephen Truog (123-42)
> 2009 – Bruce Taylor (119-36)
> 2010 – Chuck Herron and Eric J. Steffe (119-36)

STEVE SCHNUR "ACCURACY" AWARD
Highest percentage - min. 5 weeks
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> 1997 - Eric J. Steffe (.771)
> 1998 - Carl Pilger (.792)
> 1999 - Eric J. Steffe (.756)
> 2000 - Bill Praast (.714)
> 2001 - Harlan Heiber (.744)
> 2002 - Greg Kane (.738)
> 2003 - Chuck Herron (.765)
> 2004 - Marilyn Zilka (.782)
> 2005 - Alan Wolfson (.747)
> 2006 - Marilyn Zilka (.764)
> 2007 - Marilyn Zilka (.719)
> 2008 – Marilyn Zilka (.800)
> 2009 – Bruce Taylor (.768)
> 2010 – Chuck Herron and Eric J. Steffe (.768)

PAT FITZGERALD "MOST HITS" AWARD
Most correct picks overall
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> 1997 - NA
> 1998 - Trey McAdams (120)
> 1999 - Bruce Taylor (111)
> 2000 - Steve Kandelman and Bruce Taylor (109)
> 2001 - Trey McAdams (107)
> 2002 - Chuck Herron (132)
> 2003 - Chuck Herron (130)
> 2004 - Marilyn Zilka (129)
> 2005 - Alan Wolfson (112)
> 2006 - Chuck Herron (113)
> 2007 - Stephen Truog (110)
> 2008 – Stephen Truog (123)
> 2009 – Bruce Taylor (119)
> 2010 – Chuck Herron and Eric J. Steffe (119)

BRIAN MUSSO "GUTSY" AWARD
Most upset special picks
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> 1997 - NA
> 1998 - Kelly Sevilla (10)
> 1999 - Jim Bendat (12)
> 2000 - Jim Bendat and Kelly Sevilla (13)
> 2001 - Jim Bendat (15)
> 2002 - Jim Bendat (18)
> 2003 - Bill O'Connor (14)
> 2004 - Carl Rossi (10)
> 2005 - Ace McInturff (14)
> 2006 - Ace McInturff (10)
> 2007 - Sam Wolfson (16)
> 2008 – John Hodges and Ace McInturff (8)
> 2009 – Ace McInturff (11)
> 2010 – Jim Bendat (11)

D'WAYNE BATES "BOWL MVP" AWARD
Best performance in the postseason (bowl pool)
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> 1997 - Mark Loach (20-1)
> 1998 - Jeff Larson (18-4)
> 1999 - Roger Bradshaw (15-8)
> 2000 - Carl Rossi (18-6)
> 2001 - Kenn Ruby (19-6)
> 2002 - Ty Levine (18-10)
> 2003 - Ryan Farney (19-8)
> 2004 - Ace McInturff and Ivars Embrekts (19-8)
> 2005 - Bob Waldele (19-8)
> 2006 - Mark Ament and Neil Kaplan (15-5)
> 2007 - Trey McAdams, Bob Waldele and Marilyn Zilka (15-5)
> 2008 - Ray Stahl (13-7)
> 2009 – Bob Waldele and Alan Wolfson (16-4)
> 2010 - Carl Rossi (16-4)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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