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THE PROPHET SPEAKETH
College Football's Place for Foolishness on the Internet
© 2004 P. Chamlis/The Prophet Speaketh, All Rights Reserved
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Another pothole on the information superhighway,
conveniently located at
http://workmanpoll.cnchost.com/prophet
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theprophetspeaks

THE PROPHET'S RECORD FOR THE 2004 SEASON
GAMES FORECAST 145
GAMES CORRECT 109
PCT CORRECT 75.2%
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Well, as some of you know, I spent last weekend in New York City. I
had a lovely time, and only got a peek or two at any college
football. Anniversary trips are kind of like that. But, I'm very
lucky in that my wife very much adores going to and enjoying college
football games with me. Here's one more I love you, honey. And from
a standpoint of my Florida State roots, I was lucky.... I didn't see
a single snap of what was supposedly a lackluster effort at
Syracuse. I did, however, return from Broadway just in time to see
the Ron Zook show close to menacing reviews down in Gainesville. I
wonder how much longer that'll be playing? Oh well, time to start
missing some more games for this week....


Thursday, October 14
Louisville at Miami
ESPN had no way of knowing what a gem they'd booked for this Thursday
night contest. Anytime you get an intersectional battle of
undefeateds this late in the season, it's going to attract some
attention. The hometown Hurricanes have been in the ACC driver's
seat since an opening win over Florida State. L'ullville is also
flying high in their quest for another Conference-USA crown, showing
a consistent balance that many other teams envy. Since this is not a
conference tilt for either club, it's really a contest for pride,
respect and national rankings. Both the Cardinals and Canes have
pride and national rankings. But as for respect, Louisville is still
hoping for more, more, more. I think they may have an opportunity to
achieve their goal while scoring a few this Thursday in Miami.
Beating the Canes in the Orange Bowl always attracts more than a
glance. In an upset, Louisville by 3.

Saturday, October 16
N.C. State at Maryland
Both the Wolfpack and Terrapins are coming off disappointing losses
last weekend. And, if either club hopes to stay in the hunt for any
meaningful holiday bowling, they'd best right the ship in a
hurry. "Hurrying" may not be the mark of a terrapin, but look for
the hometown Terp fans to remain simply "disappointed" while the
visitors from Raleigh move on down to "disgusted". Maryland by 6.

Boston College at Pittsburgh
Just last year, the Pitt Panthers were flying high. They were
challenging for the conference crown, while all-everything wide
receiver Larry Fitzgerald was catching touchdown passes in every
game. What a difference a year makes. Now, it's the Eagles of BC
who are flying high, while Pittsburgh struggles to actually GET
touchdowns in some of their games. Actually, the only real challenge
occurring in the steel city involves the challenge to the imagination
and patience of the Pittsburgh fans. Look for BC to do their Miami
Hurricane act this Saturday in Pittsburgh. What's a "Miami Hurricane
act"? It's whipping up on the Panthers and then moving on to the
ACC. Boston College by 10.

Notre Dame at Navy
It's been forty years since the Naval Academy defeated Notre Dame in
football. And since they play every year, that's saying something.
The four decades of futility represent the present NCAA record. Let
me put it into perspective, folks... I am about to retire from work.
I have worked at my job long enough to draw a pension. And in my
lifetime, Navy has defeated Notre Dame once...forty years ago, back
when I was in first grade! So, the possibility of Navy's winning the
game represents a dramatic change in my life as I know it. But,
change is good. I believe that into every lifetime radical change
must eventually come. It could be a new and exciting love, a great
career change....or even a Midshipmen victory over the Irish. As Bob
Dylan would say, the times they are a changin'. Navy by 2.

Arizona State at USC
This Devil dash into LA could represent a greater threat to USC's
repeat national championship dreams than last weekend's contest with
Cal. Whereas the Trojans were focused on repelling and avenging the
Berkeley Bears, the possibility of a let-down against ASU is very,
very real. Look for Pete Carroll to preach a fiery sermon for much
of this week's practice time. And in the end, watch the Men of Troy
pull it out of the flames at the last possible minute. Waking up
just in time to escape the ASU brimstone, call this one USC by 6.

North Carolina at Utah
Tar Heel fans must have had mixed emotions during last weekend's
upset win against NC State. On one hand, ANY time that UNC defeats
either NC State or Duke in anything is good. But, the unexpected win
caused the inevitable talk of a job reprieve to surface for embattled
coach John Bunting. I have one word to suggest for anyone handling
John's situation at UNC. Clemson. Remember what happened last year
with CU decided to extend Tommy Bowden's contract? Are they in the
thick of the national race this year? Have they even won a game
since opening day? Point made. But it may not matter, because I
don't see the Tar Heels making any meaningful run at a winning streak
this season. Traveling all the way to Salt Lake City to collect
their next humiliating loss, look for Utah to bring down the wild
west hammer on the Carolina sheep. Utes by 21.

Wyoming at BYU
I think it may be homecoming weekend at BYU, or so I've heard. I
wonder if there is any sort of family discount for those huge Mormon
clans that support the Cougars? I'd think that the school brass
would do anything they could to insure that their grads and their
WIVES and families get a chance to return to the Provo fold. I read
somewhere that BYU always finishes last on the national list of party
schools. But, I see them having a nice little hoe-down on Saturday
as they lasso and tie up the Cowboys from Laramie. BYU by 7.

UCLA at California
If at first you can't beat a division 1-A school from Los Angeles,
you can only try, try again. Look for the second time to be the
charm as the Berkeley Bears brain the SoCal Bruins up in the Bay
Area. Cal by 22.

Oklahoma at Kansas State
It's only been a few weeks since people were considering that K-State
could be a national title dark horse. But, after several galling
recent losses, a national title must seem like a dream from the
Bronze Age, only a distant memory. Speaking of memories, do you
suppose that the OU Sooners remember what happened in last year's Big
XII title game? Let's guess that they might. Sooners by 24.

Ohio State at Iowa
Last week's setback against Wisconsin gave OSU two conference losses
in a row for the first time (probably) since Earle Bruce was their
coach. Isn't he dead now? Oh, sorry Earle....I was confusing you
with Woody Hayes, I guess. Speaking of dead, that's what the
Buckeyes' chances of any decent ranking are if they cack another
conference contest. So, look for Ohio State to find enough shovel
power to dig themselves out of any October conference graveyards on
this trip to Iowa City. Call it an ugly 4 point win for Tressel and
company.

Minnesota at Michigan State
The Golden Gophers tried last weekend to gain a big win in the state
of Michigan. But as your 75% right Prophet predicted, they came up
short. This Saturday offers a form of Groundhog Day redemption for
the Gophers, which actually seems to be a perfect mammalian match.
Here is ANOTHER chance to get a big conference win on a visit to the
state of Michigan.
There IS bad news, though. Minnesota will not get possession of any
silly brown jugs for coming away with a "W". But then again, jugs
and bowls aren't the same thing, and that's Minnesota's ultimate goal
for now...a nice holiday bowl game. Gophers by 12.

Baylor at Nebraska
I had originally planned to leave this game off the list. I
generally don't do too many "sure thing" picks. I hate being accused
of sandbagging the percentage. But after last weekend, I had second
thoughts. I figure that any team that gives up 70 points might be a
candidate for a Baylor win. For the record, I DID pick Texas Tech
over Nebraska. I'll admit, however, that I didn't install the 60
point spread. Wanna know what the best part about last weekend's
college football on TV was for me? No contest...it was seeing that
jerk Trev Albert's face as his alma mater got beat by 60 points.
Now, I hate to imagine that sneaking by Baylor will in any way salve
Trev's ego, but I gotta call `em as I see `em. Cornhuskers, what's
left of them anyway, by 9.

Tennessee at Mississippi
With their surprise win over Georgia last weekend, the Tennessee
Volunteers find themselves firmly in the SEC East driver's seat. So
with their hands clutching the conference steering wheel, look for
Big Orange to run down the lowly Rebs of Ole Miss on this roadie trip
to Oxford. Buckling up their seat belts for the first leg on a trip
to Hotlanta in December, call this one Tennessee by 16.

Arkansas at Auburn
Houston Nutt's hoggies may ride into town as a football team, but
they'll leave Auburn as sliced bacon. Look for Cadillac and the crew
to run all over the Razorbacks, tenderizing them for another solid
SEC West win. As they say at any good barbecue, just smell that
smoke! <g> Tigers by 14.

Duke at Georgia Tech
Chan Gailey's Georgia Tech Yellowjackets are one of the most
schizophrenic teams in the ACC. They've run the entire gamut from
terrible to terrific in a period of just three weeks. It may be time
for Chan to summon a team psychiatrist for some overtime analysis
work. Duke University has one of the country's best medical
schools. But while plenty of the Dookies might be able to accurately
assess the Freudian classification of the Tech players, the Duke
FOOTBALL squad will be the ones lying on the couch when it's all said
and done. Did I say couch? I meant stretcher. My professional
analysis? Yellowjackets by 12.

Vanderbilt at Georgia
Over the last two years, Georgia coach Mark Richt has annually only
lost one big SEC game, both times to Florida. While galling, those
losses only eliminated UGA from the national title picture.
Conference championship game trips ensued at the conclusion of both
campaigns, in spite of the annoying stumble over the Gators. THIS
year is different. Maybe Georgia will finally beat Florida... But
the horrible irony is that it's not gonna matter. Richt and company
have already logged their conference loss of the year, and it was a
doozy. Now, the only thing that could propel Georgia into a trip
into the SEC title game would be a conference loss for Tennessee.
And, the really bad news is that Vanderbilt is one of the better SEC
teams left on the Volunteer schedule. Georgia will learn, in the
process of mauling the Commodores this weekend, how truly bad THAT
news really is. Georgia by 16.

Utah State at Clemson
This must be the week for all ACC coaches on the hot seat to play
teams from Utah. North Carolina is playing Utah out in Salt Lake
City on the same day as Clemson hosts Utah State in South Carolina.
Time will prove that Tommy Bowden and the Tigers made the better
choice. Since the ill-considered Bowden contract extension ink is
completely dry, Tiger fans can at least enjoy a little home cooked
meal this Saturday down in Death Valley. Utah State has little or no
chance of "holding any Tigers" in this matchup. Clemson by 21.

Missouri at Texas
After last weekend's shutout loss in Dallas, Longhorn coach Mack
Brown was quoted as saying "if this team was not prepared properly,
that is my fault. When we win, it's the players' accomplishment.
But, I am responsible for this team when we do not play well." I'm
assuming that the UT athletic board and administration took ample
notes during that sorrowful press conference. Look for Saturday's
contest to refocus the eyes of Texas onto the players, at least for a
while. Longhorns by 10.

Texas A&M at Oklahoma State
Oklahoma isn't the only undefeated team in the Big XII. Much to the
surprise of many, Texas A&M and Okie State also have no conference
losses. And to the chagrin of the conference, all three teams
compete in the South division. The Big XII conference is beginning
to look, from a divisional standpoint, like a see-saw with a midget
(OK, politically correct...a little person) on one side and a fat
slob (...and I don't know the politically correct term for fat slob.
Could one of you fat slobs out there please give me some insight?) on
the other. There are two great injustices in this year's Big XII.
First, only one of the South's teams gets to play for the conference
title. And second, it's really pathetic that ANY of the northern
clubs get to even print tickets for the title game. Oh well, on to
this pick. I'll admit that I've slowly been won over by Dennis
Frangione and his A&M Aggies. After a disastrous start, they've
shown steady growth. FWIW, how many teams in America can honestly
say that they've improved a little bit every week? That's the good
news for Dennis and his boys. The bad news is that they'll need to
improve even more to have even a chance on their trip up to the
Cowboy corral in Stillwater. Guess what? I'm sold. I think the
Texas Aggies are going to do what their dear brothers over at Austin
just can't seem to accomplish. They're going to beat something or
someone from Oklahoma. Mack Brown might want to videotape this
one.... In a mild upset, call it Aggies by 3.

Virginia at Florida State
On the surface, this looks bleak for my Seminoles. Here comes a
disciplined and well-coached Cavalier team into town for a huge ACC
contest. FSU's recent success usually has depended on their being
much, much better than their opponent...you know, they win the games
that they just can't lose. But unlike the UABs and Clemsons of the
world, UVA is more than capable of beating FSU, all things being
equal. But, things are not equal. The Seminole coaching staff is as
poor a unit as you'll find in major college football. If they had
the mid-level talent of, say, Iowa, they'd be sub-.500. So,
everything points to this being a very bad night in Tallahassee.
But, that's the one glimmer for the home fans.... Florida State
almost NEVER loses at night in Doak Campbell. Something about that
Saturday Night fever attitude that takes over Tallahassee. It could
have something to do with the generally much higher alcohol content
of the stadium's collective bloodstream. The Doak is a much more
intimidating home crib after dark. So, in spite of FSU's propensity
for making stupid plays and its poor coaching, look for the Seminole
faithful to turn out the lights on Virginia's undefeated season in
this national ESPN broadcast. Seminole fans from Miccosukee to San
Rafael will smile as their boys find a way to pull a rabbit out of
the hat. FSU by 4.

Wisconsin at Purdue
It seems strange to have the defining game in the Big Ten race (a)
occurring in October and (b) not including either Ohio State or
Michigan. But here we are, watching Barry Alvarez's Badgers battle
Joe Tiller's Boilermakers for a trip to Pasadena come New Year's Day,
assuming of course that a bigger trip to Miami doesn't materialize.
Wisconsin fans have always been on my butt about my stand on the
Badgers. They seem to think that I don't LIKE Wisconsin. Well,
folks, I don't particularly LIKE Wisconsin. But, that's not why I
keep picking against them. I guess I just can't figure out how such
a vanilla, one-dimensional team keeps winning game. It might be what
they've always referred to as "Big Ten football". In this conference
it's said that you have to run the ball with gusto to win those huge
conference tilts as the weather gets crappy in the Midwest. There's
only one problem with that idea on Saturday. It's only October and
the weather's still fine. Look for Kyle Orton to have a sunny day in
West Lafayette as the Boilermakers curdle Wisconsin's cream for the
Big Ten lead. Purdue by 7.