Pick Six 2012

Submitted my entry: USC, Michigan, Clemson, Ohio State, Louisville, UCF

Thanks for setting it up again this year, Jeff.

1. USC: Best team in the country and don't have to play Alabama or LSU.
2. FSU: Yeah, I know. They have an insanely easy schedule though.
3. Wisconsin: Not willing to bet on Texas, WVU or Clemson, think they have a better season then MSU.
4. Ohio: Easy pick.
5. Stanford: Not really a good choice here, but Harbaugh left Stanford in good shape.
6. Vanderbilt. SEC team (I think that counts for a lot) that will get a lot of love with one or two decent wins over overrated SEC teams.

1 USC yeah therer stacked....

2 Michigan because i'm a homer

3. Wisconsin this one was tricky.  but think wisconsin has a tendency to always be solid in recent years

4. The school down south

5. Flordia...SEC...yeah

6. ND, of all the unranks they have the most upside I think to actually have a solid season...but they also will prolly still horribly suck,

Oregon



Georgia



Texas



Virginia tech



Louisville



Utah

Oklahoma - I have a feeling USC will slip against a team with Arizona in their name or Stanford, and LSU and Bama have the opportunity to knock each other off or get knocked off by a lot of stellar opponents. I just have that feeling about OU this year.

Michigan - I wanted to go Arkansas here, but you know, that whole coaching thing. And I am just a giant homer.

Wisconsin - I thought about WVU, but they are taking a leap into a more difficult conference and schedule. Clemson will inevitably pull a Clemson and lose 2 at the end.

Virginia Tech - I am not buying into the FSU hype and think VATech is going to take the ACC.

Stanford - Honestly, kind of just went random here, but I also think it plays into my justification for USC getting knocked out early.

EDIT: Notre Dame - I forgot to add my last pick. This was kind of my wild card, thinking that nobody in their right mind would pick them (and they shouldn't). They have easily the toughest schedule in football, but if they can somehow pull off a couple of those upsets and stand ground on their easier games, they'll have a good ranking.

Good luck!

1. USC - Loads of talent and the Pac-12 sucks ballz (six teams finished with losing records last season while two others finished 7-6...yeesh)

2. Georgia - I think they finish with the best record of the three ESS-EEE-SEE teams in this bracket so that automatically makes them the winner here. In regards to FSU, yeah I thought about them due to the Charmin-soft schedule but...just, no. Do not bet on the Notre Dame of the South.

3. Wisconsin - Pretty soft schedule. I doubt they lose more than 2 games in the regular season and I think they will win the B1G championship game.

4. Oklahoma State - That offense is Plug-n-Play IMO. Heck, I could put up ridiculous passing stats for Okie State, so the loss of their "elite" QB and WR's means nothing to me. Plus, they get most of their tough games at home.

5. Boise State - Other than MSU, they play NOBODY. They will likely run the table after losing to MSU in the first game.

6. Houston - See Oklahoma State.

USC: I could see them losing one game they shouldn't (a la Oregon State or Cal when Carroll was there), but I see LSU and Alabama losing at least once each as well.  USC has a better chance at going undefeated in the PAC 12 than they do.

South Carolina (the other USC)- They quietly put together a pretty solid season last year.  I think a lot of people are sleeping on them.  That defense can stick with anyone in the SEC, and I think they finally found balance with Lattimore and Connor Shaw, who makes fewer mistakes (on and off the field) than Stephen Garcia.

Clemson- This was a tough one, as I think they aren't the best team on this list.  West Virginia is clearly better (70-33, am i right?), and MSU could probably shut them down, too.  This was a more, "Clemson has the easier schedule," pick than anything else.  Also, am I the only one who thinks Wisconsin is massively overrated?  Defense collapsed at the end of the year (twice against MSU, once against Ohio, not the best offenses, for sure), and Russel Wilson bailed them out in a way Danny O'Brien will not. 

TCU-I think they're on par with Oklahoma State, but I give them a slight edge, because of quarterback continuity.  Also, they might have the best defense in the Big 12 other than Texas.

Boise St.- They're beating MSU.  And everyone else.  And will still get snubbed from the title game.

Virginia-Another one of those teams that quietly snuck through the cracks to have a solid season.  Mike London notched a couple top 25 wins for them last year, and though they return only 11 starters, I think they can sneak up on some teams still. 

Thanks for setting this up again this year!  Although I didn't fare well last year, it was still fun to follow! 

USC, FSU, WVU, V Tech, Boise State, Miami of Florida.

1. USC- NCAA punishments be damned! They're going all the way this year, and unless Michigan steps up to the plate and does it, USC is finally going to end--for at least one season--the SEC's reign.

2. Arkansas- Every part of me wanted to pick Michigan, except for the tiny area in my brain that controls button pressing. Don't want to jinx us after all! However, no meaningful rationale behind this pick. Every SEC team that isn't Alabama or LSU seems interchangeable to me, so why not these guys?

3. WVU- Big East schedule. Superior talent. Every other team is probably better, but WVU has the easiest path.

4. Va Tech-  ACC schedule. Superior talent. And I think this is arguably the best team in the group.

5. K State- I'm not sold on Stanford being able to sustain their program without Luck (<--I got jokes). I feel the same way about Boise St. and Moore. I doubted K State last year, but I like their chances with Texas still being relatively down and OK State replacing their offensive studs.

6. Utah- I was deciding between them and NC State. I think the Utes are doing a good job adjusting to life in the Pac 12 and come out with only 3-4 losses on the season.

1. USC --  Easier schedule than their peers

2. FSU --  I foolishly picked them last year.  Why not be stupid again?

3. Wiscy -- Easier schedule than their peers

4. VT -- Easier schedule than their peers

5. Fla -- Cake OOC & not-so-tough SEC schedule

non-ranked UNC Easier schedule than their peers

Did I mention that I cracked the Top 1000 with the Easy Schedule method last year?

I went USC, Michigan, West Virginia, Nebraska(tough selections there), Boise and Washington due to their schedule that looks like an overrated 9 wins.

1. LSU: The defensive line is absolutely filthy and so is the stable of running backs they can roll out. They're going to wear teams out over 60 minutes, and they get Alabama at home. I just don't see USC running the table, especially when they'll probably have to play Oregon twice.

2. Florida State: They play in a weaker conference and EJ Manuel should be a lot better this year, plus they have a lot of talent on defense.

3. Michigan State: They just have so much proven talent on defense, and Leveon Bell should be very, very good as well. I hate myself for picking them, but unless some serious injuries occur I don't see them having a less than top 10 type year.

4. Ohio State: Also a talented defense and they'll get a bump from a weak schedule. I don't see them as suffering from any motivation problems either. They're not going to win everything or something stupid like that, I just think they'll outperform their spot.

5. Kansas State: Bill Snyder is a wizard. That is all.

6. Utah: They're going to surprise a lot of people this year. I see them as a Top 15 type team.

1 - USC: Barkley, Woods, and play in the easiest of the Big 5 conferences (at least for this year). I see them going 11-1 in the regular season, and 2-1 in the post season

2- Georgia: Since I can't pick Alabama or LSU, it's going to have to be Georgia who looks like will have yet another unimpeded path towards the SEC East crown. We all know what happens to SEC east champions - they go to the top 10 regardless of schedule difficulty or losses

3- Wisconsin: A cupcake schedule including games against MSU and OSU at home will almost guarantee them 10-2 or 11-1. I see them going 1-1 in the post season

4- Ohio State: This could come back to bite me. They're either a grand slam or a lost inning. Still, their joke of a schedule, other than going to MSU, should leave them 9-3 in the end.

5- Florida: They looked okay in their bowl against Ohio State and it looks like the team is settling down. The only question is their quarterback play (when hasn't it been a question..) which should increase with the experience gained from freshman -> sophomore.

6- NC State: This is a wild one. The only other one that looked interesting was Vandy, but Vandy's going to be a bottom feeder in the SEC while NC State probably will be playing for the ACC championship. I would much rather have VaTech here, but oh well.

1. Oregon. No real tests outside of USC. Home vs Washington is their only real test until @USC week 9.

2. Michigan. Homer vote plus I think they'll be good.

3. West Virginia. Playing a hunch.

4. Oklahoma St. They play everyone of note at home with the exception of Oklahoma and anything can happen in a rivalry game. Not sold on KSU.

5. Stanford. They get USC at home and can easily be undefeated going into the matchup with Oregon given they show up vs. the Trojans. Big if.

Unranked: Georgia Tech. Again, hunch.

USC- The sexy pick, straight outta compton yo

Georgia- Very soft schedule, avoid Alabama and LSU again. 

Texas- At some point their immense amount of talent has to produce

ohio- Urban love factor, stingy defense, hilariously soft schedule even by ohio standards

Louisville- Wild card pick, their schedule is probably the easiest of any AQ team. When Kentucky is the most difficult game then... yea.

Auburn- AP loves the SEC, switch to MANBALL, +1 for a Michigan man running their offense.

Alabama, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Stanford, and Auburn. I was between Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Washington, but SEC bias won out.

1. USC: because the world sucks and is unfair

2. Florida State: because the ACC sucks

3. Clemson: refer to #2

4. Ohio State: refer to #1

5. Florida: because I bought Phil Steele's magazine

6. Tennessee: because I like Derek Dooley's orange pants

USC

FSU

Wisconsin

VT

Stanford

Washington

Really hard to not go homer and pick us, but I think FSU might finally breakout and win the ACC this year.

1. USC....easier schedule, as compared to others

2. Georgia...SEC love, plus I think they will have a good year, and couldn't jinx Michigan

3. Clemsen..SEC love, and a ton of talent has been going there, which still shocks me

4. VT...less talent in that conference, plus a solid D

5. Floride....I think that's who I picked....can't remember

6. Auburn...more SEC love; man I hate that

1. USC - Spoiled children look pretty legit this year and oregon/Stanford do not

2. Michigan - Homerism with added Senior Denard Robinson making every game on this (tough) schedule winnable

3. WVU - any losses they can have on their schedule will look good,

4. VA Tech, most criminal underrating of a quality football team in all of the rankings.  Should breeze through their conference. Will be a top-10 team by november. 

5. Boise State - still soft schedule, opening win over an overrated MSU missing every major contributor to its passing attack last year will give them an early bump to their rankings and they won't fall. 

6. South Florida - Perenially overrated at midseason and may well win out on voter rankings confusion.  Now actually not that bad of a team either.

    USC, Michigan (obviously), Texas, VTech, Stanford, Cal.

1. USC - the cheaters are back and have the best schedule (of the top tier teams) to go the distance.

2. FSU - I couldn't go homer here - had to go with my gut.

3. Texas - Mack Brown is loaded - as always.  Hopefully this year he can figure out how not  to screw his team up.

4. VT - lame conference, traditionally solid defense

5. Florida - Too much talent....plus it will be too much fun watching them win the SEC while Urban watches from bowless Buckeyeville.

6. Utah - Because they beat Rich Rod.  Okay, not really.  I have no significant reason why I picked Utah, other than they have a lot of returning starters and had a good team last year.  Almost picked Baylor. 

Mine:

1. USC- seems like a good idea

2. FSU- it was either them or Michigan, pretty much a coin flip.

3. Wisconsin- seems like a reasonably decent idea. Maybe.

4. TCU- I have this feeling.

5. Stanford- Same as TCU

6. Baylor- Sure, why not?

Alabama: USC has to play Oregon, Stanford, a messy PAC-12; I don't like it.  They might be better than 'Bama but SEC or not I think 'Bama has fewer chances to trip and a safer strategy (and a better defense).

Michigan: Georgia might be better.  So I'm a homer.  Sue me.

WVU: Better than Clemson or Texas.  MSU and Wiscy have to deal with the B1G mess - I think they're both guaranteed a loss and may each lose another; I don't know who what to make of West Virginia.

Ohio: but probably VT.  I will be happy if I'm badly wrong here.

Boise State: Stanford has the same problems as USC above.  How is Louisville in a group?

Arizona: Random guess.  (Also known as, "Didn't want to read through the whole list to find something sensible".)

I kind of submitted my picks at 7:28 hope it still counts but understand if it doesn't.

Just got home, submitted mine.  If it matters, I picked none of the teams playing tonight. 

My outside the top 25?  Well, lets just say its legal in 49 states- SORRY TENNESSEE!

I hit my scroll wheel just before I submitting my picks, thereby unintentionally changing my unranked team from Aurburn to Bowling Green.  I resubmitted, but when I hit all 5 picks, let it be known now that the Bowling Green pick was a mistake and I'm taking Aurburn (yes, even if Bowling Green does outrank them in the end).

/s

How is this coming along...Any updates or anything along those lines at somepoint during the season?!  And I'm totally curious which teams I actually picked...