USC Loses And It's On The Coach...And Your College Picks

You know as I stayed up and watched as Oregon State who was a twenty five point underdog at home against Southern California go out to a twenty one point lead and hold on for the win I was so happy I did not even try to pick that game. This happens every year to USC. They play huge against a major opponent (if you can call Ohio State a major opponent) and absolutely kill them on a national network stage. Then they turn around and blow a game where they are a huge favorite against a mid-level or worse conference team. Last year it was Stanford, the year before it was this same Oregon State squad. When teams repeatedly blow games that they should easily win. C'mon, the Pac-10 aside from USC is absolutely a waste of space. The conference should lose their BCS affiliation for being so pointless. OK, back to the point...if teams blow games like USC has year after year you have to blame coaching. It is clear that USC has huge talent. They have enough talent to compete against the Kansas City Chiefs. They have massive depth in every position. On paper, they are the most talented team in college football (by the way, Georgia, Florida, and Oklahoma are close). They should kill teams like Oregon State and Stanford. Instead, they lose. It's a coaching problem. Pete Carroll has been known as a "players coach." What this means in laymans terms is that he is a "fun" coach. These types of coaches try to be one with the players. They try to be a brother in arms with them and be their friend rather than someone with clear authority. Their teams are run in a loose framework with little discipline, structure, and the players run the show. This did not work for Coach Carroll when he coached in the NFL where he had marginal success. He lucked out by being at USC where it is very easy to recruit a constant flow of talent. The campus is in LA. The weather is great. The women are hot. They compete for major bowls every year. They are on TV all the time. I don't have a coaching background, but I could recruit talent to USC. It is clear that Coach Carroll does not prepare his teams well to play games they should easily win. When loose coaches let the players set the tempo for the team it is like handing a credit card to Lindsey Lohan with no credit limit. It gets unpredictable, up and down, and eventually things fall flat. When you let young men (or women) who are 18 to 22 set the tempo for your team then emotions and energy will rise and fall worse than the current market. That is what happens when you have a "players coach" at the major college level. Coach Carroll is that type of coach and USC is that type of team: overly emotional, somewhat undisciplined, and prone to mental lapses. What is required is a coach who instills a sense of structure, order, routine, and discipline. This does not mean that the coach has to be mean and yell at the players using every four letter word imaginable. You do not have to be Bob Knight. But, a coach needs to demonstrate that there will be rules, there will be accountability, there will be order, and there will be a "right" way things are done. In major college football and in the NFL these are young men who in most cases did not come from a background where there was a sizable amount of leadership, structure, discipline, and order. Unfortunately, the better the player the less amount of accountability. These players need these things in order to feel secure and have the right level of confidence. They need to learn these things because they will eventually need them after football is over. The lack of consistent order causes chaos and unpredictable behavior. That is what happens with the "players coach." My favorite example of a coach that teaches fundamentals, expects accountability, has consistent order, and commands respect without being a Bob Knight is Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy.



Coach Dungy runs his team with discipline, structure, accountability, and with a soft tongue. His players report that he rarely raises his voice and they do not recall a time where he has used any profanity. His players all respect him as a calming influence and someone who expects players to hold themselves accountable, to follow rules, and meet expectations. He runs his program with clear rules and expectations. His structure and discipline are consistent and effective. When was the last time you heard a Colt player provide bulletin board material to opponents the week before a game? When has anyone seen a player on his team openly call out another player or the coaching staff? When have seen his team panic in key situations? When has anyone seen the team openly look the other way when a teammate runs afoul of team rules or the law? It just does not happen. Colt players often report that they worry most about disappointing Dungy and their own teammates rather than worrying about their own stat sheet or their next contract. The Colts are a quiet franchise. They have very little drama and discord. Their coach personifies this image. He leads quietly with clear expectations, consequences, and structure. He runs his team. If Manning played for the Cowboys, for example, he would be running the team all on his own without a net and no one to reign him in. On the Colts, he is a vocal leader, but one that has restraint. The results of all of this quiet leadership? They speak for themselves. A Super Bowl title and consistent play-off appearances. No dips. No big ups and downs. Just steady winning and the respect of the rest of the league.



There are other coaches out there that are demanding and expect accountability and responsibility. Tom Coughlin of the Giants (another Super Bowl champion) may have gone a little too far in many respects, but he is not a players coach. He has clear rules and expectations. His team responds accordingly. The players that have complained have been prima donnas who got too accustomed to playing by their own rules. In the end, they acquiesced. Coughlin softened up before last season, but still kept the structure and discipline in place. The result: a remarkable play-off run and the biggest upset in Super Bowl history in February.



Coach Carroll has won a national championship at USC. I am not suggesting that he is a bad coach. He has consistently won at USC for years. They are a major national college football power. Yet, he is a "players coach" and as a result his teams have huge swings in mood and behavior (just like Sarah Palin), little self-control (like John McCain), and are vulnerable to bottoming out and crashing the party (like the GOP during a major financial crisis). The loss to Oregon State last night is not surprising. It has happened before and as long as Carroll remains at USC it will happen again.


Dippy is currently in jail for stalking Sarah Palin. He was quite delusional when he was arrested as he was ranting about robot cyborgs from the future and that he had to marry Palin in order to get her pregnant with "super soldiers" to fight the robots that were protecting her. I am guessing this is from all the mushrooms he got a hold of from his brother, Malcolm, who is a guy who thinks that Jerry Garcia is still alive. Dippy wrote his college football picks on a scrap of toilet paper and someone got it smuggled out. He asked if I would bail him out. I just don't think I can post $200,000.

So here we go:
Minnesota at Ohio State (-19)
I am only picking this game because I am going to Minnesota next weekend. I am really hoping that I will find people that will talk like they do in Fargo. That would be very cool. Minnesota is a putrid team. Ohio State is over-rated. Does not matter as Ohio State will destroy Minnesota by at least three touchdowns. Take OSU.
Dippy: Minnesota.

Virginia at Duke (-7)
When do you ever see Duke actually favored in an ACC game? Has it happened since Spurrier was coaching in Durham? Virginia may not win a game against a I-A school this season. They can not do anything. Their quarterback has been kicked off the team because he can't lay off the tree. Their coach is simply terrible. Their defense can't stop anyone. Take Duke.
Dippy: Virginia.

Mississippi at Florida (-22)
I truly do think that Florida is the best team in the SEC. They have a major chip on their shoulder this season. Tebow is more concerned about winning than padding his numbers. Florida wants to win the SEC this year. They will take their frustration that everyone is talking about Georgia out on Mississippi who will forever be a second tier SEC team, which is good enough to go to a fifth tier bowl game. Take the Gators.
Dippy: Mississippi

Tennessee at Auburn (-6.5)
I am amazed that the line in this game is so low. Auburn played tough against LSU and they are a very good team. Tennessee is not as good. They got torched by Florida because they made so many mental errors and by the time they got the head out of their own ass it was too late. Auburn is the 2nd best team in the SEC West. Tennessee is the fourth best team in the East. Take Auburn at home against an over-rated Tennessee team.
Dippy: Auburn.

Alabama at Georgia (-6.5)
You know that college football is king in Georgia when the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sent a breaking news text message to it subscribers that the Bulldogs would be wearing black on Saturday and they wanted the fans attending the game to wear black as well. In New York, this news would be buried on page C10. The problem is that players win football games, not jerseys. The Bulldogs need to be careful. It's a stunt to try to rally around a jersey color for inspiration. Try winning. If the line was seven I would pick Alabama who might be better than we think. Georgia does have the better team, but it's going to be tight. I do think that the Dawgs will win by a touchdown. Take Georgia.
Dippy: Roll Tide, Asshole who won't bail me out of jail!!!!

Dippy:
Last week 8-2
Total: 17-11-2

Fox:
Last week 5-5
Total: 15-13-2

Your College Picks With Dippy And Fox

As Sarah Palin continues her beauty contest tour of complete hypocrisy and drivel, Dippy and I are pondering the financial markets.  We are thinking of cashing our 401K's in and investing in any company based out of Cuba.  We think that will be a more sound investment that putting our money into AIG and any long standing brokerage firm.  Equally as sound is making college football picks because it is clearly obvious that neither one of us know what we are talking about.  However, neither is any candidate running in the Presidential election.  At least we're trying.

Mississippi State at Georgia Tech  (-8)

Fox:  Let's just admit that we don't know anything about these two teams.  Why are we even picking this game.  It's like picking whether or not a dog will cross the road or not.  

Dippy:  Or a alcoholic chicken.

Fox:  You know all about that.  More than me.  I have a natural dislike for Georgia Tech that has dated back thirty years now.  I never think they are any good.  They barely lost at Virginia Tech last weekend and I am not sure what that even tells us.  This line simply is too high.  Mississippi State is better than an eight point underdog even if it's on the road.   I am taking Mississippi State.

Dippy:  Don't you know anything?  I mean you think Sarah Palin is a fraud.  You think that John McCain has had too many botox injections.   You think that the markets are unsound.   You keep crying wolf about Skylab like it's going to fall out of the sky or something.

Fox:  It did.  About thirty years ago.

Dippy: Well, you know what I am talking about.  You are a silly crazy person with a chip on his shoulder.  Get over yourself.  Take Georgia Tech.

Virginia Tech at North Carolina (-3)

Dippy:  Ehh...

Fox:  OK, I'll start this one.  You're busy with your pet razor.  North Carolina looked impressive against Rutgers.  They were throwing the ball all over the place.  They ran all over them.  However, it was Rutgers and they are on a downhill spiral.  Virginia Tech rebounded against Georgia Tech, but they are in a rebuilding mode.  They are playing a great deal of young guys who have talent, but lack overall experience.  Tech will be better as the year goes, but they are out of sorts right now.  I do not think that the Tar Heels will have two big games in a row on the road.  They are not as good as Virginia Tech and they will lose by more than a field goal.

Dippy:  Did you see Tina Fey play Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live" last weekend.  It was, as you say, classic.  She got it right on.  It made me want to nail Sarah Palin.  

Fox:  You are sicker than I thought.

Dippy:  Palin is hot, man.  Those glasses she wears.  I mean...I'd like to rip them off her face and...

Fox:  No, no, no...we're not going there buddy.  Send it to Penthouse.  Not here.  What about the Tar Heels and Hokies game?  You have got to pick something.  Anyways, Sarah Palin is a complete phony.  She says that she is like the rest of us.  She says that she is a conservative.  She is neither.   Her state is the highest tax state in the country per capita.  Her state is the highest spender per capita than any state in the country.  She lobbied the feds to get tons of money earmarked to her state on pet projects that we complete pork barrel projects.  How does that make her a fiscal conservative?   Sarah Palin is a beauty queen, a politician, and a rich woman and don't think she doesn't have money to burn probably mainly kick backs from oil companies that have been allowed to destroy her state, don't let her "small town" presentation fool you.  That does not make her like us.  Not everyone is a beauty queen.  Not everyone can be a cut throat politico.  Definitely, not everyone is rich.  She says all this crap about being a hockey mom.  That's great.  Does she now, as governor of Alaska, still drive around being a "hockey mom"?  Probably not.  She may have done that years and years ago, but she is not that now.  Simply put, she is not truthful.  She tries to come off as being "real" and "genuine" but she is none of those things.   Her state gives everyone $2,000 a year as a result of the oil industry?  That's not fiscally responsible or conservative.  

Dippy:  Whow...pal.  Isn't this a football pick blog entry?  Speaking of football picks I think that North Carolina is under-rated.  They have had a lot of down years in Chapel Hill, but it all changes this weekend as they put football back on the map at UNC by knocking off Tech in Blacksburg.   

Florida at Tennessee  (+7.5)

Fox:  I am not done with Sarah Palin.  I know, Dippy, that you think she is hot, which makes you extremely disturbed.  It makes sense that you would be attracted to her.  You are so into the swinger thing at that hotel you work for.  I am not done.  I am just piling up evidence on how much a fraud she is.  I'll write an entry about it.  Just wait.  Once I get all of my evidence together I'm ending this story by running her into the wall.

Dippy:  Isn't that last line from a Geico chimerical?  Anyways, Florida is the team in the SEC East that nobody is talking much about.  Everybody is focused on the Georgia Bulldogs and their run towards a possible national title shot.  Meanwhile, Florida has simply reloaded and still has their top quarterback, running back, and wide receiver on offense.  They have a huge chip on their shoulder for having a down year last year.  They are #4 right behind Georgia and they have played better than Georgia all year.  They will wipe the floor with Tennessee even though the game is in Knoxville.

Fox:  I have to say that you are right about Florida.  They have been impressive all year.  They have had those style points that Georgia has lacked.  This is their first SEC test, in Knoxsvillle, but I am sure that Urban Meyer is telling his team that they aren't getting enough respect.  That no one thinks they are as good as Georgia and on and on.  They want so badly to do better than last year.  This game in Tennessee will be a showcase for them to show everyone that they are a very very good team.  Take Florida.

LSU at Auburn (+2.5)

Fox:  You know.  I can't let go of this Sarah Palin thing.  I just can not believe that people are being so snowed by her.  Doesn't anyone see out there that she is a fake.  That she is not what she is making herself out to be?  She is a former beauty queen.  They are trained to act like someone they are not.  Add the fact that she is a politician and it's a hundred times worse.  I guess I have to save the rest for another post, but just listening to her pisses me off.  This is going to be an interesting game.  This will be a huge test for both teams.  I am worried that Auburn doesn't have an offense.  They won their last game 3-2 in a game they should have won by two touchdowns.  They have a stellar defense that will keep matters close.  However, LSU is really that good.  They are the better team overall.  They will win by at least three points even though they will be at Auburn.  I just don't think they're going to score enough against the Tigers defense.

Dippy:  I am sorry that you are so against Sarah Palin.  I think she's hot with those glasses.  Her voice makes her hotter.  Really.  It does.  

Fox:  Well, wear a rubber next time.

Dippy:  I'll try.  So in this game I believe in the opposite.  I am not sold on LSU.  I think that they are over-rated.  I don't believe that their offense has enough weapons on the field.  Their defense is not as strong as last year.  I think that Auburn will win this game, at home, in a close game.   I am taking Auburn.

Georgia at Arizona State (-7)

Fox:  Georgia slipped another slot in the polls even though they avenged last years loss to South Carolina by a touchdown in South Carolina.   This might be the last "easy" game they will have until they hit Georgia Tech at the end of the regular season.  Georgia is trying to get their wheels rolling.  They have a lot to prove on Saturday night in front of a large cable audience.  They are getting tired of the snubs.  They will get some style points against an over-rated ASU team.  Take Georgia by at least the same number of points as Sarah Palin's dress size.

Dippy:  Palin's dress size?  What are saying?  That her dress size is higher than seven?  That's pretty low.  Don't go down to the lowest denominator with jumping on her weight.  Stick to the issues.  

Fox:  That is the whole point.  No one is looking at Palin's issues.  They are not looking at what she really stands for.  Does she stand for her economic record in Alaska?  Or does she subscribe to McCain's message that is as clear as the fluid in Britney Spear's augmented breasts?  That is my whole point.  Look at what she stands for.  Look at what she has done not what she is saying she will do.  Best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.  Simple as that.  

Dippy:  Well, we have to finish this post before we get nailed by the Secret Service.  This is Georgia's moment.  They have an Arizona State team that is completely over-rated.  No one ranked legitimately in the Top 20 should lose to UNLV under any circumstances.  Ever.  Georgia will kill them.  Take the Dawgs.

Dippy

Last week:   4-5-1

Overall:        9-9-2

Fox

Last week:    7-2-1

Overall:        10-8-2

Your Weekend Football Picks

Dippy and I are back to make our football picks for the whole weekend.  Dippy has to work tomorrow at a kid's birthday party somewhere near Hampton's skid row district.  I am spending the weekend hiding from my wife.  We decided that we were going to do both Saturday and Sunday on the same post this time.  So here goes.

Auburn (-10) at Mississippi State

Fox:  I heard today that there was a gas panic and people are running around all over the place trying to gas before we all run out and turn the planet into "Planet of the Apes" or something.  I thought nothing of it and realized as I was driving by the gas station by my house that gas had gone up 33 cents in the last eight hours.   All because somebody was stupid enough to allow a hurricane to be named after Ike Turner who is now dead and coming back to fuck us all up.  

Dippy:  Are you going to pick this game?

Fox:  I don't even know why I chose this game at all.  I don't know anything about either team except that Auburn is always better than people think and Mississippi State is in the second tier of the SEC.  I am taking Auburn because they are Auburn and MSU is really MSU.

Dippy:  Auburn is over rated this year.  Trust me they are.  MSU is slowly becoming a solid team.  Not quite good enough to knock off Tennessee or anything, but they are better than people think.  Really.  I think Auburn will win, but MSU will keep it close at home.  Take MSU.

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech (-6.5)

Fox: Some of my friends who are VT graduates are headed to this game in Blacksburg, Virginia.  I am hoping that Virginia Tech is not as bad as they looked against ECU.  Their starting quarterback in the ECU game has got feet like Peyton Manning.  They un-redshirted their more mobile quarterback.  I am not a VT fan by any stretch, but if you are going to go to a game you hope your team wins.  However, the Hokies are not on the same level this year than in past years.  This is going to be a down year overall for them as they take the chance to reload.  The spread is too high so I am taking Georgia Tech.

Dippy:  You have this all backwards.  Just like your priorities.  You must be stoned or something.  It's Georgia Tech that is not very good.  They are below dog biscuits.  They will be punished for being stupid enough to travel from Atlanta to Virginia.  Take Virginia Tech big time in this one.  By the way, Fox, have you seen that new vampire TV show on HBO, "True Blood"?

Fox:  Am I the only person in the US that thinks that TV shows about vampires walking amongst us is utterly stupid and anyone who watches this stuff has mashed potatoes for brains?  No, I have not watched that show and I hope that I never will.  I did notice that the blond chick has a huge gap in her teeth which puts her in the gap teeth hall of fame with Strahan and Letterman.   

Dippy:  Ehhh....

Fox:  Stop it.  I knew it would take too long to start that mess up again.  I am not getting you a towel.  Last time I did that I had to throw away my favorite t-shirt because it had your blood all over it.  I got drunk just on being exposed to your blood alone.

Virginia at UConn (-10.5)

Fox:  It is hard to imagine that UVA could play any worse than they did against USC.  Even Richmond gave them trouble in Charlottesville.  UConn is developing a strong football program.  They are not there yet but they will be something to reckon with.  UVA barely beat them the last time these two matched up.  UVA is in full blown rebuilding mode and their head coach can not complete a sentence.  Take UConn.

Dippy:  You know.  I hate both these schools.  I hate UConn because of Coach Calhoun and Coach Gino.  I know they are basketball coached, but the the basketball program is the program at UConn, not football.  Both coaches are pompous ego-maniacal blow hards.  They have offices right next to each and even they can stand the other to the point that they do not even talk to each other.  I am sure that Coach Gino has sexually harassed someone on his team.  I am sure of it.  He's the biggest asshole in college sports.  And that is saying something in a world where you have Saban, Spurrier, Bowden (all of them), Holtz, Knight, Vitale, Coach K, and anyone with the last name Williams.  

Fox:  Your pick?  

Dippy:  Shut up, Fox.  You're just like Gino.  You sexually harass everyone.  I see what you do.  I see how you operate.  You are sick.  You are like Christian Bale in American Psycho.  Anyways, I am taking UVA just to spite you and every other dope that has anything to do with UConn.   Just saying UConn is just right.  It means "you" are "conned."  Isn't the football coach of Kansas the fatest football coach ever?

Fox:  He's close to that guy who coaches Maryland.

Ohio State at USC (-11)

Dippy:  Speaking of USC and asshole coaches.  We have Pete Carroll who is a smug looking worm of a man.  

Fox:  What did he ever do to you?

Dippy:  No, it's not a matter f what he did to me.  It is what he did to everyone.  Carroll is a hamster.  Just look at him.  He is a loan shark dressed up as a football coach.  He's also a bad coach.  He is so over-rated as a coach.  How is it that USC kills out of conference opponents during the regular season and then blows it against Stanford when favored by 200 points?  How does that work?  It's coaching.  USC is a pro team.  They are like the Colts.  Big games they shouldn't lose.  They lose.  They lose games when favored by a million.  It is all because Coach Carroll runs his team like the Cowboys in the 1990s.  The only team that blows big games worse, but against non-conference opponents is Ohio State.  Their depth was the only thing standing between them and a major upset last week.  Wells is not going to be in the game so USC should run them over.

Fox:  Why is this game named "Collision at the Coliseum?"  It should not even have a name.  This game does not deserve to have a name.   Is this game so uninteresting that they had to give it some stupid name to make more important than it really is.  Should it not just stand on it's own.  USC is #1 (over-rated).  Ohio State is #5 (over-rated).  That should be it.  USC will win big anyways.  Name or no name.

Georgia (-7) at South Carolina

Fox:  I am so nervous about this game.  Last year in Georgia's first SEC game, at home, they lost 16-12 to an unranked South Carolina team.  I am hoping that they will remember that it was this game that kept them from being considered for the BCS Championship game.   This time South Carolina is ranked, which means nothing, and they are playing in Columbia.  This game is tougher than it looks.  Last week, I made a slip by saying that last week they were preparing last week to go to Arizona State and inadvertently skipping that there was a game in between.  Hopefully, the bad karma will not get me this time.  I am not worried about the offense in this game, but I am worried about the defense.  They have given up too many points from teams that should not be able to score against them.  They have given up too many yards and bent too much.  Now they get South Carolina who always find a way to play tough against a supposedly superior team.  I think that despite this Richt will get the best out of his players and win by at least ten.  Take Georgia.  

Dippy:  I am watching Anderson Cooper live from Texas awaiting Ike Turner to slam into Houston.  I don't know what to make of Anderson Cooper except that I think he plays with toy soldiers and small rodents in the bath tub listening to old Fleetwood Mac records.  I don't know.  I am hoping that Hurricane Ike Turner does not end up doing coke off a kitchen table and get really crazy slamming into Galveston.

Fox:  You should know about small rodents and Fleetwood Mac records.   You have done more coke than both Stevie Nicks and Tyler combined.  

Dippy:  I have a razor and I know how to use it.  

Fox:  Ooooooo...I am scared.

Dippy:  (Swinging razor)  Eh...I'll cut you.  I'll cut you like your first wife at your divorce hearing.

Fox:  Stop.

Dippy:  Anyways.  Georgia is incredibly under-rated.  Mark Richt is under-rated.  Moreno will get hurt like Tom Brady.  Take the Cock.  I mean.  Cocks.

New Orleans (-1) at Washington

Dippy:  The Redskins have taken on more guys than Sarah Palin and Jessica Simpson combined.  They are simply awful.  They can't stop anyone and they definitely can't score...just like Matt Leinart with girls his own age.   So the Redskins are going to get smashed by a resurgent Saints team.  You can't put lipstick on one of those guys in the stands in DC dressed as a hog and hope that it's going to work out any better.  Jason Campbell will end up like Vince Young after this game.  Take the Saints.

Fox:  I have to agree.  I was so disappointed in the Redskins against New York.  They could not even run the ball with two good running backs.  One of their best O-line guys was standing on the bench pacing like Ike Turner during a coke binge...or Jessica Simpson on a binge of Cheetos and Mountain Dew.  The Saints actually should have done better against Tampa.  Tampa is not that good.  Either way, take the Saints.

New England at NY Jets (-1)

Dippy:  So is there a moratorium on jumping on Brady now that he has two torn ligaments?   

Fox:  It depends.  He has to lie low for the next year.  No over the top story lines.  He has to stay out of the media spotlight.  I don't want him to be on any magazine covers.  No stories about him getting comfort sex.  No stories about him on crutches on the sidelines distraught that he can't play.  Nothing.  He has to stay down.  If he does, I'll leave him alone.  If not, then I am going after him.  Like a spider to a cat.   Like a cat to a milk dud.  

Dippy:  Have you decided who your target will be now?

Fox:  After much discussion, I am going with Tony Romo, the Cowboys, and Matt Leinart.  You'll see why this season.  My pick in this game is actually the Patriots.  The Evil Empire always finds a way to win.  They will pull it together to beat the over-rated Jets.  The Patriots will do anything to make sure they win.  They'll hold Brett's wife for ransom if they have to.  The Jets are the bitter enemy now of Darth Hoodie.   Darth Hoodie will do everything to destroy New York.  It does not matter whether or not he has the Random Impregnator playing under the center or not.  The Patriots will win.

Dippy:  Your hero, Bill Simmons, has been moaning in two columns how the Patriots season is over and that karma is getting it's revenge on the Patriots killing everyone repeatedly last year by running up the score late in the fourth quarter and then blaming the victim...just like Tony Romo.  In this case, Brett Favre will prove to the world why the Packers did not want him anymore by throwing up lobs that end up being picked off instead of falling into the receivers hands like last week.  He'll sling balls straight into blue and white shirts like he did in his last throw to the Giants.  The Patriots will win because the Jets will give it to them to win.

Green Bay (-3) at Detroit

Dippy:  How does Millen still have a job in Detroit?

Fox:  Because nobody is left in Detroit to notice how bad he is.  The Lions organization and the Ford Motor Company are on the same level of slime and ineptness.  It is so sad that a once proud franchise that is so incredibly bad now.  The Raiders are like this now.  The 49ers as well.  All proud franchises who are being run into the ground, burned into ash and then thrown into the river being polluted by one of McCain's oil companies that he does not remember he owns.  Take the Packers.

Dippy:  I am also taking the Packers mainly because I like Aaron Rodgers.  I hope that he does well under the enormous pressure that he is under.  He did fairly well at home against the Vikings.  He should feel a little more relaxed in a visitor stadium.  I wonder how he feels when he still sees fans in Favre gear in the stands?

Philadelphia at Dallas (-7)

Fox:  A friend of mine said that the Cowboys now are like the Raiders of the 70s where they take on any malcontent that becomes available.  They have a guy who makes it rain and shoots up people, a guy that runs guns, a wide receiver that called out his quarterbacks sexual orientation, and a quarterback who instead of preparing for the most important game in his life was in Mexico with his anexoric girl-friend with an insane father who made her that messed up in the first place.  My issue with Romo is that I question his dedication.  I question his competitiveness.  Does he really want to make the sacrifices necessary to win the Super Bowl.  I have to say this about Brady.  Brady is a competitor.  He does what it takes to win.  Same with Payton Manning at this point in his career.  Romo acts like a fourteen year old kid with good dimples and a mole that keeps wanting to talk to us (thanks, K47, I hope you write an entry soon).  Same with Matt Leinart.  He does not have the heart to do what he needs to do to take things to the next level.  He is drunk on the field and gets caught in a hot tub with fourteen year old girls sucking on his beer bong.  What a leader!!  I think in this game that the Eagles are under-rated and the Cowboys on the verge of imploding if things start going the wrong way.  I am actually taking the Eagles.

Dippy:  There is a reason that you went 3-6-1 in your picks last week and I went 5-4-1.  It's because you are an idiot.  You are on the same cognitive level as Matt Leinart.  The Cowboys are a very very good team and it's the Eagles who are on the verge of imploding.  The Cowboys should roll by two touchdowns.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay (-9)

Fox:  I am tempted to take the Falcons in this game because the line is too high.  I am never convinced that Tampa is that good and the Falcons have a new attitude.  However, I am taking Tampa.  They are playing at home where it will be 400 degrees.  They have better consistent play.  The Falcons defense is not good against the pass and the Bucs will exploit them even with a low level quarterback.  The Bucs defense is ten times better than Detroit.  Matt Ryan will have to try to win the game and he can't do it right now.  I am taking Tampa.

Dippy:  It's your team and you don't believe in them.  You are pathetic.  The Falcons are for real, man.  They are better than anyone thinks.  They have attitude and even if they lose they will make Tampa work for it.  So take Atlanta.

Your College Football Picks With Fox and Dippy

Dippy has been released by his kidnapper in mostly one piece.  He desperately needs a debriefing and detox, but otherwise he is great.  He returned to work at the Virginia Beach Wyndham hotel just in time for the Tropical Storm Hanna swingers party tonight.  That party has got to last a few days.  Before he left for the beach we sat down and picked five college games.

West Virginia (-7) at East Carolina

Fox:  These games really suck this week.  This is lowest spread I could find of teams that people would be familiar with.   WVU killed Villanova, they'll have to settle it for good on the basketball court, and East Carolina got a late blocked punt against Virginia Tech of all teams to get a punt block off of.  I wonder what effect the weather will be for this game.  Either way WVU should win by about ten.  

Dippy:  Fox, you are so stupid.  I can not believe how stupid this pick is.  East Carolina is much better than you think.  WVU is on a downward spiral, which is what their fans deserve for what they did with their fink of a former coach when he ran off to Michigan.  You can not count out any of the Holtz family in a game.  WVU might win, but I am taking East Carolina in this one.

Ohio at Ohio State (-33)

Dippy: Ohio State is the best team in college ball, but only in the regular season.  Typically, I don't ever go for a spread this high.  In this case, Ohio State is likely to win by around 40.  They are that good.  They are monsters.  They'll knock 'em into next week, Rock.  They don't have a chance.

Fox:  OK, calm down.  The point spread is way high.  It does not matter.  Ohio State is underrated for a change.  I'm taking OSU.

Georgia Tech at Boston College (-6.5)

Fox:  I don't know anything about these two teams.  I only selected this game because Georgia Tech is in Atlanta.  I hate both of these teams with a passion.  BC does not belong in the ACC.  They should have stayed in the Big East.  Georgia Tech is going to be somewhere north of putrid this year.  I am taking Boston College out of principal.  

Dippy:  You should never ever bet with your heart.  It fucks you every time.  It's like going after the woman you know is dangerous but she makes your heart skip too many beats.  I know, Fox, that there is someone at work that you know is completely dangerous for you, but you are totally attracted to her despite the fact that she is so incredibly dangerous.  I know you.  It's true.  You haven't changed your ways.  You are attracted to dangerous women.  Always at work.  What's wrong with you.

Fox:  Is this you sober?  I am not sure I like this.  

Dippy:  Am I right, asshole?

Fox:  Of course you are right.  Your pick?

Dippy:  Dumb ass.  I am taking Tech just to screw with you.  

Miami (Fla.) at Florida (-23)

Fox:  A few years ago this would have been a great game.  The point spread looks real high even though I think Florida is underrated.  I am taking the Gators.  They should crush Miami.

Dippy:  Point spread is too high.  This is an in-state game.  Tensions will be high.  Miami will play over their heads and they'll find a way to keep it close.   Take Miami.

Central Michigan at Georgia (-24)

Dippy:  Here we go.  Again, with Georgia.  Georgia this.  Georgia that.  I can't stand it.   Georgia should be ashamed of themselves for giving up 21 against Georgia Southern.  They were and I say were the number one team in the country going against a I-AA school.  Automatically they should have scored at least 50 and won by at least four touchdowns.  Now they get a I-A school in Central Michigan who is being paid six figures to show up to get killed and even though I hate myself for saying this, I know Georgia will prove something by wiping this team out by at least 28.  I am taking Georgia....eeehhh....ehhh.

Fox:  I thought you were not going to do that anymore.   Just give me the razor.   Geez.  What's with you?  No, and I am not getting you a towel.  Get your own towel.  Richt was so pissed after the game last Saturday that he put the Dawgs through killer practices this week.  He pushed the fundamentals and conditioning this week and it will show on Saturday.  They should win by 35.  Take the Dawgs in this prep game for their trip out to Arizona State.