2018 Major Hoople Fearless Forecaster Week 13

                                                    Mill Works USA

                                                      Major Hoople

                                              'The Fearless Forecaster'

Egads! Better watch out Vegas for the Major! After an outstanding 19-3 week, he feels a hot win streak on the way or were those the tacos for lunch? Texas, Notre Dame, Fresno State and UCF all have games of consequence.

The Major can be best described as being no genius. But, he does have an opinion and wants it to be heard each week! His full name is Major Amos B. Hoople, considered to be the King of the Grumps and for outlandish college football predictions. It must have been all the retro television comeback shows like Murphy Brown, Hawaii Five O, Magnum PI and McGyver that caused 'the Fearless Forecasters' return from the trash heap of past comic strips.

The 'Major' first appeared as a cartoon character in Our Boarding House. It ran in hundreds of newspapers across the nation, from 1921 until 1984. The cartoon was so well received by the public, that a weekly radio show ran for six seasons in the 1940s on NBC.

The syndicated college football prediction column started much later in 1968. The current Major Hoople writer remembers each week reading about games all over the nation in his daily local newspaper sports section He used the article as a preview for the slate of games that totaled almost 200 with the small school interest like with the Ivy Leagues. The people, back then actually read newspapers where ink most of the time got on your hands from turning the pages! A true contact sport of sorts...

The writer of the column, Tom Peoples, the original Football Prediction Wizard ended each column with :Now go on with my forecast. We will also...and enjoy the read.

This week's headline says it all,'The Major a fearless forecaster that went 19-3!' I feel like being Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder..wait he was terrible at the end on CBS Football on Sundays. Maybe Sam 'Ace' Rothstein the Vegas Mob,gambler wiseguy that actor Bobby Dinero played in the movie Casino. The real life person was Frank Rosenthal, who unfortunately was owned by the crooked nose guys. How about the brilliant gambler Arnold Rothstein,, who fixed the World Series in 1919-The Black Sox Scandal, and every other big score he ever had. However, he did drink only milk at the time of prohibition...yuck...milk, really? I ask what fun can that be for anyone? Me thinks, staying as the Major, Mr. 19 and 3 would work.

The Mill Sport Top 25 Poll weekly recap:

In what can be seen as an accurate, fact based poll, well sometimes.The first 12 teams stayed in the same positions from the prior week. LSU #14, Syracuse #13 , Cincinnati #15, Iowa State #16, Washington #19 and Army #21 all moved up a few spots in the rankings. However, Fresno State's (again in one of my feature games this week!) loss to Boise State 24-17, saw the Bull Dogs drop 12 spots to #25 as the Broncos re-enter the poll at #24!

Harumpph, did I mention that I had a record last week of 19 and 3? If I didn't, I did, yes sirree, Bob, what a big surprise for the fearless predictor...or was that forecaster? I will wear my tin foil hat to hear now deceased ESPN Commentator Beeno Cook and channel his inner wisdom to me, ummmmm....ummmmmm. The feature game had an accurate 20 point win for Clemson over a wing clipped BC Eagles squad 27-7. Ohio State also beat Michigan State.

Now go on with my forecast:

Cincinnati #15 @ UCF #7, fellow AAC teams meet this week to decide the division champion and a slot in the conference's championship game. The Knights of Central Florida have a very well balanced offense as they average nearly the same amount of yards rushing and passing the ball. The squad has four backs with over 280 yards on the ground with McRae leading the way with 653. They are have a talented QB Milton with over 2300 yards through the air and 21 td's Also, add another 8 on the ground, wow...what a Major Hoople Stud!

Cincinnati is no sloth either as they have a 9-1 record! Running back Micheal Warren leads the way on the ground with 1,082 yards and 17 scores, add one on a reception. Bearcat QB Desmonmd Ridder has 15 touchdowns with a 63.9 completion percentage. This slober knocker of a contest will have a big bowl on New Year's Day reward for the winner. The Knights look like that team, 38-28!

Syracuse # 13 @ ND #3, last week we had to write up the need for the Gipper to appear for inspiration. The reason was because the Irish starting QB Book was out for the game. Luckilly no luck needed for the Irish as they easily won. Now, a resurgent Syracuse team led by versatile QB Dungy, 590 yards and 12 scores on the ground as a former run first option. But, he has also thrown for over 2100 yards, 14 td's and a 60% completion percentage! By Jove, what a reborn player with career highs in air offense for the often injured field leader the past few years. However, the South Benders have some talent at running back, where Dexter Williams reminds many fans of another person with that last name, Ricky. He turned out to become a stud NFL player for many years. Two talented wide outs for Book, in Claypool and Boykin, should all but seal the Cuse's fate, 37-22. Booyah, all to the hall, or is that to Touchdown Jesus?

Iowa State #16 @ Texas #18, In a Big 12 affair, which stud wide receiver has a better day Humphery, from the Long Horns or the Cyclone's Butler may determine the winner of this game. Kaff-Kaff, me thinks an upset in the making as the Iowa State team improves their overall record to 7-3 with a 30-28 win.

San Diego State @ Fresno State #25, the Aztecs have many stellar perfomers but none shine in this contest. However, the Bull Dogs, bounce back with a decisive win 35-17. The Dogs to watch are QB Marcus McMaryion with 2,600 yards in the air and 21 td's. WR, KeeShan Johnson, 70 catches for 953 yards and 7 td's may just 'Retrieve' a few more scores from the top dog signal caller.

Next week, catch the Major's Hoople Heisman Candidates.

Here are the other Top 25 Mill Sport USA poll game score predictions:

Buffalo (23) 38 @ Ohio 27

Boise State (24) 33 @ New Mexico 17

Indiana 14 @ (4) Michigan 49

UVA (20) 24 @ GT 23

Duke (22) 17 @ (2) Clemson 58

Penn State (17) 52 @ Rutgers 15

UMASS 6 @ (5) UGA 56

Ohio State (8) 45 @ Maryland 14

Utah State (11) 55 @ Colorado State 24

Arizona 21 @ (9) Washington State 35

UAB (12) 24 @ Texas A & M 34

WVU (10) 40 @ Oklahoma State 32

Rice 6 @ (14) LSU 34

Kansas 16 @ (6) Oklahoma 63

Oregon State 21 @ (19) Washington 49

The Citadel 6 @ (1) Alabama 54

Colgate 14 @ (21) Army 42

Record 57-21

                                                   MILL WORKS USA.

                                     COLLEGE FOOTBALL/TOP 25 POLL

                                                            Week 12

Rank/Team/Record/LR

1. Alabama 10-0 1
2. Clemson 10-0 2
3. ND 10-0 3
4. Michigan 9-1 4
5. UGA 9-1 5
6. Oklahoma 9-1 6
7. UCF 9-0 7
8. Ohio State 9-1 8
9. Washington State 9-1 9
10. West Virginia 9-1 10
11. Utah State 9-1 11
12. UAB 9-1 12
13. Syracuse 8-2 14
14. LSU 8-2 16
15. Cincinnati 9-1 18
16. Iowa State 6-3 19
17. Penn State 7-3 NR
18. Texas 7-3 NR
19. Washington 7-3 21
20. UVA 7-3 NR
21. Army 8-2 22
22. Duke 7-3 NR
23. Buffalo 9-1 23
24. Boise State 8-2 NR
25. Fresno State 8-2 13
    Honorable Mentions: Troy, NIU, Wisconsin, Northwestern, FIU, SDST, Utah and Pitt.
    Gone this week, and will be forgotten: BC, NC State, Houston, Kentucky and Michigan State.