Mill Works USA
Major Hoople
'The Fearless Forecaster'
Lot's
of big school conference games this week . However, Fresno State
visiting Boise State just might be the best match up.
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 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 a comic strip called
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 the column arriving
each week in his daily local newspaper sports section He used the
article as a preview for that week's slate of games. The people, back
then 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.
Another lackluster week as I went only 12-8, Har-rumph! So many teams in and out of the Mill Sports Top 25 Poll, it's like musical chairs, but with the team ranking positions. You have to win two games in a row to remain in the bottom half of the poll. Naturally, minus the elites like the Tide, Tiger and Irish. However, lose a game now and your playoff seed chance might be over, just ask Independent Notre Dame with no conference affiliation. This week their starting QB out, but something tells me they just may win one for the Gipper. However, not for George, but the greatest ever President of these United States...Ronnie Reagan. Okay, I was around a lot in the 1980s..
Big
movers in the poll were Utah State, UAB, Fresno State, Syracuse (7
spots!), and Boston College. The declining teams were LSU, down 11 to
#16, Kentucky to #20 from 13, and Houston, we did not have lift off,
as they fell closer to earth at #25 from the previous rank of 13,
down a whopping 12 positions, ouch....that hurts...Major Tom...
What
did I get right in the feature games, The Tide did roll 29-0 over the
LSU Tigers, my prediction was 26-10. I was on target......duck!!!
Incoming...sorry, when I hear that word I get a flashback from that
time overseas...in Amsterdam, with all that dope, and...enough said.
The next game Georgia took apart Kentucky, 34-17, my prediction was
the Bulldogs by 11, 38-27. Penn State traveled to Michigan and
was destroyed by Harbough's team in a blowout. I had them by only 8
over the Nittany Lions, a win still that, a win.
The
only loss or as I like to say, incorrect game, was Texas over West
Virginia by 3. The Mountaineers needed a last minute score to win by
2. So close....but a loss, Um-Kumph, so much for my Hoople Hunch.
Now
go on with my forecast:
#2
Clemson @ #17 Boston College, The Tigers visit Chestnut Hill in
a series that goes back to Doug Flutie's Junior year at the Heights.
That game was a 38-16 beat down of the William 'Refrigerator' Perry
led team. The Eagles were down at half time, and all looked lost.
However 28 straight points later as Doug Flutie's legend only grew after
that game. However, no more Flutie nephews, cousins or any other
distant relative on the roster. The Tigers shred the Eagles 42-20.
#8
Ohio State @ #24 Michigan State, Urban Myer's team still in the
playoff hunt as they get in their cars to visit East
Lansing. The Buckeye offense has been inconsistent at times. But, QB
Hoskins has become the real deal in this game. Michigan State has been
inconsistent the whole season, with a few lackluster performances
against lesser non conference foes and division rivals. I would like
to take the Spartans in an upset, but, the Urban's should win 31-20.
In
what might be the best game of the weekend, #13 Fresno State
visits Boise State. The Bulldogs battle the Broncos in a
true Mountain West struggle. Unfortunately the game played on Friday
night with a kick off time 10:15. Both teams move the ball well, as
the entire conference just does not play much defense. So, it seems both
teams are nearly equal in ability. I will take the squad who plays
their home games on that blue field. I get sea sick sometimes when I
watch a game from the wavy looking blue, or that from sometimes drinking too many Walker shots? I dunno as a 59-56 who ever gets the ball last, barn burner affair games goes to State, Booyah!!!
Here
are the other Top 25 Mill Sport USA poll game score predictions:
WF
26 @ (15) NC State 21
Louisville
14 @ (14) Syracuse 49
Temple
13 @ (25) Houston 35
Michigan
(4) 56 @ Rutgers 13
Kentucky
(20) 28 @ Tennessee 17
Baylor
31 @ (19) Iowa State 42
Navy
16 @ (7) UCF 38
TCU
22 @ (10) WVU 38
Oklahoma
State 28 @ (6) Oklahoma 44
USF
29 @ (18) Cincinnati 45
Washington
State (9) 31 @ Colorado 23
Auburn
17 @ (6) UGA 42
Mississippi
State 6 @ (1) Alabama 36
LSU
(16) 31 @ Arkansas 10
SJST
12 @ (11) Utah State 48
FSU
17 @ (3) ND 35
So
Mississippi 15 @ (12) UAB 45
Lafayette
8 @ (22) Army 44
Record
38-18
MILLWORKS USA.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL/TOP 25 POLL
Week
11
Rank/Team/Record/LR
- Alabama 9-0 1
- Clemson 9-0 2
- ND 9-0 3
- Michigan 8-1 4
- UGA 8-1 7
- Oklahoma 8-1 8
- UCF 8-0 6
- Ohio State 8-1 9
- Washington State 8-1 10
- West Virginia 8-1 11
- Utah State 8-1 14
- UAB 8-1 15
- Fresno State 8-1 16
- Syracuse 7-2 21
- NC State 6-2 NR
- LSU 7-2 5
- Boston College 7-2 23
- Cincinnati 8-1 NR
- Iowa State 5-3 NR
- Kentucky 7-2 13
- Washington 7-3 NR
- Army 7-2 NR
- Buffalo 8-1 25
- Michigan State 5-3 NR
- Houston 6-2 13Honorable Mentions: Troy, NIU, BSU, Duke, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oregon, Ohio, and South CarolinaGone this week, and will be forgotten: UVA, PSU, Utah, Texas and Florida.
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