Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
sorry everybody, i was busy
So I'm not going to write blurbs or whatever. I'm done. Here are the CRISIS games. For the interested observer, Chaz has the favorite in 8 of the 13.
Bowl
Date
Chaz'z Pick vs. Tha Captainz Pick
St. Petersburg Bowl
12/20/11
Marshall vs. FIU
Hawai'i Bowl
12/24/11
Nevada vs. Southern Miss
Military Bowl
12/28/11
Toledo vs. Air Force
Holiday Bowl
12/28/11
California vs. Texas
Pinstripe Bowl
12/30/11
Rutgers vs. Iowa State
Kraft Fights Hunger Bowl
12/31/11
UCLA vs. Illinois
Peach Bowl
12/31/11
Auburn vs. Virginia
Outback Bowl
1/2/12
Michigan St. vs. Georgia
Capital One Bowl
1/2/12
South Carolina vs. Nebraska
Rose Bowl
1/2/12
Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Sugar Bowl
1/3/12
Michigan vs. Virginia Tech
BBVA Compass Bowl
1/7/12
Pittsburgh vs. SMU
BCS National Championship
1/9/12
LSU vs. Alabama
Bowl
Date
Chaz'z Pick vs. Tha Captainz Pick
St. Petersburg Bowl
12/20/11
Marshall vs. FIU
Hawai'i Bowl
12/24/11
Nevada vs. Southern Miss
Military Bowl
12/28/11
Toledo vs. Air Force
Holiday Bowl
12/28/11
California vs. Texas
Pinstripe Bowl
12/30/11
Rutgers vs. Iowa State
Kraft Fights Hunger Bowl
12/31/11
UCLA vs. Illinois
Peach Bowl
12/31/11
Auburn vs. Virginia
Outback Bowl
1/2/12
Michigan St. vs. Georgia
Capital One Bowl
1/2/12
South Carolina vs. Nebraska
Rose Bowl
1/2/12
Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Sugar Bowl
1/3/12
Michigan vs. Virginia Tech
BBVA Compass Bowl
1/7/12
Pittsburgh vs. SMU
BCS National Championship
1/9/12
LSU vs. Alabama
Charles picks some bowls
New Mexico Bowl
12/17/11
Temple (-6.5) vs. Wyoming
I got to see a good pick of Temple on the teevee because of the NBA lock-out. Good start!
My pick: TEMPLE
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
12/17/11
Utah St. (-2.5) vs. THE Ohio University
Utah State has the momentum. They're also better than their record suggests.
My pick: UTAH STATE
New Orleans Bowl
12/17/11
San Diego St. (-4.5) vs. UL-Lafayette
ULL is much closer to home, but isn't there a lot of talk that their coach might be going somewhere else? That's reason enough to pick the favorite.
My pick: WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SAN DIEGO STATE
St. Petersburg Bowl
12/20/11
Marshall vs. FIU (-4)
Marshall's coach is actually named Doc Holliday. Plus, I heard a rumor that Mario Cristal Ball is going to get hired at Pitt. Our first upset selection!
My pick: MARSHALL
Poinsettia Bowl
12/21/11
Louisiana Tech vs. TCU (-10.5)
I almost picked an upset here, for the letdown factor etc, but TCU is just way better than La Tech.
My pick: TCU
Las Vegas Bowl
12/22/11
Arizona St. vs. Boise St. (-14)
Arizona State hired a huge dick of a coach, and their players know it, and this has been a terrible season. BSU isn't going to be excited about this, I don't think, but their opponents probably just want this thing to get over. Neither of these teams should be here, for opposite reasons.
My pick: BOISE STATE
Hawai'i Bowl
12/24/11
Nevada vs. Southern Miss (-6)
SEE I MET THIS WOMAN FROM HAWAII/STUCK IT IN HER ASS AND SHE SAID AAIII
My pick: NEVADA
Independence Bowl
12/26/11
Missouri (-5) vs. North Carolina
North Carolina is not very good, and neither is Missouri, but they are on a winning streak. In a couple of years this will be an intraconference game.
My pick: MISSOURA
Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl
12/27/11
Purdue (-2.5) vs. Western Michigan
This should be a fun game. Going with the name brand football program. Wait, no, that doesn't work. Going with the better team. No, not that either. WeMU lost to Michigan by 24; Purdue only lost by 22. I pick the Boilermakers by 2.
My pick: PURDUE
Belk Bowl
12/27/11
NC State (-3) vs. Louisville
Here's two pretty uneven teams. I am guessing more than usual.
My pick: LOUISVILLE
Military Bowl
12/28/11
Air Force vs. Toledo (-3)
I would have picked Toledo, because they're actually pretty good and their offense is strong, but then their coached left. But then the offensive coordinator was named coach, so he'll want to do a good job and the offense will want to look good for him. So, yeah.
My pick: TOLEDO
Holiday Bowl
12/28/11
California vs. Texas (-3)
The Holiday Bowl is frequently a destination for teams I feel like should have gone to a bigger bowl game. But then, not always. I don't think I watched much Cal this year, but they appear to have finished strong. I watched Texas a fair bit and was not impressed.
My pick: CALIFORNIA
Champs Sports Bowl
12/29/11
Notre Dame vs. Florida St. (-3)
Catholics vs. Indigenous Peoples, round 2! I think Brian Kelly is a better coach, and I watched the Florida-Florida State game.
My pick: NOTRE DAME
Alamo Bowl
12/29/11
Washington vs. Baylor (-9)
Take a drink every time someone mentions the Heisman and a shot for each mention of Superman, socks, or Superman socks. Also: Washington is not a good football team.
My pick: BAY, LORD OF THE BEARS
Armed Forces Bowl
12/30/11
Tulsa vs. BYU (-3)
If I were a betting man, I would take the over on this game, which I've seen in the mid-50s. I am picking BYU just because they ended the regular season in a stronger fashion.
My pick: BYU
Pinstripe Bowl
12/30/11
Iowa St. vs. Rutgers (-1.5)
Rutgers, I guess, is kind of at home.
My pick: RUTGERS
Music City Bowl
12/30/11
Mississippi St. (-7) vs. Wake Forest
Wake Forest got blown out by Vanderbilt. Mississippi State is at least as good as Vanderbilt. People seem to think that Mississippi State is having a down year, but they've lost to a bunch of ten-win teams and the defending national champ at that team's season peak.
My pick: MISSISSIPPI STATE
Insight Bowl
12/30/11
Oklahoma (-14) vs. Iowa
Oklahoma is way better. If they're unhappy about the lower bowl and don't play well, they win comfortably. If they're angry and play like it, blowout.
My pick: OKLAHOMA
Texas Bowl
12/31/11
Texas A&M (-10) vs. Northwestern
This is a tough pick. Texas A&M is a better team, but their coach got fired and this is not the kind of bowl game they expected at the start of this season. I am going with the team that's more emotionally invested.
My pick: NORTHWESTERN
Sun Bowl
12/31/11
Georgia Tech (-3.5) vs. Utah
Georgia Tech is better, but Utah is well-coached and will have plenty of time to get ready for the option.
My pick: UTAH
Liberty Bowl
12/31/11
Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt (-2.5)
I think Vanderbilt was close to being a pretty good team this year. It was too far apart in the season to mean anything, but Vanderbilt did lose closer to their common opponent Tennessee.
My pick: VANDY
Kraft Fights Hunger Bowl
12/31/11
UCLA vs. Illinois (-2.5)
When people talk about there being too many bowl games, they think they're talking about games like Tulsa-BYU, but they are really talking about games like this. Two bad, headless losers flailing like bad, headless children. They're playing in a stupid bowl game with a dumb name. It is closer to UCLA's campus, and that is how I am picking.
My pick: UCLA
Peach Bowl
12/31/11
Virginia vs. Auburn (-1.5)
When you get right down to it, these aren't very good teams. Both teams got blown out by their rivals, but Auburn's rivals are much better than Virginia's. Losing Mike Dyer hurts, but Auburn has still got quality running backs, and the coaches seem to have forgotten about him anyway.
My pick: AUBURN, BECAUSE HEY, WHY NOT?
Ticket City Bowl
1/2/12
Penn St. vs. Houston (-5.5)
I imagine that Penn State will not give this game their undivided attention. There's a good chance that Houston will be a bit unhappy about missing a BCS bowl, but that will wear off by January. I would be more surprised by a Penn State win than by a Houston blow-out.
My pick: HOUSTON
Outback Bowl
1/2/12
Michigan St. vs. Georgia (-4)
I still am not convinced that Georgia is a very good team. Better than average? Sure. But they haven't beaten what I would call a strong team all season. Their best win is ... maybe Georgia Tech? That just doesn't do a lot for me. Michigan State, on the other hand, has looked good against good teams.
My pick: MICHIGAN STATE
Capital One Bowl
1/2/12
South Carolina (-2.5) vs. Newbraska
This is a pretty interesting game. South Carolina looked very good against Clemson. I think the Capital One Bowl is big enough that they won't feel bad about missing the SEC title game or a better bowl (which is what happened when they played in Birmingham).
My pick: SAKERLINA
Gator Bowl
1/2/12
Florida (-2) vs. Ohio St.
Part of me imagines that Charlie Weis is out of the way, and Florida suddenly has one of the two or three best offenses in America. But probably not, because Florida sucks. A mediocre match-up of mediocre teams.
My pick: AN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Rose Bowl
1/2/12
Wisconsin vs. Oregon (-6)
This should be fun. Two offenses that are very good in different ways. Wisconsin is strong, but I don't see them keeping up with Oregon, a team with some of the best skill players in the country and who very easily could have been playing for the national title.
My pick: OREGON
Fiesta Bowl
1/2/12
Oklahoma St. (-3.5) vs. Stanford
This should be fun. Two offenses that are very good in different ways. Stanford is strong, but I don't see them keeping up with Oklahoma State, a team with some of the best skill players in the country and who very easily could have been playing for the national title.
My pick: OKLAHOMA STATE
Sugar Bowl
1/3/12
Virginia Tech vs. Michigan (-2.5)
Like Georgia, Virginia Tech has a fancy record but little reason to think that they're very good. Michigan, in contrast, has played (and beaten!) good teams.
My pick: MICHIGAN
Orange Bowl
1/4/12
Clemson (-3.5) vs. West Virginia
The ACC is a lot better than the Big East. I think Dana Holgorsen is a fine coach, better than his opponent, but Clemson is just the stronger team overall.
My pick: CLEMSON
Cotton Bowl
1/6/12
Kansas St. vs. Arkansas (-8)
Bill Snyder is the best coach in America. I still think Arkansas wins, because they're a much better team, but close.
My pick: ARKANSAS
BBVA Compass Bowl
1/7/12
SMU vs. Pittsburgh (-5)
I have heard that Pittsburgh's team is really upset about their coach leaving. Will that come out as an angry team playing hard, or a flat team going through the motions? I think angry. Also, neither of these teams are very good, SMU particularly.
My pick: PITT
GoDaddy.com Bowl
1/8/12
Arkansas St.(-1.5) vs. Northern Illinois
I'm surprised ASU is favored, as Northern Illinois finished with basically the same record in a tougher conference against a tougher schedule. Arkansas State is also going through a coaching change. Arkansas State seems pretty excited about their new coach, but interim coaches often have trouble. Also I am still partial to NIU for upsetting Alabama several years ago.
My pick: NORTHERN ILLINOIS
BCS National Championship
1/9/12
LSU (-1) vs. Alabama
LSU is the better team and won the first match-up at Alabama. Also, even if Alabama wins this game, I would vote LSU number one, because LSU played a tougher schedule and won the game in Tuscaloosa.
My pick: LSU
12/17/11
Temple (-6.5) vs. Wyoming
I got to see a good pick of Temple on the teevee because of the NBA lock-out. Good start!
My pick: TEMPLE
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
12/17/11
Utah St. (-2.5) vs. THE Ohio University
Utah State has the momentum. They're also better than their record suggests.
My pick: UTAH STATE
New Orleans Bowl
12/17/11
San Diego St. (-4.5) vs. UL-Lafayette
ULL is much closer to home, but isn't there a lot of talk that their coach might be going somewhere else? That's reason enough to pick the favorite.
My pick: WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SAN DIEGO STATE
St. Petersburg Bowl
12/20/11
Marshall vs. FIU (-4)
Marshall's coach is actually named Doc Holliday. Plus, I heard a rumor that Mario Cristal Ball is going to get hired at Pitt. Our first upset selection!
My pick: MARSHALL
Poinsettia Bowl
12/21/11
Louisiana Tech vs. TCU (-10.5)
I almost picked an upset here, for the letdown factor etc, but TCU is just way better than La Tech.
My pick: TCU
Las Vegas Bowl
12/22/11
Arizona St. vs. Boise St. (-14)
Arizona State hired a huge dick of a coach, and their players know it, and this has been a terrible season. BSU isn't going to be excited about this, I don't think, but their opponents probably just want this thing to get over. Neither of these teams should be here, for opposite reasons.
My pick: BOISE STATE
Hawai'i Bowl
12/24/11
Nevada vs. Southern Miss (-6)
SEE I MET THIS WOMAN FROM HAWAII/STUCK IT IN HER ASS AND SHE SAID AAIII
My pick: NEVADA
Independence Bowl
12/26/11
Missouri (-5) vs. North Carolina
North Carolina is not very good, and neither is Missouri, but they are on a winning streak. In a couple of years this will be an intraconference game.
My pick: MISSOURA
Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl
12/27/11
Purdue (-2.5) vs. Western Michigan
This should be a fun game. Going with the name brand football program. Wait, no, that doesn't work. Going with the better team. No, not that either. WeMU lost to Michigan by 24; Purdue only lost by 22. I pick the Boilermakers by 2.
My pick: PURDUE
Belk Bowl
12/27/11
NC State (-3) vs. Louisville
Here's two pretty uneven teams. I am guessing more than usual.
My pick: LOUISVILLE
Military Bowl
12/28/11
Air Force vs. Toledo (-3)
I would have picked Toledo, because they're actually pretty good and their offense is strong, but then their coached left. But then the offensive coordinator was named coach, so he'll want to do a good job and the offense will want to look good for him. So, yeah.
My pick: TOLEDO
Holiday Bowl
12/28/11
California vs. Texas (-3)
The Holiday Bowl is frequently a destination for teams I feel like should have gone to a bigger bowl game. But then, not always. I don't think I watched much Cal this year, but they appear to have finished strong. I watched Texas a fair bit and was not impressed.
My pick: CALIFORNIA
Champs Sports Bowl
12/29/11
Notre Dame vs. Florida St. (-3)
Catholics vs. Indigenous Peoples, round 2! I think Brian Kelly is a better coach, and I watched the Florida-Florida State game.
My pick: NOTRE DAME
Alamo Bowl
12/29/11
Washington vs. Baylor (-9)
Take a drink every time someone mentions the Heisman and a shot for each mention of Superman, socks, or Superman socks. Also: Washington is not a good football team.
My pick: BAY, LORD OF THE BEARS
Armed Forces Bowl
12/30/11
Tulsa vs. BYU (-3)
If I were a betting man, I would take the over on this game, which I've seen in the mid-50s. I am picking BYU just because they ended the regular season in a stronger fashion.
My pick: BYU
Pinstripe Bowl
12/30/11
Iowa St. vs. Rutgers (-1.5)
Rutgers, I guess, is kind of at home.
My pick: RUTGERS
Music City Bowl
12/30/11
Mississippi St. (-7) vs. Wake Forest
Wake Forest got blown out by Vanderbilt. Mississippi State is at least as good as Vanderbilt. People seem to think that Mississippi State is having a down year, but they've lost to a bunch of ten-win teams and the defending national champ at that team's season peak.
My pick: MISSISSIPPI STATE
Insight Bowl
12/30/11
Oklahoma (-14) vs. Iowa
Oklahoma is way better. If they're unhappy about the lower bowl and don't play well, they win comfortably. If they're angry and play like it, blowout.
My pick: OKLAHOMA
Texas Bowl
12/31/11
Texas A&M (-10) vs. Northwestern
This is a tough pick. Texas A&M is a better team, but their coach got fired and this is not the kind of bowl game they expected at the start of this season. I am going with the team that's more emotionally invested.
My pick: NORTHWESTERN
Sun Bowl
12/31/11
Georgia Tech (-3.5) vs. Utah
Georgia Tech is better, but Utah is well-coached and will have plenty of time to get ready for the option.
My pick: UTAH
Liberty Bowl
12/31/11
Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt (-2.5)
I think Vanderbilt was close to being a pretty good team this year. It was too far apart in the season to mean anything, but Vanderbilt did lose closer to their common opponent Tennessee.
My pick: VANDY
Kraft Fights Hunger Bowl
12/31/11
UCLA vs. Illinois (-2.5)
When people talk about there being too many bowl games, they think they're talking about games like Tulsa-BYU, but they are really talking about games like this. Two bad, headless losers flailing like bad, headless children. They're playing in a stupid bowl game with a dumb name. It is closer to UCLA's campus, and that is how I am picking.
My pick: UCLA
Peach Bowl
12/31/11
Virginia vs. Auburn (-1.5)
When you get right down to it, these aren't very good teams. Both teams got blown out by their rivals, but Auburn's rivals are much better than Virginia's. Losing Mike Dyer hurts, but Auburn has still got quality running backs, and the coaches seem to have forgotten about him anyway.
My pick: AUBURN, BECAUSE HEY, WHY NOT?
Ticket City Bowl
1/2/12
Penn St. vs. Houston (-5.5)
I imagine that Penn State will not give this game their undivided attention. There's a good chance that Houston will be a bit unhappy about missing a BCS bowl, but that will wear off by January. I would be more surprised by a Penn State win than by a Houston blow-out.
My pick: HOUSTON
Outback Bowl
1/2/12
Michigan St. vs. Georgia (-4)
I still am not convinced that Georgia is a very good team. Better than average? Sure. But they haven't beaten what I would call a strong team all season. Their best win is ... maybe Georgia Tech? That just doesn't do a lot for me. Michigan State, on the other hand, has looked good against good teams.
My pick: MICHIGAN STATE
Capital One Bowl
1/2/12
South Carolina (-2.5) vs. Newbraska
This is a pretty interesting game. South Carolina looked very good against Clemson. I think the Capital One Bowl is big enough that they won't feel bad about missing the SEC title game or a better bowl (which is what happened when they played in Birmingham).
My pick: SAKERLINA
Gator Bowl
1/2/12
Florida (-2) vs. Ohio St.
Part of me imagines that Charlie Weis is out of the way, and Florida suddenly has one of the two or three best offenses in America. But probably not, because Florida sucks. A mediocre match-up of mediocre teams.
My pick: AN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Rose Bowl
1/2/12
Wisconsin vs. Oregon (-6)
This should be fun. Two offenses that are very good in different ways. Wisconsin is strong, but I don't see them keeping up with Oregon, a team with some of the best skill players in the country and who very easily could have been playing for the national title.
My pick: OREGON
Fiesta Bowl
1/2/12
Oklahoma St. (-3.5) vs. Stanford
This should be fun. Two offenses that are very good in different ways. Stanford is strong, but I don't see them keeping up with Oklahoma State, a team with some of the best skill players in the country and who very easily could have been playing for the national title.
My pick: OKLAHOMA STATE
Sugar Bowl
1/3/12
Virginia Tech vs. Michigan (-2.5)
Like Georgia, Virginia Tech has a fancy record but little reason to think that they're very good. Michigan, in contrast, has played (and beaten!) good teams.
My pick: MICHIGAN
Orange Bowl
1/4/12
Clemson (-3.5) vs. West Virginia
The ACC is a lot better than the Big East. I think Dana Holgorsen is a fine coach, better than his opponent, but Clemson is just the stronger team overall.
My pick: CLEMSON
Cotton Bowl
1/6/12
Kansas St. vs. Arkansas (-8)
Bill Snyder is the best coach in America. I still think Arkansas wins, because they're a much better team, but close.
My pick: ARKANSAS
BBVA Compass Bowl
1/7/12
SMU vs. Pittsburgh (-5)
I have heard that Pittsburgh's team is really upset about their coach leaving. Will that come out as an angry team playing hard, or a flat team going through the motions? I think angry. Also, neither of these teams are very good, SMU particularly.
My pick: PITT
GoDaddy.com Bowl
1/8/12
Arkansas St.(-1.5) vs. Northern Illinois
I'm surprised ASU is favored, as Northern Illinois finished with basically the same record in a tougher conference against a tougher schedule. Arkansas State is also going through a coaching change. Arkansas State seems pretty excited about their new coach, but interim coaches often have trouble. Also I am still partial to NIU for upsetting Alabama several years ago.
My pick: NORTHERN ILLINOIS
BCS National Championship
1/9/12
LSU (-1) vs. Alabama
LSU is the better team and won the first match-up at Alabama. Also, even if Alabama wins this game, I would vote LSU number one, because LSU played a tougher schedule and won the game in Tuscaloosa.
My pick: LSU
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
After looking over my pix...
I'm conceding the 2011 3E Bowl Pick Them.
Congratulations to all who participated.
Congratulations to all who participated.
Scale, politics, and historians
Where, when, why, and how did this renunciation happen? When did the American left, such as it is, abandon scale as a worthy topic? As a historical matter, where can we locate the demise of "small is beautiful" liberal politics? Why is the argument for a devolution of power right wing? Why is the dial on American "progressive" politics stuck on the "massive" setting? None of this just happened. It's a development with roots, and with dire effects.Small Is Horrible
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
get pumped get pumped
Matchemups. Lines are today's lines from sportsbook.com. Picks on Friday.
New Mexico Bowl
12/17/11
Temple (-6.5) vs. Wyoming
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
12/17/11
Utah St. (-2.5) vs. THE Ohio University
New Orleans Bowl
12/17/11
San Diego St. (-4.5) vs. UL-Lafayette
St. Petersburg Bowl
12/20/11
Marshall vs. FIU (-4)
Poinsettia Bowl
12/21/11
Louisiana Tech vs. TCU (-10.5)
Las Vegas Bowl
12/22/11
Arizona St. vs. Boise St. (-14)
Hawai'i Bowl
12/24/11
Nevada vs. Southern Miss (-6)
Independence Bowl
12/26/11
Missouri (-5) vs. North Carolina
Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl
12/27/11
Purdue (-2.5) vs. Western Michigan
Belk Bowl
12/27/11
NC State (-3) vs. Louisville
Military Bowl
12/28/11
Air Force vs. Toledo (-3)
Holiday Bowl
12/28/11
California vs. Texas (-3)
Champs Sports Bowl
12/29/11
Notre Dame vs. Florida St. (-3)
Alamo Bowl
12/29/11
Washington vs. Baylor (-9)
Armed Forces Bowl
12/30/11
Tulsa vs. BYU (-3)
Pinstripe Bowl
12/30/11
Iowa St. vs. Rutgers (-1.5)
Music City Bowl
12/30/11
Mississippi St. (-7) vs. Wake Forest
Insight Bowl
12/30/11
Oklahoma (-14) vs. Iowa
Texas Bowl
12/31/11
Texas A&M (-10) vs. Northwestern
Sun Bowl
12/31/11
Georgia Tech (-3.5) vs. Utah
Liberty Bowl
12/31/11
Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt (-2.5)
Kraft Fights Hunger Bowl
12/31/11
UCLA vs. Illinois (-2.5)
Peach Bowl
12/31/11
Virginia vs. Auburn (-1.5)
Outback Bowl
1/2/12
Michigan St. vs. Georgia (-4)
Capital One Bowl
1/2/12
South Carolina (-2.5) vs. Nebraska
Gator Bowl
1/2/12
Florida (-2) vs. Ohio St.
Rose Bowl
1/2/12
Wisconsin vs. Oregon (-6)
Fiesta Bowl
1/2/12
Oklahoma St. (-3.5) vs. Stanford
Sugar Bowl
1/3/12
Virginia Tech vs. Michigan (-2.5)
Orange Bowl
1/4/12
Clemson (-3.5) vs. West Virginia
Cotton Bowl
1/6/12
Kansas St. vs. Arkansas (-8)
BBVA Compass Bowl
1/7/12
SMU vs. Pittsburgh (-5)
GoDaddy.com Bowl
1/8/12
Arkansas St.(-1.5) vs. Northern Illinois
BCS National Championship
1/9/12
LSU (-1) vs. Alabama
New Mexico Bowl
12/17/11
Temple (-6.5) vs. Wyoming
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
12/17/11
Utah St. (-2.5) vs. THE Ohio University
New Orleans Bowl
12/17/11
San Diego St. (-4.5) vs. UL-Lafayette
St. Petersburg Bowl
12/20/11
Marshall vs. FIU (-4)
Poinsettia Bowl
12/21/11
Louisiana Tech vs. TCU (-10.5)
Las Vegas Bowl
12/22/11
Arizona St. vs. Boise St. (-14)
Hawai'i Bowl
12/24/11
Nevada vs. Southern Miss (-6)
Independence Bowl
12/26/11
Missouri (-5) vs. North Carolina
Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl
12/27/11
Purdue (-2.5) vs. Western Michigan
Belk Bowl
12/27/11
NC State (-3) vs. Louisville
Military Bowl
12/28/11
Air Force vs. Toledo (-3)
Holiday Bowl
12/28/11
California vs. Texas (-3)
Champs Sports Bowl
12/29/11
Notre Dame vs. Florida St. (-3)
Alamo Bowl
12/29/11
Washington vs. Baylor (-9)
Armed Forces Bowl
12/30/11
Tulsa vs. BYU (-3)
Pinstripe Bowl
12/30/11
Iowa St. vs. Rutgers (-1.5)
Music City Bowl
12/30/11
Mississippi St. (-7) vs. Wake Forest
Insight Bowl
12/30/11
Oklahoma (-14) vs. Iowa
Texas Bowl
12/31/11
Texas A&M (-10) vs. Northwestern
Sun Bowl
12/31/11
Georgia Tech (-3.5) vs. Utah
Liberty Bowl
12/31/11
Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt (-2.5)
Kraft Fights Hunger Bowl
12/31/11
UCLA vs. Illinois (-2.5)
Peach Bowl
12/31/11
Virginia vs. Auburn (-1.5)
Outback Bowl
1/2/12
Michigan St. vs. Georgia (-4)
Capital One Bowl
1/2/12
South Carolina (-2.5) vs. Nebraska
Gator Bowl
1/2/12
Florida (-2) vs. Ohio St.
Rose Bowl
1/2/12
Wisconsin vs. Oregon (-6)
Fiesta Bowl
1/2/12
Oklahoma St. (-3.5) vs. Stanford
Sugar Bowl
1/3/12
Virginia Tech vs. Michigan (-2.5)
Orange Bowl
1/4/12
Clemson (-3.5) vs. West Virginia
Cotton Bowl
1/6/12
Kansas St. vs. Arkansas (-8)
BBVA Compass Bowl
1/7/12
SMU vs. Pittsburgh (-5)
GoDaddy.com Bowl
1/8/12
Arkansas St.(-1.5) vs. Northern Illinois
BCS National Championship
1/9/12
LSU (-1) vs. Alabama
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Friday, December 09, 2011
Police militarization
Within moments, and without Guerena firing a shot--or even switching his rifle off of "safety"--he lay dying, his body riddled with 60 bullets. A subsequent investigation revealed that the initial shot that prompted the S.W.A.T. team barrage came from a S.W.A.T. team gun, not Guerena's. Guerena, reports later revealed, had no criminal record, and no narcotics were found at his home.How the War on Terror Has Militarized the Police
Sadly, the Guerenas are not alone; in recent years we have witnessed a proliferation in incidents of excessive, military-style force by police S.W.A.T. teams, which often make national headlines due to their sheer brutality. Why has it become routine for police departments to deploy black-garbed, body-armored S.W.A.T. teams for routine domestic police work? The answer to this question requires a closer examination of post-9/11 U.S. foreign policy and the War on Terror.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Monday, December 05, 2011
Pareidolia Monday
1. "Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples include seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon or the Moon rabbit, and hearing hidden messages on records played in reverse. The word comes from the Greek para- – "beside", "with", or "alongside"—meaning, in this context, something faulty or wrong (as in paraphasia, disordered speech) and eidōlon – "image"; the diminutive of eidos – "image", "form", "shape". Pareidolia is a type of apophenia."
2. An Introduction to Sine-Wave Speech
2. An Introduction to Sine-Wave Speech
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Friday, December 02, 2011
Bombers
During WWII, statistician Abraham Wald was asked to help the British decide where to add armor to their bombers. After analyzing the records, he recommended adding more armor to the places where there was no damage!Selection bias and bombers
This seems backward at first, but Wald realized his data came from bombers that survived. That is, the British were only able to analyze the bombers that returned to England; those that were shot down over enemy territory were not part of their sample. These bombers’ wounds showed where they could afford to be hit. Said another way, the undamaged areas on the survivors showed where the lost planes must have been hit because the planes hit in those areas did not return from their missions.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Last pick nerds
Last week, I went 6-2 straight up and 4-4 against the line. That puts me at 69-12 straight up and 42-39 against the line. Once again for this week, bold to win, caps to cover the line. It all comes down to this final pick.
Georgia (+13.5) vs. LSU
Georgia (+13.5) vs. LSU
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