Riders eked out a win last week. With two to go they control their own playoff destiny. Currently the 9 seed, so they’d go on the road against also 4-4 Bellaire. Big Red’s quality win is against Cambridge which is stronger than ours against Paint Valley. One and done at this point. We should get a win this week @ 3-5 Fairbanks but always tough Mechanicsburg (5-3) comes to Kile Field for the closer and I’m not optimistic even though they have NO quality wins!

My take on the current AP poll. #1 Georgia: For the time being. Figure they lose to Alabama in the SEC title game. #2 Ohio State. Sure. #3 Alabama. Too many close calls but they’ll win out. #4. Clemson. Clear sailing because the ACC has no depth. #5. Michigan. Cake schedule so far and they have an OSU problem. #6 Tennessee. Everyone’s (?) Cinderella story? The slipper breaks this week. #7. USC. Solid schedule. Hasn’t played a team currently ranked yet. IMHO Utah beats them this w/e. #8. Oklahoma State. Like them but Texas might have something to say about it next weekend. #9. Ole Miss. Swedish school? Weak schedule about to get quite a bit tougher. #10. Penn State. No. Just no.

So we’ll go with Alabama, Ohio State, a one-loss Georgia, and Clemson.

Bengals over the Saints 24-18. Bills over the Chiefs by 1 this week. Buccaneers and <gulp> Cowboys in the NFC. Eagles schedule is currently 29th!

Roughriders lost again, this time a 14-7 squeaker to “new rival” West Liberty Salem. 3-4 Triad this week should get us back on the winning side. If the playoffs started today we’d go to Newcomerstown. Never played them. And right now they’re better than us so it’ll most likely be one n done.

Polar Bears held Mt. Union under 50 so we’ll take the moral victory. Week off before facing John Carroll.

The Big 3 stay the same. But who’s gonna be the fourth? We’ll take the 1-loss teams out of the running. Utah is out. So is Michigan. Clemson is rocking and I’ll give it to them for now, even with two squeakers. Oklahoma State has a GREAT shot. And USC perhaps has the BEST shot but Clemson will hold them off.

My Saints were robbed – again – by the Vikings. Bills and Chiefs lead the AFC. Tompa Brady and Green Bay are the class (?) of the NFC. Saints are hosting the Seahawks this weekend. Saints by 5-7 in a high scoring affair – 40+

due to tech week. Woulda been about 50/50.

Roughriders just dropped two in a row to teams who are a combined 12-0. Can’t remember EVER having that happen in a regular season. Those teams are in different divisions of our league so will not play this season. We’re currently 12th which puts us in the bowls AND we still have our quality win over Paint Valley. We’d open against Bellaire who also has one quality win. They’re a traditionally tough program so I’m not optimistic. Lots of shuffling over the next few weeks. West Liberty this weekend. Traditionally a close game. They’re down this season but not sure HOW down.

ONU lost to BW by four – MUCH closer than I thought it would be. They’ll be down on the river and it’s still usually safe to pick against Marietta. Now for the big boys. There aren’t four playoff teams. There are three. Georgia, Ohio State and USC. Alabama’s schedule is still soft. Oklahoma has a loss. Michigan WILL have. Same for Penn State. IF Washington can beat USC they’ll rep the Pac ??. Clemson’s schedule is too easy and the narrow escape to WF raised issues. Florida State might be the unlikely fourth team. Regarless, they’ll be sacrificial lambs.

I thought the Buckeyes were 14 better than Wisconsin. D’OH! They’re 30+ better than Rutgers and may cover the over on their own.

A scoop n score dropped my Saints to 1-2. Will be closer but not better against the Vikings this weekend. Within a field goal, especially with the “neutral field.” Top four? Bills, Chiefs, Bucs, Packers. NO love for the Eagles but the Dolphins will be heard.