All this talk of Dodgers/Diamondbacks and suddenly the Colorado Rockies sit just 6 games back in the National League West.  They blew a lead to the lowly Giants last night or they would have been sitting 5 out with 27 to play.  My baseball interest has faded about as quickly as my interest in the show “Chuck”.  Nontheless, I’ll give the Rockies a week and a half to chip it down to three before I give up.  September has them at Coors Field for 15 of 24 games, which we all know serves as one of the biggest home field advantages, as well as one of the biggest home field DIS-advantages at the same time.  It just depends on how the ball is bouncing off the bat.  They’ve got six games against the first place Diamondbacks, including the final three ballgames…in Arizona.  If they can take 5 of 6 against Arizona and 2 of 3 against the Dodgers, they could win the West.  As my interest wanes in baseball, it’s opening night for college football!!!!

Seven years ago on this Thursday, I rushed home from class on the 6 Bus, parked my body on the couch and watched as the Tommy Jones led Indiana Hoosiers battled North Carolina State.  Remember the Antwaan Randle El Wide Receiver Experiment?  That was ugly and ended up costing the Hoosiers and their top two player of all time a chance to play in a bowl game.  There have been a lot of instances in my life where the buildup for a particular sports moment has totally been way bigger than the actual event.  It’s worse than that.  It’s the moments that aren’t just losses.  I can handle losses.  It’s the moments where you’ve been anticipating getting together to watch a game for a week, and within a half hour, you’re down 21-0. 

For some reason, the IU-NC State game of ‘01 is in my top 5 all time “Hysterical Letdown” games.  The games that let you down so much that all you can do is laugh about it as it goes on.  It’s kind of like your girlfriend breaking up with you.  It may hurt later, but at the moment, you might as well just laugh.  BOUS THEORY WARNING:  HYSTERICAL LETDOWN GAMES COULD CAUSE AN INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION OF ADULT BEVERAGES (AS CAN A GIRLFRIEND BREAKING UP WITH YOU).

By the way, NC State kicks off the season for the 28th year in a row tonight against South Carolina.  Oh yeah, and I’m going to be at the Counting Crows/Maroon 5 concert.  Perfect timing.  College kickoff for me is this Saturday at noon.  Boom.  Outta here.

One more thing….Get your picks in for the initial Bous Theory Pick ‘Em Contest.  If you’ve got a better name, put it in the comment section.  Email your picks (and scores) to chad_bouslog@wrtv.com.  This way no one can see your picks.  If you’re hesitant to enter because you don’t want me to know that you actually read this blog, don’t worry about it.  Make up a fake email address on hotmail or some of you folks who stay quiet, here’s your chance to get active!  Here are the games:

USC @ Virginia

Missouri vs Illinois 

Alabama @ Clemson

Oregon @ Washington

Tennessee @ UCLA

Western Kentucky @ Indiana

Utah @ Michigan

Michigan State @ California

New Mexico @ Texas Christian

Washington State @ Oklahoma State

I thought I should bring to your attention that I am actually on vacation, but will be returning with the blog on Wednesday.  Most people would probably blog while on vacation, but I’m too busy staying up late watching movies, enjoying the 70 degree weather outside, and eating great dinners (Pizza King on Sunday night, cookout last night, don’t know what the cards have in store for tonight).  In other words, I’m chillin’ way too hard!  I’m also pretty geeked out that college football starts on Saturday (actually Thursday night if you’re interested in South Carolina and NC State.  I am!) 

To update my bird blog, the biggest chipmunk I’ve ever seen has been chillin’ out on my porch with me the last couple of days, so that’s pretty cool.  With that little guy running around, I was a little hesitant to open up the screen door, but I couldn’t fight with Mother Nature.  It’s too nice to keep the windows shut.  We’re a couple of weeks away from the best weather of the year. 

It is also my pleasure to announce a new pick ‘em game to coincide with the upcoming college football season.  I will choose ten meaningful games each week in which you will pick both the winner and a guess at the score.  Standings will be based on record each week.  If you get 7 out of 10, you’ll be 7-3.  Again, please include a score prediction as well with your picks. 

Example:

Indiana  45   Western Kentucky 14

Here’s what I’ll do when the actual score comes down…If this is the final Indiana 35 Western Kentucky 24 the difference would be 11 points.  You predicted 31 points, so you would be at -20. 

If the final score came out, Western Kentucky 20 Indiana 14, the difference would be -37. 

After using this formula for all 10 games, the TWO lowest point differences of the week will be awarded a “Gimme” game the following week of their choice.  They will automatically gain a week of that game which they select and will effectively start the week 1-0.  The “difference” score on that gimme game will be set at -6.

Please email all selections to chad_bouslog@wrtv.com by Friday at 1pm.  And now, this week’s 10 games:

USC @ Virginia

Missouri vs Illinois 

Alabama @ Clemson

Oregon @ Washington

Tennessee @ UCLA

Western Kentucky @ Indiana

Utah @ Michigan

Michigan State @ California

New Mexico @ Texas Christian

Washington State @ Oklahoma State  

A Score of -60 or less each week (in essence picking all 10 games to within a touchdown average will result in 3 gimme picks the following week.  I will also give mad props if this happens).

Send me your picks!

RIP Kevin Duckworth