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I'm sitting in third, just two games back from first place. Can I take over with my final 10 picks to become my league's college pick'em champ?

Tough games to pick this week:

• Auburn (2) at South Carolina (18) +5. The Gamecocks have been playing great football this season, and I expect that to continue this weekend. They lost at Auburn earlier in the season, but I think they'll best the Tigers on Saturday.
• Florida State (20) +4 at Virginia Tech (12). The Hokies haven't lost a game since Sept. 11. The Seminoles have been winning or losing closely all season -- other than when they were blown out at Oklahoma on Sept. 11. This will be a hard-fought game, and I see Florida State coming out on top.
• Northern Illinois (24) at Miami (OH) +17.5. As an Ohio Bobcat, I can't pick the RedHawks. The Huskies had better win this one, even though they've been given a huge point spread.
• Oregon (1) at Oregon State +16.5. The Ducks also have an incredible point spread over the Beavers, but they're ranked No. 1 for a reason. Say it with me: Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

How do you get a University of Michigan graduate off your porch? Pay him for the pizza.

Tough games to pick this week:

• Michigan +17 at Ohio State (8). I don't know if I can even call this a tough game to pick. O-H!
• Florida +2.5 at Florida State (22). Another big rivalry game this weekend. The Gators just ain't the competitors they used to be, so this one will go to the Seminoles.
• Michigan State (11) at Penn State +1. I can't figure out why there is essentially no point spread on this game between a Top 25 team and one that has hardly been on the radar this year. But, I also see the Nittany Lions poised for a big upset over the Spartans.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

An 8-point week dropped me to third with 101 total points. Only six points behind first place, but that's a big gap with little time remaining in the season.

Tough games to pick this week:

• Ohio State (8) at Iowa (21) +3. I've been picking with Ricky Stanzi's Hawkeyes for the entire season, but I'm going to have to go against the Lake Catholic grad for my Buckeyes. Last week Iowa lost a game it shouldn't have, and while I think this will be close, I'm giving the edge to Ohio State.
• Wisconsin (6) at Michigan +5. That School Up North was playing better earlier this season, but I'm surprised to see such a low point spread. Maybe Wisconsin's 83-20 win over Indiana last week is a misrepresentation of the Badgers' performance. But there is no reason they shouldn't roll over the Wolverines, even in the Big House.
• Oklahoma (16) at Baylor +7.5. The Sooners' two losses have been to unranked teams. I see the Baylor Bears handing them another one this weekend. 
• Nebraska (9) at Texas A&M (18) +2.5. The Cornhuskers have the better record, but the Aggies have homefield advantage. This game promises to be an excellent primetime matchup, with the underdog pulling an upset.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

I moved up to second place in my pick'em league after a 9-11 Week 10, but first place has six games on me. That lead's not out of reach, as long as I can get some plus+50 weeks.

Tough games to pick this week:

• Penn State +18 at Ohio State (8). The Nittany Lions just ain't what they used to be, and the Buckeyes are rolling. They'll keep rolling in Ohio Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
• Oregon (1) at California +19.5. Normally this point spread is something I would pick against. I just don't trust the favored team to cover. But, I'm liking the Ducks so far this season, and I'd like to see them win and win big.
• South Carolina (22) +5.5 at Florida (24). South Carolina has proved it can perform well under pressure and at tough games. Florida just isn't what it used to be. Give this one to the Gamecocks.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

I moved up to third place with a 10-9-1 Week 9. Now let's get above 50 percent for Week 10 ...

Tough games to pick this week:

• TCU (4) at Utah (6) +4.5. This season has been pretty wild, so remaining undefeated through Week 9 is impressive. Unfortunately, that comes to an end in Week 10 for the Horned Frogs or the Utes. The higher-ranked TCU is favored, but I'm pulling for the under dogs at home.
• Alabama (5) at LSU (12) +6. The Tide and Tigers both stand at 7-1. While the homefield advantage should help out LSU in this game, Alabama has been playing better and will come out the victor in this match-up.
• Missouri (14) at Texas Tech +4. I was pretty high on the Tigers last week, and they didn't live up to my expectations. They aren't favored by much in this game, and I think the Red Raiders will get the best of them.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

I went 13-7 last week and was the only one in my group to pick Missouri over Oklahoma. Let's see if I can keep up the momentum to move up from third place.

Tough games to pick this week:

• Michigan State (5) +6.5 at Iowa (18). It was tough to watch Iowa lose last week to Wisconsin, which is turning into the team-that-I-don't-not-like-but-can't-like-anymore. Michigan State remains undefeated and is ranked fairly high, but I don't see Iowa losing this game. Are they going to win by a touchdown? I hope so. While the best game of the college football season for me is always Ohio State-Michigan, I would like to see a lot more buzz for the Nov. 20 meeting between the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes.
• Missouri (7) +7.5 at Nebraska (14). The Tigers are hot. I'm disappointed they're only ranked 7th, and that they're underdogs at Nebraska this weekend. Maybe that's because of home-field advantage. I'd like to see a close game with Missouri on top, but if they don't win, they'll at least score within 7.5 of the Cornhuskers.
• Utah (8) at Air Force +7. The Falcons are 5-3 with five overwhelming wins, two close losses and one big loss to the No. 4 team. Can they beat the undefeated Utes? They have a good chance at a win, or at least at making this game come down to a field goal.
• Oregon (1) at USC (24) +7. Maybe this is an easy game to pick. The Trojans have been underperfoming this season, and the Ducks' momentum can't be stopped. Say it with me: Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

After having a few average weeks, I've dropped in my college football pick'em to fifth place. Here's hoping to making up some games this week to work my way back into the top spot.

Tough games to pick this week:

• Mississippi +9.5 at Arkansas (21). Ole Miss has won a few decisive games and lost a few close ones. The point spread on this game seems a little too big for how comparable I feel these teams are. I'm pulling for the underdog. 
• Wisconsin (10) +5.5 at Iowa (13). I was not happy with Wisconsin's performance last week that pushed my Buckeyes out of the top spot. What I have been happy with is the Hawkeyes' performance this season. I'm predicting Ricky Stanzi will lead Iowa to another win.
• Oklahoma (3) at Missouri (18) +3. What a meeting between two Big 12 teams that are each leading their divisions. The Sooners will be the Tigers' first ranked opponents this season, but I don't see their momentum slowing down. I see a great prime-time match-up with Missouri coming out on top.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

After my post last week, a fan of mine reader asked that I include information about local D2 and D3 teams. For the past six weeks, I've been making predictions and giving commentary on D1 teams that are part of my college pick'em. I don't know enough about D2 and D3 football to make any sort of comment on how I believe they'll perform. Check out News-Herald.com/Sports for D2 and D3, but keep reading here for your D1 needs.

On with the picks!

Last week I was 3-1 with the games I highlighted in this blog, 9-11 for the week. I'm sitting one point out of first place. Let's see if I can move up with Week 7.

Tough games to pick:

• Iowa (15) at Michigan +3. Ricky Stanzi and the Hawkeyes rocked Penn State last week. After five weeks of great wins, Michigan suffered a big blow at Michigan State. Maybe the Wolverines will be ready for a comeback when they are back in the Big House. But I'm going to pull for the Lake Catholic grad and Iowa this week.
• BYU +29 at TCU (4). I picked BYU last week as usual, and the Cougars were good to me. This week, however, I can't do it. I think it's pretty safe to say that BYU won't knock off the undefeated Horned Frogs. The spread of 29 points is pretty big, but TCU has been pretty much crushing its opponents. Sorry, BYU, but I'm going to have to stop picking you sometime, and this week seems like the week to do it.
• Ohio State (1) at Wisconsin (18) +4. This will be a great Big Ten game. I love that the Buckeyes are favored, and even though they're favored only by 4 at a ranked conference opponent, I can't see them losing this game. Wisconsin will put up a good fight, but Ohio State will win by at least a touchdown.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Week 5 recap: I correctly picked the three games I highlighted last week, but I don't know if that's because I'm awesome at picking (which I am) or because the games weren't as tough to pick as I predicted. I went 10-10 and sit in second place in my pick'em group.

Week 6 already? Tough games to pick:

• San Diego State at BYU +5.5. I think the guys in Sports are laughing at me for believing in BYU, but for some reason I still do. Maybe it's because when I started doing college football pick'em, they won by a few touchdowns every week. I'm hoping they'll come back, so I'm going with them again this week. This is probably a mistake.
• Michigan State (17) +4.5 at Michigan (18). Possibly the marquee match-up of the week between ranked, undefeated in-state rivals. This is what college football is all about. I don't like that school up north, so I'm going with State on this one. Maybe that's more of a hope than a prediction, but so was my previous pick.
• Virginia +7.5 at Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers and Yellow Jackets both have two losses, and last year the Yellow Jackets stomped the Cavaliers, 34-9. But Virginia has earned a couple fairly decisive wins this year, and one of their losses was by only a field goal. Let's go Cavs!
• Florida State (23) +6 at Miami (13). The past few years when I've selected Florida State in pick'em, I've been disappointed that they couldn't win or beat the spread. But this year I've been impressed with the football they've been playing, and while Miami has been playing well, I think this meeting will go in Florida State's favor. And, my close friend from childhood is a Seminole, so I'm picking FSU for Melissa.

A few weeks ago, one of my friends in my pick'em group asked what my secret was. I guess from looking at this, you could assume that my secret is picking with my heart instead of my mind. Isn't that always the reason the girls win these things?


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Earlier tonight, Sports Editor Mark Podolski was asking what three games I was going to analyze this week, so let's get right into it (and avoid talking about my awful 4-15-1 showing last week [although I am still in first place, but it's unfortunate that now I won't want to score fewer than 4 so I can keep that as my drop week]).

• Texas (21) +3.5 at Oklahoma (8). Boy, this is difficult. That's not much of a spread, and the game between two Big 12 heavyweights is going to be a good one. I'm hesitant about my decision, but I'm going to go with the undefeated, at-home Sooners.
• Wisconsin (11) at Michigan State (24) +2. Both of these Big 10 teams are undefeated and on track to have stand-out seasons. Wisconsin SMASHED Austin Peay last week, 70-3, but who in the heck is Austin Peay? Expect this to be a close game, with the Spartans squeaking out on top.
• Penn State (22) +7 at Iowa (17). Two top 25, 3-1 Big 10 teams, and the spread is a touchdown. I'm going again with the home team and picking Lake Catholic grad, fifth-year senior Ricky Stanzi and the Hawkeyes over the freshman quarterback Rob Bolden and the Nittany Lions.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Three weeks into the college football season, and I am tied for first, 24-14 in my college pick'em, dropping 10 points for my lowest week (which was Week 3). It's not as good as my lowest week of 12, but 10 still isn't too shabby.

Tough games to pick this week:

• Nevada at BYU (+4): I mentioned before that I like picking BYU because I always pick BYU. They were good to me the first week when they were favorites, but they let me down the past two weeks when they were underdogs. I almost picked Nevada, but I'm going to stick with the Cougars and hope that they can give me a win (or at least lose by a field goal or less).
• Eastern Michigan (+42.5) at Ohio State: I keep thinking Ohio State is not going to cover, and each week they cover. The point spread seems way too big for this game. But as co-worker Dom Anselmo just pointed out to me, even with Ohio State's second and third string playing, the Buckeyes are still using players that went to Ohio State to play football. The Ohio State football players who are not top tier are still Ohio State football players. I'm going with the scarlet and gray this week.
• Stanford at Notre Dame (+4.5): Stanford has been crushing their opponents, and Notre Dame is 1-2. But the Fighting Irish have lost incredibly close games that come down to the last play. So I'm picking them at home this week. If they don't win, they'll at least be within four points.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Week 1 of college football is in the books, and I went 12-7 on my picks in my Yahoo college pick'em league, to finish 1/14 by 1 point. In this league we're dropping the lowest week, so it's always good to start out strong. (Sorry to my competitor "karen's gonna win this year!", who went 5-14.)

Week 2 has some tough picks. USC is giving 19.5 to Virgina, and while the Trojans are a great team and play really well at home, the Cavaliers beat Richmond 34-13 last week. Michigan (+3.5) at Notre Dame also is a toss-up. The Wolverines and the Irish had two-score wins last week, and this Ohio State fan surely will have trouble deciding which one should be the favored in this contest. And speaking of Ohio State, the 9.5 they're giving to Miami (FL) is pretty tricky. I didn't expect Ohio State to cover their 29 points over Marshall last week, so I suppose we could expect Jimmy T to keep in the first string until the Buckeyes have a solid lead over Miami. But I'm generally a little unsure about what to expect from Florida teams. For sure, this will be a great game for two teams that haven't met since a triple OT national title game.

Do I sound like I actually know something about college football? I've been trying to trick the guys in The News-Herald Sports department and my boyfriend for the past two seasons.


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us: college football season.

Ohio State wide receiver Brian Hartline, left, celebrates
his touchdown with Brian Robiskie as Michigan safety
Stevie Brown (3) walks off the end zone during the
second quarter of an NCAA college football game
Nov. 22, 2008, in Columbus. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Having grown up outside Columbus, I love me some Ohio State football (something many of my fellow Ohio University alumni hate about me). In the last 10 years or so, I have gotten really into college football in general. I like it much more than pro. I'm not sure why -- something about the equal possession overtime and the fact that almost anything can stop the clock and draw out as much playing time as possible. And, of course, watching such a great team could help anyone like a sport (especially when that football team around here doesn't play so well).

For the past couple of years, I have been in a college football pick'em with my friends on Yahoo. Last year I finished 3/14 in the regular season. The year before I finished 5/14 in the regular season and 1/16 in the bowl pick'em (and in the 96th percentile on Yahoo). I'm looking forward to competing against 10 of my friends this year to see if I can hold my own, picking weekly against the spread. I often take an early lead and hold on for a few weeks, before either forgetting to make picks before early games or totally underestimating a team I don't have much interest in.

Last season, I also did a pick'em with some co-workers, including Sports Editor Mark Podolski (who, I think, thought I was full of you-know-what when I was talking up my college football knowledge). I ended up third of four in a close competition, so I'm really looking forward to exacting my revenge this year. I might have started drooling this evening when he asked if I was ready to do pick'em again.

So for the next few days, I will mull over the 20 games I need to pick for my Yahoo group and prep for the Ohio State's first game of the season against Marshall at 7:30 Thursday. Yes, I'm going to be watching the Buckeyes instead of the Browns (though some logistics need to be worked out with the boyfriend, who can't imagine not seeing a Browns game even though it is preseason).

I'll keep you updated every week here on the progress in my pick'em groups, and you'll be sure to know if the Buckeyes break my heart.

O-H!


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com