2010: 47-19

2009: 41-29

Those are my final records for picking games the past two years here at Fourth and Blog. Not too shabby, really. I finished 3-2 with my picks yesterday, with my favorite team and my home team both losing in shit-storm fashion, in one case, quite literally. Both Notre Dame and Oregon looked rusty and discombobulated on offense to start the season, but I have faith that they will turn it around. The Ducks have the rest of September to figure out their issues, with games against Nevada and Missouri State lined up. 

The Irish, on the other hand, seem to have found out the hard way who should have won the QB competition, as Dayne Crist fizzled and Tommy Rees was cool and collected. Crist has all the tools, but just doesn’t seem to have the mindset to play QB at this level. Rees has none of the tools, but guts for days. They face some tough mudding in the coming weeks with games against Michigan and Michigan State. But given how well their defense played (and knowing it’s capable of even more) and how much offense they put up in the loss (504 yards), they should be okay. I think that, if Brian Kelly can get them re-focused, there is no reason they don’t leave this month at 3-1. Same for the Ducks. 

So much more happened than Oregon and Notre Dame losing, though. Let’s run it down:

• Baylor, and especially Robert Griffin III, served notice on Friday night. Don’t sleep on the Baylor Bears this season. They are going to scare some big teams as the year goes on. 
• On, Wisconsin! It may have just been against UNLV, but the Badgers are going to put a hurting on the Big 10 (12) through the air as well as on the ground. 
• LSU is mind-numbingly efficient. They have to be the most talented boring team in the country.
• Watch out for the Golden Gophers. Jerry Kill has wasted no time in turning around the culture at Minnesota. They still don’t have the talent needed, but he’s pointing them in the right direction. U$C obviously still has issues on defense and, apparently, the run game. 
• A&M looks good. I’m writing this up as the 3rd quarter ends down in Texas. SMU is game, but A&M can score at will. They may just hit that door before it hits them on their way out of the Big 12 (9).
• Boise State is still Boise State. I’m not sure how they’ll look after Kellen Moore leaves, though. If they run the table again, Chris Peterson will have programs across the country throwing themselves at him like horny prom dates.
• Notre Dame and Oregon will bounce back. Never count out the Coaches Kelly. They’re sneaky little apple-cheeked fellows. If the Irish can cut down on the TOs, they can score on anyone and the same goes for the Ducks, perhaps more so with super-frosh DeAnthony Thomas.