Game Day Comes Calling and College Football Picks Week #9

It is true. ESPN’s College Gameday has landed in Bloomington, Indiana during football season. I must be dreaming. Nope. It really is true.

Look, I don’t know how much of this I will see tomorrow. Sure, I will meander over that direction bright and early in the morning to take some pictures and try to realize this is really happening. The crowd for the show is allowed to gather as early as 6:30 in the morning.

If Gameday is in town, that means Lee Corso will be back in town. Coach Corso was the IU coach of my childhood. I saw him march up and down that sideline on the east side, where the Hoosiers’ bench was back then. How many of us remember that? Facing the press box is not bad for a coach working it. Also, the yard markers are on the side of the field opposite of the press box. This is a nice place to make a case about where the ref is spotting the ball.

This is the Coach Corso I remember.

The Holiday Bowl played on December 21, 1979. No, I did not have to look up the date. I remember it well.

Honestly, I am having a hard time processing what lays in wait for tomorrow. Then I start thinking about how well this Coach Cig IU Football team has played and I ask, “Why not? This is a very good football team. If they were wearing Michigan’s uniforms, they would be ranked no lower than 3rd. They are ranked 13 in the land. That number is only going lower.

Last week we had ten winners and four losers bringing the season total to 83 winners and 29 losers. Let’s see what gives this week.

Ohio State beats Nebraska… But not as badly as the Hoosiers whipped the corn boys.

Ole Miss beats Oklahoma… This is a home game the Rebs certainly need.

Indiana beats Washington… My first time to see the Huskies. Tayven Jackson will start at quarterback after Rourke hurt his thumb last week. Running back by committee. A host of receiving threats. A tenacious defense. Solid kicking and urgent teams. But the best thing about this team is that they don’t make mistakes and players don’t act like they are running for public office when they make a great play. This is solid, disciplined, hard-nosed football and it is being played in Bloomington, Indiana.

Arkansas beats Mississippi State… The Hogs have one coming and State is not very good at all.

Illinois beats Oregon… You know, I just don’t see the Ducks coming back after that crazy win over Ohio State with an even performance. Some games are too much.

Maryland beats Minnesota… I have already been called crazy for this one. I don’t see Goldy winning this one. In their last two games, Goldy and the boys beat both USC and UCLA. Maryland takes it.

Alabama beats Mizzou… The game is in T-Town. The Tide needs to win big. Or is a two-loss season just too much for the Tide and their fans to take?

Iowa beats Northwestern… There has been some rumbling about maybe this being the end of the run for The Big 10’s dean of coaches Kirk Ferentz. I hope Iowa takes this one.

Wake Forest beats Stanford… Imagine the boys from Winston-Salem going to Palo Alto to play a conference game. I know. I need to get over it. One day I might.

Texas beats Vanderbilt… Hope the Horn folk don’t start throwing water bottles onto the field at Vandy.

Miami beats Florida State… The only question is by how much?

Texas A&M beats LSU… A night game in College Station is intimidating too.

Michigan beats Michigan State… The Hoosiers next two opponents are these two.

Wisconsin beats Penn State… It is official. This season is like no other when I am rooting for Bucky. Anything to help the Hoosiers.

That’s it. When I get home tomorrow, I will try to find a way to write about what it will be like to see a sold-out Memorial Stadium that is not filled with Ohio State fans. The last time I remember that was watching AT. I never dreamed I would see something better. But this is going to be just that.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

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