My two cents worth

10:44 AM   Here are my first college picks for the season, in no particular order.

Bowling Green +33 at Oklahoma
Miami Ohio +14.5 at Michigan
Tulane +6 at Mississippi St.
Washington St. -1.5 at New Mexico
Oklahoma St. +1 at UCLA
Pittsburgh +1 at South Florida
Ohio St. -15.5 over Cincinnati
Mississippi -3 over Memphis

Some of those were tough to go with.

9:17 AM   For those that are wondering how accurate or useful computer ratings are at the beginning of the season: For the first month to first half of the season has historically been the time of the year that the computer ratings are more accurate than the line. The first few weeks you can usually find several games where the predictions and line differ by quite a bit. If this year is like past years, go with the computers on these games.

10:34 AM   I have posted some new NFL ratings for the year 1972. Was the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins the best team ever? I don't think so. But theu do top all of the ratings for that season. Their pythagorean ratio, which is based on points scored and points given up, does put them as one of the best teams from 1972-2003, but the 1973 Miami team actually had a rating that is just a fraction higher than the undefeated 1972 team.

11:44 AM   The first week of preseason football is over. The cowboys got shut out, just like they did last year.
I have decided to post some NFL prediction results. In order to get some more systems I am just going to use the final ratings from last year for some of my algorithms.

I completed my scuba diving certification this past weekend. So I am now an open water diver. In a month or two I am going to do the advanced certification. This will only require one weekend of 5 dives and 1 class session.

4:22 PM   Tonight is the Hall of Fame game, the first preseason NFL game. That is good news. It means there should be football games to watch for about the next 5-6 months now. I have started the prediction trackers. I add college systems when I am aware that they are available. I would like to be able to post each week of the NFL preseason but as of now I haven't seen many rankings.

I have finished the classroom and pool sessions for my scuba diving class. All that remains is to make 4 open water dives. I will be making them this coming weekend at Pearl Lake.

This past weekend the Oak Park Library had their annual book sale. Friday it cost $5 to get in. All hard back books are $1 and any paperback is 50 cents. When I got there the line to get in was two blocks long. Saturday it is free to get in. Then Sunday it costs $5 to get in again but all books are free. People were lined up carrying suitcases, even dollies to wheel out loads of books.

2:09 PM   The Preseason Coaches Poll has been released. The top 5 there looks a lot like my preseason top 5.

I have also posted the first predictions for the 2004 college season.