[Editior’s note: Lee’s been in conferences and lots of other things going on this week (or so he claims), so while he was able to pump out some picks, he only had time for a few.]
Screw all the zoning notices that I’m supposed to be working on right now. First things first…

* MINNESOTA (+27) AT OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes’ record against the spread over the past few years has been incredible. Nobody should call for OSU not to cover unless they’re pretty sure. But I think I am here. Twenty-seven is a lot to lay against a Minnesota team that can run the ball (remember OSU’s problems against the run?), and that gave Penn State everything it wanted and then some (pass interference?). I’ll (gulp) go against conventional wisdom here, taking the Gophers and the points.

* PENN STATE (-3) AT PURDUE: Purdue has no defense. Thus, this is a great place for the Nittany Lion offense to get healthy. Morelli still has plenty of fast receivers and, oh yeah, Tony Hunt. The Nits can definitely put up some points against this pitiful D. On the flip side, Purdue also has a hell of an offense. But, unlike the Boilermakers, the Lions have a hell of a defense. This oughta slow down Purdue’s offense long enough for Penn State to get ahead by more than a mere field goal.

And the “Stone Cold, Lead-Pipe Cinch, Guaranteed Pick of the Week”

* SYRACUSE (+6.5) AT CINCINNATI: You know, the Bearcats haven’t let me down all year long. Every time I’ve picked them, they’ve covered the spread. You gotta love former dormats that are rising from their ashes… but Vegas thinks are still doormats. Cincinnati’s tough schedule and physical play will carry them past a depleted Syracuse squad, especially in the friendly confines of Nippert Stadium. Heck, even Pitt could run on Syracuse. The Bearcats will win by at least seven.

Also, I’ll take Pitt’s defense to give up at least 150 rushing yards to the bye week.

Bye week jokes are always fresh.

This is one I wanted to get to for a week, but it has been hectic.

Fans for Script

is a place of interest for many, I suspect. I’ve added them to the links area under “School Links.”
It’s a student-based effort to bring back the script and the old colors for Pitt.

I miss the old colors. Have for some time. There’s no secret about that. I think the present colors are boring, common and the whole thing — as I know Lee and I have said on more then one occasion — reminds me of the San Diego Chargers situation. They have those boring dark colors, but when they break out the baby blues, people go nuts. They are one of the cooler pro football unis.

As for the script, well I’d like to say my view is a bit nuanced, but wishy-washy is probably a better way to put it.

I could take or leave the script. The colors are more important to me, and for logo designs I prefer simple. So, the block letter “Pitt” doesn’t really bother me. If getting the script meant junking the present panther head logo, I would probably get on board.

The big stumbling block, though, with the script is ownership. If I understand things correctly, the script Pitt logo is owned by the university itself, not the athletic department (hence, why you see Pitt Campus police with hats bearing the script Pitt). This is important for the funding of athletics if the merchandise sales are not going straight to the athletic department. In fact, this is the issue that probably does more to prevent any serious discussion of the return of the script logo.

The seeming hallmark of every news story is to find some local hook. I always viewed this as a sort of provinicialism until I moved around to a bunch of cities over the years. I realized it was completely common practice. I ascribed it to some inferiority complex until I started this blog. The more articles I read, the more I realized it was just something everyone does — find that local angle. No place at times is worse about it then NYC. They love pointing out talent that played at a city high school or some local connection. This one about the Big East preseason polls caught my attention.

“It’s not where you are now; it’s where you finish,” said Jamie Dixon, Pitt’s Bronx-bred coach. “These guys get the magazines, get on the Internet. You can’t hide from it. The day after the season they were ranking teams, so it’s not a surprise. It’s a challenge. Our guys love challenges, and what bigger challenge can you have than to be picked No. 1 in the Big East?”

Actually winning it, and coming up big in the Big Dance. The Panthers never have won more than two NCAA tourney games in a season, getting knocked out of the Sweet 16 three straight years – including Dixon’s first as head coach in 2004.

[Emphasis added.]

I love that. Coach Dixon was born in Burbank and his hometown is North Hollywood, California. His folks are from the Bronx and he did live there for a spell, but that just cracks me up. It’s like calling me a Baltimore native since I was born and lived there for the first 6 months of my life.

Additional note, the meme of can Pitt get past the Sweet 16 this year will be one that will dog Pitt.

Helmet stickers for Pitt. Yes or no? Personally, I’m not that big a fan of them (the downside of which is that it puts me in agreement with Joe Pa), but I could see Coach Wannstedt bringing them back sometime soon. I suppose I might not object as much if it was something simple — in fact that may have been the thing to do with that stupid Panther’s tooth they tried to push as alt logo a few years back. Then it might have worked. We all know, though, it would be that hideous Panther head that just looks like a blue and gold blob from any distance.