Sports Then and Now

In December the 2010 college football landscape lays wasted after a full season of all-out assault featuring vicious sacks and bone-cracking tackles.

The aerial attacks landed bomb after bomb as receivers somersaulted into opponents’ end zones to light up the scoreboard.

Finally, the victors have risen through the ranks undefeated to lay claim to the No. 1 ranking. This year we are sure––there can be no lingering doubts about who has the best football team in the nation? That indisputable team will be crowned on January 10th. Right?

On then to the anachronistic bowl system which will provide further clarity to the overriding question of who deserves to be playing in the final game of the season. It will all be clear at the end, won’t it, since we have the computer rankings – the infallible BCS?

If you believe this propaganda, you live in Fantasy Land. The All-Seeing Zultan spits in the eye of the BCS and the hordes of college football analysts pocketing millions of dollars who hawk this meaningless bowl system as scientific. Pah-leez.

These network and cable drones know no more than hapless Zultan who––like Chris Fowler–– wishes to see a true play-off system in place.

Crowning a national champion remains largely one huge popularity contest based on tenuous circuitous thought processes. You have major college football conference opponents generally playing a slate of cupcakes during the non-conference season––followed by beating each other up during a hard-fought schedule of conference games.

Because all the meaningful contests during the college football season are held between conference rivals, the only thing we really know for sure is which teams are the best in their respective conferences.

Ranking the conferences against each other is all smoke and mirrors. This year we assume the SEC and the Big Ten are the two best.  Based on what?  Scant statistical evidence if you ask me.

Why not give a berth to each team that has better than a 500 mark in their conference and send them off into a playoff system.  Details could be developed to enhance and complement the current bowl system and money could be made once again for everyone except the players who provide the game.  The irony never escapes the All-Seeing Zultan.

In the current bowl system, Zultan complains vehemently, Michigan State and Boise State, to name two, got royally clipped. Michigan State at 11-1 has every right to play their way into a national championship game––just as does Boise State, Alabama, Stanford, Ohio State, Wisconsin, TCU and on and on.

All teams ranked in the top ten or even the top 25 deserve a chance to go for the Championship. Because, realistically, how excited do you think Oklahoma or Alabama  is going to be playing in the Acme Chipped Beef Bowl after working all season for a shot at the top spot?

Zultan ended his regular season gig spinning in the Toilet Bowl, going down 4-6 in his last forecast where once again he picked against Auburn. Click here to find out all the winners who scored well against the All-Seeing One throughout the 2010 season as well as all other prize winners.

But here it is again – the great Zultan’s Bowl Challenge––a whole new contest and a new chance to win something.

Click here to enter your picks and let us see who is better at selecting winners––you or me, the Mighty Zultan, who promises either to come to your house and sing the theme song for Goldfinger or give you a prize worth something.

Actually anyone who does better than the Big Z will be entered into a drawing for $100 PayPal card and everyone who enters will be entered into a drawing for one of three $15 iTunes cards. These prizes provided by our sponsor Sports Then and Now.

Let the games begin!

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Zultan's replacement does well in Week 9.

Zultan thanks his friends from Penn State for keeping guest prognosticator MAD in his place.

So far in two seasons Zultan has never achieved perfection – but at times the All-Seeing One has picked 90 percent.

The MAD Man filling in for Zultan in Week 9 did his best to bring ignominy to the Mighty One by hauling in a perfect score.

So close, MAD, and yet so far. Maybe next time!

The key event this past weekend, however, was the Hawkeyes’ BIG victory over the Michigan State Spartans, leaving a trail of carnage and mayhem in the Big Ten for all the pundits to ponder and pontificate about for the next week.

Way to go Hawks!

Only two people did better than guest prognosticator MAD in Week 9 and those perfect folks will be toasted at the end of this article.

We will also announce the next guest prognosticator for Week 11––as the season winds down, leaning toward another dramatic Bowl extravaganza.

Click here to make your choices for Week 10 to see it you can outguess the rookie Phillip Murphy sitting in Zultan’s hot-seat this week.

Wannabe Prognosticator Murphy has managed to outguess the surly seer five times this season––but more on that at the end of the article as well as the true identity of MAD.

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Zultan - Football Prognosticator Extraordinaire

Zultan suffered an almost  mortal blow this past weekend as he was stampeded by a herd of pesky badgers in Iowa, spending the rest of the weekend picking turf out of his teeth.

To add to his misfortunes, the BCS No. 1 ranked team, the Oklahoma Sooners, also lost.

Luckily, for Iowa, they do not have to worry about that kiss of death––being ranked No. 1 by the BCS Mad Hacker.  I feel for Auburn – well, sort of, but not really.  They are doomed but at least we know that heading into action for Week 9.

When asked last week, 46 of you volunteered to stand in Zultan’s shoes to predict winners starting In Week 10 (next week).  Zultan was touched that so many were willing to take the bullet for the mighty one.  More on that at the end of this article.

In order to test the waters , Zultan has invited a substitute soothsayer to make selections this week. The question is – will the guest prognosticator sent by the football gods be able to discern Zultan’s subtleties in picking winners?

He offers a clue to his identity:

“I am the first great 21st Century Seer, Michel Auguste Dupin. The masses who know of my mental acuity and follow my intricate machinations simply refer to me by my initials; they style me MAD. I think it rather fits, for if you pick against me, surely you must be insane!”

Zultan will allow MAD to make his picks without interruption or ridicule by the Mighty One, although the temptations will be there, rest assured.  The Mad Ones selections will stand as if Zultan made them himself.

Click here to make your picks for Week 9 and see if you can send the “lean and hungry” Mad One back to the bleachers by surpassing him in picking winners.

Only ten of you by-passed Zultan in Week 8 by going 9-1.  These very astute people along with the season-long leaders in outguessing the Mighty One will be listed at the end of this article.

As written by MAD:

Big Ten Game 1: Purdue Boilermakers at Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois has improved their standing significantly since the start of the season.

Purdue (4-3, 2-1) was in the proverbial wrong place at the wrong time last week, getting thumped 49-0 by a hungry Ohio State team at the Horseshoe, a week after the Bucks suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Wisconsin.

Plus, in 2009 the Boilers upended the Buckeyes at home, 26-18. Classic double-whammy––saw this beat down coming from miles away.

While it’s easy to explain Ohio State’s motivations behind the pounding the ‘Makers took last weekend, 49-0 is 49-0. That doesn’t bode well as the Illini (4-3, 2-2) prepare to welcome Purdue to Champaign on Saturday. Illinois defended their house last week to the tune of a 43-13 rout of Indiana.

It’s tough to get worked up about this match up. Beyond the Big Ten rivalry, there is no real enmity here. And it’s not like we’re talking about a pair of traditional football powers.

If you’re a fan of either program and I’ve offended you, in the words of heavy metal band Suicidal Tendencies, “Maybe you need to be offended.” I’m just calling ’em like I see ’em.

In a match up between mediocre teams, momentum and home field advantage are frequently the deciding factors. Each favors the home-standing Illini.

Pick: Illinois

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Zultan forecasts Week 7 in college football.

For the first time in his brief career as a college football prognosticator, the Mighty Zultan took a bath in Week 6, dipping under .500.

It was a bad week to pick the supposed favorites. New dogs are barking at the gate––well, some old dogs, too, with new teeth and a gruesome bite. It does not, however, get any easier for your self-proclaimed seer in Week 7.

Needless to say, many people who entered the contest fared better than the befuddled Zultan.

It might prove simpler to list those of you who did worse than the Mighty One––but then, that would not be according to Hoyle.

Those who bested Zultan will be listed at the end of this article. But “down” does not mean “out,” so jump into the fray and make your own picks for Week 7 by clicking here. Zultan, from his less lofty perch, challenges you to try to outguess him again. Here are this week’s games:

Game 1: Arkansas State Red Wolves (2-4) at Indiana Hoosiers (3-2) 12 p.m., ET

Indiana had a bad day Saturday. Welcome to the Club, Hoosiers. We all suffered. Take it in stride and move on! The Hoosiers, whose football prowess typically sparkles on offense met a very good defense when they played Ohio State last Saturday. The best the Hoosiers have met all season.

The Buckeye defense rushed and harassed Indiana QB Ben Chappell into mistakes, causing the Hoosiers to lose big-time on Saturday, 38-10.  But, then, we expected as much.  This Saturday, the Hoosiers will be able to run their offense without so much opposition against the Arkansas State Red Wolves, who sit in the middle of the pack in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Hoosiers will bounce back, winning this game at home in Bloomington.

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