Week 4 Pick em comments

[mike salem]

I spend at least 2 hrs a week on selecting the games, tallying the individual results, and completing the cumulative results. I don't mind doing it, but I don't appreciate snide comments about how I do it either. Rather than say something smart back, I'll ask for your suggestions on games for the upcoming week.

I usually try to do game recaps on Saturdays, pick em results by Sunday, and pick the upcoming week's games by Monday. If you would like to suggest games to be in the upcoming pick em, start a thread- suggestions for the upcoming week pick em and post before Sunday evening so I'll have it before I do the Pickem.

List the game or games you'd like to see and tell me why you think it should be in the pick em. (Ex: Lafayette 3-0 v Smithfield 1-1, these teams have played the last 17 seasons with Lafayette holding a 13-4 advantage) Believe it or not I actually considered this game, but based on the head to head it didn't strike me as an obvious choice. That being said, maybe Smithfield will beat Lafayette this year, even though the recent trend has been 3:1 in favor of Lafayette.

I have a pretty good handle on Roanoke/Lynchburg/Southside/NRV games that should be good for a pick em. I can usually pick at least half of the East games and a couple of NOVA games that fit in the West without having to look at vhsl-reference or Maxpreps to see if if it would be a good pick em game.

I could certainly use the suggestions for the East and NOVA games though. I may not always use all of the suggestions, but I will certainly consider them and appreciate the help.

 

[anon_vu6vqwsr4nf3b]

I forgot Courtland plays Fauquier again. I'm picking Courtland since their defense should be able to stop Fauquier enough to win. Their offense just might be able to do a little something against Fauquier's defense. This week's game should feel like a breath of fresh air for the Cougars after their opening gauntlet.

 

[Lafayette]

I was very surprised you did not list the Lafayette/Smithfield game. The Daily Press of Newport News listed pre-season in Bay Rivers district as Lafayette #1 and Smithfield #2 with both squads having several Div 1 players. Lots of games west of Richmond, not so many east.

 

[shauntclair]

I'm very disappointed that anyone has been critical of the job you do on the pickem'. So I'll just throw in my two cents.

Thank you and good health.

 

[cutnjump]

I was very surprised you did not list the Lafayette/Smithfield game. The Daily Press of Newport News listed pre-season in Bay Rivers district as Lafayette #1 and Smithfield #2 with both squads having several Div 1 players. Lots of games west of Richmond, not so many east.

Just because you were "surprised" does not excuse your snide comment and if you really wanted to know you could have asked the question as to how the games were chosen. A guy volunteering to run the pickem deserves thanks or at least a little respect in how you question the way he goes about the task not further snide questions or comments.

 

[mike salem]

I was very surprised you did not list the Lafayette/Smithfield game. The Daily Press of Newport News listed pre-season in Bay Rivers district as Lafayette #1 and Smithfield #2 with both squads having several Div 1 players. Lots of games west of Richmond, not so many east.

The VHSL schedule lists 4A East & West games, I don't think about it like do I have 4 Tidewater games, 4 Richmond, 4 NOVA, & 4 SWVA games? Since I don't live in Tidewater I don't read the Daily Press. I just try to find 8 East & 8 West games each week to do the pickem. I know I'm not as well versed on the East teams as you are. Solution: post some games each Sunday from the East you think will be good. Problem solved.

 

[OCBoy]

I forgot Courtland plays Fauquier again. I'm picking Courtland since their defense should be able to stop Fauquier enough to win. Their offense just might be able to do a little something against Fauquier's defense. This week's game should feel like a breath of fresh air for the Cougars after their opening gauntlet.

Apparently Fauquier has switched from the Triple option to a Wing T. We shall see what this game holds...

 

[DinwiddieProud]

It angers me that someone had a derogatory comment, Mike. That's my job!

But, you didn't get that six figure salary for running the pickem because you have thin skin.

I think Lafayette will handle Smithfield ok, but this is a game that the upset would not shock me.

And Mike, I like your selections just fine. Basically the pickem is yours to do as you please. I appreciate the invitation to offer suggestions, but to hell with anybody that has a critical comment aimed at you. Critizing you is like finding fault with Mother Teresa. Not justified and not tolerated.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

I saw your reminder to NewGuy. I almost want to skip this one myself. I can make an argument both ways. But, here is another factor. Navy, FirstDown, and myself are going to that game. Navy took Hanover. If I pick Hopewell and they lose, I'll have to listen to a bunch of crap. If I take Hanover and they lose, I have to listen to a bunch of excuses. Can I just say, TIE GAME?

 

[Lafayette]

Just because you were "surprised" does not excuse your snide comment and if you really wanted to know you could have asked the question as to how the games were chosen. A guy volunteering to run the pickem deserves thanks or at least a little respect in how you question the way he goes about the task not further snide questions or comments.

I do not consider my comment snide but a reflection of the top game of the Bay Rivers probably this year being omitted. I appreciate his job here and did not know he took suggestions. But if I had known I still would have said nothing as I would have assumed its inclusion.

 

[Lafayette]

The VHSL schedule lists 4A East & West games, I don't think about it like do I have 4 Tidewater games, 4 Richmond, 4 NOVA, & 4 SWVA games? Since I don't live in Tidewater I don't read the Daily Press. I just try to find 8 East & 8 West games each week to do the pickem. I know I'm not as well versed on the East teams as you are. Solution: post some games each Sunday from the East you think will be good. Problem solved.

Thanks- no insult intended- I truly was just surprised when I saw the list.

 

[schoolboard]

When I did the 3A pick em(2 years ago before they did that format change back and forth last year) I would include every 3A vs. 3A game, and exclude all games that crossed levels. The upside to this was nobody could complain about why a game was not included. The down side was it left out a lot of good games, and kept in games that were likely blowouts, or games where even the players' moms did not care.

Next year I will probably do a Northwestern District pick em with all 13 teams each week.

 

[schoolboard]

29 Loudoun Valley picks to only 5 for John Champe. Seems a little one-sided. I could make up some ground here if I am right.

 

[shauntclair]

I was 15 minutes late tonight. Sorry, I was in Denver. But that is no excuse.

I have to lose that Thursday game. GL to all this weekend.

 

[greyfox60]

Don't believe there is a Thursday game this week. But I may be wrong.