The Book - Week 14 - November 29, 2014

All year long, I waited to be cleansed. Into late October and into early November, I stood at the ready. Soap, shampoo and towel in hand to no avail. No longer is that the case.

In what will go down in the record book as the single worst week in the long nearly 30 year history of The Book, I took my bath. A miserable 16-35 .314 for the week, dropping us to 285-295-7 .491 for the season and definitely in a position to suffer through a losing season for the first time in six years.

Usually, there is a week in early- to mid-November where something bad happens, but never to this extent. The rivalry games and bowl games have typically been unkind as well, perhaps proof of how little the bowl games mean when evaluating relative conference strengths, so I am not positive about how all this will end.

On the national scene, the rubber duck still rules, with Oregon holding strong at #1. Georgia, more due to the inconsistent performances of those around them has risen to #2, with Mississippi State at #3 and TCU at #4. Alabama and Florida State both suffered from mediocrity last week (FSU all season long) and sit at 7 and 11 respectively.

A welcome to the poll for the Arkansas Razorbacks! HUH? Arkansas you say? Well sure. They are just 6-5 but have played a brutal schedule, ranked #1 by The Book and remember, this is not supposed to mimic the college football playoff committee or any of the national polls, it is supposed to reflect relative strength of teams.

Of note, the Hogs sit at #22 in the Massey rankings, and are as high as #1 in one of the polls that make up that aggregate.

Despite the loss, Boston College rose slightly last week, a tribute to the competitive nature of that FSU game. They are now #50 in the country and still #8 in the ACC. The Eagles will be a whopping 15 point favorite on Senior Day vs Syracuse, so The Book is laying heavy odds on BC, despite losing two in a row on Eagle games to sit at 7-3 for the season.

Such a week all around, including the Toilet and Sleeper games. That puts the Sleeper at 7-6 for the season and the Toilet at 5-8..guaranteeing us a losing record there. How sad!

We finish up with a Toilet Bowl game similar to where we started. #115 UMass getting 2 in Vegas vs #110 Buffalo, but the Book is giving 3, so we are on the side of the Minutemen (save that one for posterity). On the Sleeper game, #44 Utah State visits #30 Boise State. Vegas says Broncos by 9 and the Book says Broncos by 8 1/2..so risky once again, but let's go Aggies...is the call.

Check out the polls and the spreads and enjoy your LONG football weekend and Thanksgiving!

Go Eagles!

Others receiving votes: Arizona State, LSU, USC, Louisville, Minnesota