[CTcard]

This week's ESPN Pac-12 blog game predictions are out.

http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/...losangeles

As I first noticed last week, and is rather glaring this week, it seems to be a contract-requirement that all the bloggers pick all games to be close.
I believe that there is only one prediction (of the 25 listed) of a final margin greater than one score: that's Kevin Gemmell predicting Stanford over UW 35-24.
Even the actual scores predicted vary by only a couple percent.

And it's hard to believe they really believe their predictions. Do you think Lombardi really believes Stanford will win by one point? (35-34)

[CTcard]

This week's ESPN Pac-12 blog game predictions are out.

http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/...losangeles

As I first noticed last week, and is rather glaring this week, it seems to be a contract-requirement that all the bloggers pick all games to be close.
I believe that there is only one prediction (of the 25 listed) of a final margin greater than one score: that's Kevin Gemmell predicting Stanford over UW 35-24.
Even the actual scores predicted vary by only a couple percent.

And it's hard to believe they really believe their predictions. Do you think Lombardi really believes Stanford will win by one point? (35-34)

[CTcard]

The Stanford Predictions:
Kyle Bonagura:    Stanford 35-27
Kevin Gemmell:  Stanford 35-24
Chantel Jennings: Stanford 31-24
David Lombardi:  Stanford 35-34
Ted Miller:          Stanford 38-35

[CTcard]

The Stanford Predictions:
Kyle Bonagura:    Stanford 35-27
Kevin Gemmell:  Stanford 35-24
Chantel Jennings: Stanford 31-24
David Lombardi:  Stanford 35-34
Ted Miller:          Stanford 38-35

[washingtonismoney]

Washington hasn't scored over 24 points against a Power 5 team this year. They're going to establish a new season high, with an iffy QB situation, on the road?

[washingtonismoney]

Washington hasn't scored over 24 points against a Power 5 team this year. They're going to establish a new season high, with an iffy QB situation, on the road?

[stupac2]

Washington hasn't scored over 24 points against a Power 5 team this year. They're going to establish a new season high, with an iffy QB situation, on the road?

Against a defense that's actually pretty okay. If they can't do it against Oregon at home, why on earth will they against us?

[stupac2]

Washington hasn't scored over 24 points against a Power 5 team this year. They're going to establish a new season high, with an iffy QB situation, on the road?

Against a defense that's actually pretty okay. If they can't do it against Oregon at home, why on earth will they against us?

[SeattleTree]

I agree with wim.  The Dawg D may very well hold Stanford to its lowest point total since Northwestern.  But I don't see how this UW offense is going to find enough points to get out of Palo Alto with a W, even with a great defensive effort. 

[SeattleTree]

I agree with wim.  The Dawg D may very well hold Stanford to its lowest point total since Northwestern.  But I don't see how this UW offense is going to find enough points to get out of Palo Alto with a W, even with a great defensive effort. 

[amartinsu13]

I'll be surprised if UW puts up more than 13 points against us.  Their offense looked anemic against USC. 

[amartinsu13]

I'll be surprised if UW puts up more than 13 points against us.  Their offense looked anemic against USC. 

[Hank 91]

I think those predictions speak to the pressure of predicting games for such a wide audience. If someone predicts a three-touchdown win and the game ends up close, he or she looks much more foolish than if the situation were reversed. On Monday they can write, "Stanford's offense continues to surprise, this week rolling up 45 points and cruising to a 28-point win." It's harder to explain the opposite result.

[Hank 91]

I think those predictions speak to the pressure of predicting games for such a wide audience. If someone predicts a three-touchdown win and the game ends up close, he or she looks much more foolish than if the situation were reversed. On Monday they can write, "Stanford's offense continues to surprise, this week rolling up 45 points and cruising to a 28-point win." It's harder to explain the opposite result.

[Extra Point]

I think the ESPN predictions are affected by money. Most viewers would rather watch a close exciting game than a blow out.

[Extra Point]

I think the ESPN predictions are affected by money. Most viewers would rather watch a close exciting game than a blow out.

[CrazedZooChimp]

Actually, I think the score predictions are a misprint.  If you look at the OSU-Colorado predictions above, you'll notice the score column is identical.  Considering it makes no sense to predict UW will score over 30, and not a ton of sense to predict someone hanging 35+ on UW, I think it's just posted wrong.

[CrazedZooChimp]

Actually, I think the score predictions are a misprint.  If you look at the OSU-Colorado predictions above, you'll notice the score column is identical.  Considering it makes no sense to predict UW will score over 30, and not a ton of sense to predict someone hanging 35+ on UW, I think it's just posted wrong.

[CTcard]

Actually, I think the score predictions are a misprint. 

Good call.
I missed that (obviously).

[CTcard]

Actually, I think the score predictions are a misprint. 

Good call.
I missed that (obviously).

[CompSci87]

Actually, I think the score predictions are a misprint.  If you look at the OSU-Colorado predictions above, you'll notice the score column is identical.  Considering it makes no sense to predict UW will score over 30, and not a ton of sense to predict someone hanging 35+ on UW, I think it's just posted wrong.

Good catch! I noticed no one posted a comment there about that, so I just did.

[CompSci87]

Actually, I think the score predictions are a misprint.  If you look at the OSU-Colorado predictions above, you'll notice the score column is identical.  Considering it makes no sense to predict UW will score over 30, and not a ton of sense to predict someone hanging 35+ on UW, I think it's just posted wrong.

Good catch! I noticed no one posted a comment there about that, so I just did.

[winflop]

I agree with wim.  The Dawg D may very well hold Stanford to its lowest point total since Northwestern.  But I don't see how this UW offense is going to find enough points to get out of Palo Alto with a W, even with a great defensive effort.

I think the Dawg D will hang tough but will begin to wilt in the 3rd quarter and be absolutely gassed & hapless in the 4th.  Time of Possession: Stanford 40, UW 20.

[winflop]

I agree with wim.  The Dawg D may very well hold Stanford to its lowest point total since Northwestern.  But I don't see how this UW offense is going to find enough points to get out of Palo Alto with a W, even with a great defensive effort.

I think the Dawg D will hang tough but will begin to wilt in the 3rd quarter and be absolutely gassed & hapless in the 4th.  Time of Possession: Stanford 40, UW 20.

[BostonCard]

Congrats to Ted Miller, the contrarian who picked a UCLA win, though he underestimated the degree of the beatdown.

BC

[BostonCard]

Congrats to Ted Miller, the contrarian who picked a UCLA win, though he underestimated the degree of the beatdown.

BC

[CrazedZooChimp]

[quote author=CrazedZooChimp link=topic=13296.msg136276#msg136276 date=1445548901]
Actually, I think the score predictions are a misprint.  If you look at the OSU-Colorado predictions above, you'll notice the score column is identical.  Considering it makes no sense to predict UW will score over 30, and not a ton of sense to predict someone hanging 35+ on UW, I think it's just posted wrong.

Good catch! I noticed no one posted a comment there about that, so I just did.
[/quote]

Yeah, I tweeted at a bunch of them but haven't heard a response.  Hopefully someone (either one of the bloggers or some editor) figures it out.  Or maybe the game will go totally unlike how I expect it to and they'll all look brilliant...

[CrazedZooChimp]

[quote author=CrazedZooChimp link=topic=13296.msg136276#msg136276 date=1445548901]
Actually, I think the score predictions are a misprint.  If you look at the OSU-Colorado predictions above, you'll notice the score column is identical.  Considering it makes no sense to predict UW will score over 30, and not a ton of sense to predict someone hanging 35+ on UW, I think it's just posted wrong.

Good catch! I noticed no one posted a comment there about that, so I just did.
[/quote]

Yeah, I tweeted at a bunch of them but haven't heard a response.  Hopefully someone (either one of the bloggers or some editor) figures it out.  Or maybe the game will go totally unlike how I expect it to and they'll all look brilliant...