Frank's Forecast #6

I have probably never been happier about a missed pick. In last week's prognostications, I said the Crimson Tide would beat South Carolina. Wrong!

However, that loss enabled my beloved Buckeyes of THE Ohio State University to ascend to the #1 spot in the polls. (Here's where we do the dance of joy from "Perfect Strangers".)

My joy was tempered a bit when a saw that ESPN is "projecting" the first round of the BCS standings (which come out this Sunday). Now there are still several big name undefeateds out there (Oregon, Nebraska, Oklahoma, LSU, Auburn), but who is the "projected" #1? That's right — "mighty" Boise State. (Here's where we stab the voodoo doll of the people that created the BCS instead of having a playoff, like every other sport on every other level!!!)

I was told by a colleague (an Alabama fan, by the way) that things will sort themselves out. Hope so.

Last week, I came in at 21-11. Overall, we're batting 103-49. We've got the regular season finales for the scholastic set this weekend, OSU taking a trip to Camp Randall (that's Wisconsin for those of you who don't speak Big Ten) and the usual darts at the wall for the NFL.

HEEEERE we go:

CLASS AA

Orchard Park (5-1) at Jamestown (4-2) — Red Raiders have cooled off a bit, and will look to bounce back. They are going to the playoffs, with this game determining the seeding — ORCHARD PARK by 10

CLASS C

Wilson (4-2) at Southwestern (6-0) — Trojans going for win #36. They'll get it — SOUTHWESTERN by 21

Cleveland Hill (4-2) at Salamanca (4-2) — Both are going to playoffs, but this isn't a battle of equals — CLEVELAND HILL by 14

Roy-Hart (1-5) at Cassadaga Valley (2-4) — Cougars end on a high note — CASSADAGA VALLEY by 21

CLASS D Randolph (6-0) at Portville (6-0) — This week's heavyweight battle with the champion Cardinals traveling to face the challenger Panthers. Hope this is on the radio — RANDOLPH by 7

Cattaraugus-Little Valley (3-3) at Frewsburg (4-2) — Bears have home field. Timberwolves have lost to Randolph and Portville (both undefeated) and by one point last week. They'll bounce back — CATT-LV by 7

Panama (0-5) at Silver Creek (5-0) — Went up and saw Silver Creek rip through Westfield last week. This one will be a similar story — SILVER CREEK by 21

Westfield (3-2) at Maple Grove (4-1) — Wolverines got off to a good start, but face another tough test here — MAPLE GROVE by 14

Sherman (2-3) at Chautauqua Lake (4-2) — Thunderbirds wrap up regular season with a win at home — Chautauqua Lake by 14

Forestville (1-5) at Pine Valley (3-3) — Hornets got a win last week, but the Panthers will come on top here — PINE VALLEY by 14

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COLLEGE

#1 Ohio State (6-0) at #18 Wisconsin (5-1) — Indiana, this ain't. Camp Randall is a tough place for visitors and the game's in prime time, so the fine citizens of Madison have all day to "prepare" (aka get REALLY drunk). Bucks won there two years ago. And like I would EVER desert my team — OHIO STATE.

#15 Iowa (4-1) at Michigan (5-1) — Old "Shoelace" found out what a real defense looks like against the Spartans. You can end that Heisman campaign after this week — IOWA

#12 Arkansas (4-1) at #7 Auburn (6-0) — Tigers are looking to stay in control of SEC West — AUBURN

Texas (3-2) at #5 Nebraska (5-0) — The Longhorns have been neutered this year — NEBRASKA

Pitt (2-3) at Syracuse (4-1) — The Panthers wins are over Fla. International and New Hampshire. The Orangemen face their first real test. Go 'Cuse — SYRACUSE

California (3-2) at USC (4-2) — Not so easy to win when there's no "incentives", right Tommy Trojan? I don't even care if I'm wrong. I just would like to see it — CALIFORNIA

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NFL

Seattle (2-2) at Chicago (4-1) — Cutler should be back — BEARS

Miami (2-2) at Green Bay (3-2) — Packers are pretty banged up, and the Fish have had a week to straighten things out — DOLPHINS

Kansas City (3-1) at Houston (3-2) — The "Where they heck did they come from" Bowl — CHIEFS

Cleveland (1-4) at Pittsburgh (3-1) — Ding! Dong! Big Ben returns while the Browns send out Colt McCoy. That's not gonna end well for anybody — STEELERS

San Diego (2-3) at St. Louis (2-3) — Chargers special teams has been, what's the word? HORRIBLE. — RAMS

Detroit (1-4) at NY Giants (3-2) — Lions beat up on STL. Back to punching bag status — GIANTS

Baltimore (4-1) at New England (3-1) — Justin Bieber is making fun of Brady. But I'll still take him against the Modells — PATRIOTS

Atlanta (4-1) at Philadelphia (3-2) — Vick may start. I'm guessing Eagles will be underdogs. Who will let the dogs out? — FALCONS

New Orleans (3-2) at Tampa Bay (3-1) — Saints have stumbled against Cards and Panthers. Why not here too? — BUCCANEERS

NY Jets (4-1) at Denver (2-3) — Sanchez has yet to throw a pick. If he can get some help from Revis Island — JETS

Oakland (2-3) at San Francisco (0-5) — Battle of the Bay. Niners lose this, could be adios for Singletary — RAIDERS

Dallas (1-3) at Minnesota (1-3) — The "Huge Disappointment" Bowl — DALLAS

Indianapolis (3-2) at Washington (3-2) — Skins are turning things around, but not that much — COLTS

Tennessee (3-2) at Jacksonville (3-2) — Titans in a laugher on Monday night — TITANS

Until next time, I'll be SPEAKING FRANKLY