More than one picker bold enough to choose KU at Duke

Not one member of our Pick Six crew got through Week 1 unscathed, but we’ll try again this college football Saturday.

We’ve got a few interesting games for Big 12 teams on the docket, as well as a football/basketball question for Kansas vs. Duke week.

WEEK 2 MATCHUPS

Kansas at Duke

West Virginia at Maryland

Arkansas at Texas Tech

UCLA at Texas

Iowa State at Iowa

Georgia at South Carolina

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

In your opinion, which school with a traditionally elite college basketball program has the best football program? (Think big picture, not just this season.)


Overall: 5-1 Last week: 5-1

Duke 30-20

West Virginia 28-24

Arkansas 37-34

UCLA 21-7

Iowa 41-17

Georgia 36-27

Answer: If we’re not counting Bradley University’s undefeated football team since 1970 (program disbanded), then I’d have to go with Michigan State. The Spartans always seem to pop up as national contenders every once in awhile, and if they could’ve held onto Nick Saban for a couple more years, then they could have been a Big 10 powerhouse before this sparkling Mark Dantonio era. 


Overall: 5-1 Last week: 5-1

Duke 45-17

Maryland 28-27

Arkansas 35-31

UCLA 38-31

Iowa State 17-14

Georgia 42-24

Answer: Florida. The Gators’ basketball program does not have the prolonged history of schools like Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA and Indiana, but Billy Donovan has developed Florida into one of the top teams in the country during his tenure. Florida’s football program took a bit of a tumble last year with a disastrous 2013 season. There were high expectations for Will Muschamp when he took over for Urban Meyer, but he’ll need to lead the Gators to a big turn-around or he’ll be shown the door after a few seasons much like Meyer’s predecessor, Ron Zook.


Overall: 4-2 Last week: 4-2

Duke 42-28

West Virginia 35-31

Arkansas 38-35

UCLA 35-31

Iowa 31-17

South Carolina 38-35

Answer: I’d have to give the nod to Ohio State over Florida. You think basketball second with both schools, but they still have elite b-ball programs. As for schools at which basketball consistently is way better than football, I’d give North Carolina the nod. 

I often find myself wishing several traditional basketball powers would team up for a football conference: Connecticut, Duke, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Marquette (lost to TCU on New Years Day, 1937, in the first Cotton Bowl), North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Villanova. 

I also often find myself wishing Neil Young would book a solo show at Liberty Hall.


Overall: 4-2 Last week: 4-2

Kansas 35-31

West Virginia 33-23

Arkansas 35-20

UCLA 27-19

Iowa 28-27

Georgia 38-28

Answer: Michigan State. It may be considered a reach by some of you, but I’m good with it. Whether you’re talking Magic in the ’70s, Jud Heathcote’s 339 wins from 1976-95 or the current run by Tom Izzo and company, Sparty definitely has elevated itself to elite status when it comes to college hoops. Add to that the six football national titles in the ’50’s and ’60’s, 24 bowl appearances and eight Big Ten titles (including last season), and you’re looking at a program that has enjoyed a heck of a sustained run in college athletics’ two major sports.


Overall: 4-2 Last week: 4-2

Duke 45-13

Maryland 31-20

Texas Tech 30-24

UCLA 28-10

Iowa 39-31

Georgia 24-17

Answer: I’m probably forgetting somebody obvious, but I’d go with schools like North Carolina and UCLA. They’ve been pretty darn good in both throughout the years. Louisville is pretty good in both. Big 12 should have gobbled up Louisville a few years ago. Louisville would have given KU a good run in basketball and U of L is pretty good normally in football.


Overall: 4-2 Last week: 4-2

Duke 42-21

West Virginia 55-52

Texas Tech 42-41

UCLA  77-7

Iowa 35-3

Georgia 3-2

Answer: Florida


Overall: 4-2 Last week: 4-2

Kansas 27-24

West Virginia 31-24

Arkansas 55-49

UCLA 42-17

Iowa State 31-30

Georgia 24-7

Answer: First, let’s determine the truly elite college basketball programs. There are only eight: Duke, UNC, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, UConn and Syracuse. (Florida, UCLA, Wisconsin and Arizona are next tier). So, picking just from the elite group, it’s no contest — Michigan State (48-19 the past five years) has the best football program with Louisville a distant second.


Overall: 4-2 Last week: 4-2

Duke 38-31

Maryland 34-31

Texas Tech 28-27

UCLA 34-24

Iowa 31-28

Georgia 30-27

Answer: UCLA (Kansas would have to be in the discussion)


Overall: 4-2 Last week: 4-2

Duke 28-21

West Virginia 30-24

Texas Tech 33-30

UCLA 23-17

Iowa State 21-20

Georgia 24-21

Answer: UCLA? If we’re looking big picture, it doesn’t get much more elite than 11 NCAA hoops titles. And 17 conference titles in football isn’t anything to sneeze at. Then again, I’m just a guy reading Wikipedia.


Overall: 3-3 Last week: 3-3

Duke 38-35

West Virginia 34-27

Arkansas 41-35

UCLA 31-17

Iowa 23-16

Georgia 30-24

Answer: I have to go with Florida. Yes, the Gators had a losing record (4-8) in 2013. But that was the first sub-.500 season the Florida faithful had to endure since 1979. Nineteen. Seventy. Nine. The Gators have won 15 bowl games in that span and three national championships. Florida’s men’s basketball program has become just as impressive since the 1990s, with five Final Four appearances in the past 21 seasons, and two national titles under Billy Donovan.