Week 10 Picks

I had a rougher time in week 9 than I’ve had all season long. But I did call the most important game right on the money, so I have that to feel good about.

Let’s see how I did:


Princeton +22 ½ at Yale

Jake Said: The Elis can smell a shot at a title and this is the season finale at home. The Elis will cover.

Result: Yale just barely pulled it out. 1-0 overall, 0-1 against the spread.


Brown +3 at Dartmouth

Jake Said: I think the Big Green will indeed win by three points. But I will conform and say Dartmouth will beat the spread here.

Result: Wrong and wrong again. Brown won by seven. 1-1 overall, 0-2 ATS.


Harvard +6 ½ at Penn

Jake Said: The Quakers win and cover.

Result: Penn won by 20. 2-1 overall, 1-2 ATS.


So going into the final weekend, I am 29-12 overall and 28-13 ATS. Still not too shabby.


Now to week 10, which is always a little trickier than it looks:


Penn -24 ½ at Cornell

Another monster spread here, but you can understand why. Penn’s super running game and offensive line should approach 300 yards on the ground alone against the Big Red’s porous run defense. And there’s also the fact that Yale could conceivably tie the Quakers for the title if Cornell somehow beats them.

That won’t happen, but the fact that Penn needs to win this game to be sure of the solo title will keep the Quakers awake and hungry. They will cover.


Dartmouth -8 ½ at Princeton

Last week’s loss must have the Big Green hungrier to finish the season on a high note. Memories of last year’s loss to the Tigers will also be a big motivation. This will be a close game until the fourth quarter when the Green pulls away and covers the spread.


Yale +10 at Harvard

Harvard is banged up and starting to look weaker every week. Yale might be an even more improved team than Dartmouth this season. But I still think Harvard will win. That 10 point spread is too high though. Harvard wins, Yale covers.


Special Words

I’d like to write a sentence or two in honor of some of the other seniors who will be ending their Columbia careers tomorrow. I apologize for being too short with all of them, and I wish I could write long pieces about all the seniors. But I hope the recognition here is a good beginning. (I also am trying to leave out the seniors who are likely to apply for 5th year status):


Nico Gutierrez

Nico had a super freshman season and then struggled to recover from an ACL injury his next two years. As a senior this season, he broke out again and was a great weapon in the passing game and a reliable replacement for the injured Mike Stephens as a punt returner. His hard work to get himself physically able to play again is a huge credit to him.


Craig Hamilton

Super kick returner and a much better than expected defensive back. Craig made this season a lot more exciting.


Marc Holloway

Great linebacker who made his greatest impact during the Lions’ strong start to the 2009 season. A very popular guy among his teammates.


Leon Ivery

Made great strides as a junior and a senior. Had some great runs in his tenure and NEVER seemed to fumble.


Andrew Kennedy

Easily the best Columbia TE since Wade Fletcher in 2004, and he stayed a lot healthier over four years. The best tight end in the Ivies this season and a great team leader.


Bryan Kipp

Excellent plugger on the defensive line, fit in well with coach Denauld Brown’s heavy substitution policy.


Zack Kourouma

Great swing back and a very strong receiving threat out of the backfield. Who can forget his super 59-yard catch and run for a TD at a run-soaked Towson in 2008? He scored another great TD on a super catch against the same Towson Tigers this season.


Nathan Lenz

A true unsung hero. He wasn’t called on that much, but it seems like he ALWAYS got the yards and the blocks Columbia needed.


Adam Mehrer

A true superstar in the secondary and basically a four year starter. Mehrer became a better tackler year after year in addition to grabbing a good share of interceptions.


Matt Moretto

Came back from a tough injury and made a good impact on the team as a captain this year. A masterful team leader.


Mike Murphy

Overcame an injury to return to the team this year and return kicks nicely. One of the rare New York City natives on the team.


Daniel Myers

Great spark on special teams. His mustache is an unofficial MVP of the team!


Calvin Otis

A shutdown corner and another four year starter who overcame injuries. He’s got a chance to finish on a high note if he can contain Brown’s super WR Alex Tounkara Saturday.


Clif Pope

Great TE who simply had the misfortune of having to play behind the super Andrew Kennedy for four years. But he did get into some games and lots of two-tight end formations. When he caught a TD pass in the Princeton game this season, it was a real crowd pleaser.


Ian Quirk

His senior season has been cut short by injury, but he stepped up early on as a sophomore to become a major star on the offensive line.


Prentis Robinson

Excellent jack of all trades on the O-line. He got some good and effective playing time the last two seasons.


Tim Skalak

Another fantastically helpful backup on the offensive front. A big reason why the Lions O-line has gone from one of the worst offensive lines in the Ivies to one of the best since 2007.


Josh Smith

Broke out as a great force on the defensive line last year and has battled through injuries this season. A star.


Matt Stotler

Has emerged this season as a key part of the defensive line. With all the injuries at his position, he’s been a Godsend.


Augie Williams

A massive spark plug on special teams and on the defense for four years. You can’t bottle what he brought in enthusiasm for this game. If you did, it would be banned!


Gentlemen, it’s been a pleasure watching you play for four years. You deserved better than the won-lost record over those seasons, but you gained something even more valuable than wins.

All of us thank you so very much for keeping Columbia football alive.

Now go make your mark one last time against Brown!


**LATE UPDATE***

I'm being told that the Columbia University Marching Band will be performing tomorrow, (Friday), morning on the CBS Early Show. Check it out.