Going streaking
Nick Gourdoux and Frank Pellegrino
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Sports
| |
|
Last week, both editors accurately predicted three events. Nick was correct in predicting the women's tennis match, the cross country meets and the volleyball matches. Frank predicted the latter two, as well as the national game. Nick's prediction percentage rose from .333 to .400 (8/20), while Franks stayed at .600 (12/20). Because Frank accurately predicted the last two events, he enters this week with an active streak of two and a season-long streak of four. Nick's season-long streak remains at 2.
Football - Who will win the game Saturday? (A) UW-Eau Claire (B) UW-Stevens Point
Nick: In the history of Blugold football, they've only won 30 of 76 games against the Pointers. Eau Claire does, however, enter the game with a 2-1 record and is coming off of a 52-45, double-overtime win against Hope College (Mich.) two weeks ago. Stevens Point is coming off a 7-23 loss, and is 1-2 on the season. My prediction: (A) UW-Eau Claire.
Frank: Nick brings up an excellent point, that the Pointers posses a .605 winning percentage against the Blugolds. On top of that, Stevens Point might be 1-2, but their first loss was by a point, and the second came against a perennial Div. 3 powerhouse from California. I love the Blugolds and their productive offense, but I see the Pointers holding them down. My prediction: (B) UW-Stevens Point.
Volleyball - How many games will the match at UW-Oshkosh last? (A) Three or four (B) Five
Nick: The volleyball match this weekend is perhaps the biggest match of the season. UW-Oshkosh was 19-0 entering Wednesday's match against Stevens Point. The Blugolds are not to be scoffed at though; they will bring a 14-2 record into the match. The two teams were pre-season favorites to win the WIAC this season, so it will be close. I think the game will be close and fought down to the final point. My prediction: (B) Five.
Frank: That 19-0 record from Oshkosh is incredibly impressive and should not be ignored (like Nick just did). Of those 19 matches, remarkably, only one has made it to the fifth game. In the two matches the Blugolds have lost this year they have been swept in just three games. So when they lose, they lose bad. I see Oshkosh taking this match, and possibly with ease. My prediction: (A) Three or four.
Soccer - How many goals will the Blugolds score against UW-La Crosse? (A) Two or fewer (B) More than two
Nick: The Blugold soccer team appears to have regained the form that made it one of the best teams in the nation last season, and it has won five games in a row, and six of the last seven. UW-La Crosse is a mere 2-5-1, but they have allowed more than two goals in a game only once. I'm going to predict a Blugold win, but Eau Claire will score fewer than three goals. My Prediction: (A) Two or fewer.
Frank: Nick, what are you thinking? The soccer team's offense has been majestic, with an average of 2.67 goals a game and having been shut out just once. Although that stat is impressive, the team has really just begun to catch its stride, scoring at least five goals in three of its last four matches. Factoring in La Crosse's poor record that Nick mentioned, I see Eau Claire netting four or five. Seriously. Head to Bollinger fields Saturday at 2 p.m. to see it happen live. My prediction: (B) More than two.
Tennis - How many doubles matches will the women's team win against UW-Stout? (A) Two or fewer (B) Three
Nick: Doubles play appears to be a strength of Eau Claire. The team has swept doubles play three times in six matches and has only lost five doubles sets on the season. Stout has only won 10 of their 27 doubles sets but has only been swept once. I'm going to lean in favor of Eau Claire on this one and say they will sweep. My prediction: (B) Three.
Frank: So I get why Nick is impressed, and I get that the Blugolds' doubles teams won all three games last match, but I don't see it happening. Sweeping all three is hard, and like Nick said, Stout doesn't let it happen often. Stout's No. 2 and No. 3 doubles have struggled this year, but their No. 1 team has flourished. I see Eau Claire dropping the first and picking up the second two. My prediction: (A) Two or fewer
Who will win the AL Central? (A) Minnesota Twins (B) Detroit Tigers
Nick: The Twins always seem to make late surges to make the playoffs. I'm going to go with my gut feeling and say they will beat out the Tigers for the final AL playoff spot. My prediction: (A) Minnesota Twins.
Frank: If you've been following this column the entire year, you will recall me picking the Twins to win a game, which they lost, and me subsequently vowing to never pick them again for anything. Ever. The Twins also just dropped the last game in the series against the Tigers and will be forced to play catch up with just four games left. Depending on another team to lose is never good, so I think the Tigers have the edge. I would also like to point out that by taking the Tigers, I have picked the opposite of Nick for each question (unintentionally). So, Nick, if you want to know how to improve your overall stats, just pick the opposite of what you were going to. My prediction: (B) Detroit Tigers.
Be the first to comment on this story