SEMINOLE FOOTBALL PREDIXN DERBY RESULTS GAME I, FSU vs Duke

POS COLLEGE FOOTBALL CASSANDRA                     FORECAST        DIFF.
=== ============================================== =============== =====
 1. Allen Risley <arisley#coyote.csusm.edu>        FSU 45, Duke 10  3.16
 2. Manny J. Bas <bas#nettally.com>                FSU 41, Duke  9  3.61
 3. Rick Taylor <RATaylor14#aol.com>               FSU 49, Duke 10  5.83
 3. Herb Wills <HWills#FreeNet.TLH.FL.US>          FSU 49, Duke 10  5.83
 5. Dr Ed Bierhanzl <ebierhan#freenet.tlh.fl.us>   FSU 36, Duke 10  8.54
 6. Stephen Brown <stbrown#cts.com>                FSU 52, Duke  3  8.94
 7. Dr Micheal vanPelt <us005330#interramp.com>    FSU 53, Duke 10  9.49
 8. Kurt Siefken <kas2928#garnet.acns.fsu.edu>     FSU 52, Duke 13 10.00
 9. David J. Owens <djowens#innova.net>            FSU 45, Duke 17 10.05
10. Marsha Rule <Mrule#aol.com>                    FSU 54, Duke 19 10.20
11. Tony Castro <TonyC904#aol.com>                 FSU 52, Duke 14 10.63
12. Paul Barkowitz <Paul_Barkowitz#transarc.com>   FSU 40, Duke 17 10.77
13. Bob Stuke <coachbob#pbfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us>FSU 54, Duke 13 11.66
14. Kris Krake <noles#magicnet.net>                FSU 56, Duke 10 12.37
14. Bill Spanks <spanks#wolf.eng.fsu.edu>          FSU 56, Duke 10 12.37
16. James C. Armstrong, Jr <jamesa#io.com>         FSU 55, Duke  0 13.04
17. Heidi Satz <hms3843#garnet.acns.fsu.edu>       FSU 56, Duke 14 13.89
18. GRUE <grue#prism.u-net.com>                    FSU 43, Duke 21 14.04
19. <PREMIEREnc#aol.com>                           FSU 52, Duke 19 14.42
20. Keith Burnsed <kburnsed#iu.net>                FSU 49, Duke 21 14.87
21. John Ryan <ryan#grep.cs.fsu.edu>               FSU 59, Duke 10 15.30
22. Rick Workman <RickW267#aol.com>                FSU 59, Duke 13 16.16
23. Dan Neustadter <DNeustadt#albatross.esiusa.COM>FSU 27, Duke 10 17.26
24. Christopher Cline <helmut#indy.net>            FSU 62, Duke  6 18.03
25. Thurston Long <machupo#best.com>               FSU 56, Duke 18 18.44
26. Richard Woodford <rwoodfor#lawsun.law.fsu.edu> FSU 35, Duke 24 19.24
27. <PShu#aol.com>                                 FSU 62, Duke 17 20.59
28. Mike Sukhadwala <msukhadw#garnet.acns.fsu.edu> FSU 61, Duke 19 20.81
29. <PSElliott#aol.com>                            FSU 65, Duke  6 21.02
30. Harry H. Schoennagel <harrys#dimensional.com>  FSU 63, Duke 17 21.47
31. <tknox#nettally.com>                           FSU 66, Duke  6 22.02
32. Jay Hayes <jfhayes#tally.gulfnet.com>          FSU 66, Duke 13 22.80

The actual score of the game was Florida State 44, Duke 7.

Allen Risley, a faithful forecaster from previous seasons, was 1996's first Prediction Derby champion with a difference of only 3.16, with Manny Bas breathing down his neck at 3.61. Another Prediction Derby veteran, Rick Taylor, tied for third with some guy named Herb Wills at 5.83, while Florida A&M professor Dr. Ed Bierhanzl finished fifth at 8.54.

This week's prognosticator's were exceptionally close to the mark even though this was the opening game for both teams. Usually anything closer than 10.00 points will get you a win in the opener, but this year it wouldn't guarantee you a better finish than eighth. How tough is this league? Well, Richard Rosenblatt, whom the Associated Press pays to predict scores, was 8.00 points off with his published 52-7 call. That would have narrowly snuck him into fifth.

So I'd like to thank such a talented group of prognosticators for playing this week. I'm afraid I can't pay what AP does, but maybe you can include these results on your resume if you apply to their sports department for a job....

Next up will be the Florida State at North Carolina State game, an ESPN Thursday night affair on September 19. The Wolfpack is not only coming off a disappointing 28 - 16 loss at home to Georgia Tech, but they have a tradition of suffering humiliating losses to the Seminoles (e.g., last year's 77 - 17 loss in Tallahassee). Never mind whether or not I think they can bounce back; what do -you- think? Send your predictions for the score of FSU - NC State to:

HWILLS@FREENET.TLH.FL.US

Put "FSU vs. NCSU" in the subject line so I know it's not another "Make Money Fast!" chain letter. I know it's over a week and a half away, but why wait? Send your entry out now, and you won't have to worry about it getting here before kickoff at 8:00 PM on September 19.

Thanks again to everyone who played. I'm looking forward to seeing your picks for FSU @ NC State.

Herb Wills, HWILLS@FREENET.TLH.FL.US