Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Those wishing to recuperate from the election season by vegging in front of the tube watching football this weekend might want to make alternate plans.
The matchups this week, in both the college and pro schedules, range from mundane to wretched.
Georgia-Auburn usually is must see, but this year? No thanks. Florida is in late-season footwipe mode against Louisiana Lafayette, and Miami is taking on Virginia in an ACC contest for the ages, not. UCF is exploring a variety of time zones out at Texas El-Paso.
There is exactly one marquee game in the NFL this weekend, Houston at Chicago Sunday night.It’s almost as though the NFL knew that this was going to be a clunker of a week. Check out its bookend offerings: Indianapolis at Jacksonville was Thursday, and Kansas City at Pittsburgh comes Monday.
But, in the spirit of Election Week, let’s nominate our favorite NFL rookies for 2012.
I’ll cast a vote for the Colts’ Andrew Luck, who came into the league with high expectations and somehow surpassed them while leading the Colts to a 6-3 record and, at midseason, a wild card playoff position the AFC.
For a dark horse rookie candidate, how about the Bucs’ running back, Doug Martin? Where did this guy come from? Oh, yeah, in the first round from Boise State.
Still, Martin’s 251-yard rushing performance last week at Oakland has pulses beating in Tampa Bay for the first time in a half decade. With Josh Freeman resembling a big-time NFL quarterback again, the Bucs offense looks serious.
Meanwhile, the Mighty News-Gazette Divine Nine is always serious, sort of:
No. 1: The Falcons. No. 2: Roll Tide. No. 3: Oregon. No. 4: The Texuns. No. 5: Da Bears. No. 6: Da Bears Defense. No. 7: Texas legend Darrell Royal, RIP. No. 8: K-State. No. 9: Veterans.
To the picks:
UCF (-13.5) at UTEP: The Knights will wonder whether Texas is a state or a continent before they finally reach El Paso. Jet-lagged Knights by 9.
Miami at Virginia (-1): Talk about wretched. This is designed for the Witness Protection program. Cavs by 3.
Penn State at Nebraska (-7): How sad was this game last year in Happy Valley, just after JoePa’s fall from grace? Huskers by 6.
Notre Dame (-19) at Boston College: The Irish have twice escaped disaster in overtime at home against Stanford and Pitt. This one shouldn’t be so dicey. Irish by 8.
Texas A&M at Alabama (-14): The Aggies haven’t fared well in their initial tour of the SEC. They ain’t seen nothing, yet. Tide by 20.
The paid professionals:
San Diego at Tampa Bay (-3): Bucs have been lights out on the road. Winning at home has been the problem. Bucs by 3.
Tennessee at Miami (-6): Tough loss at Indy last week shouldn’t derail Fins, especially with hapless Titans in town. Fins by 10.
Atlanta (-2.5) at New Orleans: Everyone keeps saying how the Falcons aren’t that impressive. But, they keep winning. Falcons by 4.
Detroit (-2) at Minnesota: Lions seem to be getting better, Vikes aren’t. Leaping Lions by 2.
Houston at Chicago (-1): These two may be the best in their respective conferences. Da Bears by 2.
Brian “Big Man” McBride’s Super Sniffer Upset Special: Cincy over Giants by 4.
Petey “The Gators Are Going To Win” Covino says: Gators by 25.
Andrew “Flaming Spear” Sullivan’s FSU Massacre of the Week says: Darn, that was close.
Tom “Captain” Kirk’s Beam Me Up Scotty NFL Prime Time Pick of the Week: Houston over Bears.
Young Jackson says: Na Awlins by 3 in the “Cool Brees In A Dome Upset,” Texans by 4.
Last week: Elder Elector (8-2, 66-21) tied Verbose Voter (8-2, 62-25).