Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Monday was a rough one here in the palatial editorial office — much rougher than your average Monday.
No, the newspaper industry isn’t in any worse shape than it has been. But, our egos had seen better days.
Rough football last weekend.
We’ve got Gator fans. Ugh!
We’ve got Pittsburgh Steeler fans. Yoi!
I’m your resident Eagles fan. Booo!
And esteemed Assistant Editor Rick Madewell is an Indianapolis Colts fan. Don’t know what they say, although it probably wasn’t printable after getting beaten by a 59-yard field goal. Kicked by a Jaguar. (Double yoi!)
The Cowboys fan had nothin’ since they didn’t play. So there wasn’t a winner in the place, unless you count resident Seminole Andrew “Flaming Spear” Sullivan, the photographer we rarely see because he’s usually in two places at once, pushing his buttons around the county.
What we need is a solid weekend to get us back on track, and make our work space more upbeat — and less like a morgue — on Monday.
We can only hope. Or, we can try to emulate those who have been bouncing along all season, like those in this week’s Mighty News-Gazette Top 13:
1. The Crimson Tide. 2. The Ohio State. 3. Oregon (who bounced up to third in the real polls, too). 4. The K.C. Chiefs, the NFL’s lone undefeated (Think we’d have been saying that a month ago? Yeah? Liar.). 5. New England’s special teams. 6. Roy Halladay’s special pitches. 7. The Black Birds of Baltimore. 8. Big Ben’s Back! 9. Boise State (talk about bouncing the wrong way). 10. Josh “Mr. 59” Scobee. 11. Super balls (all the bounce you need). 12. Super Blue (Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson). 13. UCF (Nice bounce back win, Knights. Now, bounce on back to playing Saturdays).
And now, lets bounce these predictions off you ...
LSU at Florida (-6.5): While the Gators look for a bounce back, Les Miles will be bouncing up and down to make sure they don’t have 13 on the field. UF by 7.
FSU at Miami (-6): Hurricanes’ bounce back may involve winning the whole darn ACC this year. UM by 10.
Michigan State at Michigan (-4): Talk about a bounce back – Spartans Coach Mark Dantonio is back on the sidelines three weeks after beating Notre Dame on a fake field goal in overtime darn near killed him. The stress of stopping Denard Robinson may put him back in bed. Big Blue by 3.
Alabama (-6) at South Carolina: In two games, Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks go from bounce back to bounced from the SEC East lead. Roll Tide by 8.
Tennessee at Georgia (-12): Shouldn’t this be the SEC Game of the Century of the Week? But, the Bulldogs have been bounced, and the Vols are barely a top 3 team in their own state, behind Memphis, Middle Tennessee and, yes, Vanderbilt. UGAs by 3, because someone’s gotta win.
The paid professionals ...
Tampa Bay at Cincinnati (-6): After 2-0 start, Bucs bouncing back to reality. Bengals by 9.
Jacksonville at Buffalo (pick’em): If you find yourself watching this game, you’d best bounce over to something on another channel, such as mixed doubles ice fishing. Jags by 3.
Kansas City at Indianapolis (-8): Chiefs are 3-0, and still don’t have a chance against a mad Peyton Manning looking to bounce back. You’d be mad, too, if you lost to the Jaguars. Colts by 12.
N.Y. Giants at Houston (-3): Quick, name a Giant who isn’t Eli Manning. And then name any Texan. Still, pretty good game among a pair of no-name teams. Texans by 4.
Minnesota at N.Y. Jets (-5.5): Randy Moss is back in Minnesota, and back on Monday Night Football for a second straight week. Meanwhile, big-boned Rex Ryan doesn’t want to bounce around too much. He may hurt something – or someone. Jets by 2.
And, oh yeah, Phillies in 6 over the Rangers in the Fall Classic.
Petey “The Gators Are Gonna Win” Covino says: Gators by 9.
“Flaming Spear” Sullivan says: Seminoles by 7.
Brian “Big Man” McBride’s Super Sniffer Upset Special: Vikings by 4 over Jets.
Rick Pedone says: Bills by 1 in the “Jags Can’t Stand the Prosperity” Special.
Last week: Phascinated Philly (7-2, 28-16) edged Simmering Steeler (6-3, 26-18).