I’m having a pretty bad year.

First my mug shot gets ruined in week 2.

Then my dream of sweeping the season of Fearless Forecasters gets squashed.

Then Oklahoma comes up a little short against Texas last Saturday, spoiling that prediction.

But I’ve recovered, and despite having a mediocre week, and still managed to top my competitors yet again.

I had planned to do a tribute to “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County,” but this is no time for laughs. It’s time for action. It’s time to take this competition back.

Now it’s go time. I won’t be holding back and letting people like Zach Silka sully the name of this competition by having their byline grace this weekly column spot.

Nonetheless, I was very happy to see that everyone brought their game last week.

Tania did a fantastic job in going 7-5. If you keep this effort up, you might be at .500 by late November. Much love for the Northwestern pick, even a blind squirrel finds a nut.

Robert, you are the only one to have not gotten to write this column yet. I frankly expect a lot more of you. Instead of investing minutes upon minutes inventing clever word scores, consult me on how to win when it comes to college football.

Zach, I must commend you on your week 2 win. You’re in an elite fraternity. I guess in every rivalry the “other guy” has to win every now and then. Just please never pick Vanderbilt to win in any sort of athletic competition ever again.

We successful forecasters have a nice, challenging slate ahead of us this week.

Namely No. 1 USC at No. 9 Notre Dame.

All the haters look to the battle between Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn and the loaded, unbeatable USC.

I plan to gain a game on the competition this week. Many, like Tania, will you tell this spells the end of USC’s string. I commend the haters, I guess if you pick them to lose every week you’ll have to be right eventually. But not this week.

Much like my string will continue.

See you next week.