Football chic. Liking a team but not showing it. That's what it's all about around here.

So you want Harvard to win tomorrow. You don't broadcast it around. "Oh? A game? Who's playing?" you mumble through your morning Wheaties. "Maybe I'll drop by." As if to imply that football is so mundane you hate to be bothered by it.

Your actions at the game are strictly dictated by the performance of the team. Remain noncommittal at the start; you'd hate to be backing a loser.

The first Harvard score should be met with a blah remark: "Nice play. But there's a lot of time left, you know." The first Crimson mistake demands a snide comment: "They stink. They always stink. Another losing season." The key is to deny your Harvard allegiances.

The middle or end of the third quarter is the time to take up sides. "My brother went to Holy Cross," you might say if the tide is turning the wrong way. This implies that you wouldn't mind seeing them win. Whatever you do, don't be defensive about losing. Football is not the end of the world.

If the team is winning, another line of action is demanded. Football is the end of the world. Jumping up and down drunkenly or otherwise is allowed at this time. It is important to remember that next week, however, football chic will again be important. No absolute decisions about the team can be made until late in the season.

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Last year, this page was plagued by a particularly bad football picker. The poor fellow struggled around .500 all year. This year, an attempt will be made to select winners. This week's picks, including one game to be played tonight:

LEHIGH-PENN--Penn's Veer offense was 11th best in the nation last year, and though Don Clune is finally gone, too many of the faces (QB Marty Vaughn, tailback Adolph Bellizeare) are the same. The season begins tonight on a good note for the Red and Blue. Penn 31, Lehigh 21.

COLGATE-CORNELL--The question marks for Cornell are at quarterback and in the defense, but there should be little difficulty in beating a less talented bunch from Colgate. Running backs Dan Malone and Don Fanelli lead the way. Cornell 27, Colgate 13.

RHODE ISLAND-BROWN--The Bruins looked awful last week, losing 45-10, but they are a decent football team. Improvement expected, this one could go either way. Brown 17, R.I. 16.

CONNECTICUT-YALE--The last regular season game the Elis played wound up 35-0 in their favor. Connecticut should put up a better fight. Yale 34, UConn. 20.

UMASS-DARTMOUTH--The Big Green have never lost to the Minutemen, but this will be a good game. UMass is sharp after a 42-0 win last week. Dartmouth 24, UMass 20.

RUTGERS-PRINCETON--Princeton will beat a few ballclubs this year, but the Tigers may take some time to get going. A solid performance tomorrow after a 1-8 season last year. Rutgers 20, Princeton 14.

LAFAYETTE-COLUMBIA--One of many games the Lions will lose this year. Coach Bill Campbell has been quoted as saying, "We are not a good football team," which is exactly right. He ought to know. Another chapter in Columbia's great sports heritage. Lafayette 19, Columbia 10.

HOLY CROSS-HARVARD--What can I say? I go to Harvard. I want us to win. Harvard 20, Holy Cross 17.

CRIMSON-HOLY CROSS CRUSADER--Striking a blow for what is right (i.e., left) and good in the world. Another classic victory. Crimson 23, Crusader 2.