We were not going tolose ghat game. Watching the locker room scene
made me live brew and crew even mote. I'm behind these motherfuvkets
ilintil the end. Win the next 3 and make it a great year. Go Gophs!
Couldn't be prouder tonight,... And drunk, fucking awesome! Who Hates
Iowa?!?!? I hate Iowa!!!! How gay was that win today??? Fucking weak
dude. 11pm, probably should try and sleep considering little man will
be up in a few. yeah right, totally jacked right now. What a great
win! Where has this offense been all year??? JC, we lookedlike a
difffetent team! And s 4 star RB just cimmitted. The running game will
get better... But savoring a win righgnoe. Beat Illinois, Brag SDSU,
fucking bring it to pig land. They are nit ghat good... It's been
proven. Sweatervest will put them in their place. Then weseal ghe deal
and put PSU or OSU in rose bowl. Who Hates Iowa?!?! I'm thinking of
running sown the block and burning dbags hogeye flag, think I would go
to jail? Might be worth it
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Week 9 Picks
We're locked and loaded for week 9...here we go:
NCAAF
JR: FSU, CIN, OLE, BOISE, CAL, A&M, PSU, MN, USC, UCF
JG: NC, FSU, PUR, IND, AUB, CAL, GEO, MIA, A&M, MN
MR: CIN, AUB, BOISE, GEO, KAN, VAN, WASU, MN, UTAH, USC
MK: WV, UCONN, WIS, VIR, NW, MISST, WASU, OKST, MN, ORE
AW: WV, WIS, IOWA, MIZZ, CAL, GEO, BC, AF, PSU, MSU
GR: ECU(W), VT, CIN, WIS, OLE, MICH, PSU, GT, TEX, USC
MH: CIN, WIS, IOWA, BOISE, MICH, NAVY, PSU, TEX, MN, USC
MC: BALLST, ULL, NILL, KENT, MIAOH, NTEX, AF, MDTN, FRES, NM
NFL
JR: STL, IND, NYG, MIN, ARI
JG: BUF, STL, SF, MIN, ATL
MR: HOU, SEA, STL, IND, ARI
MK: HOU, IND, NYJ, MIN, ATL
AW: DEN, HOU, JAC, OAK, MIN
GR: CLE, IND, NYJ, MIN, ARI
MH: BAL, HOU, IND, MIN, NO
MC: HOU, CLE, SEA, STL, SF
Consensus Picks:
CIN, MN
HOU, STL, MIN
Looks like a big football weekend for the great state of MN. Lot's of positivity considering we have 2 tough games on the slate this weekend.
HARASSMENT
- GR locked up a 1-0 start with an easy one on TUESDAY...Memphis sucks!!
- JG is backing the Tar Heels...JG, I know hoops season is around the corner, but the NC offense in football might be worse than the Gophs and they are playing in Blacksburg at night...I don't like your chances. 34-7 VT.
- MK made the cardinal sin of betting on a UCONN game...no matter what you will lose because it's impossible to win when betting on UCONN FB. MK took UCONN, so RUT is an easy cover.
- JR and JG are the only ones on FSU? Come on, are people still holding out hope that the NCST defense will stop anyone? Not with Jimbo and that offense coming to town.
- CIN at SYR...house! next.
- Nobody bet it, but I think OHIOST -39.5 is a little steep.
- JG is on PUR, 4 on WIS...I am leaning toward JG. PUR, if they can continue to not turn the ball over, will really compete in this game. I hate their D against the WIS running game, but they'll have no problem scoring on the Badgers assuming they don't give the ball away. PUR pulls the upset...41-35
- JG doesn't disappoint and picks IND over iOWA. I guarantee iOWA will struggle in either the IND or NW game one of these next 2 weeks at home. Coming off the emotional one in Spartyville or looking ahead to Columbus will get them. Just think how devastated they'll be come 11/21 off a bad loss in Columbus!!
- OLE-AUB, I'm loving OLE in this one. AUB is being exposed. The offense has slowed down big time, and the D hasn't stopped anyone all year...nice work Teddy Roof. OLE is looking like the team they were projected to be and will run wild at AUB this weekend. OLE Big 34-13
- NEB at BAY...Huskers turn it over less than 8 times and they have a chance. IALTO.
- BOMB likes MIZZ at COL. I think this is a safe pick, COL is still terrible and MIZZ has to come around and play better this week.
- BOISE -33, I'll take it. You can name your number with BOISE and 90% of the time they'll cover.
- UTEP -6.5...my guys are hitting their stride and could possibly win the CUSA!
- World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party...GEO +16 vs. FLA...call me crazy, but I think Tebow and Gators come out and score 50+ this week. Nobody picked FLA this week, but I think GEO (who 3 picked) is completely overmatched and will get crushed.
Nobody is beating FLA the rest of the season.
- BOMB with an interesting BC pick ove CMU. This should be a really good game. BC at home is solid, but CMU has been playing as well as anyone right now.
- JG likes MIAMI! Wow, didn't see this one coming. I guess he's changing it up with the recent run of bad luck.
- JG and JR are all over A&M hosting ISU. Clones will be coming off the biggest win maybe ever for the progrum, A&M can score and should't have 8 turnover gifts for the Clones D...A&M 41-28.
- MK with a surprising VIR pick over DUKE. I think this might just be out of spite since Hoops season is around the corner...go Tar Heels, beat DOOK.
- GR and MH on MICH at ILL...these ILL lines have stayed reasonable, but my god are they bad. This is a good pick.
- MR with a curious KAN pick at TT as a dog. Not sure which way to lean in this one, should be plenty of O-fence though...I'll go with it, KAN 37-34
- MH likes NAVY over TEM...don't bet against the Owls, they are turning the corner
- BOMB and MC both like AF over COLST...good pick. It was #11 on my list.
- I was really tempted to take NEV -26.5 vs. HAW this week. NEV is probably going to score 60+...but they might allow 40 to a HAW team that is due to put together a game sometime soon.
- PSU at NW...I was uber impressed with the PSU win at MICH last week. Clark is the man, and that D is great. NW is still a horrible team. They are 5-3 and should be 3-5. The Gophers moved the ball all over the field on them...uh-oh. PSU huge 38-10
- MK likes MISST at UK at +3. This is a tough one for me. I really think both teams are playing pretty well and have improved this year. UK at home might be the difference, I'll take them.
- GT at VAN...strange game. We've gpot 1 guy on each MR-VAN, GR-GT. VAN can't score on anyone, but their D is really good. GT can score on everyone, but will the one-dimensional offense be stopped at a surprisingly difficult place to play like VANDY? No. GT is the pick.
- MR and MK jumped on 2 things...30 points and the chance to bet against ND. Sadly the team you have is WASHST. They are terrible, and will probably not cover. They are losing the avg game by 22 pts this year.
- SC-TN...nobody picked it. Should be a big defensive struggle. I'll take SC and the points...when it's an even SEC game with good D's always take 6 pts.
- TEX at OKST - MK on Gundy, GR and MH on TEX. Major lack of weapons for OKST, TEX is looking to prove something and get a quality road win. I think they will but it will be tough...TEX 31-21
- USC at ORE - you guys know which way I lean here. Carroll in a big game, don't bet against him. MK took ORE because he's a hater. 4 of us on USC. ORE has won 6 in a row, but CAL is really the only game that I thought they actually could have lost in that stretch. USC is starting to get it all together...Barkley coming through, running game hitting it's stride...USC wins 35-24
MSU at GOPHER NATION
I made this prediction last Saturday...we will not lose this game. AWEB and GRAY are both going to see time, which is a very good thing for this offense. How about we don't have a -3 in TO?!? That would be nice, huh. If we can handle the ball and do enough on offense (#5 running and #5 throwing) we can make this work. The defense needs to continue its solid play. Last week turned intoa landslide with all the turnovers, but this unit isn't that bad. We need to control the ball, which I think #5 can help with. He might be our only effective running threat on Saturday night. Sparty is not a bad team. They don't run it well, but they like to air it out. Their D has been really strong the last few weeks (ILL, NW, iOWA), which isn't saying a lot I guess...3 pretty bad offense right there. How about we hold them to less than 51% on 3rd down?!? That's what we're averaging this year. MSU has been turnover prone on the road this year, so I'm betting we get a couple of short fields to work with and hit Eric De...or I mean Brandon Green for a TD ad #5 runs in another for our longest play from scrimmage this year. In the end, the battle of 4-4 wannabes goes to the home team...
GOPHERS 23 SPARTY 21
5-4 on our way to 8-4!
NFL
-DEN-BAL is a tough one. I still believe in BAL so that's my pick. The DEN miracle run has to end sometime soon right?
- Lots of HOU love this week...if they are legit they win and cover this one no problem...but I'm not sure that they are legit.
- CLE at CHI - 2 guys on CLE, I love it! CHI lost a lot of hope last week with the beatdown they took...CLE is soooo bad though that this one is tough to call. I'll side with CLE if I had to pick someone.
- SEA at DAL - I think 11 is crazy high for this one. I'll take points.
- STL at DET - seriously. DET shouldn't be a 9.5 pt fav over ANYONE! Take points and please don't watch this debacle of a game.
- SF at IND - so Alex Smith is back to lead them to the promised land...hmmm...nope. IND keeps rolling.
- MIA at NYJ - one of the best of the week. I'm still not sure what to think on either of these two teams. I took MIA with points, but it could go either way.
- NYG at PHI - G-men are due for a nice game, PHI is not a good team right now. WAS coulda/shoulda beat them on Monday. OAK did beat them! NYG big in this one.
- JAC at TEN - can't take TEN as a FAV here. Until they prove that they actually want to try and win one this year I will continue to bet against them.
- OAK at SD - 17.5 is insane. I know it's OAK, but in a division game? Have to take points on this one.
- CAR at ARI - why is Jake DelHomme still your QB!?!?!?! how many games does this guy have to lose for you to get him benched! Take ARI in a blowout.
- ATL at NO - 10 is a lot, but the offense in NO score 40/gm...I can't bet against them at this point.
- MIN at GB
Does anyone in GB realize the Vikes are bringing more than one player with them this weekend? I know it's a big deal, but good god focus more on #4 GB. Purple come in and give them a steady dose of Adrian just when the Pack is expecting a lot from #4. AD goes off for 150, defense continues to get to AROG while giving up a few. Cheech catches a home run for the clincher
PURPLE PRIDE 27 PACK 21
Sounds like the perfect weekend...well, if the Gopher Hockey team can actually score and win a pair against the Drunken Sconnies...then it's a perfect weekend.
PJ - Marker in the Sand
There is a sickness,... a sickness coming over me
Like watching freedom,. Being sucked straight out to sea
An the solution?...... Well, from me far would it be
But the delusion,..... Is feeling dangerous to me
What goes wrong?
Walking tightrope high,... over moral ground
Seeing visions of,........ falling up somehow
Do come down
With the living, let,... what is living love
So unforgiving, yet,...... needing forgiveness first
What do you say,.......... God, what do you say?
Calling out,....... Calling out.
Calling out,....... I'm calling you out.
NCAAF
JR: FSU, CIN, OLE, BOISE, CAL, A&M, PSU, MN, USC, UCF
JG: NC, FSU, PUR, IND, AUB, CAL, GEO, MIA, A&M, MN
MR: CIN, AUB, BOISE, GEO, KAN, VAN, WASU, MN, UTAH, USC
MK: WV, UCONN, WIS, VIR, NW, MISST, WASU, OKST, MN, ORE
AW: WV, WIS, IOWA, MIZZ, CAL, GEO, BC, AF, PSU, MSU
GR: ECU(W), VT, CIN, WIS, OLE, MICH, PSU, GT, TEX, USC
MH: CIN, WIS, IOWA, BOISE, MICH, NAVY, PSU, TEX, MN, USC
MC: BALLST, ULL, NILL, KENT, MIAOH, NTEX, AF, MDTN, FRES, NM
NFL
JR: STL, IND, NYG, MIN, ARI
JG: BUF, STL, SF, MIN, ATL
MR: HOU, SEA, STL, IND, ARI
MK: HOU, IND, NYJ, MIN, ATL
AW: DEN, HOU, JAC, OAK, MIN
GR: CLE, IND, NYJ, MIN, ARI
MH: BAL, HOU, IND, MIN, NO
MC: HOU, CLE, SEA, STL, SF
Consensus Picks:
CIN, MN
HOU, STL, MIN
Looks like a big football weekend for the great state of MN. Lot's of positivity considering we have 2 tough games on the slate this weekend.
HARASSMENT
- GR locked up a 1-0 start with an easy one on TUESDAY...Memphis sucks!!
- JG is backing the Tar Heels...JG, I know hoops season is around the corner, but the NC offense in football might be worse than the Gophs and they are playing in Blacksburg at night...I don't like your chances. 34-7 VT.
- MK made the cardinal sin of betting on a UCONN game...no matter what you will lose because it's impossible to win when betting on UCONN FB. MK took UCONN, so RUT is an easy cover.
- JR and JG are the only ones on FSU? Come on, are people still holding out hope that the NCST defense will stop anyone? Not with Jimbo and that offense coming to town.
- CIN at SYR...house! next.
- Nobody bet it, but I think OHIOST -39.5 is a little steep.
- JG is on PUR, 4 on WIS...I am leaning toward JG. PUR, if they can continue to not turn the ball over, will really compete in this game. I hate their D against the WIS running game, but they'll have no problem scoring on the Badgers assuming they don't give the ball away. PUR pulls the upset...41-35
- JG doesn't disappoint and picks IND over iOWA. I guarantee iOWA will struggle in either the IND or NW game one of these next 2 weeks at home. Coming off the emotional one in Spartyville or looking ahead to Columbus will get them. Just think how devastated they'll be come 11/21 off a bad loss in Columbus!!
- OLE-AUB, I'm loving OLE in this one. AUB is being exposed. The offense has slowed down big time, and the D hasn't stopped anyone all year...nice work Teddy Roof. OLE is looking like the team they were projected to be and will run wild at AUB this weekend. OLE Big 34-13
- NEB at BAY...Huskers turn it over less than 8 times and they have a chance. IALTO.
- BOMB likes MIZZ at COL. I think this is a safe pick, COL is still terrible and MIZZ has to come around and play better this week.
- BOISE -33, I'll take it. You can name your number with BOISE and 90% of the time they'll cover.
- UTEP -6.5...my guys are hitting their stride and could possibly win the CUSA!
- World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party...GEO +16 vs. FLA...call me crazy, but I think Tebow and Gators come out and score 50+ this week. Nobody picked FLA this week, but I think GEO (who 3 picked) is completely overmatched and will get crushed.
Nobody is beating FLA the rest of the season.
- BOMB with an interesting BC pick ove CMU. This should be a really good game. BC at home is solid, but CMU has been playing as well as anyone right now.
- JG likes MIAMI! Wow, didn't see this one coming. I guess he's changing it up with the recent run of bad luck.
- JG and JR are all over A&M hosting ISU. Clones will be coming off the biggest win maybe ever for the progrum, A&M can score and should't have 8 turnover gifts for the Clones D...A&M 41-28.
- MK with a surprising VIR pick over DUKE. I think this might just be out of spite since Hoops season is around the corner...go Tar Heels, beat DOOK.
- GR and MH on MICH at ILL...these ILL lines have stayed reasonable, but my god are they bad. This is a good pick.
- MR with a curious KAN pick at TT as a dog. Not sure which way to lean in this one, should be plenty of O-fence though...I'll go with it, KAN 37-34
- MH likes NAVY over TEM...don't bet against the Owls, they are turning the corner
- BOMB and MC both like AF over COLST...good pick. It was #11 on my list.
- I was really tempted to take NEV -26.5 vs. HAW this week. NEV is probably going to score 60+...but they might allow 40 to a HAW team that is due to put together a game sometime soon.
- PSU at NW...I was uber impressed with the PSU win at MICH last week. Clark is the man, and that D is great. NW is still a horrible team. They are 5-3 and should be 3-5. The Gophers moved the ball all over the field on them...uh-oh. PSU huge 38-10
- MK likes MISST at UK at +3. This is a tough one for me. I really think both teams are playing pretty well and have improved this year. UK at home might be the difference, I'll take them.
- GT at VAN...strange game. We've gpot 1 guy on each MR-VAN, GR-GT. VAN can't score on anyone, but their D is really good. GT can score on everyone, but will the one-dimensional offense be stopped at a surprisingly difficult place to play like VANDY? No. GT is the pick.
- MR and MK jumped on 2 things...30 points and the chance to bet against ND. Sadly the team you have is WASHST. They are terrible, and will probably not cover. They are losing the avg game by 22 pts this year.
- SC-TN...nobody picked it. Should be a big defensive struggle. I'll take SC and the points...when it's an even SEC game with good D's always take 6 pts.
- TEX at OKST - MK on Gundy, GR and MH on TEX. Major lack of weapons for OKST, TEX is looking to prove something and get a quality road win. I think they will but it will be tough...TEX 31-21
- USC at ORE - you guys know which way I lean here. Carroll in a big game, don't bet against him. MK took ORE because he's a hater. 4 of us on USC. ORE has won 6 in a row, but CAL is really the only game that I thought they actually could have lost in that stretch. USC is starting to get it all together...Barkley coming through, running game hitting it's stride...USC wins 35-24
MSU at GOPHER NATION
I made this prediction last Saturday...we will not lose this game. AWEB and GRAY are both going to see time, which is a very good thing for this offense. How about we don't have a -3 in TO?!? That would be nice, huh. If we can handle the ball and do enough on offense (#5 running and #5 throwing) we can make this work. The defense needs to continue its solid play. Last week turned intoa landslide with all the turnovers, but this unit isn't that bad. We need to control the ball, which I think #5 can help with. He might be our only effective running threat on Saturday night. Sparty is not a bad team. They don't run it well, but they like to air it out. Their D has been really strong the last few weeks (ILL, NW, iOWA), which isn't saying a lot I guess...3 pretty bad offense right there. How about we hold them to less than 51% on 3rd down?!? That's what we're averaging this year. MSU has been turnover prone on the road this year, so I'm betting we get a couple of short fields to work with and hit Eric De...or I mean Brandon Green for a TD ad #5 runs in another for our longest play from scrimmage this year. In the end, the battle of 4-4 wannabes goes to the home team...
GOPHERS 23 SPARTY 21
5-4 on our way to 8-4!
NFL
-DEN-BAL is a tough one. I still believe in BAL so that's my pick. The DEN miracle run has to end sometime soon right?
- Lots of HOU love this week...if they are legit they win and cover this one no problem...but I'm not sure that they are legit.
- CLE at CHI - 2 guys on CLE, I love it! CHI lost a lot of hope last week with the beatdown they took...CLE is soooo bad though that this one is tough to call. I'll side with CLE if I had to pick someone.
- SEA at DAL - I think 11 is crazy high for this one. I'll take points.
- STL at DET - seriously. DET shouldn't be a 9.5 pt fav over ANYONE! Take points and please don't watch this debacle of a game.
- SF at IND - so Alex Smith is back to lead them to the promised land...hmmm...nope. IND keeps rolling.
- MIA at NYJ - one of the best of the week. I'm still not sure what to think on either of these two teams. I took MIA with points, but it could go either way.
- NYG at PHI - G-men are due for a nice game, PHI is not a good team right now. WAS coulda/shoulda beat them on Monday. OAK did beat them! NYG big in this one.
- JAC at TEN - can't take TEN as a FAV here. Until they prove that they actually want to try and win one this year I will continue to bet against them.
- OAK at SD - 17.5 is insane. I know it's OAK, but in a division game? Have to take points on this one.
- CAR at ARI - why is Jake DelHomme still your QB!?!?!?! how many games does this guy have to lose for you to get him benched! Take ARI in a blowout.
- ATL at NO - 10 is a lot, but the offense in NO score 40/gm...I can't bet against them at this point.
- MIN at GB
Does anyone in GB realize the Vikes are bringing more than one player with them this weekend? I know it's a big deal, but good god focus more on #4 GB. Purple come in and give them a steady dose of Adrian just when the Pack is expecting a lot from #4. AD goes off for 150, defense continues to get to AROG while giving up a few. Cheech catches a home run for the clincher
PURPLE PRIDE 27 PACK 21
Sounds like the perfect weekend...well, if the Gopher Hockey team can actually score and win a pair against the Drunken Sconnies...then it's a perfect weekend.
PJ - Marker in the Sand
There is a sickness,... a sickness coming over me
Like watching freedom,. Being sucked straight out to sea
An the solution?...... Well, from me far would it be
But the delusion,..... Is feeling dangerous to me
What goes wrong?
Walking tightrope high,... over moral ground
Seeing visions of,........ falling up somehow
Do come down
With the living, let,... what is living love
So unforgiving, yet,...... needing forgiveness first
What do you say,.......... God, what do you say?
Calling out,....... Calling out.
Calling out,....... I'm calling you out.
Picks needed from....
Heinert and Corcoran.
Other thoughts:
- iowa fans coming out of the woodwork
They're everywhere! They're everywhere! So the guy about 4 houses down from me conveniently decided to put his big yellow hogeye flagout by his door this week. Funny how the "true" fans come out once you're 8-0...haven't met this guy yet, but I don't think I'm going to make an effort to either...d-bag
Example #2...followed a guy into work today driving the largest pickup truck in the history of the world...car highlights included: piss on chevy sticker, rebel flag sticker, ski-doo sticker, harley stickers, whiskey plates, and a hogeye sticker. Stereotype for a reason I guess...just throw on a couple of seed corn stickers and he may have had the whole package.
- Cliff Lee
I wish I would have been in Vegas for last night because taking Cliff Lee as an underdog is like printing money! How great is this guy...love it. Now we just need Pedro to show up and win this thing back in Philly.
- Wolves
How excited am I for the World Series, well, I chose Wolves hoops over it last night. This Wolves club isn't going to be good, but I think I finally feel like we're moving in an upward direction. Johnny Flynn is already the #2 PG in team history...ahead of Stop-n-pop. When KLove comes back it could be a decent team to watch. Was that Corey Brewer MAKING shots last night??! I think they'll be ranking ahead of the Wild on the average winter evening for me
Just waiting on a couple of picks and then I'll send out the recap.
Other thoughts:
- iowa fans coming out of the woodwork
They're everywhere! They're everywhere! So the guy about 4 houses down from me conveniently decided to put his big yellow hogeye flagout by his door this week. Funny how the "true" fans come out once you're 8-0...haven't met this guy yet, but I don't think I'm going to make an effort to either...d-bag
Example #2...followed a guy into work today driving the largest pickup truck in the history of the world...car highlights included: piss on chevy sticker, rebel flag sticker, ski-doo sticker, harley stickers, whiskey plates, and a hogeye sticker. Stereotype for a reason I guess...just throw on a couple of seed corn stickers and he may have had the whole package.
- Cliff Lee
I wish I would have been in Vegas for last night because taking Cliff Lee as an underdog is like printing money! How great is this guy...love it. Now we just need Pedro to show up and win this thing back in Philly.
- Wolves
How excited am I for the World Series, well, I chose Wolves hoops over it last night. This Wolves club isn't going to be good, but I think I finally feel like we're moving in an upward direction. Johnny Flynn is already the #2 PG in team history...ahead of Stop-n-pop. When KLove comes back it could be a decent team to watch. Was that Corey Brewer MAKING shots last night??! I think they'll be ranking ahead of the Wild on the average winter evening for me
Just waiting on a couple of picks and then I'll send out the recap.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Line Update
NYG
PHI -3
Also, GOPHS moved to +3.5....everybody loves them this week to move it 2.5 points already. I'll take Gophers money line for $1000 Alex.
PHI -3
Also, GOPHS moved to +3.5....everybody loves them this week to move it 2.5 points already. I'll take Gophers money line for $1000 Alex.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Week 9 Random Thoughts
If you haven't heard - Decker is done for the season, possibly returning in the Bowl Game. Obviously, this sucks because he's great...but really, with where this team currently sits, it isn't a huge deal. We're not winning the B10 this year, we're not going to a big bowl game (probably), and not fighting for a Nat'l title. The changing of the guard started last week with the #5 drive against the scrubs from OHIOST, and this just continues the trend. We need to honestly treat these next 4 or 5 games as a stepping stone into what hopefully will be a bigger and better 2010.
Let #5 play a lot at QB, let's see what our WR core will look like for next season, keep plugging in RB's and OLman to see who can play and who can't. Now I'm not saying throw the next 4 games and don't try and win, but honestly I really think these changes might give us the best chance to win. Not that having ED out is a good thing, but we really need to see what these other guys (TS, Green, HAYO, McKnight, Allen) can do. There is plenty of talent there, so now #5 and probably a little touch of AWEB, should be able to utilize it and spread the ball around.
I'm still feeling surprisingly good about this team and about our chances this week. 4-4 is right where we expected them to be. I know the offense has struggled, to put it nicely, but we just got crushed against 2 of the 10 best defenses in the nation...is this really a shock or a reason to start the fire Brewster chatter. I too thought the team would be playing better at this point in the regime and in the season, but we still have 1/3 of it left and plenty of time and opportunity to make this a nice season. 7-5 would be very solid, actually this was the ceiling I predicted at the start of the year. 6-6 not great, but a bowl game and holding the line from last year. Let's win some NOV games and finish strong. Brew is here for another 2 years, so the fire the coach talk is ridiculous. Tony Dungy is not going to coach this team - get over it.
Sparty comes in on Saturday and they have to be mentally drained. They should have won on Saturday, and now they are ready for a bad hangover effect. Remember when we should have beat MICH, the next week we forgot to show up against Sparty and got crushed at home when we were clearly a better team. I've seen it before, and I think that's what we'll be in for this weekend. Gophs will be jacked - weather sounds extra shitty - #5 is going to see plenty of PT...= GOPHER win.
Wow, didn't plan on this being a Gopher hope session...here's the other crap on my mind:
- Nebraska lost 9-7 at home against the Clones. What...the...F*ck??? Well, when you fumble 5 times and throw 3 picks you probably were lucky to be within 2. They just lost back to back games in Lincoln against TT and ISU. First time ISU has gotten them since 1977...wow. Pelini may be going from savior to goat in the matter of one month.
- MICH is back....er, nope, guess not. 1-3 in conference, at least 2 or 3 likely losses still remain, looks like 7-5 or 6-6 to me. Even with MICH talent you can't turn it around in 2 years. How about the PSU D!?! I love Clark as their QB, but that D is carrying the squad right now...why the hell didn't they do that against IOWA!?!?! They are allowing 8.9 ppg...the problem is that if/when they beat OHIOST the door will be wide open for IOWA. So we need to get Iowa 2 losses...Buckeyes can get them once, then the rodents shock the world on NOV 21! That might be the sweetest victory I will have ever witnessed in my lifetime if it comes to fruition.
How much does Gene Chizik suck?
So the guy struggles mightily at ISU, then gets the job at AUB. They start 5-0 with a dynamite offense and beat a lot of teams they were expected to beat. Then they lose their next 3 and give up 32 ppg in the defensive minded SEC. Meanwhile, his replacement Paul Rhodes steps in and has ISU at 5-3 (2-2) and has a shot at a B12 North title...with that roster! Kind of makes you wonder if the great Chizik might not have been in over his head at ISU much less at AUB where he is heading for a 6-6 season and a 2-6 conference run. I'm not saying he won't eventually do better, but I really don't think he's worth a crap as a coach, and I love seeing him struggle.
Anybody feeling like ORE is going to run over USC this weekend since USC's D has given up 27 and 36 the last 2 times out? I hope not...don't bet against Carroll or the USC defense in a big game. Just a word of warning before you turn in picks for the week. BTW - USC offense might score 40 this weekend as well.
Best Gig in the World
Mark Blount. Wolves traded to get him back this year. He's going to make $8M and he's been told not to show up...ever. He's home in Miami with no intention of coming into MPLS for any games this season. He has no value so he won't accept any type of buyout, so he's making $8M in the retarded NBA, which includes all guaranteed contracts, for doing as much as I will this winter. Nice.
Finally - the last rant of the day. NFL vs. NCAA Football. Obviously, you guys know my interest and loyalty lies about 85-15 with NCAA, but I want to tell you why. So huge game this week for the Purple at Pitt. Great game, they lose, and it really doesn't matter at all. We're 6-1 with 9 to play and this one loss is basically meaningless. There are no must win "big" games until DEC when it becomes an elimination tourney. The first 3 months are just setting you up to be in it or not in it. In the NCAA it's game on from day 1. VT-ALA week 1, NC elimination game. Every single week is so critical to the end result of your season, everything is magnified x10 vs. the average NFL week 7 game. I don't hate the NFL, I just love NCAA Football that much more. When every week can literally make or break your season, and there are always 2-3 games per week that will determine who the champions are...either a conference champ or Nat'l Champ. Clearly, I think the playoff system edge goes to the NFL, but as far as week in week out drama and watchability I choose NCAA Football 10 times out of 10.
Let #5 play a lot at QB, let's see what our WR core will look like for next season, keep plugging in RB's and OLman to see who can play and who can't. Now I'm not saying throw the next 4 games and don't try and win, but honestly I really think these changes might give us the best chance to win. Not that having ED out is a good thing, but we really need to see what these other guys (TS, Green, HAYO, McKnight, Allen) can do. There is plenty of talent there, so now #5 and probably a little touch of AWEB, should be able to utilize it and spread the ball around.
I'm still feeling surprisingly good about this team and about our chances this week. 4-4 is right where we expected them to be. I know the offense has struggled, to put it nicely, but we just got crushed against 2 of the 10 best defenses in the nation...is this really a shock or a reason to start the fire Brewster chatter. I too thought the team would be playing better at this point in the regime and in the season, but we still have 1/3 of it left and plenty of time and opportunity to make this a nice season. 7-5 would be very solid, actually this was the ceiling I predicted at the start of the year. 6-6 not great, but a bowl game and holding the line from last year. Let's win some NOV games and finish strong. Brew is here for another 2 years, so the fire the coach talk is ridiculous. Tony Dungy is not going to coach this team - get over it.
Sparty comes in on Saturday and they have to be mentally drained. They should have won on Saturday, and now they are ready for a bad hangover effect. Remember when we should have beat MICH, the next week we forgot to show up against Sparty and got crushed at home when we were clearly a better team. I've seen it before, and I think that's what we'll be in for this weekend. Gophs will be jacked - weather sounds extra shitty - #5 is going to see plenty of PT...= GOPHER win.
Wow, didn't plan on this being a Gopher hope session...here's the other crap on my mind:
- Nebraska lost 9-7 at home against the Clones. What...the...F*ck??? Well, when you fumble 5 times and throw 3 picks you probably were lucky to be within 2. They just lost back to back games in Lincoln against TT and ISU. First time ISU has gotten them since 1977...wow. Pelini may be going from savior to goat in the matter of one month.
- MICH is back....er, nope, guess not. 1-3 in conference, at least 2 or 3 likely losses still remain, looks like 7-5 or 6-6 to me. Even with MICH talent you can't turn it around in 2 years. How about the PSU D!?! I love Clark as their QB, but that D is carrying the squad right now...why the hell didn't they do that against IOWA!?!?! They are allowing 8.9 ppg...the problem is that if/when they beat OHIOST the door will be wide open for IOWA. So we need to get Iowa 2 losses...Buckeyes can get them once, then the rodents shock the world on NOV 21! That might be the sweetest victory I will have ever witnessed in my lifetime if it comes to fruition.
How much does Gene Chizik suck?
So the guy struggles mightily at ISU, then gets the job at AUB. They start 5-0 with a dynamite offense and beat a lot of teams they were expected to beat. Then they lose their next 3 and give up 32 ppg in the defensive minded SEC. Meanwhile, his replacement Paul Rhodes steps in and has ISU at 5-3 (2-2) and has a shot at a B12 North title...with that roster! Kind of makes you wonder if the great Chizik might not have been in over his head at ISU much less at AUB where he is heading for a 6-6 season and a 2-6 conference run. I'm not saying he won't eventually do better, but I really don't think he's worth a crap as a coach, and I love seeing him struggle.
Anybody feeling like ORE is going to run over USC this weekend since USC's D has given up 27 and 36 the last 2 times out? I hope not...don't bet against Carroll or the USC defense in a big game. Just a word of warning before you turn in picks for the week. BTW - USC offense might score 40 this weekend as well.
Best Gig in the World
Mark Blount. Wolves traded to get him back this year. He's going to make $8M and he's been told not to show up...ever. He's home in Miami with no intention of coming into MPLS for any games this season. He has no value so he won't accept any type of buyout, so he's making $8M in the retarded NBA, which includes all guaranteed contracts, for doing as much as I will this winter. Nice.
Finally - the last rant of the day. NFL vs. NCAA Football. Obviously, you guys know my interest and loyalty lies about 85-15 with NCAA, but I want to tell you why. So huge game this week for the Purple at Pitt. Great game, they lose, and it really doesn't matter at all. We're 6-1 with 9 to play and this one loss is basically meaningless. There are no must win "big" games until DEC when it becomes an elimination tourney. The first 3 months are just setting you up to be in it or not in it. In the NCAA it's game on from day 1. VT-ALA week 1, NC elimination game. Every single week is so critical to the end result of your season, everything is magnified x10 vs. the average NFL week 7 game. I don't hate the NFL, I just love NCAA Football that much more. When every week can literally make or break your season, and there are always 2-3 games per week that will determine who the champions are...either a conference champ or Nat'l Champ. Clearly, I think the playoff system edge goes to the NFL, but as far as week in week out drama and watchability I choose NCAA Football 10 times out of 10.
Week 9 Games - return by 12:00 noon on THUR
ECU
MEM 4.5 - TUESDAY
NC
VT -16.5 - THURSDAY
WV
USF 3.5 - FRIDAY
RUT
UCONN -8
NCST
FSU -7.5
CIN
SYR 14.5
NMST
OHIOST -39.5
PUR
WIS -7
OHIO
BALLST 7.5
ULL
FIU -4
IND
IOWA -17.5
AKR
NILL -9.5
OLE
AUB 4.5
NEB
BAY 12.5
SOMISS
HOU -7.5
MIZZ
COL 4
SMU
TULSA -17
WMU
KENT 1
SJST
BOISE -33
UAB
UTEP -6.5
CAL
ASU 6.5
GEO
FLA -16
ARKST
LOU -4.5
CMU
BC -4.5
MIA
WF 7
TOL
MIAOH 6
ISU
A&M -6.5
DUKE
VIR -6.5
MICH
ILL 8.5
KAN
TT -7.5
TEM
NAVY -7
UCLA
OREST -8.5
WKY
NTEX -9
AF
COLST 3.5
MDTN
FAU -2
UNLV
TCU -33
HAW
NEV -26.5
PSU
NW 13.5
LT
IDAHO -3
UTST
FRES -15.5
EMU
ARK -36.5
MISST
UK -3
KST
OK -25
ULM
TROY -17
GT
VAN 13.5
NM
SDST -17.5
WASU
ND -30
SC
TN -6
TEX
OKST 9
TULANE
LSU -34
MSU
MN 6
WY
UTAH -16
USC
ORE 3.5
MARSH
UCF -3.5
DEN
BAL -3.5
HOU
BUF 3
CLE
CHI -14
SEA
DAL -11
STL
DET -9.5
SF
IND -12.5
MIA
NYJ -4
NYG
PHI
JAC
TEN -3
OAK
SD -17.5
MIN
GB -3
CAR
ARI -9
ATL
NO -10
MEM 4.5 - TUESDAY
NC
VT -16.5 - THURSDAY
WV
USF 3.5 - FRIDAY
RUT
UCONN -8
NCST
FSU -7.5
CIN
SYR 14.5
NMST
OHIOST -39.5
PUR
WIS -7
OHIO
BALLST 7.5
ULL
FIU -4
IND
IOWA -17.5
AKR
NILL -9.5
OLE
AUB 4.5
NEB
BAY 12.5
SOMISS
HOU -7.5
MIZZ
COL 4
SMU
TULSA -17
WMU
KENT 1
SJST
BOISE -33
UAB
UTEP -6.5
CAL
ASU 6.5
GEO
FLA -16
ARKST
LOU -4.5
CMU
BC -4.5
MIA
WF 7
TOL
MIAOH 6
ISU
A&M -6.5
DUKE
VIR -6.5
MICH
ILL 8.5
KAN
TT -7.5
TEM
NAVY -7
UCLA
OREST -8.5
WKY
NTEX -9
AF
COLST 3.5
MDTN
FAU -2
UNLV
TCU -33
HAW
NEV -26.5
PSU
NW 13.5
LT
IDAHO -3
UTST
FRES -15.5
EMU
ARK -36.5
MISST
UK -3
KST
OK -25
ULM
TROY -17
GT
VAN 13.5
NM
SDST -17.5
WASU
ND -30
SC
TN -6
TEX
OKST 9
TULANE
LSU -34
MSU
MN 6
WY
UTAH -16
USC
ORE 3.5
MARSH
UCF -3.5
DEN
BAL -3.5
HOU
BUF 3
CLE
CHI -14
SEA
DAL -11
STL
DET -9.5
SF
IND -12.5
MIA
NYJ -4
NYG
PHI
JAC
TEN -3
OAK
SD -17.5
MIN
GB -3
CAR
ARI -9
ATL
NO -10
Week 8 Standings
8 weeks down...here's how we look:
MR 66 54 55.0%
JR 65 55 54.2%
GR 64 56 53.3%
MC 64 56 53.3%
MH 62 58 51.7%
JG 59 61 49.2%
MK 58 62 48.3%
AW 55 65 45.8%
493-467 total...not terrible, much better than year's past actually.
NFL
JR 21 14 60.0%
GR 20 15 57.1%
MR 18 17 51.4%
MC 17 18 48.6%
AW 17 18 48.6%
MH 17 18 48.6%
MK 16 19 45.7%
JG 13 22 37.1%
139-141, slightly below .500 - not last week though...28-12 LW for a robust 70%...wow
NCAA
MR 48 37 56.5%
MC 47 38 55.3%
JG 46 39 54.1%
MH 45 40 52.9%
GR 44 41 51.8%
JR 44 41 51.8%
MK 42 43 49.4%
AW 38 47 44.7%
354-326...+28 over .500, not bad.
Overall pick'em...I went 37-19 in NCAA for 66.1%, one week too late damn it!
NFL I went 8-5 and am hitting 58.3% for the year. NCAA total is at 52%.
VEGAS got hit hard last Sunday. I read that one book paid out 5 10-team parlay winners for $80K each on Sunday. I read a quote of the Hilton guru saying that Sunday was the worst day in the history of betting football for Las Vegas sports books. What does this all mean? Well, Vegas is getting crushed by having all of these "heavy" favorites continuing to cover over bad teams every week. So the lines for this week look more like NCAA lines, basically if it isn't a matchup of 2 decent teams you're going to see a line anywhere from 15-20 going forward until things even out. Should make for some tough NFL calls coming up.
Consistency Ratings
Here's who has been the most consistent (most +.500 weeks)
TOTAL
MC - 5
MH - 5
NFL
JR - 4
MC - 4
NCAA
MR - 5
MC - 5
MH - 5
Toughest Year so far (consistency)
TOTAL
JR, MK, AW - 3 +.500 weeks
NFL
JG - 2
NCAA
AW - 1
STREAKS
- MC and MH both have 4 winning weeks in a row TOTAL
- JG has had 4 straight losing NFL weeks (5-15)
- AW has had 6 straight losing NCAA weeks (27-33)(all 4-6 and 5-5 weeks)
- MC had gone 8-2 in NCAA for 3 consecutive weeks before a 6-4 performance this week
- MH has gone 6-4 in NCAA the last 4 weeks
- Nobody has posted a 0 in either NFL or NCAA yet...will it happen?
WORST PICKS OF THE WEEK
NCAA - BYU (JG) - 1pt home dog that lost by 31!
NFL - CHI (MK, MC) - 1 pt road dog that lost by 35 without forcing 1 punt!
I'll send out the games shortly as well as a recap of soe random thoughts from the weekend later today.
MR 66 54 55.0%
JR 65 55 54.2%
GR 64 56 53.3%
MC 64 56 53.3%
MH 62 58 51.7%
JG 59 61 49.2%
MK 58 62 48.3%
AW 55 65 45.8%
493-467 total...not terrible, much better than year's past actually.
NFL
JR 21 14 60.0%
GR 20 15 57.1%
MR 18 17 51.4%
MC 17 18 48.6%
AW 17 18 48.6%
MH 17 18 48.6%
MK 16 19 45.7%
JG 13 22 37.1%
139-141, slightly below .500 - not last week though...28-12 LW for a robust 70%...wow
NCAA
MR 48 37 56.5%
MC 47 38 55.3%
JG 46 39 54.1%
MH 45 40 52.9%
GR 44 41 51.8%
JR 44 41 51.8%
MK 42 43 49.4%
AW 38 47 44.7%
354-326...+28 over .500, not bad.
Overall pick'em...I went 37-19 in NCAA for 66.1%, one week too late damn it!
NFL I went 8-5 and am hitting 58.3% for the year. NCAA total is at 52%.
VEGAS got hit hard last Sunday. I read that one book paid out 5 10-team parlay winners for $80K each on Sunday. I read a quote of the Hilton guru saying that Sunday was the worst day in the history of betting football for Las Vegas sports books. What does this all mean? Well, Vegas is getting crushed by having all of these "heavy" favorites continuing to cover over bad teams every week. So the lines for this week look more like NCAA lines, basically if it isn't a matchup of 2 decent teams you're going to see a line anywhere from 15-20 going forward until things even out. Should make for some tough NFL calls coming up.
Consistency Ratings
Here's who has been the most consistent (most +.500 weeks)
TOTAL
MC - 5
MH - 5
NFL
JR - 4
MC - 4
NCAA
MR - 5
MC - 5
MH - 5
Toughest Year so far (consistency)
TOTAL
JR, MK, AW - 3 +.500 weeks
NFL
JG - 2
NCAA
AW - 1
STREAKS
- MC and MH both have 4 winning weeks in a row TOTAL
- JG has had 4 straight losing NFL weeks (5-15)
- AW has had 6 straight losing NCAA weeks (27-33)(all 4-6 and 5-5 weeks)
- MC had gone 8-2 in NCAA for 3 consecutive weeks before a 6-4 performance this week
- MH has gone 6-4 in NCAA the last 4 weeks
- Nobody has posted a 0 in either NFL or NCAA yet...will it happen?
WORST PICKS OF THE WEEK
NCAA - BYU (JG) - 1pt home dog that lost by 31!
NFL - CHI (MK, MC) - 1 pt road dog that lost by 35 without forcing 1 punt!
I'll send out the games shortly as well as a recap of soe random thoughts from the weekend later today.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Week 8 Results
A nice week 8 for nearly all of us...here's where we are right now:
MR: 11-3 +PHI
JR: 10-4 +PHI
GR: 9-5 +PHI
MH: 9-5 +PHI
MC: 9-5 +PHI
MK: 8-6 +PHI
AW: 8-7
JG: 6-8 +PHI
70-43 with a potential for 7 more W's if Philly cover tonight. That would be 64% total for the week which is pretty tough.
Full update after tonight's classic snoozer with PHI-WAS.
MR: 11-3 +PHI
JR: 10-4 +PHI
GR: 9-5 +PHI
MH: 9-5 +PHI
MC: 9-5 +PHI
MK: 8-6 +PHI
AW: 8-7
JG: 6-8 +PHI
70-43 with a potential for 7 more W's if Philly cover tonight. That would be 64% total for the week which is pretty tough.
Full update after tonight's classic snoozer with PHI-WAS.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
USC-OREST
I hope someone besides me is watching this. Unreal game, and we have a whole quarter left. Big plays everywhere, should be a fight to the end. Matt Barkley is not really a true frosh is he?!@?! Good God - Trojans are scary good with him the next 2 years.
When will the horseshoe, 4 leaf clover, and rabbit's foot fall out of Ferentz's ass? Unreal. I guess they'll have to wait for Brew's Crew to get it together for the first time this year and spoil the dream on Nov 21.
Gopher Hockey - shut out for the weekend...kind of a theme around here. Fire Don-ny, clap clap clapclapclap, Fire Don-ny....I know UND and DU are good teams, but you can't even score 1 time at home this weekend with a roster like that. Ridiculous. That should be the bigger outcry at the U vs. the football teams's offensive woes.
When will the horseshoe, 4 leaf clover, and rabbit's foot fall out of Ferentz's ass? Unreal. I guess they'll have to wait for Brew's Crew to get it together for the first time this year and spoil the dream on Nov 21.
Gopher Hockey - shut out for the weekend...kind of a theme around here. Fire Don-ny, clap clap clapclapclap, Fire Don-ny....I know UND and DU are good teams, but you can't even score 1 time at home this weekend with a roster like that. Ridiculous. That should be the bigger outcry at the U vs. the football teams's offensive woes.
Picks
I'm glad Vegas was last week so I could get housed.
Through the early games I'm hitting only 92%...the College Football gods really no how to kick you when you're down!
Through the early games I'm hitting only 92%...the College Football gods really no how to kick you when you're down!
Final Thoughts
Just thinking about next week quickly...we will win. I'm going to go ahead and guarantee victory for Brew and Crew next week on Halloween Night.
AWEB comes dressed in costume as #5 and Sparty still hasn't stopped partying after ruining the hopes and dreams of the Hogeyes...GOPHERS come out with attitude and play like the team that wants to end wiith 4 straight W's
Way too early call...GOPHERS 27 SPARTY 21
BTW - SPARTY tonight...346-2 over IOWA. I need to go find a green shirt to wear.
WHO HATES IOWA?!? I HATE IOWA!
WHO HATES IOWA?!? I HATE IOWA!
AWEB comes dressed in costume as #5 and Sparty still hasn't stopped partying after ruining the hopes and dreams of the Hogeyes...GOPHERS come out with attitude and play like the team that wants to end wiith 4 straight W's
Way too early call...GOPHERS 27 SPARTY 21
BTW - SPARTY tonight...346-2 over IOWA. I need to go find a green shirt to wear.
WHO HATES IOWA?!? I HATE IOWA!
WHO HATES IOWA?!? I HATE IOWA!
Buckeye beatdown...positivity?
Ugly, yes...but not nearly as bad as the 38-7 looks.
1. We scored! Hoo-ray!! And it wasn't AWEB leding the TD drive, shocking. Granted it was a weak 2nd team D, but how do you not turn over the keys to the car from now on to #5. He had to have at least 80% of our total offense today!
2. We played well early. Until the shit-storm in Q3 we were right in this thing. Defense was prepared and played well early, but the difference is they scored points which we clearly are unable to do. This one was there for the taking if the WR's show up and catch some balls and AWEB converts on a couple of poor 3rd down throws...but once we got behind it looked like they all gave up.
3. WR's WTF? How many balls do you have to drop to prove your point about wanting a new QB?!?! It was ridiculous today. Were they just deer in the headlights or what the hell could the excuse possibly be for that many bad drops in one day.
4. Playcalling was solid. I think we found some things that were really working early on, every drive just ended with a pathetic drop or bad pass...imagine that.
5. #5 looked incredible. He made the defense fear the running game, which opens up the passing game, which leads to points for the good guys. (wow, I just saw that NEB lost in Lincoln to the Clones...holy shit, Pelini might get fired on the spot!)
6. No ED = No Gopher Offense. When AWEB is under center this is the story and has been for 2+ years. The spread can hide average QB's by giving them easy looks all over the field on every play. But under center in the pro-form we just aren't able to hide a deficient QB anymore. Especially when he has a man-crush on ED. It's like we just don't have a clue once ED is out, which seems to happen a lot.
7. Brew and staff, in my opinion, had a good plan coming in and the team simply just didn't execute. Message boards are blwoing up with fire Brewster - really? Get over it. The only logical option at this point is to let it run the course and give himmat least 1-2 more full seasons. We lost 2 games we were supposed to lose, granted that they were ugly loses, but we're 4-4 with 4 to play, 3 at home, and 1 against a bunch of homos from the south. 8-4.
Where do we go from here? Well, like I said, #5 has to see at least a legit split with AWEB in the reamining games. The threat of him running the ball is just too much for this team to not use at this point in our offensive ineptitude. It can't be any worse...we went for 2 full games without scoring A POINT with AWEB, so let's see what the guy who can't read defenses can do. With a player like this you can literally figure out 10-15 plays that he runs really well and use them in the game. 30% of your offensive plays should be the shotgun option where Gray decides to keep it or give it to Whaley (no other backs are worth a shit). Defensively we still aren't horrible. Some of the numbers are ugly, but when you are literally on the field for 3 quarters a week it's going to be bad. Time for Timmy B to do a little soul searching and figure out what he can do to win at least 3 of the last 4 and keep the critics off his back and get this team moving forward again.
Hope nobody is jumping ship - we lost to PSU and OSU on the road, just like everyone expected. It sucks, but with 4 winnable games left I think this can still be a really positive season...especially with #5 running the show and getting the B10 ready for the Gray Show in 2010!
1. We scored! Hoo-ray!! And it wasn't AWEB leding the TD drive, shocking. Granted it was a weak 2nd team D, but how do you not turn over the keys to the car from now on to #5. He had to have at least 80% of our total offense today!
2. We played well early. Until the shit-storm in Q3 we were right in this thing. Defense was prepared and played well early, but the difference is they scored points which we clearly are unable to do. This one was there for the taking if the WR's show up and catch some balls and AWEB converts on a couple of poor 3rd down throws...but once we got behind it looked like they all gave up.
3. WR's WTF? How many balls do you have to drop to prove your point about wanting a new QB?!?! It was ridiculous today. Were they just deer in the headlights or what the hell could the excuse possibly be for that many bad drops in one day.
4. Playcalling was solid. I think we found some things that were really working early on, every drive just ended with a pathetic drop or bad pass...imagine that.
5. #5 looked incredible. He made the defense fear the running game, which opens up the passing game, which leads to points for the good guys. (wow, I just saw that NEB lost in Lincoln to the Clones...holy shit, Pelini might get fired on the spot!)
6. No ED = No Gopher Offense. When AWEB is under center this is the story and has been for 2+ years. The spread can hide average QB's by giving them easy looks all over the field on every play. But under center in the pro-form we just aren't able to hide a deficient QB anymore. Especially when he has a man-crush on ED. It's like we just don't have a clue once ED is out, which seems to happen a lot.
7. Brew and staff, in my opinion, had a good plan coming in and the team simply just didn't execute. Message boards are blwoing up with fire Brewster - really? Get over it. The only logical option at this point is to let it run the course and give himmat least 1-2 more full seasons. We lost 2 games we were supposed to lose, granted that they were ugly loses, but we're 4-4 with 4 to play, 3 at home, and 1 against a bunch of homos from the south. 8-4.
Where do we go from here? Well, like I said, #5 has to see at least a legit split with AWEB in the reamining games. The threat of him running the ball is just too much for this team to not use at this point in our offensive ineptitude. It can't be any worse...we went for 2 full games without scoring A POINT with AWEB, so let's see what the guy who can't read defenses can do. With a player like this you can literally figure out 10-15 plays that he runs really well and use them in the game. 30% of your offensive plays should be the shotgun option where Gray decides to keep it or give it to Whaley (no other backs are worth a shit). Defensively we still aren't horrible. Some of the numbers are ugly, but when you are literally on the field for 3 quarters a week it's going to be bad. Time for Timmy B to do a little soul searching and figure out what he can do to win at least 3 of the last 4 and keep the critics off his back and get this team moving forward again.
Hope nobody is jumping ship - we lost to PSU and OSU on the road, just like everyone expected. It sucks, but with 4 winnable games left I think this can still be a really positive season...especially with #5 running the show and getting the B10 ready for the Gray Show in 2010!
Friday, October 23, 2009
After further review...PICK CHANGES
So I've had a little time to listen and make some modifications to my picks for the week.
DAL -3 is not on my list...replaced by NYG -7.5
Also eliminated TOLEDO +1 with OREST +21.
Let me know if you need any changes.
Also, we are 1 week removed from Vegas, so I thought it would be a good time to start looking ahead to LY. I've been 1 for 3 in coming out ahead at the Mirage, so I'm thinking it's time for a change. I took a look at the Hilton this morning...sold. The book is 3 times the size of the Mirage, it is a little off the strip, but when you don't leave the hotel what does it matter! Start planning and accumluating funds for next year's trip, only about 51 weeks or so away!!
Also, after thinking a little more about the Gophs...we have not shot this weekend. This is really the only game on the slate that I gave us no chance to win coming into the season, and nothing from either team has changed my mind. We may cover if their offense is inept, but there is NO WAY WE WIN THIS GAME.
That's hard for me to admit, but it true. (also I'm secretly hoping my super negative vibe pushes us to play well...just like WIS LY when I thought we'd lose by 35).
DAL -3 is not on my list...replaced by NYG -7.5
Also eliminated TOLEDO +1 with OREST +21.
Let me know if you need any changes.
Also, we are 1 week removed from Vegas, so I thought it would be a good time to start looking ahead to LY. I've been 1 for 3 in coming out ahead at the Mirage, so I'm thinking it's time for a change. I took a look at the Hilton this morning...sold. The book is 3 times the size of the Mirage, it is a little off the strip, but when you don't leave the hotel what does it matter! Start planning and accumluating funds for next year's trip, only about 51 weeks or so away!!
Also, after thinking a little more about the Gophs...we have not shot this weekend. This is really the only game on the slate that I gave us no chance to win coming into the season, and nothing from either team has changed my mind. We may cover if their offense is inept, but there is NO WAY WE WIN THIS GAME.
That's hard for me to admit, but it true. (also I'm secretly hoping my super negative vibe pushes us to play well...just like WIS LY when I thought we'd lose by 35).
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Week 8 Pick Summary
Week 8 is off and running, JR GR MC are already 0-1...nice start.
NCAA
JR: TULSA, CMU, PITT, GT, OKST, OK, MIA, TOL, LSU, BOISE
JG: FSU, NW, MN, ILL, NEB, PSU, BC, MSU, BYU, LSU
MR: NC, NW, GT, OLE, KST, ORE, OK, NEV, MISST, AUB
MK: FSU, NW, PITT, GT, SYR, KAN, BC, MSU, MISST, MIZZ
AW: FSU, NW, MN, GT, DUKE, KAN, BC, WF, IOWA, FLA
GR: TULSA, NC, GT, ARK, MICH, TN, BC, SC, IOWA, TEX
MH: IND, OHIOST, PUR, MICH, WASH, MIA, BC, IOWA, STAN, BOISE
MC: TULSA, CMU, KST, EMU, OHIO, UTST, TOL, ARKST, TCU, NM
NFL
JR: KC, IND, GB, DAL, PHI
JG: TB, MIN, CLE, NYG, PHI
MR: SD, IND, DAL, ARI, PHI
MK: HOU, OAK, CHI, ATL, PHI
AW: SD, IND, MIN, DAL, NO
GR: IND, NE, PIT, NO, PHI
MH: IND, NE, ATL, NO, PHI
MC: HOU, SD, CHI, NO, PHI
CONSENSUS PICKS:
GT, BC
IND, NO, PHI
Sounds like a can't miss 5 game parlay!
So an ugly start to the week already for 3 of us with the brutal performance of Tulsa last night. I think I've bet on UTEP games 5 times this year, and I've been on the wrong side for every one! Stop it!!
Tonight is an interesting game...FSU at NC. The Noles have talent but are obviously a trainwreck right now. Where has the D gone? For Butch Davis and NC, there are a ton of issues as well...except on the other side of the ball. The defense is outstanding, but the offense can't score on anyone. Basically a pick'em line, I like NC at home.
- Lots of NW love this week...they still suck and IND might actually come out and play well again this week. How bad are the Zookers when IND crushes you?
- I'm jumping on PITT again this week, I guess GR is not on the band wagon anymore.
- GT at the ACC leader VIR...GT is hitting its stride, look out Cavs, it should be a blowout!
- ARK at OLE (-5.5) is a tough one. OLE has shown some major lapses on offense, ARK hasn't really played much defense all year...take points in this scenario.
- Clones coming off another win head to angry Lincoln. We almost have to expect a big rebound, right?
- BAY is bad...give me OKST, who is surprisingly scoring without a lot of their weapons...Gophers need to learn how to score like this.
- I knew someone would take it...MARY at DUKE (-6)...can you believe we have started betting on DUKE to win as a favorite in the ACC?!? Bomb loves the Dookies this week, and I almost picked them.
- PSU at MICH (+4) should be a good one. PSU is solid on defense, so I have to think they can shut down the MICH offense a little bit. But MICH plays some nice D as well, and it is in the Big House...I'll take the points.
- ORE at WASH has the feeling of a trap game. But after Vegas WASH is one of my least favorite teams because of d-bag fan yelling at me after I made the comment "nice loss WASH" after they gave up a hail mary on the last second to lose to an offensively challenged ASU team. D-bag WASH t-shirt guy stands up and says, "F*ck you, I've been shut out all day!" Like that's my problem...pick better moron. So I'm officially on the anti-WASH bandwagon. Quack...Quack...Quack....go Ducks!
- TN at ALA is another big line for an SEC game. Smart play is taking the points for the Vols.
- OK might be ready to pounce on KAN. The Ressing offense will not be able to throw it all over the place against this OK squad...Sooners cover 7 in the first 10 minutes.
- CLEM = awful road team, MIA = great home team...this is a gimme.
- BC at ND - everyone loves BC in this one. They have been a huge surprise this year, and ND might be emotionally spent after last week...BC might win this one outright, let's hope they do!
- WF at NAVY - 2 teams that burned me last week, I did learn to never pick WF on the road...so pick NAVY.
- IOWA at MSU - really going to be a HUGE Sparty fan this weekend. Finally a worthwhile BTN night game...woo-hoo! Iowa still isn't that good, I've said it every week and they keep finding a way to win. Sparty - don't turn it over, make Ricardo throw the ball, and win the damn game!! End this madness!
Sadly, we have 3 guys that have caved and starting believing in the Hogeyes...so it's definitely time for the football gods to stop this little run before it goes any further and more people move to the dark side.
- TCU at BYU is a huge game on the network that I used to get (Vs.) but apparently pissed off the wrong people at DTV and has been pulled. So I'm going to be phone/cpu following this one on Saturday night. I really am a huge Gary Patterson and TCU fan, so that's my pick. Plus I'm anti-BYU...so it's an easy one.
- AUB at LSU (-8): AUB defense is not up to par, LSU has a great D. Offensively, AUB blows them away, but I can't see them doing a lot of greatb things in Baton Rouge on ESPN at a night game...always pick the Tigers in a situation like this, unless FLA is coming to town!
- TEX at MIZZ - MIZZ looks a lot more like a mirage than anything else to me. TEX needs a statement game after juts sneaking by OK...Horns roll.
- OREST at USC - revenge game from LY for USC, but 21 pts is too much. I think OREST keeps it closer than that. USC is going on their annual roll to finish 11-1...mark it down.
- BOISE at HAW - House! Can't make a number high enough for me to not pick Boise in this one!
NFL
The oddsmakers finally made some cash back last week with some big dogs covering and even winning a couple of games. Will the trend continue?
- upset of the week...KC beats SD
- How am I the only one picking the Pack at -7.5 at CLE? This should be ugly.
- DAL gets it together this week off the bye at home against an ATL team that was anything but impressive on SUN Night last week
- MIA will cover against NO...I know NO looks like the '98 Vikes or the Warner lead Rams...but they have to have a hiccup along the way sometime soon. MIA might be the one with their decent D and wildcat Offense.
- Bungals going back to the pack...BEARS win this week on the road
- How is PHI only -6.5 at WAS? PHI is coming off an all-timer of a clunker at OAK and WAS can't score more than 7 points in practice against no defense. This will be the final nail in Zorn's coffin...PHILLY 35-0 crush.
PURPLE at PITT -3.5
I think the dream ends here for the Purple team. PITT has a lot of flaws and isn't close to the level they were in JAN of 2009...but they will win. Chilly vs. Tomlin...yikes. Big Ben and the WR's vs. Purple w/out Winfield...yikes. We should be able to score on them, but the scariest thing for me coming out of this week is keeping #4 healthy. Lebeau runs a lot of crazy blitz attacks, and I could see #4 taking a big shot and having a hard time coming back. I hate to be negative, but that really scares me. Too much positivity right now for the Purple, so I just feel like it's time to throw a wrench into things. The call...STEELERS 27-23
GOPHERS at The OHIO STATE University (-18)
So who's ready to give up on this club? Zero offense, pretty much all year. Going on the road for a second straight week, playing a top national defense for a 2nd consecutive week, Bucks are coming off a loss to a horrible PUR team in which they weren't even close. This is the time of the year when we started are huge slide into mediocrity last season, so that's exactly what most of experts are predicting again this year.
In my memory, this is when we totally surpirse everyone, including me, and play well this week. Pressure Pryor and he should be able to give us some opportunities. We really need to focus on stopping the run game - bring as many people as possible up front to make them throw. What can we do on offense? Well, praying might help...Goldy can lead that for us. Take chances, play without a care in the world like we did against Cal - this is the attitude you HAVE to take when you are completely outmanned everywhere and you are unable to move the ball in traditional fashion. I'm talking about running down field patterns and throwing it all over the place in unpredictable times in the game. The running game needs to be a threat, but that might work best if we roll with more Marqueis and/or wildcat type formation. It needs to be something different that off tackle left and dive right...we don't block anyone and we will not be able to traditionally run the ball on OSU. Weber has to be better - stop throwing horrible INT's, stop throwing behind people, stop throwing to shoelaces! Seriously, do we have any patterns and plays in the book that don't require us to throw the ball to a WR/TE/RB and have him fall down immediately? Or run out of bounds without any chance at YAC! With the athletes we have, and we do have some athletes that need the ball, how can we not figure out a way to get it to them.
Clearly, this is not a great OHIOST team, so for that reason alone I will give us a slight chance this week.
Call...OHIOST wins but barely...24-17...don't ask me where the 17 points come from, because I don't know.
NCAA
JR: TULSA, CMU, PITT, GT, OKST, OK, MIA, TOL, LSU, BOISE
JG: FSU, NW, MN, ILL, NEB, PSU, BC, MSU, BYU, LSU
MR: NC, NW, GT, OLE, KST, ORE, OK, NEV, MISST, AUB
MK: FSU, NW, PITT, GT, SYR, KAN, BC, MSU, MISST, MIZZ
AW: FSU, NW, MN, GT, DUKE, KAN, BC, WF, IOWA, FLA
GR: TULSA, NC, GT, ARK, MICH, TN, BC, SC, IOWA, TEX
MH: IND, OHIOST, PUR, MICH, WASH, MIA, BC, IOWA, STAN, BOISE
MC: TULSA, CMU, KST, EMU, OHIO, UTST, TOL, ARKST, TCU, NM
NFL
JR: KC, IND, GB, DAL, PHI
JG: TB, MIN, CLE, NYG, PHI
MR: SD, IND, DAL, ARI, PHI
MK: HOU, OAK, CHI, ATL, PHI
AW: SD, IND, MIN, DAL, NO
GR: IND, NE, PIT, NO, PHI
MH: IND, NE, ATL, NO, PHI
MC: HOU, SD, CHI, NO, PHI
CONSENSUS PICKS:
GT, BC
IND, NO, PHI
Sounds like a can't miss 5 game parlay!
So an ugly start to the week already for 3 of us with the brutal performance of Tulsa last night. I think I've bet on UTEP games 5 times this year, and I've been on the wrong side for every one! Stop it!!
Tonight is an interesting game...FSU at NC. The Noles have talent but are obviously a trainwreck right now. Where has the D gone? For Butch Davis and NC, there are a ton of issues as well...except on the other side of the ball. The defense is outstanding, but the offense can't score on anyone. Basically a pick'em line, I like NC at home.
- Lots of NW love this week...they still suck and IND might actually come out and play well again this week. How bad are the Zookers when IND crushes you?
- I'm jumping on PITT again this week, I guess GR is not on the band wagon anymore.
- GT at the ACC leader VIR...GT is hitting its stride, look out Cavs, it should be a blowout!
- ARK at OLE (-5.5) is a tough one. OLE has shown some major lapses on offense, ARK hasn't really played much defense all year...take points in this scenario.
- Clones coming off another win head to angry Lincoln. We almost have to expect a big rebound, right?
- BAY is bad...give me OKST, who is surprisingly scoring without a lot of their weapons...Gophers need to learn how to score like this.
- I knew someone would take it...MARY at DUKE (-6)...can you believe we have started betting on DUKE to win as a favorite in the ACC?!? Bomb loves the Dookies this week, and I almost picked them.
- PSU at MICH (+4) should be a good one. PSU is solid on defense, so I have to think they can shut down the MICH offense a little bit. But MICH plays some nice D as well, and it is in the Big House...I'll take the points.
- ORE at WASH has the feeling of a trap game. But after Vegas WASH is one of my least favorite teams because of d-bag fan yelling at me after I made the comment "nice loss WASH" after they gave up a hail mary on the last second to lose to an offensively challenged ASU team. D-bag WASH t-shirt guy stands up and says, "F*ck you, I've been shut out all day!" Like that's my problem...pick better moron. So I'm officially on the anti-WASH bandwagon. Quack...Quack...Quack....go Ducks!
- TN at ALA is another big line for an SEC game. Smart play is taking the points for the Vols.
- OK might be ready to pounce on KAN. The Ressing offense will not be able to throw it all over the place against this OK squad...Sooners cover 7 in the first 10 minutes.
- CLEM = awful road team, MIA = great home team...this is a gimme.
- BC at ND - everyone loves BC in this one. They have been a huge surprise this year, and ND might be emotionally spent after last week...BC might win this one outright, let's hope they do!
- WF at NAVY - 2 teams that burned me last week, I did learn to never pick WF on the road...so pick NAVY.
- IOWA at MSU - really going to be a HUGE Sparty fan this weekend. Finally a worthwhile BTN night game...woo-hoo! Iowa still isn't that good, I've said it every week and they keep finding a way to win. Sparty - don't turn it over, make Ricardo throw the ball, and win the damn game!! End this madness!
Sadly, we have 3 guys that have caved and starting believing in the Hogeyes...so it's definitely time for the football gods to stop this little run before it goes any further and more people move to the dark side.
- TCU at BYU is a huge game on the network that I used to get (Vs.) but apparently pissed off the wrong people at DTV and has been pulled. So I'm going to be phone/cpu following this one on Saturday night. I really am a huge Gary Patterson and TCU fan, so that's my pick. Plus I'm anti-BYU...so it's an easy one.
- AUB at LSU (-8): AUB defense is not up to par, LSU has a great D. Offensively, AUB blows them away, but I can't see them doing a lot of greatb things in Baton Rouge on ESPN at a night game...always pick the Tigers in a situation like this, unless FLA is coming to town!
- TEX at MIZZ - MIZZ looks a lot more like a mirage than anything else to me. TEX needs a statement game after juts sneaking by OK...Horns roll.
- OREST at USC - revenge game from LY for USC, but 21 pts is too much. I think OREST keeps it closer than that. USC is going on their annual roll to finish 11-1...mark it down.
- BOISE at HAW - House! Can't make a number high enough for me to not pick Boise in this one!
NFL
The oddsmakers finally made some cash back last week with some big dogs covering and even winning a couple of games. Will the trend continue?
- upset of the week...KC beats SD
- How am I the only one picking the Pack at -7.5 at CLE? This should be ugly.
- DAL gets it together this week off the bye at home against an ATL team that was anything but impressive on SUN Night last week
- MIA will cover against NO...I know NO looks like the '98 Vikes or the Warner lead Rams...but they have to have a hiccup along the way sometime soon. MIA might be the one with their decent D and wildcat Offense.
- Bungals going back to the pack...BEARS win this week on the road
- How is PHI only -6.5 at WAS? PHI is coming off an all-timer of a clunker at OAK and WAS can't score more than 7 points in practice against no defense. This will be the final nail in Zorn's coffin...PHILLY 35-0 crush.
PURPLE at PITT -3.5
I think the dream ends here for the Purple team. PITT has a lot of flaws and isn't close to the level they were in JAN of 2009...but they will win. Chilly vs. Tomlin...yikes. Big Ben and the WR's vs. Purple w/out Winfield...yikes. We should be able to score on them, but the scariest thing for me coming out of this week is keeping #4 healthy. Lebeau runs a lot of crazy blitz attacks, and I could see #4 taking a big shot and having a hard time coming back. I hate to be negative, but that really scares me. Too much positivity right now for the Purple, so I just feel like it's time to throw a wrench into things. The call...STEELERS 27-23
GOPHERS at The OHIO STATE University (-18)
So who's ready to give up on this club? Zero offense, pretty much all year. Going on the road for a second straight week, playing a top national defense for a 2nd consecutive week, Bucks are coming off a loss to a horrible PUR team in which they weren't even close. This is the time of the year when we started are huge slide into mediocrity last season, so that's exactly what most of experts are predicting again this year.
In my memory, this is when we totally surpirse everyone, including me, and play well this week. Pressure Pryor and he should be able to give us some opportunities. We really need to focus on stopping the run game - bring as many people as possible up front to make them throw. What can we do on offense? Well, praying might help...Goldy can lead that for us. Take chances, play without a care in the world like we did against Cal - this is the attitude you HAVE to take when you are completely outmanned everywhere and you are unable to move the ball in traditional fashion. I'm talking about running down field patterns and throwing it all over the place in unpredictable times in the game. The running game needs to be a threat, but that might work best if we roll with more Marqueis and/or wildcat type formation. It needs to be something different that off tackle left and dive right...we don't block anyone and we will not be able to traditionally run the ball on OSU. Weber has to be better - stop throwing horrible INT's, stop throwing behind people, stop throwing to shoelaces! Seriously, do we have any patterns and plays in the book that don't require us to throw the ball to a WR/TE/RB and have him fall down immediately? Or run out of bounds without any chance at YAC! With the athletes we have, and we do have some athletes that need the ball, how can we not figure out a way to get it to them.
Clearly, this is not a great OHIOST team, so for that reason alone I will give us a slight chance this week.
Call...OHIOST wins but barely...24-17...don't ask me where the 17 points come from, because I don't know.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tonight's Game: TULSA at UTEP
GR and JR are both on Tulsa tonight, nobody else is at this point.
Just wanted to let everyone know.
Just wanted to let everyone know.
Line Updates for Week 8
Some quick updates for unlisted lines on yesterday's list:
ISU
NEB -19
NTEX
TROY -17.5
SD
KC 4.5
BUF
CAR - still nothing listed
A couple fun fact about our favorite squad:
We rank 108th in the nation in total offense, and last in the nation by only getting 57 snaps per game on offense. Nice! Might this have something to do with our inept offense?
ISU
NEB -19
NTEX
TROY -17.5
SD
KC 4.5
BUF
CAR - still nothing listed
A couple fun fact about our favorite squad:
We rank 108th in the nation in total offense, and last in the nation by only getting 57 snaps per game on offense. Nice! Might this have something to do with our inept offense?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Week 8 Lines - return by THUR at 12:00
TULSA
UTEP 7 - WEDNESDAY
FSU
NC -2 - THURSDAY
RUT
ARMY 10.5 - FRIDAY
IND
NW -5
CMU
BGU 7
MN
OHIOST -18
USF
PITT -6.5
GT
VIR 4
UAB
MARSH -7.5
UCONN
WV -7
ILL
PUR -10.5
ARK
OLE -5.5
ISU
NEB
OKST
BAY 10
COL
KST -3
NILL
MIAOH 12
BALLST
EMU 4
MARY
DUKE -6
KENT
OHIO -9.5
BUFF
WMU -4.5
LT
UTST 1.5
PSU
MICH 4
AKR
SYR -9.5
UCF
RICE 11
ORE
WASH 7.5
TN
ALA -16.5
LOU
CIN -17
OK
KAN 7
CLEM
MIA -7
NTEX
TROY
BC
ND -9.5
WF
NAVY -2
WKY
MDTN -17.5
SDST
COLST -9.5
AF
UTAH -10
IDAHO
NEV -13
WASU
CAL -36
FAU
ULL -3
UCLA
AZ -9
ULM
UK -15.5
VAN
SC -11.5
A&M
TT -21.5
TEM
TOL 1
IOWA
MSU 2
TULANE
SOMISS -20.5
FIU
ARKST -10
FLA
MISST 22
SMU
HOU -17
TCU
BYU 1
AUB
LSU -8
TEX
MIZZ 14
OREST
USC -21
UNLV
NM 4
ASU
STAN -7
FRES
NMST 25
BOISE
HAW 24
NFL---------------------------------
SF
HOU -3
SD
KC
IND
STL 13
NE
TB 15
MIN
PIT -3.5
GB
CLE 7.5
BUF
CAR
NYJ
OAK 7.5
CHI
CIN -1
ATL
DAL -3
NO
MIA 7
ARI
NYG -7.5
PHI
WAS 6.5
UTEP 7 - WEDNESDAY
FSU
NC -2 - THURSDAY
RUT
ARMY 10.5 - FRIDAY
IND
NW -5
CMU
BGU 7
MN
OHIOST -18
USF
PITT -6.5
GT
VIR 4
UAB
MARSH -7.5
UCONN
WV -7
ILL
PUR -10.5
ARK
OLE -5.5
ISU
NEB
OKST
BAY 10
COL
KST -3
NILL
MIAOH 12
BALLST
EMU 4
MARY
DUKE -6
KENT
OHIO -9.5
BUFF
WMU -4.5
LT
UTST 1.5
PSU
MICH 4
AKR
SYR -9.5
UCF
RICE 11
ORE
WASH 7.5
TN
ALA -16.5
LOU
CIN -17
OK
KAN 7
CLEM
MIA -7
NTEX
TROY
BC
ND -9.5
WF
NAVY -2
WKY
MDTN -17.5
SDST
COLST -9.5
AF
UTAH -10
IDAHO
NEV -13
WASU
CAL -36
FAU
ULL -3
UCLA
AZ -9
ULM
UK -15.5
VAN
SC -11.5
A&M
TT -21.5
TEM
TOL 1
IOWA
MSU 2
TULANE
SOMISS -20.5
FIU
ARKST -10
FLA
MISST 22
SMU
HOU -17
TCU
BYU 1
AUB
LSU -8
TEX
MIZZ 14
OREST
USC -21
UNLV
NM 4
ASU
STAN -7
FRES
NMST 25
BOISE
HAW 24
NFL---------------------------------
SF
HOU -3
SD
KC
IND
STL 13
NE
TB 15
MIN
PIT -3.5
GB
CLE 7.5
BUF
CAR
NYJ
OAK 7.5
CHI
CIN -1
ATL
DAL -3
NO
MIA 7
ARI
NYG -7.5
PHI
WAS 6.5
Week 7 Recap
Another one in the books - here's how this week went for us all:
MC: 9-6
MR: 9-6
MH: 8-7
JR: 7-8
GR: 7-8
MK: 5-10
AW: 5-10
JG: 4-11
Tough week overall. Upsets finally coming in NFL...nice week for that to start! Damn it.
OVERALL STANDINGS
GR 54 51 51.4%
JR 54 51 51.4%
MR 54 51 51.4%
MC 54 51 51.4%
JG 52 53 49.5%
MH 52 53 49.5%
MK 49 56 46.7%
AW 47 58 44.8%
MH, MC, JG lead with the most +.500 weeks at 4...but we have a 4 way tie at the top right now.
NFL STANDINGS
JR 18 12 60.0%
GR 15 15 50.0%
MK 14 16 46.7%
MC 13 17 43.3%
AW 13 17 43.3%
MH 13 17 43.3%
MR 13 17 43.3%
JG 12 18 40.0%
NFL Week 1 we had 7 of the 8 go over .500...move to last week and we only had one guy over .500. Ouch. MC is on a 3 week 1-4 streak.
NCAA STANDINGS
MR 41 34 54.7%
MC 41 34 54.7%
JG 40 35 53.3%
GR 39 36 52.0%
MH 39 36 52.0%
JR 36 39 48.0%
MK 35 40 46.7%
AW 34 41 45.3%
5 guys over .500 in NCAA, which is pretty good.
My Overall Picks:
NCAA: 170-172 49.7%
NFL: 52-38 57.8%
Trend continues, hopefully NCAA picks improve sometime soon.
Not a lot of additional comments this week - still sleepy, trying to work a little today. I'll send out the games right now as well. Overall, JG and I ended up on the wrong side of the line for the Vegas weekend, I think GR probably was ahead after cashing in on the Phillies and Cliff Lee and the Falcons on Sunday night. Great time, as always. Hopefully my body will be healed up by next October to do it again.
Thanks for a great time guys. Now back to work!
MC: 9-6
MR: 9-6
MH: 8-7
JR: 7-8
GR: 7-8
MK: 5-10
AW: 5-10
JG: 4-11
Tough week overall. Upsets finally coming in NFL...nice week for that to start! Damn it.
OVERALL STANDINGS
GR 54 51 51.4%
JR 54 51 51.4%
MR 54 51 51.4%
MC 54 51 51.4%
JG 52 53 49.5%
MH 52 53 49.5%
MK 49 56 46.7%
AW 47 58 44.8%
MH, MC, JG lead with the most +.500 weeks at 4...but we have a 4 way tie at the top right now.
NFL STANDINGS
JR 18 12 60.0%
GR 15 15 50.0%
MK 14 16 46.7%
MC 13 17 43.3%
AW 13 17 43.3%
MH 13 17 43.3%
MR 13 17 43.3%
JG 12 18 40.0%
NFL Week 1 we had 7 of the 8 go over .500...move to last week and we only had one guy over .500. Ouch. MC is on a 3 week 1-4 streak.
NCAA STANDINGS
MR 41 34 54.7%
MC 41 34 54.7%
JG 40 35 53.3%
GR 39 36 52.0%
MH 39 36 52.0%
JR 36 39 48.0%
MK 35 40 46.7%
AW 34 41 45.3%
5 guys over .500 in NCAA, which is pretty good.
My Overall Picks:
NCAA: 170-172 49.7%
NFL: 52-38 57.8%
Trend continues, hopefully NCAA picks improve sometime soon.
Not a lot of additional comments this week - still sleepy, trying to work a little today. I'll send out the games right now as well. Overall, JG and I ended up on the wrong side of the line for the Vegas weekend, I think GR probably was ahead after cashing in on the Phillies and Cliff Lee and the Falcons on Sunday night. Great time, as always. Hopefully my body will be healed up by next October to do it again.
Thanks for a great time guys. Now back to work!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Over
An hour from leaving Vegas. Body shutting down...just want to sleep so
bad, but can't manage to make it work right now. Overall, fun weekend,
not a big success but always a great time. Gophers buzz killed
Saturday, Vikes win but should have covered so kind a buzz killer as
well. Cliff Lee rules, phils need to win the series again. Eagles suck
ass, Jets might be biggest overrrated team around right now. Vikes
have 3:1 odds to win super bowl! I still can't pick Chilly to win
anything. Where the f is our defense?? JG trying to sleep on nasty
airport floor right now...healthy. Always feel like I am on death's
door coming home from here. Didn't have a drop today, but drank
probably 3 or 4 gopher koolaid per hour for 16 hours on Saturday.
Mightbe why my body is rejecting all food right now. MR set the o/u
for drinks between I and JG at 44...after some quick math I think we
were closer to 60...but alive to do it again next year. Enough
rambling, gonna try to sleep again.
bad, but can't manage to make it work right now. Overall, fun weekend,
not a big success but always a great time. Gophers buzz killed
Saturday, Vikes win but should have covered so kind a buzz killer as
well. Cliff Lee rules, phils need to win the series again. Eagles suck
ass, Jets might be biggest overrrated team around right now. Vikes
have 3:1 odds to win super bowl! I still can't pick Chilly to win
anything. Where the f is our defense?? JG trying to sleep on nasty
airport floor right now...healthy. Always feel like I am on death's
door coming home from here. Didn't have a drop today, but drank
probably 3 or 4 gopher koolaid per hour for 16 hours on Saturday.
Mightbe why my body is rejecting all food right now. MR set the o/u
for drinks between I and JG at 44...after some quick math I think we
were closer to 60...but alive to do it again next year. Enough
rambling, gonna try to sleep again.
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Multimedia message
On our way down for breakfast and cocktails...8 hours from Snowbowl kickoff! Nice start last night , JG made a couple sneeky good pony bets which kept the drink ticket supply rolling. Ate the greatest burger ever as well. Pitt was a nice play for us at -6.5, got Gophs at 17, waiting on USC...I bet it will go under 10, then we house it! We nailed our usual under 26.5 hits runs errors in the NYY game. We've already had 2 meals & 6 hours of sleep...blowing away our combined totals from the last two years! So basically primed for a big one today, by big I mean on our ass watching football from 7am until about 10pm...I love Vegas.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Week 7 Picks...Vegas Baby, VEGAS!
Big one this week - lots of interesting picks and lots of big games in both NCAA and NFL...and I'm going to Vegas! Here we go:
NCAA
JR: CIN, WIS, BC, NEB, MN, BYU, COL, A&M, SOMISS, STAN
JG: WIS, OHIOST, CAL, NEB, MN, SC, ND, VT, BAY, ILL
MR: CIN, TEX, WIS, OHIOST, TT, ND, GT, AUB, OKST, WASH
MK: BOISE, USF, PITT, OK, WIS, WV, ND, GT, KAN, ILL
AW: PITT, WIS, GEO, CAL, MN, ALA, VT, A&M, ILL, FAU
GR: BOISE, CIN, PITT, TEX, WIS, BC, MN, SC, USC, VT
MH: CIN, IOWA, OHIOST, CAL, NEB, PSU, USC, VT, IND, STAN
MC: ULM, WIS, MISST, OHIO, WY, NEB, AKR, KENT, HAW, SOMISS
NFL
JR: STL, MIN, PHI, SEA, NE
JG: HOU, JAC, TB, PHI, TEN
MR: MIN, NO, SEA, ATL, DEN
MK: CIN, MIN, KC, SEA, ATL
AW: MIN, NYG, WAS, ARI, CHI
GR: CIN, MIN, PHI, NE, ATL
MH: CIN, MIN, NYG, ARI, NE
MC: CIN, PIT, TB, ARI, NYJ
There's the list...time for some harassment.
- BOISE, what the hell? Nice effort last night. They should have easily won that game by 2 TD's...enjoy your 12-0 that nobody is going to care about
- LOVE CINCY tonight...as do a lot of you guys. USF with a true frosh at QB is not a good thing tonight
- Nobody jumped on SPARTY even though NW is HORRIBLE! Good thing, I think the awful Cats still cover because that's what Sparty does
- Like WF to cover at CLEM...ACC Dogs are never a bad play
- OK-TEX, really unsure on this one. MROE LOVES TEXAS...Colt McCoy is his man-crush. I usually have an opinion on this one and it's usually wrong...I think OK might sneak up on them...so bet TEXAS
- 7 of 8 on the BECKY to end the Hogeyes little dream season...HEINERT, WTF? Iowa is not that good, WIS is not that good...I think I'll have to bet on this game, but I might back out because I don't know if I can hold a ticket that says "WIS to win".
- BALLST in a sneaky upset over BGSU...nobody picked it!
- AW likes GEO covering -7.5 at VAN...DANGEROUS PICK! I think VAN plays close.
- 3 guys on CAL at UCLA...Hate it! UCLA wins outright.
- BC covers at home vs. NCST...they were exposed big time last week
- NEB at -6 is lock of the week...this line has moved to -10.5, which is much closer...but I really like NEB -6
- HEINERT...you are also the only one to pick PSU...stop killing the good karma we are trying to create!
- A couple guys on SC to cover 17.5...I think I'm on board with that
- Thought long and hard about CMU -7 at WMU...passed because of a rivalry game on the road, but I really think CMU is much better than WMU
- 3 on ND, 2 on USC...it's a tricky line with the poor USC offense, but ND has not seen anything close to this defense...and I hate them. GO TROJANS!!
- Had a MARY vibe early in the week as a home dog...kind of cooled on it and ended up not picking it...but I still like them over VIR
- COLST will cover the 19 at TCU...again nobody picked it
- HAW should cover 12 at IDAHO, who hasn't been a 12 pt FAV ever!
- VT-GT game is going to be great. I couldn't make a pick so I didn't include it on mine. We have 4 on VT and 2 on GT...I think VT is better, but hard to turn down 3 pts at home for the Jackets
- I think COL puts it all together this week and covers at home on KAN. MK disagrees, but seriously KAN almost lost to ISU at home last week...enough said.
- JG picks BAYLOR...anti-Clone work continues!!
- LOVE A&M at KST...they are terrible and A&M isn't too bad and can score some serious points
- I also took SOMISS, I still think MEM is one of the worst 20 teams this year...unless they play UTEP! F*CK!
- We still have 3 believers in Ron Zook this week...I think IND beats them, that's how overrated and horrible the Illini are right now.
- AUB -13 is tricky, UK might show another offensive outburst like last week at SC
- STAN +6...LOVE IT! AZ is not that good and I think STAN is going the right way.
- ARK covers 24 this week...they have an offense (but FLA has the best D...Top 10 all-time) but I think FLA lays off enough with the Tebow questions...we'll see
- Liking MIZZOU at OKST - I think they are out for revenge after losing to NEB and losing to a much better OKST team last year
- ASU -4 vs. WASH...tough call, but I'm leaning toward ASU because of a WASH letdown, which we've seen a couple times this season already
NFL Thoughts
- Looks like lots of love for CIN this week...I hate it. All they do is play close games, HOU isn't too bad, they are giving more than a FG = no cover
- I think STL covers the 10.5, JAC is totally a jekyl/hyde team, but I think STL can give them a run if they stop turning it over all the time!
- 6 on VIKES...yes, 6-0.
- NYG-NO is probably game of the week...not convinced that NO D is for real, but I know NYG are great...give me NYG with points
- CAR will lose at TB this week...probably.
- WAS could lose to KC this week...probably.
- SEA will house ARI this week - at home they are $ and I still don't think much of the "super bowl loser cursed" Cards
- TEN plays no pass D, they are playing Brady and Moss...easy $
- CHI-ATL is another great one this week. I took BEARS, but I might be swayed by the time it comes to putting the cash down...tough call. I'm hoping to be up $500 by this point in the weekend and I'll just bet on both teams (a la MROE 2 years ago!)
- DEN-SD should be a solid MNF game as well. Hard to bet against DEN at this point, only thing I could see is a let down from the emotional NE win last week.
Ok. I still have some time to kill, so here's some other crap I've run into over the last few days:
- Bobby Bowden went 71-2 in the ACC from 1992-2000...he's 0-3 this year!
- Anyone see this? Scott Tolzien (WIS QB) gets no love from his own team
LINK: http://www.thewizofodds.com/the_wiz_of_odds/2009/10/somebody-please-give-this-man-a-hand.html
- ESPN Blog picks the BECKY over Hogeyes 24-23...10 minutes after it was posted no less than 20 Hogeye fans posted nasty comments to Rittenberg saying how wrong he is and much meaner things...they think Madison will be a cake walk. Once again they made the comment that thew crowd won't be a problem because they don't really audible. IALTO
- I haven't seen the line yet, but JG's Football Club is playing in the playoffs next week...I'll be sure to include it on our list. Early projection, JG +12
GOPHERS vs. PSU
Happy Valley - looks like low 40's and a huge downpour Saturday morning. PSU message boards are talking about how nobody is going to go to the game because it's only the Gophers and it is going to be shitty out. PSU has beaten nobody, got crushed by Iowa at home, and is kind of off the radar right now.
Basically, this couldn't be any more of a perfect storm for the upstart and suddenly confident Gophers. They are going in with nothing to lose, as even the experts (+17!) pick them to have no chance this week.
How do we get it done? AWEB needs to stay upright and not turn it over. We need to see Gray and the backs get loose and run the ball effectively, especially in the garbage weather. We need to continue to stellar play from our SPT, and our D needs to force at least a couple of critical turnovers. Odds of this happening...actually not too bad I think. Their D is really strong, but the weak point is their secondary. Decker should be able to do some things, they always lean heavily on him in big games. The running game has shown signs of life recently...so that must continue. In the Vegas upset of LY over ILL we ran it well, forced TO, and didn't make any huge mistakes on O while playing great on SPT. That's the recipe, let's do it again.
In a sloppy mess...GOPHERS 23 PSU 21 and we leave the field with the Governor's Victory Bell on our back! A trophy for TCF! Hooray!
And this accompanies the team back to TCF Saturday Night! With edits this song actually works out really well for a victory sing-a-long...see below
METALLICA - For Whom the Bell Tolls!
Make his fight on the hill in the early day (~2:30)
Constant chill deep inside (40 and rain)
Shouting gun, on they run through the endless grey (or GRAY #5)
On the fight, for they are right, yes, by whos to say? (we're right, Gophs +17)
For a hill(or a BREW) men would kill, why? they do not know
Suffered wounds test their pride
Men of five (or 3 of us), still alive through the raging glow (hopefully alive until the end of the game)
Gone insane from the pain that they surely know (Gophs win = we will be insane)
For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls
Too much time on my hands today...counting down the hours until take off...22.5 and counting.
Have a great one guys - lots of text, blog, twitter updates throughout the day on SAT/SUN assuming things are going well!
Waiting on....
I need picks from:
ROE, HEINERT, CORCORAN
Once I have them all I'll send out the weekly preview.
ROE, HEINERT, CORCORAN
Once I have them all I'll send out the weekly preview.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
BUF at NYJ
Line is as follows:
BUF
NYJ -9.5
Add this to your picks if you like.
One other note - I turned it off before it happened, but did the moronic Iowa fans actually rush the field after beating MICH on Saturday night? WTF? You're undefeated, we're all really happy for you, but you have won NOTHING! You were favored to win the game, they were trying to come back with their back up QB, they turned the ball over 5 times! Does this really warrant rushing the field? No. Maybe they were just so excited to be bowl eligible that they couldn't contain themselves.
6-0 now...on their way to 8-4.
Who Hates Iowa!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
BUF
NYJ -9.5
Add this to your picks if you like.
One other note - I turned it off before it happened, but did the moronic Iowa fans actually rush the field after beating MICH on Saturday night? WTF? You're undefeated, we're all really happy for you, but you have won NOTHING! You were favored to win the game, they were trying to come back with their back up QB, they turned the ball over 5 times! Does this really warrant rushing the field? No. Maybe they were just so excited to be bowl eligible that they couldn't contain themselves.
6-0 now...on their way to 8-4.
Who Hates Iowa!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Week 7 Lines - send picks by Noon THUR
And we're ready for another week...kind of a large one for a few of us heading out to Sin City for the sports weekend...and yes, we are still the 3 leading the pack.
STANDINGS
JG 48 42 53.3%
GR 47 43 52.2%
JR 47 43 52.2%
MR 45 45 50.0%
MC 45 45 50.0%
MH 44 46 48.9%
MK 44 46 48.9%
AW 42 48 46.7%
NCAA
JG 37 28 56.9%
MR 35 30 53.8%
GR 34 31 52.3%
MH 33 32 50.8%
MC 33 32 50.8%
MK 32 33 49.2%
JR 31 34 47.7%
AW 30 35 46.2%
NFL
JR 16 9 64.0%
GR 13 12 52.0%
MC 12 13 48.0%
AW 12 13 48.0%
MK 12 13 48.0%
JG 11 14 44.0%
MH 11 14 44.0%
MR 10 15 40.0%
64% on NFL picks through 5 weeks for your truly...even I can't believe it! Thank goodness too because my college picks suck!
Pick Everything challenge: NCAA 141-147 (49%), NFL 46-30 (60.5%)...loving the NFL record, but very concerned about my NCAA picks right now. Might be time to start going with my gut again and screw the numbers!?!?
Here we go for this week:
ARKST
ULM 0 - TUESDAY
BOISE
TULSA 10 - WEDNESDAY
CIN
USF 2.5 - THURSDAY
PITT
RUT 3.5 - FRIDAY
LOU
UCONN -12.5
NW
MSU -13
WF
CLEM -6
OK
TEX -2.5
IOWA
WIS 1.5
BGU
BALLST 4.5
OHIOST
PUR 13
GEO
VAN 7.5
MISST
MDTN 3.5
ARMY
TEM -9.5
MIAOH
OHIO -12.5
WY
AF -12
NEV
UTST 10
CAL
UCLA 4
NCST
BC -2.5
RICE
ECU -19.5
TT
NEB -6
MN
PSU -16
MARSH
WV -20
SC
ALA -17.5
AKR
BUFF -10.5
CMU
WMU 7
USC
ND 11
HOU
TULANE 19.5
VIR
MARY 4
KENT
EMU 3
NMST
LT -17.5
COLST
TCU -19
HAW
IDAHO -12
VT
GT 3
BYU
SDST 18.5
ULL
WKY 7
KAN
COL 9
BAY
ISU -3
UAB
OLE -22.5
TROY
FIU 9.5
A&M
KST 4.5
MEM
SOMISS -10
NILL
TOL no line yet - TOL QB injury ?
ILL
IND 3
UK
AUB -13
STAN
AZ -6
ARK
FLA -24
MIA
UCF 16
FAU
NTEX -1
NAVY
SMU 7.5
MIZZ
OKST -7
SJST
FRES -18
UTAH
UNLV 14.5
WASH
ASU -4
NFL--------------------------------------
HOU
CIN -4
DET
GB -11.5
STL
JAC -10.5
BAL
MIN -3
NYG
NO -3
CLE
PIT -13.5
CAR
TB 3.5
KC
WAS -6
PHI
OAK 14
ARI
SEA -3
TEN
NE -9.5
BUF
NYJ no line yet - should be posted later today
CHI
ATL -3.5
DEN
SD -3.5
GOPHERS line has moved to +17 at the Mirage...if you don't think I'm betting 1/2 the budget on this one then you're wrong!
Anyone who wants to book a last second flight and come out for the weekend, you'll find our 3 asses firmly planted at the Mirage sports book from about 4pm FRI until about 9pm on Sunday night. Likely thousands of updates coming from the blog and twitter throughout the 3 days...should be interesting. May have to try the voice updates for twitter once the speech is gone.
STANDINGS
JG 48 42 53.3%
GR 47 43 52.2%
JR 47 43 52.2%
MR 45 45 50.0%
MC 45 45 50.0%
MH 44 46 48.9%
MK 44 46 48.9%
AW 42 48 46.7%
NCAA
JG 37 28 56.9%
MR 35 30 53.8%
GR 34 31 52.3%
MH 33 32 50.8%
MC 33 32 50.8%
MK 32 33 49.2%
JR 31 34 47.7%
AW 30 35 46.2%
NFL
JR 16 9 64.0%
GR 13 12 52.0%
MC 12 13 48.0%
AW 12 13 48.0%
MK 12 13 48.0%
JG 11 14 44.0%
MH 11 14 44.0%
MR 10 15 40.0%
64% on NFL picks through 5 weeks for your truly...even I can't believe it! Thank goodness too because my college picks suck!
Pick Everything challenge: NCAA 141-147 (49%), NFL 46-30 (60.5%)...loving the NFL record, but very concerned about my NCAA picks right now. Might be time to start going with my gut again and screw the numbers!?!?
Here we go for this week:
ARKST
ULM 0 - TUESDAY
BOISE
TULSA 10 - WEDNESDAY
CIN
USF 2.5 - THURSDAY
PITT
RUT 3.5 - FRIDAY
LOU
UCONN -12.5
NW
MSU -13
WF
CLEM -6
OK
TEX -2.5
IOWA
WIS 1.5
BGU
BALLST 4.5
OHIOST
PUR 13
GEO
VAN 7.5
MISST
MDTN 3.5
ARMY
TEM -9.5
MIAOH
OHIO -12.5
WY
AF -12
NEV
UTST 10
CAL
UCLA 4
NCST
BC -2.5
RICE
ECU -19.5
TT
NEB -6
MN
PSU -16
MARSH
WV -20
SC
ALA -17.5
AKR
BUFF -10.5
CMU
WMU 7
USC
ND 11
HOU
TULANE 19.5
VIR
MARY 4
KENT
EMU 3
NMST
LT -17.5
COLST
TCU -19
HAW
IDAHO -12
VT
GT 3
BYU
SDST 18.5
ULL
WKY 7
KAN
COL 9
BAY
ISU -3
UAB
OLE -22.5
TROY
FIU 9.5
A&M
KST 4.5
MEM
SOMISS -10
NILL
TOL no line yet - TOL QB injury ?
ILL
IND 3
UK
AUB -13
STAN
AZ -6
ARK
FLA -24
MIA
UCF 16
FAU
NTEX -1
NAVY
SMU 7.5
MIZZ
OKST -7
SJST
FRES -18
UTAH
UNLV 14.5
WASH
ASU -4
NFL--------------------------------------
HOU
CIN -4
DET
GB -11.5
STL
JAC -10.5
BAL
MIN -3
NYG
NO -3
CLE
PIT -13.5
CAR
TB 3.5
KC
WAS -6
PHI
OAK 14
ARI
SEA -3
TEN
NE -9.5
BUF
NYJ no line yet - should be posted later today
CHI
ATL -3.5
DEN
SD -3.5
GOPHERS line has moved to +17 at the Mirage...if you don't think I'm betting 1/2 the budget on this one then you're wrong!
Anyone who wants to book a last second flight and come out for the weekend, you'll find our 3 asses firmly planted at the Mirage sports book from about 4pm FRI until about 9pm on Sunday night. Likely thousands of updates coming from the blog and twitter throughout the 3 days...should be interesting. May have to try the voice updates for twitter once the speech is gone.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Week 6 so far...
Here's where we are with Monday Night left:
MC: 9-5
JG: 9-6
MK: 8-6
MH: 8-6
MR: 7-7
JR: 7-8
AW: 6-8
GR: 5-9
Should see a little shake up on the leaderboard this week.
Full recap coming tomorrow after the week is complete.
MC: 9-5
JG: 9-6
MK: 8-6
MH: 8-6
MR: 7-7
JR: 7-8
AW: 6-8
GR: 5-9
Should see a little shake up on the leaderboard this week.
Full recap coming tomorrow after the week is complete.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Random stuff
I hate Iowa, I hate hearing about Iowa, I hate all their players, I
hope they suck in the 2nd half. If Mich holds onto the ball they are
ahead.
hope they suck in the 2nd half. If Mich holds onto the ball they are
ahead.
Eddie George after OSU win:"lots to work on, still a transition year
on offense, no star skill players...but I feel they still deserve a
spot inthe Nat'l Title Game"...huh? What the hell are you talking
about Eddie?!?
Toledo was a bad choice.
I still like Fla to cover up 10-3 at half.
If Weber doesn't get substantially better we might lose by 40 to the
good teams. I'm suck of him missing short throws and wide open guys
down field. Patience is gone.
Boy Wis looked good. Very average team who will probably get
slaugthered again next week.
I hate Iowa
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Best and Worst ATS in 2009
Forgot to include this in the Pick Summary:
BEST AGAINST THE SPREAD in 2009
NEB 4-0
UCONN 3-0
OHIOST 4-1
STAN 4-1
SC 4-0
AUB 4-1
ALA 4-1
UCF 4-0
TEM 3-0
BOISE 4-0
IDAHO 5-0
UTST 3-0
WORST AGAINST THE SPREAD in 2009
ILL 0-3
GEO 1-4
MEM 0-4
RICE 1-4
ND 1-4
ARMY 1-4
MIAOH 1-4
NM 1-4
FAU 0-4
So what does this mean? Well, these are the teams the oddsmakers are still trying to figrue out. They have either been overrated or underrated all season long, so the lines will need to be adjusted going forward. This is the case for almost all of these, but one in particular (ND) just has a public bias built in each week. Typically the public bets for ND, so the oddsmakers add in a few extra points because they can...just like the Cowboys. Typically, these trends continue, so be sure to check your picks and make sure you're going the right way when these teams are invovled.
BEST AGAINST THE SPREAD in 2009
NEB 4-0
UCONN 3-0
OHIOST 4-1
STAN 4-1
SC 4-0
AUB 4-1
ALA 4-1
UCF 4-0
TEM 3-0
BOISE 4-0
IDAHO 5-0
UTST 3-0
WORST AGAINST THE SPREAD in 2009
ILL 0-3
GEO 1-4
MEM 0-4
RICE 1-4
ND 1-4
ARMY 1-4
MIAOH 1-4
NM 1-4
FAU 0-4
So what does this mean? Well, these are the teams the oddsmakers are still trying to figrue out. They have either been overrated or underrated all season long, so the lines will need to be adjusted going forward. This is the case for almost all of these, but one in particular (ND) just has a public bias built in each week. Typically the public bets for ND, so the oddsmakers add in a few extra points because they can...just like the Cowboys. Typically, these trends continue, so be sure to check your picks and make sure you're going the right way when these teams are invovled.
Week 6 Pick Summary
We're ready for another week...already! When you have 3 nights of other sports action on MON, TUES, WED the week goes pretty quick.
First, a couple of tidbits I watched/read over the last few days.
How about this classic from ESPN:
"Iowa athletic director Gary Barta writes a guest editorial to the student newspaper expressing his disappointment with drunk tailgaters at Hawkeyes home games."
Really Gary? You're the AD at Iowa and you're just picking up on the drunken stupor necessary to watch Hogeye football? Maybe even more hilarious is how all these fans are talking about how Saturday is their "church session" and a "religious experience"...but they couldn't manage to sell out last week. Hmmm...GO BLUE!
I rewatched part of STAN-UCLA from last week late last evening. STAN has a KR who before the game has returned 6 kick all year...3 were for TD's! How about that success rate?!? We need TS to watch some of this guy's film and learn how to take it the distance.
Alright. On to the picks........
NCAA
JR: TROY(W), SC, UCLA, NAVY, OHIO, AUB, TOL, IDAHO, UTST, UTEP
JG: NEB, MN, WV, MSU, ALA, KAN, ORE, OHIOST, LSU, MICH
MR: MN, WV, OLE, KAN, MISST, UTAH, AUB, GT, LSU, MICH
MK: MIZZ, MN, ILL, ALA, ORE, GEO, TEX, TCU, GT, MICH
AW: MIZZ, NEV, MN, ALA, WIS, GEO, AUB, FSU, MICH, WASH
GR: MIZZ, MN, PITT, ALA, KAN, WIS, GEO, TEX, LSU, MICH
MH: MIZZ, NEV, MN, MSU, ORE, GEO, AUB, OREST, LSU, MICH
MC: TROY(W), NEV, CMU, MISST, TN, KENT, AKR, OREST, FIU, IDAHO
NFL
JR: CAR, PHI, MIN, NE, IND
JG: BUF, KC, OAK, NE, TEN
MR: CAR, ATL, ARI, NE, NYJ
MK: MIN, SF, DEN, IND, NYJ
AW: CAR, SF, NE, IND, MIA
GR: PIT, MIN, SF, ARI, MIA
MH: PIT, ATL, NE, IND, NYJ
MC: TB, SF, NE, IND, NYJ
Consensus Picks:
MN-4, AUB-3, LSU+9.5, MICH+7.5
NE-3, IND-3
Only 6 this week...I don't like LSU but I do like the rest.
- NEB-MIZZ
This should be a great one tonight. NEB is a better team, great D...but not sure if they can overcome the homefield advantage on a Thur night, especially as a FAV. PICK = MIZZOU
- GR takes PITT, again. This is justified, they cover every week - see below for other really good and really bad ATS teams this year.
- 2 on Sparty this week one on ILL. If it's EVER going to happen for ILL this year it has to be this week after the QB change and at home against an average opponent. I still go with SPARTY.
- HUGE SEC Games this week! LSU-FLA, ALA-OLE, GEO-TN, AUB-ARK...lots of good teams.
LSU-FLA: never underestimate the Gators...especially when the public loves LSU, who is the worst Top 5 team ever. Gators, with anyone under center, will win this one.
ALA-OLE: this is where OLE shows the hype. I think this one is extremely close, but ALA wins on a FG.
GEO-TN: Neither club is really that good. I hate TN offense, but the GEO D isn't real good either. I like TN at home by a FG.
AUB-ARK: AUB is one of my picks, they are solid this year and ARK plays less D than anyone in the SEC.
- Almost went with KAN over ISU...Clones should get run out of Lawrence by halftime.
- LOVE SC over UK this week...2 brand new CB's starting for UK, and SC is finally figuring it out this year.
- MC wanted TEMPLE but dropped last minute...I think he'll regret that. They should roll over BALLST.
- Love UCLA this week, whole world loves ORE but QB is likely out and they are not at home = different team
- Becky should get beat by 2 TD's a OHIOST. I hate them.
- Nobody went with it, but I think OK might be ready for a big rebound beatdown of BAY the week before the shootout with TEXAS.
- Not a lot of ACC action from this crew, but if you're looking for a trend: ACC Dogs in conference games are 50-24 over the last 2 years.
- STAN stays hot and wins again at Corvaillis this weekend!
- I picked UTEP again...please Utes don't make me regret it...MEM is HORRIBLE!
- HAIL TO THE VICTORS will be played____ times this weekend? The answer is 4, which means MICH wins 24-21!
GOPHERS - BOILERS
So PUR comes in at 1-4, after a gut-wrenching loss last week vs. NW. They turned it over 6 times, and still had a chance to win at the end of the game. The D is a sieve, and the star RB from the first 2 weeks has been bottled up since then. Their D has allowed 30 ppg, so even our struggling O should be able to put some points up. I heard Conzemius this morning mentioned that Gray is still struggling to read the D, which makes sense. Once he figures this out he should get some time. He also said Hayo Carpenter is not nearly as fast as he was hyped to be coming in...I think getting run down by a DLman last week after a big gain tipped everyone off! This is a MUST win game for the Maroon and Gold. The forecast is a balmy 39 and flurries, so it should be our first taste of real football weather since the move...not that last week was great, but this will be a true test.
What will happen? I really think PUR is going to come out flat. After that brutal let down loss last week I really don't think they have a lot of fire left. The Gophers on the other hand are out to prove wrong all the "experts" who are speculating that last week was the beginning of our annual spiral out of control. A convincing win this week would go a long way for a club with 3 very difficult road games and 3 more very winnable home games. Let's hope the offense pounds away and runs effectively, which they'll have to do in bad weather. I'm sure we'll also see 150 and a TD from ED again. Defense needs to create turnovers, which they will do...3 of them. The difference this week is that we need to convert these into TD's and not FG's! I'm not 100% convinced that we can do that, but I'm hoping for the best.
Official prediction: GOPHERS move to 4-2 with a 35-27 win!
NFL Thoughts
Very weird year so far in the NFL. The bookies are losing their a$$es because the favorites keep covering. So what happens? The lines get larger and larger until things even out. That's what we have this week.
I think a lot of us pick underdgos when we think the points are too high, but most of us don't necessarily think they can win the game. Well, how many times has this happened this year? Out of 62 NFL games, the favorite has won but not covered only 8 times...13%. It has become a pick'em league through 4 weeks, if you can pick the team that's going to win they are probably going to cover. This will obviously change, but it's a really strange trend right now.
Also, 12 of the 14 home teams won last week - really odd. Usually this is about a 50/50 split each week...first 3 weeks (9-7, 7-9, 9-7).
Not a lot of sure things this week in the NFL. Some huge lines, but I jumped on a couple of them. I think a lot of us see those large lines and instantly rule it out. It seems like the most action is placed on the games with lines of 3 points or less.
Sneaky picks this week?
JG went with BUF at home, I like it. CLE is terrible on the road, but I just don't think that highly of BUF.
CIN with a sneaky cover of 9 at BAL?
DET still isn't good, I feel like we're getting more confidence in them but they are still bad.
KC covers 9 at homes against DAL.
Don't be scared of -16 for NYG, OAK won't score.
PHI gets DMc back and Westbrook, TB still has Josh Johnson...-15.5 is nothing!
ATL-SF is a great one this week. Not sure about ATL on the road, SF is real deal on D...but they still have Shaun Hill!?!!?
Have to take NE at DEN, right?
ARI needs a W at home, if not it might be time to panic.
IND -3 at TEN is lock of the week in NFL...I finally gave up on Fisher and his D
NYJ-MIA is a very interesting game. 2 good D's, two young QB's (Henne, Sanchez), 2 good coaches. I take NYJ because their D will make Henne panic all night.
Purple at Rams doesn't deserve a preview. Rams might be #32 this year in the NFL. Vikes might be #1?
Have a good one everyone - I'll be the one in the Maroon and Gold snowsuit on Saturday if you're heading to the Brickhouse.
First, a couple of tidbits I watched/read over the last few days.
How about this classic from ESPN:
"Iowa athletic director Gary Barta writes a guest editorial to the student newspaper expressing his disappointment with drunk tailgaters at Hawkeyes home games."
Really Gary? You're the AD at Iowa and you're just picking up on the drunken stupor necessary to watch Hogeye football? Maybe even more hilarious is how all these fans are talking about how Saturday is their "church session" and a "religious experience"...but they couldn't manage to sell out last week. Hmmm...GO BLUE!
I rewatched part of STAN-UCLA from last week late last evening. STAN has a KR who before the game has returned 6 kick all year...3 were for TD's! How about that success rate?!? We need TS to watch some of this guy's film and learn how to take it the distance.
Alright. On to the picks........
NCAA
JR: TROY(W), SC, UCLA, NAVY, OHIO, AUB, TOL, IDAHO, UTST, UTEP
JG: NEB, MN, WV, MSU, ALA, KAN, ORE, OHIOST, LSU, MICH
MR: MN, WV, OLE, KAN, MISST, UTAH, AUB, GT, LSU, MICH
MK: MIZZ, MN, ILL, ALA, ORE, GEO, TEX, TCU, GT, MICH
AW: MIZZ, NEV, MN, ALA, WIS, GEO, AUB, FSU, MICH, WASH
GR: MIZZ, MN, PITT, ALA, KAN, WIS, GEO, TEX, LSU, MICH
MH: MIZZ, NEV, MN, MSU, ORE, GEO, AUB, OREST, LSU, MICH
MC: TROY(W), NEV, CMU, MISST, TN, KENT, AKR, OREST, FIU, IDAHO
NFL
JR: CAR, PHI, MIN, NE, IND
JG: BUF, KC, OAK, NE, TEN
MR: CAR, ATL, ARI, NE, NYJ
MK: MIN, SF, DEN, IND, NYJ
AW: CAR, SF, NE, IND, MIA
GR: PIT, MIN, SF, ARI, MIA
MH: PIT, ATL, NE, IND, NYJ
MC: TB, SF, NE, IND, NYJ
Consensus Picks:
MN-4, AUB-3, LSU+9.5, MICH+7.5
NE-3, IND-3
Only 6 this week...I don't like LSU but I do like the rest.
- NEB-MIZZ
This should be a great one tonight. NEB is a better team, great D...but not sure if they can overcome the homefield advantage on a Thur night, especially as a FAV. PICK = MIZZOU
- GR takes PITT, again. This is justified, they cover every week - see below for other really good and really bad ATS teams this year.
- 2 on Sparty this week one on ILL. If it's EVER going to happen for ILL this year it has to be this week after the QB change and at home against an average opponent. I still go with SPARTY.
- HUGE SEC Games this week! LSU-FLA, ALA-OLE, GEO-TN, AUB-ARK...lots of good teams.
LSU-FLA: never underestimate the Gators...especially when the public loves LSU, who is the worst Top 5 team ever. Gators, with anyone under center, will win this one.
ALA-OLE: this is where OLE shows the hype. I think this one is extremely close, but ALA wins on a FG.
GEO-TN: Neither club is really that good. I hate TN offense, but the GEO D isn't real good either. I like TN at home by a FG.
AUB-ARK: AUB is one of my picks, they are solid this year and ARK plays less D than anyone in the SEC.
- Almost went with KAN over ISU...Clones should get run out of Lawrence by halftime.
- LOVE SC over UK this week...2 brand new CB's starting for UK, and SC is finally figuring it out this year.
- MC wanted TEMPLE but dropped last minute...I think he'll regret that. They should roll over BALLST.
- Love UCLA this week, whole world loves ORE but QB is likely out and they are not at home = different team
- Becky should get beat by 2 TD's a OHIOST. I hate them.
- Nobody went with it, but I think OK might be ready for a big rebound beatdown of BAY the week before the shootout with TEXAS.
- Not a lot of ACC action from this crew, but if you're looking for a trend: ACC Dogs in conference games are 50-24 over the last 2 years.
- STAN stays hot and wins again at Corvaillis this weekend!
- I picked UTEP again...please Utes don't make me regret it...MEM is HORRIBLE!
- HAIL TO THE VICTORS will be played____ times this weekend? The answer is 4, which means MICH wins 24-21!
GOPHERS - BOILERS
So PUR comes in at 1-4, after a gut-wrenching loss last week vs. NW. They turned it over 6 times, and still had a chance to win at the end of the game. The D is a sieve, and the star RB from the first 2 weeks has been bottled up since then. Their D has allowed 30 ppg, so even our struggling O should be able to put some points up. I heard Conzemius this morning mentioned that Gray is still struggling to read the D, which makes sense. Once he figures this out he should get some time. He also said Hayo Carpenter is not nearly as fast as he was hyped to be coming in...I think getting run down by a DLman last week after a big gain tipped everyone off! This is a MUST win game for the Maroon and Gold. The forecast is a balmy 39 and flurries, so it should be our first taste of real football weather since the move...not that last week was great, but this will be a true test.
What will happen? I really think PUR is going to come out flat. After that brutal let down loss last week I really don't think they have a lot of fire left. The Gophers on the other hand are out to prove wrong all the "experts" who are speculating that last week was the beginning of our annual spiral out of control. A convincing win this week would go a long way for a club with 3 very difficult road games and 3 more very winnable home games. Let's hope the offense pounds away and runs effectively, which they'll have to do in bad weather. I'm sure we'll also see 150 and a TD from ED again. Defense needs to create turnovers, which they will do...3 of them. The difference this week is that we need to convert these into TD's and not FG's! I'm not 100% convinced that we can do that, but I'm hoping for the best.
Official prediction: GOPHERS move to 4-2 with a 35-27 win!
NFL Thoughts
Very weird year so far in the NFL. The bookies are losing their a$$es because the favorites keep covering. So what happens? The lines get larger and larger until things even out. That's what we have this week.
I think a lot of us pick underdgos when we think the points are too high, but most of us don't necessarily think they can win the game. Well, how many times has this happened this year? Out of 62 NFL games, the favorite has won but not covered only 8 times...13%. It has become a pick'em league through 4 weeks, if you can pick the team that's going to win they are probably going to cover. This will obviously change, but it's a really strange trend right now.
Also, 12 of the 14 home teams won last week - really odd. Usually this is about a 50/50 split each week...first 3 weeks (9-7, 7-9, 9-7).
Not a lot of sure things this week in the NFL. Some huge lines, but I jumped on a couple of them. I think a lot of us see those large lines and instantly rule it out. It seems like the most action is placed on the games with lines of 3 points or less.
Sneaky picks this week?
JG went with BUF at home, I like it. CLE is terrible on the road, but I just don't think that highly of BUF.
CIN with a sneaky cover of 9 at BAL?
DET still isn't good, I feel like we're getting more confidence in them but they are still bad.
KC covers 9 at homes against DAL.
Don't be scared of -16 for NYG, OAK won't score.
PHI gets DMc back and Westbrook, TB still has Josh Johnson...-15.5 is nothing!
ATL-SF is a great one this week. Not sure about ATL on the road, SF is real deal on D...but they still have Shaun Hill!?!!?
Have to take NE at DEN, right?
ARI needs a W at home, if not it might be time to panic.
IND -3 at TEN is lock of the week in NFL...I finally gave up on Fisher and his D
NYJ-MIA is a very interesting game. 2 good D's, two young QB's (Henne, Sanchez), 2 good coaches. I take NYJ because their D will make Henne panic all night.
Purple at Rams doesn't deserve a preview. Rams might be #32 this year in the NFL. Vikes might be #1?
Have a good one everyone - I'll be the one in the Maroon and Gold snowsuit on Saturday if you're heading to the Brickhouse.
Week 6 picks due by Noon
Still waiting on picks from ROE, HEINERT, CORCORAN
Send them over when you have a second and I'll try to get a recap together for the weekend.
Thanks.
Send them over when you have a second and I'll try to get a recap together for the weekend.
Thanks.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Line updates etc.
A couple of NFL lines are now up...
TB
PHI -15.5
MIN
STL 11
Just include these in your picks if you want to use one of these games this week.
WTF. Twins are playing the Yankees tonight in the playoffs. Let's let that sink in a bit...I wrote this team off over a month ago, then they go 17-4 and win the f'n division. Crazy. I tell you what, I know we are a GIANT Dog against the NYY, but nobody should count this team out at this point. Remember the improbable run the Rockies made two years ago...there's a chance. Stay thirsty my friends.
In other news, after watching most of the replay of GOPHERS-BECKY before the Twins started yesterday, here's what I think. This game was even more winnable than I remember it to be. Clearly, the defense is not the issue...the adjustments were, and that's a problem, but overall our D is fine. The announcers (Spielman and Griese) were calling out how to fix the D and how to stop the one running play they ran nearly 30 times in the 2nd half. Now I'm not a football X's and O's genius, but if these two can call out the necessary changes in the early 3rd qtr from the booth, how are we not able to make the change and stop the run on the field...or at least stop that one play! Hopefully Cos and Lee are kicking their own a$$es this week after watching back the film.
One of the biggest problems since Brew took over has been the large amount of penalties, especially the 15 yard variety. I saw a stat that since 2007 when Brew started we lead the B10 by a large margin in 15 yard penalties. Those are huge plays, and warranted or not, we seem to be on the bad end of most of these. We had no less than 3 penalties on some of the big kick returns by TS on Saturday too. False starts continue to happen at least 2x/wk, and we always seem to throw in 2 holding penalties per week. This isn't helping your offense, and this is a sign of a very undisciplined team...which should not be the case. Apparently, they really emphasized the problem before the NW game, and we only committed one penalty and won handily for the first time this year. I think it might be a good plan to emphasize this every week until we start to figure it out.
Also, I know we all get hyped up and expectations get a little too high at this point in the season, but I saw an article this morning that really puts in perspective where our expectations should be for this year. The way to win, as brew has stated since year 1, is to recruit and get the best players. We have done this the last 2 years, but all of these kids are Fr, rFr, and Soph. Very few are making a big impact on the club right now, mostly because unless you are super freak you are just not ready to be the guy until the middle of your 2nd year...which is about right now for a lot of our guys. Anyway, this article had a chart which shows recruiting class rankings and actual B10 finishes for last year. They weighted the impact of the last 4 classes (2005, 06, 07, 08) and made a projected finish prediction then compared it to where everyone actually finished. Well, we had a 10th, 9th, 9th, and 3rd place finish in recruiting for those 4 years. After some calculations that put us in 9th place...we finished 6th. So we over-achieved in 2008. This year we would use the most recent 4 classes for which are rankings are 9th, 9th, 3rd, 6th...projected finish = 6th. Pretty accurate I would be by the end of the year. Basically, once we improve the overall depth and get these improved recruiting classes up into the Jr and Sr positions we should really be able to ascend and be a consistent player in the Top 1/2 of the B10 standings. Believe in Brew...it's way too easy to get down on him at this point with the brutal rivalry record and lack of wins at home and in conference...but to build a great program we have to be patient. They guys has only had 2 real recruiting classes and we've got a brand new offensive system for the 2nd time in 3 years...patience will be a virtue for us all and we will get to where we need to be. It's about players, and we are getting players much more than we have anytime in the last 10 years.
Sorry for the rant, just talking myself off the ledge after the letdown on Saturday.
If you want to read the article, you can find it here: http://www.thedailygopher.com/
Finally, a Hogeye shot before I close. Coming off the improbable great win at PSU, the uber faithful Hogeye fans couldn't even sell out Kinnick last week against ARKST. How brutal is that? Is it the typical over-confident arrogance we've come to expect from the average Hogeye fan, or were they just not able to get off the tractor long enough to get to the game this week? Probably a little of both.
GOPHERS projected for a Motor City bowl birth against CMU right now...fun.
PJ - "Drifting" Go Twins!
Drifting, drifting, drifting away.
I got myself a mansion, then I gave it away.
It's not the world that's heavy, just the things that you save.
And I'm drifting, drifting away.
Drifting, drifting, drifting along.
I rid myself of worries, and the worries were gone.
I only run when I want to and I sleep like a dog.
I'm just drifting, drifting along.
The suitcoats say, "There is money to be made."
They get so damn excited, but I guess it's their way.
My road it may be lonely just because it's not paved.
It's good for drifting, drifting away.
The suitcoats say, "There is money to be made."
They get so damn excited, nothing gets in their way
My road it may be lonely just because it's not paved.
It's good for drifting, drifting away.
Drifting, drifting, drifting, uh huh.
I feel like going back there, but never for long.
I sometimes wonder if they know that I'm gone.
I'm just drifting, drifting along.
Drifting, drifting along. Drifting, drifting along.
TB
PHI -15.5
MIN
STL 11
Just include these in your picks if you want to use one of these games this week.
WTF. Twins are playing the Yankees tonight in the playoffs. Let's let that sink in a bit...I wrote this team off over a month ago, then they go 17-4 and win the f'n division. Crazy. I tell you what, I know we are a GIANT Dog against the NYY, but nobody should count this team out at this point. Remember the improbable run the Rockies made two years ago...there's a chance. Stay thirsty my friends.
In other news, after watching most of the replay of GOPHERS-BECKY before the Twins started yesterday, here's what I think. This game was even more winnable than I remember it to be. Clearly, the defense is not the issue...the adjustments were, and that's a problem, but overall our D is fine. The announcers (Spielman and Griese) were calling out how to fix the D and how to stop the one running play they ran nearly 30 times in the 2nd half. Now I'm not a football X's and O's genius, but if these two can call out the necessary changes in the early 3rd qtr from the booth, how are we not able to make the change and stop the run on the field...or at least stop that one play! Hopefully Cos and Lee are kicking their own a$$es this week after watching back the film.
One of the biggest problems since Brew took over has been the large amount of penalties, especially the 15 yard variety. I saw a stat that since 2007 when Brew started we lead the B10 by a large margin in 15 yard penalties. Those are huge plays, and warranted or not, we seem to be on the bad end of most of these. We had no less than 3 penalties on some of the big kick returns by TS on Saturday too. False starts continue to happen at least 2x/wk, and we always seem to throw in 2 holding penalties per week. This isn't helping your offense, and this is a sign of a very undisciplined team...which should not be the case. Apparently, they really emphasized the problem before the NW game, and we only committed one penalty and won handily for the first time this year. I think it might be a good plan to emphasize this every week until we start to figure it out.
Also, I know we all get hyped up and expectations get a little too high at this point in the season, but I saw an article this morning that really puts in perspective where our expectations should be for this year. The way to win, as brew has stated since year 1, is to recruit and get the best players. We have done this the last 2 years, but all of these kids are Fr, rFr, and Soph. Very few are making a big impact on the club right now, mostly because unless you are super freak you are just not ready to be the guy until the middle of your 2nd year...which is about right now for a lot of our guys. Anyway, this article had a chart which shows recruiting class rankings and actual B10 finishes for last year. They weighted the impact of the last 4 classes (2005, 06, 07, 08) and made a projected finish prediction then compared it to where everyone actually finished. Well, we had a 10th, 9th, 9th, and 3rd place finish in recruiting for those 4 years. After some calculations that put us in 9th place...we finished 6th. So we over-achieved in 2008. This year we would use the most recent 4 classes for which are rankings are 9th, 9th, 3rd, 6th...projected finish = 6th. Pretty accurate I would be by the end of the year. Basically, once we improve the overall depth and get these improved recruiting classes up into the Jr and Sr positions we should really be able to ascend and be a consistent player in the Top 1/2 of the B10 standings. Believe in Brew...it's way too easy to get down on him at this point with the brutal rivalry record and lack of wins at home and in conference...but to build a great program we have to be patient. They guys has only had 2 real recruiting classes and we've got a brand new offensive system for the 2nd time in 3 years...patience will be a virtue for us all and we will get to where we need to be. It's about players, and we are getting players much more than we have anytime in the last 10 years.
Sorry for the rant, just talking myself off the ledge after the letdown on Saturday.
If you want to read the article, you can find it here: http://www.thedailygopher.com/
Finally, a Hogeye shot before I close. Coming off the improbable great win at PSU, the uber faithful Hogeye fans couldn't even sell out Kinnick last week against ARKST. How brutal is that? Is it the typical over-confident arrogance we've come to expect from the average Hogeye fan, or were they just not able to get off the tractor long enough to get to the game this week? Probably a little of both.
GOPHERS projected for a Motor City bowl birth against CMU right now...fun.
PJ - "Drifting" Go Twins!
Drifting, drifting, drifting away.
I got myself a mansion, then I gave it away.
It's not the world that's heavy, just the things that you save.
And I'm drifting, drifting away.
Drifting, drifting, drifting along.
I rid myself of worries, and the worries were gone.
I only run when I want to and I sleep like a dog.
I'm just drifting, drifting along.
The suitcoats say, "There is money to be made."
They get so damn excited, but I guess it's their way.
My road it may be lonely just because it's not paved.
It's good for drifting, drifting away.
The suitcoats say, "There is money to be made."
They get so damn excited, nothing gets in their way
My road it may be lonely just because it's not paved.
It's good for drifting, drifting away.
Drifting, drifting, drifting, uh huh.
I feel like going back there, but never for long.
I sometimes wonder if they know that I'm gone.
I'm just drifting, drifting along.
Drifting, drifting along. Drifting, drifting along.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Tuesday Night
JR and MC both have TROY tonight. If anyone else wants this game let me know before it starts.
Week 6 Lines
I'll send out updates on the 2 NCAA and 3 NFL lines that are not posted yet when they are available.
MDTN
TROY -4 TUES
NEB
MIZZ 2 THUR
LT
NEV -7 FRI
MIAOH
NW -20.5
PUR
MN -4
WV
SYR 9.5
UCONN
PITT -9.5
BC
VT -13.5
VAN
ARMY 11.5
MSU
ILL 4
EMU
CMU -21.5
ALA
OLE 6.5
OKST
A&M no line posted yet
ISU
KAN -19
UK
SC -12
BALLST
TEM -13
NM
WY -10
HOU
MISST 3
ORE
UCLA 6.5
WIS
OHIOST -14.5
BAY
OK -23.5
NAVY
RICE 13
IND
VIR -6.5
GEO
TN 0
BGU
KENT 6.5
MARSH
TULANE 3
DUKE
NCST -14.5
ASU
WASU 19.5
OHIO
AKR 5
UTAH
COLST 6.5
MARY
WF -10
AUB
ARK 3
STAN
OREST 2.5
NTEX
ULL -6
KST
TT -17
WMU
TOL -7.5
FIU
WKY 3
COL
TEX -32
SOMISS
LOU no line posted yet
TCU
AF 11
GT
FSU -2.5
IDAHO
SJST -4
FLA
LSU 9.5
UTST
NMST 11
UTEP
MEM 3.5
MICH
IOWA -7.5
ECU
SMU 6.5
AZ
WASH 2.5
BYU
UNLV 15
FRES
HAW 9
CIN
BAL -9
CLE
BUF -6
WAS
CAR -3.5
PIT
DET 11.5
DAL
KC 9
OAK
NYG -16
TB
PHI no line yet
MIN
STL no line yet
ATL
SF -2.5
HOU
ARI -5
NE
DEN 3
JAC
SEA no line yet
IND
TEN 3
NYJ
MIA 0
MDTN
TROY -4 TUES
NEB
MIZZ 2 THUR
LT
NEV -7 FRI
MIAOH
NW -20.5
PUR
MN -4
WV
SYR 9.5
UCONN
PITT -9.5
BC
VT -13.5
VAN
ARMY 11.5
MSU
ILL 4
EMU
CMU -21.5
ALA
OLE 6.5
OKST
A&M no line posted yet
ISU
KAN -19
UK
SC -12
BALLST
TEM -13
NM
WY -10
HOU
MISST 3
ORE
UCLA 6.5
WIS
OHIOST -14.5
BAY
OK -23.5
NAVY
RICE 13
IND
VIR -6.5
GEO
TN 0
BGU
KENT 6.5
MARSH
TULANE 3
DUKE
NCST -14.5
ASU
WASU 19.5
OHIO
AKR 5
UTAH
COLST 6.5
MARY
WF -10
AUB
ARK 3
STAN
OREST 2.5
NTEX
ULL -6
KST
TT -17
WMU
TOL -7.5
FIU
WKY 3
COL
TEX -32
SOMISS
LOU no line posted yet
TCU
AF 11
GT
FSU -2.5
IDAHO
SJST -4
FLA
LSU 9.5
UTST
NMST 11
UTEP
MEM 3.5
MICH
IOWA -7.5
ECU
SMU 6.5
AZ
WASH 2.5
BYU
UNLV 15
FRES
HAW 9
CIN
BAL -9
CLE
BUF -6
WAS
CAR -3.5
PIT
DET 11.5
DAL
KC 9
OAK
NYG -16
TB
PHI no line yet
MIN
STL no line yet
ATL
SF -2.5
HOU
ARI -5
NE
DEN 3
JAC
SEA no line yet
IND
TEN 3
NYJ
MIA 0
Week 5 Recap
That was a fun one last night - 4-0, not bad.
Here are the overall standings right now:
GR 41 34 54.7%
JR 40 35 53.3%
JG 39 36 52.0%
MR 38 37 50.7%
MH 36 39 48.0%
MC 36 39 48.0%
MK 36 39 48.0%
AW 35 40 46.7%
Same 3 at the top, just a different oreder. As I said before, you guys have to try and keep up with the Rollins'!
4 in the black and 4 in the red right now...not too bad. MK was the weekly winner at 10-5.
NFL Standings
JR 13 7 65.0%
MC 11 9 55.0%
GR 10 10 50.0%
JG 10 10 50.0%
AW 10 10 50.0%
MH 9 11 45.0%
MK 9 11 45.0%
MR 8 12 40.0%
I went 2-3 this week to drop my record to only 65%...looks like it's time for another 5-0 week!
NCAA Standings
GR 31 24 56.4%
MR 30 25 54.5%
JG 29 26 52.7%
JR 27 28 49.1%
MH 27 28 49.1%
MK 27 28 49.1%
AW 25 30 45.5%
MC 25 30 45.5%
If Roe could pick an NFL game correct he'd be right at the top with Greg overall.
I was an outstanding 18-32 in NCAA picks last week (36%)...that's how you lose $!
I went 7-7 in NFL. Overall I am 50.4% in NCAA and 61.3% for total NFL...very happy with that.
It's going to be a short recap today, I'm a short-timer this afternoon due to daycare issues so I don't have the time to put in a lot of info today...but here we go:
- PITT rocks, GR has been rocking them all year and I think it's a guarantee in two weeks when they are the FRI game when we land in Vegas
- ACC is shaping up just like last year with a slight upgrade in teams overall. If you can get points, especially at home, take it.
- MICH almost pulled it off, let's hope they get back on their winning ways this week at the Hogeyes
- PUR, what happened? How do you go from housing a bad NW team to turning it over 4 times and not scoring any more points? Bad loss...which works good for us this week.
- The Clones found a way to lose again, I love that. Blocked XP's are always a fun way to lose a 1 pt game
- Hogeyes looked tough. That offense is still very suspect, and how does ARKST in Iowa City score twice as many as PSU at home in a white out? Either ARKST is really good, PSU isn't really good, or Iowa is just f'n lucky!
- STAN is for real. I was telling you at the beginning of the year, then they lost a bad one, but they are on top of the P10...for now.
- I watched the end of LSU-GEO last night on the U after the Vikes game. What a horrible job of officiating! 2 phantom celebration penalties after the last 2 scores...dumb. LSU is the weakest Top 5 undefeated team maybe ever
- Wow does ILL suck! I guess the Juice is no longer loose, or maybe he is still loose but just on the bench. Maybe the Heisman hype will die down a bit since he isn't starting any more! fireronzook.com is going to come back soon
- OK, WTF? I couldn't believe they lost this game. MIA looked tough at home, but OK should have been able to handle them. Bradford better be back for TEX or it will be a massacre.
- ND should have lost...again...but they are 4-1.
- NEV ran for 700 yards, seriously 700 yards against UNLV. Wow, looks like their offense decided to wake up finally
- ASU still has no offense, don't pick them...I made that mistake this week, but it won't happen again
- AUB is solid. I still can't believe the turnaround this offense has made...a sleeper SEC team?
- CAL, nice effort once again. USC starting to figure it out and the D is shaping up like last year's squad...scary
- Thanks for playing HOU...if they gave up 58 to UTEP how many would they allow in a BCS game to FLA or ALA...90?
- UTEP trying to totally redeem themselves after letting me down through the first 4 weeks...they are still no back in my "bet on them" column, but that might change this week.
- WASU still sucks really bad. ORE at home is crazy tough, but my god WASU, you might be setting some all-time records for sucking over the last 1.5 years
NFL
Wow, there are a lot of bad teams out there. I thought some of the big DD Dogs woud cover, nope. It's really a large disparity between the haves and have nots and it seems like the spreads are just going to continue to get larger and larger until some of these dogs start covering.
- TEN still can't win. I'm done with this club too unless they completely turn it around and show me something
- CIN couldn't cover 4 against the dopey Browns? I'm done betting on this team...on the road at least.
- NE might be climbing back into the elite level for the AFC. They beat a really good BAL team, but barely.
- MIA - I told you all. BUF is going the wrong direction in a big hurry.
- NO is real deal as well. NYJ D is stellar, but the Aints found a way to clean up on them.
- DEN is kind of a real deal as well...so far at least. DAL is extremely overrated and DEN plays a lot of D.
- PIT/SD was one of the weirdest games ever...I didn't watch most of it but monitored the score. I still gotta put PIT on 11-12 wins this year
GOPHERS-BECKY
Bad loss. I need to re-watch to really come up with some good takes on this thing, but here's some off the cuff thoughts:
- Beat ourselves: penalties were horrible, stupid play calling in the red-zone, not adjusting
- Offense ran it well for a while, but once again they backed away from it. Weber was still incredibly inaccurate and was bailed out numerous times by the great ED. Seriously, AWEB just throws it up and Decker is able to adjust and stop and out jump the defender every time...unreal. I'm becoming very anti-Weber. The OL was fine throughout most of the game, the last drive they were horrible, but I really don't think that's the reason for a lot of his horrible throws. When you have 1st and goal on the 1...run the ball. Some people are criticizing the decision to sit on it for the end of H1, really? I don't think this had much of an impact on the game. I would like to see them go for the jugular and get a score, but you can't say that this made much of a difference in the outcome.
- Defense was good for the most part. Obviously, you can't get behind by 2 scores to WIS or they will run it to death and force you to stop it. They seriously ran the same play probably 20 times in this game and we failed to adjust and make the stops. But the D kept us in it with turnovers and even a TD...they are not the ones to blame for this loss. WIS is built to run the ball, and they do it well. If the offense takes care of busniess against a very average WIS defense early on and doesn't put us in a hole, they WIS becomes one-dimensional and they have to throw all day, which they didn't really do well all day.
Bottom line, the game was once again there for the taking and we failed. Brew and staff better figure out how to win at home (4 winnable games left) and pull an upset on the road. We have a decent squad, we just need a couple of breaks and we need to figure out how to get the ballto the right people and get them in the end zone. If ED doesn't score 2 TD's a game and the D doesn't set us up with a short field at least once per game how do we ever score? Fisch needs to stop out-thinking himself and make people stop us on what we do well. I love the creativity, but 1st and goal on the 1 needs to be a plunge and your OL needs to be able to push ahead for at least one yard. Too many chances, too many mistakes, and we still had a chance to win at the end of the game. I'm so sick of losing games like this I just want to puke. If we can't get the AXE, let's be sure to compete and steal at least one of the other 2 trophies we have left to play for...If we get one or both of those and take care of business at home by winning at least 3 of 4 then this season can still be a success. Let's hope we reverse our usual trend and get better as the year goes on rather than regressing.
Purple - Super Bowl home boy! Nothing's gonna stop us now! Anyone else wanna book their tix for Miami now?
I'll send out the lines for this week soon.
Here are the overall standings right now:
GR 41 34 54.7%
JR 40 35 53.3%
JG 39 36 52.0%
MR 38 37 50.7%
MH 36 39 48.0%
MC 36 39 48.0%
MK 36 39 48.0%
AW 35 40 46.7%
Same 3 at the top, just a different oreder. As I said before, you guys have to try and keep up with the Rollins'!
4 in the black and 4 in the red right now...not too bad. MK was the weekly winner at 10-5.
NFL Standings
JR 13 7 65.0%
MC 11 9 55.0%
GR 10 10 50.0%
JG 10 10 50.0%
AW 10 10 50.0%
MH 9 11 45.0%
MK 9 11 45.0%
MR 8 12 40.0%
I went 2-3 this week to drop my record to only 65%...looks like it's time for another 5-0 week!
NCAA Standings
GR 31 24 56.4%
MR 30 25 54.5%
JG 29 26 52.7%
JR 27 28 49.1%
MH 27 28 49.1%
MK 27 28 49.1%
AW 25 30 45.5%
MC 25 30 45.5%
If Roe could pick an NFL game correct he'd be right at the top with Greg overall.
I was an outstanding 18-32 in NCAA picks last week (36%)...that's how you lose $!
I went 7-7 in NFL. Overall I am 50.4% in NCAA and 61.3% for total NFL...very happy with that.
It's going to be a short recap today, I'm a short-timer this afternoon due to daycare issues so I don't have the time to put in a lot of info today...but here we go:
- PITT rocks, GR has been rocking them all year and I think it's a guarantee in two weeks when they are the FRI game when we land in Vegas
- ACC is shaping up just like last year with a slight upgrade in teams overall. If you can get points, especially at home, take it.
- MICH almost pulled it off, let's hope they get back on their winning ways this week at the Hogeyes
- PUR, what happened? How do you go from housing a bad NW team to turning it over 4 times and not scoring any more points? Bad loss...which works good for us this week.
- The Clones found a way to lose again, I love that. Blocked XP's are always a fun way to lose a 1 pt game
- Hogeyes looked tough. That offense is still very suspect, and how does ARKST in Iowa City score twice as many as PSU at home in a white out? Either ARKST is really good, PSU isn't really good, or Iowa is just f'n lucky!
- STAN is for real. I was telling you at the beginning of the year, then they lost a bad one, but they are on top of the P10...for now.
- I watched the end of LSU-GEO last night on the U after the Vikes game. What a horrible job of officiating! 2 phantom celebration penalties after the last 2 scores...dumb. LSU is the weakest Top 5 undefeated team maybe ever
- Wow does ILL suck! I guess the Juice is no longer loose, or maybe he is still loose but just on the bench. Maybe the Heisman hype will die down a bit since he isn't starting any more! fireronzook.com is going to come back soon
- OK, WTF? I couldn't believe they lost this game. MIA looked tough at home, but OK should have been able to handle them. Bradford better be back for TEX or it will be a massacre.
- ND should have lost...again...but they are 4-1.
- NEV ran for 700 yards, seriously 700 yards against UNLV. Wow, looks like their offense decided to wake up finally
- ASU still has no offense, don't pick them...I made that mistake this week, but it won't happen again
- AUB is solid. I still can't believe the turnaround this offense has made...a sleeper SEC team?
- CAL, nice effort once again. USC starting to figure it out and the D is shaping up like last year's squad...scary
- Thanks for playing HOU...if they gave up 58 to UTEP how many would they allow in a BCS game to FLA or ALA...90?
- UTEP trying to totally redeem themselves after letting me down through the first 4 weeks...they are still no back in my "bet on them" column, but that might change this week.
- WASU still sucks really bad. ORE at home is crazy tough, but my god WASU, you might be setting some all-time records for sucking over the last 1.5 years
NFL
Wow, there are a lot of bad teams out there. I thought some of the big DD Dogs woud cover, nope. It's really a large disparity between the haves and have nots and it seems like the spreads are just going to continue to get larger and larger until some of these dogs start covering.
- TEN still can't win. I'm done with this club too unless they completely turn it around and show me something
- CIN couldn't cover 4 against the dopey Browns? I'm done betting on this team...on the road at least.
- NE might be climbing back into the elite level for the AFC. They beat a really good BAL team, but barely.
- MIA - I told you all. BUF is going the wrong direction in a big hurry.
- NO is real deal as well. NYJ D is stellar, but the Aints found a way to clean up on them.
- DEN is kind of a real deal as well...so far at least. DAL is extremely overrated and DEN plays a lot of D.
- PIT/SD was one of the weirdest games ever...I didn't watch most of it but monitored the score. I still gotta put PIT on 11-12 wins this year
GOPHERS-BECKY
Bad loss. I need to re-watch to really come up with some good takes on this thing, but here's some off the cuff thoughts:
- Beat ourselves: penalties were horrible, stupid play calling in the red-zone, not adjusting
- Offense ran it well for a while, but once again they backed away from it. Weber was still incredibly inaccurate and was bailed out numerous times by the great ED. Seriously, AWEB just throws it up and Decker is able to adjust and stop and out jump the defender every time...unreal. I'm becoming very anti-Weber. The OL was fine throughout most of the game, the last drive they were horrible, but I really don't think that's the reason for a lot of his horrible throws. When you have 1st and goal on the 1...run the ball. Some people are criticizing the decision to sit on it for the end of H1, really? I don't think this had much of an impact on the game. I would like to see them go for the jugular and get a score, but you can't say that this made much of a difference in the outcome.
- Defense was good for the most part. Obviously, you can't get behind by 2 scores to WIS or they will run it to death and force you to stop it. They seriously ran the same play probably 20 times in this game and we failed to adjust and make the stops. But the D kept us in it with turnovers and even a TD...they are not the ones to blame for this loss. WIS is built to run the ball, and they do it well. If the offense takes care of busniess against a very average WIS defense early on and doesn't put us in a hole, they WIS becomes one-dimensional and they have to throw all day, which they didn't really do well all day.
Bottom line, the game was once again there for the taking and we failed. Brew and staff better figure out how to win at home (4 winnable games left) and pull an upset on the road. We have a decent squad, we just need a couple of breaks and we need to figure out how to get the ballto the right people and get them in the end zone. If ED doesn't score 2 TD's a game and the D doesn't set us up with a short field at least once per game how do we ever score? Fisch needs to stop out-thinking himself and make people stop us on what we do well. I love the creativity, but 1st and goal on the 1 needs to be a plunge and your OL needs to be able to push ahead for at least one yard. Too many chances, too many mistakes, and we still had a chance to win at the end of the game. I'm so sick of losing games like this I just want to puke. If we can't get the AXE, let's be sure to compete and steal at least one of the other 2 trophies we have left to play for...If we get one or both of those and take care of business at home by winning at least 3 of 4 then this season can still be a success. Let's hope we reverse our usual trend and get better as the year goes on rather than regressing.
Purple - Super Bowl home boy! Nothing's gonna stop us now! Anyone else wanna book their tix for Miami now?
I'll send out the lines for this week soon.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Week 5 Monday Update
Here's how we sit going into the big Monday Nighter (7 of 8 have a pick going tonight)
MC: 9-6
MK: 9-5 MIN
MR: 7-7 GB
GR: 7-7 MIN
MH: 7-7 MIN
JR: 6-8 MIN
AW: 6-8 MIN
JG: 5-9 MIN
A little uglier this week for most of us. No disaster weeks, but a lot of us guaranteed to finish below .500 this week.
Full update coming tomorrow after the big one tonight.
MC: 9-6
MK: 9-5 MIN
MR: 7-7 GB
GR: 7-7 MIN
MH: 7-7 MIN
JR: 6-8 MIN
AW: 6-8 MIN
JG: 5-9 MIN
A little uglier this week for most of us. No disaster weeks, but a lot of us guaranteed to finish below .500 this week.
Full update coming tomorrow after the big one tonight.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Week 5 Pick Summary
Week 5...Axe Week...Buck the Fadgers!
NCAA
JR: MSU, MN, ARMY, TOL, ALA, GEO, UCF, TT, ASU, TULSA
JG: WV, FSU, MSU, MN, VT, ARKST, UCLA, PSU, OLE, WASU
MR: WV, MICH, WIS!, UK, LSU, WF, PSU, WASH, MISST, ORE
MK: MICH, MN, NC, ALA, STAN, LSU, MIA, AF, GT, ARK
AW: FSU, CLEM, MICH, WIS!, ARMY, ALA, LSU, PSU, NAVY, NEV
GR: PITT, MN, NC, ALA, PSU, MIA, WASH, NAVY, IND, USC
MH: MSU, MN, NW, UCLA, NCST, PSU, MIA, AF, TN, USC
MC: LT=W, VT, USF, ALA, TEM, WF, PSU, ULM, GT, HOU
NFL
JR: CIN, TEN, BAL, MIA, MIN
JG: CIN, TEN, TB, BUF, MIN
MR: TEN, WAS, NO, SD, GB!
MK: TEN, NYG, BAL, DEN, MIN
AW: DET, TB, BUF, DAL, MIN
GR: CIN, NYG, BUF, NYJ, MIN
MH: BAL, BUF, DAL, PIT, MIN
MC: DET, CIN, BAL, TB, BUF
CONSENSUS PICKS (5-3-1 LW)
ALA-17, PSU-6
CIN-4, TEN-1, BAL+3, BUF-1, MIN-3
7 games this week...only 2 NCAA, these keep getting tougher!!
PICK Observations
- JG/MR are the only ones with action tonight on WV-17...should be close to that. COL has to have a decent game in them eventually, right?
- GR, of course, took his adopted PITT Panther club on FRI night -6.5 at LOU...it's a good pick though because LOU is AWFUL
- JG and BOMB both bet on the Jekyl/Hyde Noles...who shows up at BC this week? I'll take points and BC even though I don't think much of them.
- we split 3 and 3 in MICH at MSU...interesting. I took SPARTY, I think being at home in a "we must win or the entire season is lost" kind of game and it's a rivalry game...have to take the home team, espeically when they are getting 2.5
- MK/GR jumped on NC hosting VIR -14...I thought this was a no brainer early in the week, but I left it out of my picks because NC has been anything but impressive and VIR is due for their surprise snap out of it game that is an annual tradition
- MH likes the NW Cats - I don't know if I could ever bet on that team after watching them last week. I'm sure they'll come back and go 4-4 in conference in typical NW fashion, but man did they look bad against the Gophs.
- Everyone is jumping on the ALA Train...if they are favored by less than 3 TD's against any mediocre to bad team = $$$
- Nobody picked the last second KST-ISU game, but I think the Clones at -1 are a great pick.
- MC picked it, and I love it...TEM -4 at EMU, this shouldn't be even close
- GO ARKST! Thanks JG.
- I can't believe I was the only one taking GEO over LSU this week. I think GEO is a better team, they are playing at home, and LSU is in the Top 5...easy pick.
- 6 of us on PSU this week. I agree, but didn't include it. I think Illinois has to have that one last ditch attempt to salvage some kind of a season by beating somebody good effort going this week. PSU's offense didn't scare anyone last week, so the horrible ILL D might not be a huge issue.
- 3 on MIA, none on OK. I was believing the MIA hype too - but seriously how has the entire nation counted out OK!!??! Bradford will likely be back and OK will cruise to a 10 point win in this one. We forget that they have NFL players all over the defense and MIA will not be able to throw at will without getting Harris killed.
- I love TT -36 hosting NM. If you missed it, TT lost 2 in a row and needs to blow off some steam...NM is maybe the worst team in D1 and their 1st yr HC just punched his asst in the mouth recently...their talking hot seat on the guy 4 games into his career...ouch. TT wins 66-10.
- GR believes the hype on IND...and I do to, at least for this week. OHIOST isn't anything special on offense so 16.5 is too much. Hoosiers keep it within 2 TD's.
- MK likes ARK to win finally at A&M...I like the Aggies by 2 TD's against that awful ARK D.
- Not a lot of action on AUB at TN...tough call of a game, but I like what AUB has done. Offense went from worst in the SEC to one of the best overnight, TN can't score unless their D does it for them. I love AUB in this one...20-17.
- 2 on USC, none for CAL. I'm not sure what to think in this one. CAL has to be better at home this week, but USC can't have a horrible offense forever...I'll take 6.5 pts at home for CAL.
- Finally, UTEP, my guys, if you're ever going to do something to make me feel better about my sleeper pick this year, beat HOU or at least cover the 15...I bet they don't, but I had to make my plea.
NFL Highlights
- 5 double digit spreads this week = tough to pick
- only 4 of our picks are on these games for week 5
- I think TEN is lock of the Century this week at JAC
- I like KC, OAK, DET all to cover their DD spreads this week
- 3 of you picked a Josh Johnson lead team to cover +8.5 this week...I agree with you
- 4 on BAL, 0 on NE...is this the official changing of the guard for AFC #1 Seed?
- 5 on BUF, 1 on MIA...I know Pennington is out - but I'm picking MIA as my upset special to beat the Bills at home this week.
- MK took DEN, AW/MH on DAL...I like DEN in an upset win at home.
- SD at PIT (-5) is the toughest one to pick this week for me. I took PIT.
- Lots of PURPLE love...I think they crush GB on Monday night...31-17.
WIS at GOPHERS
Well, I'm sure most of you know where I'm going with this one - but I really do love our chances this week. It's all falling into place for a huge W for Brewster and team. #1 WIS's 1st road game with a 1st yr QB. #2 They have a very average at best Defense which we can exploit. #3 We have a HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE! for the first time in 30 years against the evil red army.
Prediction: Gophers come out and play a great 1st qtr with hopefully a TD somewhere in there for a 7-0 lead. We build the lead to 10-3 by halftime with a steady dose of ED and some actual running game. H2 starts with the Badgers rolling down the field on a big run to tie the game at 10-10, that's when the game will be decided. On their next possession Clay gets back into his fumbling ways from earlier in the season and the Gophs capitalize with a Nick Tow-Arnett TD catch...17-10. This game will be much more of a grinder than most expect. It's going to be 50 degrees, the D on each side will be playing with a lot of fire, and the running game will be critical along with holding onto the football. WIS tries a nice 4th qtr comeback with their 400 lb TB, but we hold and squeeze out a victory...24-19.
Ladies and Gentleman, your 4-1 Golden Gophers will be bringing home the AXE!
Anna and I are hitting up an early breakfast at Sally's - if anyone is going to watch some history, come and find us.
Have a great weekend! Go Gophers!!
SKI----------U-----------MAH
NCAA
JR: MSU, MN, ARMY, TOL, ALA, GEO, UCF, TT, ASU, TULSA
JG: WV, FSU, MSU, MN, VT, ARKST, UCLA, PSU, OLE, WASU
MR: WV, MICH, WIS!, UK, LSU, WF, PSU, WASH, MISST, ORE
MK: MICH, MN, NC, ALA, STAN, LSU, MIA, AF, GT, ARK
AW: FSU, CLEM, MICH, WIS!, ARMY, ALA, LSU, PSU, NAVY, NEV
GR: PITT, MN, NC, ALA, PSU, MIA, WASH, NAVY, IND, USC
MH: MSU, MN, NW, UCLA, NCST, PSU, MIA, AF, TN, USC
MC: LT=W, VT, USF, ALA, TEM, WF, PSU, ULM, GT, HOU
NFL
JR: CIN, TEN, BAL, MIA, MIN
JG: CIN, TEN, TB, BUF, MIN
MR: TEN, WAS, NO, SD, GB!
MK: TEN, NYG, BAL, DEN, MIN
AW: DET, TB, BUF, DAL, MIN
GR: CIN, NYG, BUF, NYJ, MIN
MH: BAL, BUF, DAL, PIT, MIN
MC: DET, CIN, BAL, TB, BUF
CONSENSUS PICKS (5-3-1 LW)
ALA-17, PSU-6
CIN-4, TEN-1, BAL+3, BUF-1, MIN-3
7 games this week...only 2 NCAA, these keep getting tougher!!
PICK Observations
- JG/MR are the only ones with action tonight on WV-17...should be close to that. COL has to have a decent game in them eventually, right?
- GR, of course, took his adopted PITT Panther club on FRI night -6.5 at LOU...it's a good pick though because LOU is AWFUL
- JG and BOMB both bet on the Jekyl/Hyde Noles...who shows up at BC this week? I'll take points and BC even though I don't think much of them.
- we split 3 and 3 in MICH at MSU...interesting. I took SPARTY, I think being at home in a "we must win or the entire season is lost" kind of game and it's a rivalry game...have to take the home team, espeically when they are getting 2.5
- MK/GR jumped on NC hosting VIR -14...I thought this was a no brainer early in the week, but I left it out of my picks because NC has been anything but impressive and VIR is due for their surprise snap out of it game that is an annual tradition
- MH likes the NW Cats - I don't know if I could ever bet on that team after watching them last week. I'm sure they'll come back and go 4-4 in conference in typical NW fashion, but man did they look bad against the Gophs.
- Everyone is jumping on the ALA Train...if they are favored by less than 3 TD's against any mediocre to bad team = $$$
- Nobody picked the last second KST-ISU game, but I think the Clones at -1 are a great pick.
- MC picked it, and I love it...TEM -4 at EMU, this shouldn't be even close
- GO ARKST! Thanks JG.
- I can't believe I was the only one taking GEO over LSU this week. I think GEO is a better team, they are playing at home, and LSU is in the Top 5...easy pick.
- 6 of us on PSU this week. I agree, but didn't include it. I think Illinois has to have that one last ditch attempt to salvage some kind of a season by beating somebody good effort going this week. PSU's offense didn't scare anyone last week, so the horrible ILL D might not be a huge issue.
- 3 on MIA, none on OK. I was believing the MIA hype too - but seriously how has the entire nation counted out OK!!??! Bradford will likely be back and OK will cruise to a 10 point win in this one. We forget that they have NFL players all over the defense and MIA will not be able to throw at will without getting Harris killed.
- I love TT -36 hosting NM. If you missed it, TT lost 2 in a row and needs to blow off some steam...NM is maybe the worst team in D1 and their 1st yr HC just punched his asst in the mouth recently...their talking hot seat on the guy 4 games into his career...ouch. TT wins 66-10.
- GR believes the hype on IND...and I do to, at least for this week. OHIOST isn't anything special on offense so 16.5 is too much. Hoosiers keep it within 2 TD's.
- MK likes ARK to win finally at A&M...I like the Aggies by 2 TD's against that awful ARK D.
- Not a lot of action on AUB at TN...tough call of a game, but I like what AUB has done. Offense went from worst in the SEC to one of the best overnight, TN can't score unless their D does it for them. I love AUB in this one...20-17.
- 2 on USC, none for CAL. I'm not sure what to think in this one. CAL has to be better at home this week, but USC can't have a horrible offense forever...I'll take 6.5 pts at home for CAL.
- Finally, UTEP, my guys, if you're ever going to do something to make me feel better about my sleeper pick this year, beat HOU or at least cover the 15...I bet they don't, but I had to make my plea.
NFL Highlights
- 5 double digit spreads this week = tough to pick
- only 4 of our picks are on these games for week 5
- I think TEN is lock of the Century this week at JAC
- I like KC, OAK, DET all to cover their DD spreads this week
- 3 of you picked a Josh Johnson lead team to cover +8.5 this week...I agree with you
- 4 on BAL, 0 on NE...is this the official changing of the guard for AFC #1 Seed?
- 5 on BUF, 1 on MIA...I know Pennington is out - but I'm picking MIA as my upset special to beat the Bills at home this week.
- MK took DEN, AW/MH on DAL...I like DEN in an upset win at home.
- SD at PIT (-5) is the toughest one to pick this week for me. I took PIT.
- Lots of PURPLE love...I think they crush GB on Monday night...31-17.
WIS at GOPHERS
Well, I'm sure most of you know where I'm going with this one - but I really do love our chances this week. It's all falling into place for a huge W for Brewster and team. #1 WIS's 1st road game with a 1st yr QB. #2 They have a very average at best Defense which we can exploit. #3 We have a HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE! for the first time in 30 years against the evil red army.
Prediction: Gophers come out and play a great 1st qtr with hopefully a TD somewhere in there for a 7-0 lead. We build the lead to 10-3 by halftime with a steady dose of ED and some actual running game. H2 starts with the Badgers rolling down the field on a big run to tie the game at 10-10, that's when the game will be decided. On their next possession Clay gets back into his fumbling ways from earlier in the season and the Gophs capitalize with a Nick Tow-Arnett TD catch...17-10. This game will be much more of a grinder than most expect. It's going to be 50 degrees, the D on each side will be playing with a lot of fire, and the running game will be critical along with holding onto the football. WIS tries a nice 4th qtr comeback with their 400 lb TB, but we hold and squeeze out a victory...24-19.
Ladies and Gentleman, your 4-1 Golden Gophers will be bringing home the AXE!
Anna and I are hitting up an early breakfast at Sally's - if anyone is going to watch some history, come and find us.
Have a great weekend! Go Gophers!!
SKI----------U-----------MAH
Late Updates
A couple things before we finalize the picks for the week:
I forgot to include the KST-ISU game in the original lines...the dangers of typing things in maunally I guess. It is as follows:
KST
ISU -1 (in Kansas City)
If any of you want to pick this game instead of one you sent to me, shoot me a note and I'll make the change.
Also, we have a couple other lines to add:
SOMISS
UAB 10
And in the NFL:
SEA
IND -11
Once again, let me know if you want to add any of these to your picks and I will make the changes.
I forgot to include the KST-ISU game in the original lines...the dangers of typing things in maunally I guess. It is as follows:
KST
ISU -1 (in Kansas City)
If any of you want to pick this game instead of one you sent to me, shoot me a note and I'll make the change.
Also, we have a couple other lines to add:
SOMISS
UAB 10
And in the NFL:
SEA
IND -11
Once again, let me know if you want to add any of these to your picks and I will make the changes.
Week 5...7 of 8 are in...Bomb?
Just waiting on Bomb's picks for this week and then I'll send out the recap.
Corcoran was a big winner last night, so he's already 1-0 and ahead of the game.
Will send the full update later today.
Corcoran was a big winner last night, so he's already 1-0 and ahead of the game.
Will send the full update later today.
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