Better late than never, right?? Well okay…technically I’m not late, but I am cutting things a little too close for comfort. I’ve been a strange mix of busy & lazy this week, and just haven’t had the inclination to write. However, there’s nothing like a deadline to get the juices flowing. Last week was another weak effort, with both Zach(1-4) and myself (2-3) failing to meet our high standards. Sincerest wishes for a happy & safe Halloween. Your Humble Potentate of Profundity is way too old to trick or treat, I have no children, and no kids come begging for candy in my apartment building. Since I’m not a costume party kind of guy I’ll probably spend the evening watching old monster movies…and then I’ll go out the next day and buy a bunch of discounted candy.

My Season:     21-25

Z’s Season:     18-28

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purdue                at                Michigan State (-2.5)

There is no denying that the Boilermakers pulled off possibly the biggest upset of the season last week when they beat Ohio St….but are they the real deal?? After starting the season 0-3b (including a loss to Eastern Michigan) Purdue has reeled off four straight victories. I’m sure there is a logical explanation for this turn of fortune, but quite honestly I just don’t feel motivated to do the required research. The Spartans are coming off a tough loss to in-state rival Michigan, and at 4-3 their season has been more of a roller coaster than the bipolar campaign of their opponents. I am inclined to believe that Purdue simply played out of their freakin’ minds against the Buckeyes and aren’t truly that good, and I also can’t ignore the home field advantage. Conversely, Zach is all in on Purdue and believes they’ll find a way to score a close win.

My Pick:     Michigan St.

Z’s Pick:     Purdue

 

 

 

Iowa                              at                Penn State (-6.5)

The Hawkeyes are sneaky good. At 6-1 they have only a loss to Wisconsin as a blemish and have snuck into the Top 20. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions have dropped two out of their last three games. In my pre-season poll I opined that “Happy Valley might be somewhat less happy in 2018 since Saquon Barkley is now toting the rock for the NY Giants. That doesn’t mean that the Nittany Lions will fall completely off the map, but for me it does take them out of the conference title discussion.”. I ranked them #21, and they currently sit at #17 with Wisconsin & Michigan on the horizon, which means that this is a must-win game for them. I might give Iowa a puncher’s chance if they had the home field, but I just don’t foresee an upset in this scenario. Zach again is going against the grain. He believes that Iowa is better than people realize and Penn St. isn’t as good as everyone thinks. He’s not completely ruling out a Nittany Lions victory, but doesn’t think they’ll cover if they do win.

My Pick:     Penn St.

Z’s Pick:     Iowa

 

 

Texas (-3)           at                Oklahoma State

It’s finally happening. The Longhorns are 6-1, ranked 6^th in the country, beat archrival Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout, & sit atop the Big 12. They’re back. Maybe. Conversely, the Cowboys are 4-3 and haven’t looked particularly good the past couple of weeks. They aren’t even favored on their home field. I suppose some may think this is a trap game for Texas, and that may be true…but I don’t think so. My vibe is that this won’t be much of a game at all, with the visitors winning by double digits. Zach isn’t quite ready to buy into the Texas hype, but he thinks they’ll win this game easily.

My Pick:     Texas

Z’s Pick:     Texas

 

 

 

Green Bay                   at                LA Rams (-9)

The Rams have been a machine thus far, cruising to an undefeated record and scoring 30+ pointy/game. They don’t appear to have any glaring weaknesses. The Packers are 3-2-1 and certainly not used to being nine point underdogs. For Los Angeles this could be a statement game…an opportunity to put to rest any doubts that some may still have about the team’s validity. For Green Bay the game is a chance to get back on track and soothe the misgivings of the faithful. The points make me nervous, but my vibe is that the Rams will treat this like a playoff game and seize their opportunity to really grab everyone’s attention. Zach likes the Rams as a legit Super Bowl contender, but can’t overlook the fact that they are facing Aaron Rodgers. He likes LA to win…but doesn’t think they’ll cover the points.

My Pick:     LA Rams

Z’s Pick:     Green Bay

 

 

 

New Orleans               at                Minnesota (-1)

The last time these two teams met was in last season’s playoffs, and the Vikings pulled off a miracle to send the Saints packing. It has been a different story thus far in 2018, as New Orleans is 5-1 & leads the NFC South, while Minnesota is a disappointing 4-2-1, although they still sit atop the NFC North for now. This feels like a crossroads game for both teams. Neither can rest on their laurels and cruise to a division title or the playoffs. So who will take control of their destiny?? I think the Saints will be seeking revenge for that playoff loss, so look for  to have a huge game and lead his team to a comfortable victory. Zach concurs.

My Pick:     New Orleans

Z’s Pick:     New Orleans