Month: October 2025

2025 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 10

Happy Halloween Manoverse!! Okay okay…to be fair, by the time these games kick off we’ll be past Halloween, but right now, in this moment, it is still on the horizon. So what does Fright Night look like at The Bachelor Palace?? Full disclosure, it isn’t much more exciting than any other night. My secure location precludes me from hosting trick or treaters, which is unfortunate because once upon a time I rather enjoyed handing out candy to neighborhood crumb crunchers. I’m not much of a horror movie fan, although I do enjoy John Carpenter’s original 1978 Halloween. I will absolutely be snacking on candy corn (don’t come at me!) while choosing amongst other spooky-esque entertainment like Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, and of course the classic It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. I am also planning a reread of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Then, once I get all of that out of my system, it’ll be back to football. Your mileage may vary, and that’s okay.

Observations from Last Week:

  • Yes, I gave us both a win for Boise’s 21 point victory over Nevada. That’s just how I roll.
  • Announcers really can make a difference. I was flipping back & forth between Indiana/UCLA with my favorite duo of Gus Johnson & Joel Klatt on the call, and Kansas/Kansas St. that had Mike Golic Jr. as the color analyst. I adore Golic Sr., but his kid strikes me as kind of a douchenozzle. Any football guy that enthusiastically drops Taylor Swift trivia into a broadcast probably needs to find a new gig.
  • With all due respect, I always thought it was odd that Brian Kelly would leave Notre Dame for LSU, especially after winning 10+ games in each of his final five seasons in South Bend. The grass usually isn’t greener elsewhere. Perhaps Kelly will end up at Penn State, Florida, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, or Virginia Tech.
  • RIP Nick Mangold, former NY Jets center. 41 years old. Kidney disease. Damn.
  • Some lucky coach is going to benefit from the NY Giants core of QB Jaxson Dart, RB Cam Skattebo, and WR Malik Nabors, but due to unfortunate injuries it probably won’t be Brian Daboll.

My Season: 27-24

Zach’s Season: 17-34

Arizona State at Iowa State (-5.5)

My boy Rocco Becht has had a rough go of it lately. After getting out of the gate 5-0 the Cyclones have dropped three straight games. They’re a middle of the pack Big 12 team when I thought they’d be serious contenders for the conference title. The Sun Devils are also 5-3 and have virtually no opportunity to win the conference either. So essentially, these teams are playing for pride and bowl positioning. I’m not going to jump off the Becht Bandwagon, and I think we’ll see his team rebound with a 7-10 point victory. Zach doesn’t view Iowa St. thru my prism. He believes this is a bounce back week for Arizona St.

My Pick: Iowa St.

Zach’s Pick: Arizona St.

Penn State at Ohio State (-20.5)

It felt like a much bigger game a month ago. That was before the Nittany Lions lost four consecutive games, had their starting QB go down with a season ending injury, and fired their head coach amidst that implosion. Meanwhile, the unbeaten Buckeyes haven’t really been challenged by anyone. They’ve only let one opponent even get to double digit points. Perhaps if the game were in Happy Valley I might give the underdogs a puncher’s chance, but the favorites look like a well oiled machine that’ll cruise into the CFP. Zach begrudgingly concedes that Ohio St. has been the best team in the nation. However, he is critical of their fairly weak schedule. He isn’t predicting an upset, but hopes that, somehow some way, it’s a closer game than the oddsmakers think it’ll be.

My Pick: Ohio St.

Zach’s Pick: Penn St.

Arizona (-4.5) at Colorado 

Are the folks in Boulder tired of Coach Prime’s BS yet?? Sure they were 9-4 a season ago, but losing a Heisman Trophy winner to the NFL will negatively affect any team. Neon Deion can recruit talent, but can he coach players who don’t happen to be five star prodigies?? The 4-3 Wildcats have shown some improvement but are too inconsistent. I’d definitely take the over because I don’t believe we’ll see stellar defense, and I think the ‘Cats will win by 5-7 points. Zach wonders if Sanders might receive an opportunity elsewhere on the very active coaching carousel despite the fact he is way overrated. He doesn’t believe Colorado will get their ass kicked as bad as they did last week at Utah, but then again Arizona doesn’t need to beat them that bad.

My Pick: Arizona

Zach’s Pick: Arizona 

Vanderbilt at Texas (-1.5)

I never thought I’d see the day when this matchup would be so highly anticipated. Indiana is getting alot of attention, and they deserve it, but let’s not overlook what the 7-1 Commodores have accomplished. However, they know that any positive mojo that has been built thus far will disappear in a nanosecond if they’re embarrassed by the Longhorns. While there is no shame in losing to Ohio St., I’m pretty sure the folks in Austin are still scratching their heads in confusion after being defeated in The Swamp by the Florida Gators a few weeks ago. This is one of those head vs. heart situations. I’d love to see Vandy silence their doubters and be validated by a win over a blueblood program, but despite the surprising odds I don’t believe it’ll be that close. Games are won in the trenches, and I think the home team will simply wear down their opponents in the 4th quarter. Zach has faith in Vandy’s defense and thinks Texas has been overrated all season.

My Pick: Texas

Zach’s Pick: Vanderbilt

Kansas City (-1.5) at Buffalo 

The Chiefs are back…I guess. After starting the season 2-3 KC has won three in a row. Meanwhile, the 5-2 Bills have lost two of their last three games. Don’t forget, that #1 seed in the conference is extremely important, as the top team receives a first round bye in the playoffs. It’s probably a bit premature to be discussing such things, especially with the Colts, Patriots, and Broncos all looking like serious contenders, but we cannot overlook the pedigree of these two teams. Momentum seems to be on the side of the favorites, but perhaps being underdogs in their own stadium will wake a sleeping giant in Buffalo. Zach loves Andy Reid, but he predicts the Bills will defend their turf in a close game…perhaps even overtime.

My Pick: Buffalo 

Zach’s Pick: Buffalo

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – The Top 5

This project actually began a decade ago. I don’t remember exactly what was going on in my life or what my thought process was at the time, but when I ran across the original post several months ago it struck me that I could do better. I hope I have achieved that goal. Like so many of my favorite topics I’ve written about in this space, these past few months have allowed me to take a trip down Memory Lane and do a bit of self analysis, understanding the fun little bits & pieces that shaped my childhood, youth, and adult years. Once upon a time I took pride in addressing the important issues, using this site as my own bully pulpit. That hasn’t completely changed, but it has evolved into more of a refuge from the gravity of our world. I retain very little interest in being divisive or dogmatic…most of the time. Don’t hold me to that in the future when I get fired up about a hot topic though. The bully pulpit isn’t retired, it’s just in storage and used sparingly. At any rate, you came here for the conclusion of our musical journey, and I shall provide. As always, if, for some odd reason, you have somehow skipped over the first nine parts of our countdown and landed at the end rather than the beginning, please go here to get caught up.

5 Meet the Flintstones (The Flintstones)

Meet the Flintstones

They’re the modern stone age family

From the town of Bedrock

They’re a page right out of history

Have a yabba dabba doo time, a dabba doo time

We’ll have a gay old time

WILMAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

There is a fun little scene in the greatest Thanksgiving movie of all time…Planes, Trains, and Automobiles…in which extrovert Del Griffith goads uptight Neal Page into leading a bus full of passengers in a singalong. Neil’s choice of Frank Sinatra’s 1954 Oscar winning hit Three Coins in the Fountain is met with bewildered indifference, but Griffith saves the day with Meet the Flintstones. It’s an upbeat, big band song that everyone remembers, sure to lighten up even the grumpiest of moods. Meet the Flintstones, which was inspired by Beethoven’s The Tempest, wasn’t the original theme song for the show, but more than a half century later it’s the one we all know and love.

4 Good Ol’ Boys (The Dukes of Hazzard)

Just the good old boys

Never meanin’ no harm

Beats all you never saw

Been in trouble with the law since the day they was born

Y’all know that, despite hailing from West By God Virginia, I am not a country music fan. I prefer George Thorogood to George Strait, Kenny Loggins over Kenny Chesney, and Hall & Oates instead of Brooks & Dunn. Having said that, it is irrefutable that the legendary Waylon Jennings was a key ingredient in the success of The Dukes of Hazzard, which was probably my favorite pre-teen era show. Jennings had served as The Balladeer (i.e. narrator) in the 1975 film Moonrunners, on which the television program is based. He also wrote & performed the theme song, which reached #1 on the country charts in 1980.

3 Movin’ on Up (The Jeffersons)

Fish don’t fry in the kitchen, beans don’t burn on the grill

Took a whole lotta tryin’ just to get up that hill

Now we’re up in the big leagues gettin’ our turn at bat

As long as we live it’s you and me baby

There ain’t nothin’ wrong with that

Well we’re movin’ on up

One of the personal benefits of projects like this is that I get to relive my childhood, and in some cases clarify an otherwise fuzzy memory. The Jeffersons…a spinoff of All in the Family…aired from 1975-85, so it actually debuted when I was two years old. Two!! The back half of that run (and reruns of the first few years) must’ve really made an impression on me. The theme song was co-written & performed by actress Ja’Net DuBois, who had a supporting role in Good Times. A gospel choir backed DuBois, which is certainly one of the elements that makes the song so memorable.

2 Where Everybody Knows Your Name (Cheers)

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name

And they’re always glad you came

You want to be where you can see our troubles are all the same

You want to be where everybody knows your name

Childhood is fascinating. As a friend of mine is fond of saying, we don’t know what we don’t know. Ignorance is bliss, right?? So when a sitcom set in a bar premiered in 1982…a week before my 10th birthday…all I knew was that it was funny. It made my Dad laugh. By the time the show ended I was 20 years old and simply thought of it as one of the best comedy shows I’d ever seen. It wasn’t until much later that I realized, in real life, middle aged adults spending every night in a bar is profoundly sad. It is a testament to the brilliance of the Cheers cast & writers that they turned that premise into one of the greatest television programs of all time. Gary Portnoy is a singer/songwriter who had penned a few songs for artists like Dolly Parton & Air Supply, and would eventually write the theme for Mr. Belvedere. As opposed to The Jeffersons quasi-inspirational, gospel infused title sequence, the Cheers theme is a piano driven, somewhat wistful tune that effectively does its job of making the bar seem like an amazing place to hang.

1 The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle (Gilligan’s Island)

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip

That started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship

We’ve reached the summit. The most memorable television theme song of them all. The truth, of course, is that these things are subjective, influenced by a myriad of factors. Gilligan’s Island probably shouldn’t even register on my radar, given the fact that it only lasted for three seasons in the mid-1960s and was canceled five years before I was born. However, as we’ve discussed, syndicated reruns were abundant in the 1970s & 80s, allowing multiple shows that had played roles in the childhoods of kids much older than me to also be infused into my life. These days television programming embraces darker, edgier, more sinister content. Even comedy tends to evoke a sardonic, highly strung worldview. The sitcoms I grew up watching were goofy, irreverent, and guileless. Gilligan’s Island is quaint when viewed thru a modern prism, but in its time it worked, and we shouldn’t overlook the contribution of a theme song that is not only catchy, but also explains the premise AND introduces each of the cast members. It is no coincidence that the song was co-written by the show’s creator, Sherwood Schwartz. He also created The Brady Bunch and co-wrote that theme song, which followed the same formula of setting up the premise & characters. 

2025 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 9

The NFL schedule is already underway, with the Chargers defeating Minnesota last night. The World Series begins tonight. Dodgers vs. Blue Jays. Absolutely zero interest. The NBA season started this week as well. I’ll check in on that in January. When I’m not watching football in the next week I’ll be embracing the spirit of Halloween, although that probably doesn’t look the same in my world as it does in yours. More on that later. In the meantime, we continue on our gridiron journey. 

Observations from Last Week:

  • Vanderbilt?!?!?? Really?!?!?? Vanderbilt is good at football now?? When did that happen??
  • I stand corrected…Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti just signed a long term deal to stay at with the Hoosiers. That’s probably a wise decision for all involved. 
  • Finally, the Billy Napier Era at Florida is over. He was 22-23 in 3 1/2 seasons. At West Virginia he probably would’ve received a contract extension.
  • I saw a quote that said “Mike Tomlin is the James Franklin of the NFL”, and while I believe it is an apt comparison, the difference is that, unlike Penn St., the Steelers don’t have the courage to do what needs to be done.
  • Justin Herbert looked more like Justin Sherbet in that Chargers’ alternative uniform.

My Season: 24-22

Zach’s Season: 15-31

Boise State (-21.5) at Nevada

I always get the Nevada Wolfpack & the UNLV Rebels mixed up. Boise beat UNLV last weekend, and that might’ve been a better game to pick. Atleast it was high scoring (whoever took the over won some $$). The Broncos are 5-2 and sit atop the Mountain West in their final season in that conference, although they can’t let their foot off the gas since there are a couple of teams in hot pursuit. Nevada is a putrid 1-6, with their only win being over an FCS opponent. The Wolfpack does have the home field, but no one expects that to make much of a difference. The only question is Boise’s margin of victory. I am always wary of a 3+ TD spread, but in this case I think the favorites can get there. Zach has some concerns about Boise’s defense, but he thinks they’ll win big anyway.

My Pick: Boise St.

Zach’s Pick: Boise St.

Kansas State at Kansas (-3)

It’s the Sunflower Showdown, which sounds a little wimpy for a football game. It’ll be the 123rd meeting since 1902, with Kansas leading the series 65-52-5, although State has won the past 16 games. Sixteen!! That’s quite a winning streak. I had higher hopes for the 3-4 Wildcats, but it isn’t the first time they’ve disappointed me. Meanwhile, after a malaise of nearly two decades the Jayhawks looked like they’d figured things out last season. However, now, sitting at 3-4, it feels like they may have regressed. So, can visiting underdogs go into hostile territory and continue what has to be one of the longest current win streaks in a rivalry game?? I think Kansas is on the right track in the grand scheme of things, but when it comes to this matchup I see no reason to believe the streak will be broken. Conversely, Zach expects Kansas’ offensive firepower to get the job done.

My Pick: Kansas St.

Zach’s Pick: Kansas

Ole Miss at Oklahoma (-4.5)

With the exception of the Red River Shootout, the loss of which could legitimately be blamed on QB John Mateer not being 100% after an injury, the 6-1 Sooners have been impressive, although the back half of their schedule is challenging. I feel like we’ve been sleeping on the 6-1 Rebels, despite their 4th quarter implosion at Georgia last week. I’m a little surprised that ESPN didn’t choose this one for Gameday, but I don’t know what factors into those decisions. It’s a Noon kickoff, which feels disrespectful. The underdogs have been in some pretty close contests and won, so I believe they’ll keep things interesting, but with Mateer’s health improving I think Oklahoma is probably a touchdown better. Zach, on the other hand, is a big fan of head coach Lane Kiffin and believes he’ll have some things up his sleeve to lead the visiting underdogs to an upset.

My Pick: Oklahoma

Zach’s Pick: Ole Miss

NY Giants at Philadelphia (-10.5)

The Eagles have a two game lead in the NFC East, and the Giants have no chance to maneuver themselves into playoff position. However, since pulling the trigger on making rookie Jaxson Dart the starting QB the G-Men have shown flashes of…something. With Dart under center, folk hero Cam Skattebo toting the rock, and receiver Malik Nabers at receiver, there is a very strong core for future success, but Nabers tore his ACL and those other guys are rookies, so everything is on hold. Meanwhile, Philly is 5-2 and leads their division, but they’ve lost 2 out of the last 3 games and something feels…off. Could this be a classic trap game?? The Giants could easily be 4-3 instead of 2-5, while the Eagles have had the ball bounce their way a few times at key moments. It’s not the smart move, but The Vibes smell an upset…or atleast a much closer game than most expect. Zach doesn’t expect an upset, but he agrees that it’ll be a close game.

My Pick: NY Giants

Zach’s Pick: NY Giants

Dallas at Denver (-4.5)

I will reluctantly give credit not only to the 3-3-1 Cowboys, but also to receiver George Pickens. As a Steelers fan I was hoping Pickens would implode in Dallas, but that hasn’t happened. If it weren’t for one of the worst defenses in the NFL the Cowboys’ record would certainly be much better. The 5-2 Broncos have been better than I anticipated and currently lead the AFC West, with two games against the Kansas City Chiefs still on the schedule. The home field is significant, and I have no faith in Dallas’ defense, so I expect QB Bo Nix to pick them apart. The Cowboys offense will keep it close for awhile, but Denver should pull away late for a double digit win. Zach is rolling the dice on Dak Prescott and his tremendous weapons to somehow pull off a mild surprise.

My Pick: Denver

Zach’s Pick: Dallas

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – The Top Ten

I have decided to break the Top 10 into two parts because…well, I can – it’s my website. No, seriously…I feel like these final ten theme songs deserve a bit more attention, some room to breathe. I appreciate anyone who has stuck with me thus far, but if you’re late to the party that’s okay too. Just go here & here and you be able to navigate the entire series to this point.

10 The Brady Bunch (The Brady Bunch)

Here’s a story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls
All of them had hair of gold like their mother, the youngest one in curls

Here’s a story of a man named Brady who was busy with three boys of his own
They were four men living all together, yet they were all alone

Perception is an odd thing. We may view something thru a certain prism then later find out that our comprehension was a bit skewed. If you’d have asked me or probably just about any kid in the late 70s/early 80s we’d have told you that The Brady Bunch had been on television for many years with hundreds of episodes. The truth?? It aired 117 episodes in the course of five seasons. What do Perfect Strangers, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, According to Jim, Designing Women, and Boy Meets World all have in common?? Each show produced atleast 150 episodes. That tells you just how pervasive reruns were when I was a kid, especially given the fact that we didn’t have a fraction of the channels available now. The immense popularity of The Brady Bunch in syndication led to multiple reunion specials, a few reboots/spinoffs, and a couple of funny big screen spoofs in the mid-1990s. I’m not going to analyze why the program became so legendary, but I do know one piece of the puzzle is an unforgettable theme song that actually tells a story. 

9 WKRP in Cincinnati (WKRP in Cincinnati)

Baby, if you’ve ever wondered

Wondered whatever became of me

I’m livin’ on the air in Cincinnati

Cincinnati, WKRP

The Brady Bunch is a model of longevity compared to WKRP, which lasted just 90 episodes and four seasons. In retrospect the powers-that-be at CBS torpedoed a program that could’ve easily stuck around for a decade by moving it around the schedule multiple times. In my youth I went thru a brief phase in which I wanted to be a disc jockey, and I think it may have been because of WKRP, with guys like Dr. Johnny Fever & Venus Flytrap making it look like such a fun job. 

8 Yo Home to Bel-Air  (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

In west Philadelphia born and raised

On the playground was where I spent most of my days

Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool

Shootin’ some b-ball outside the school

When a couple of guys who were up to no good

Startin’ making trouble in my neighborhood

I got in one little fight and my Mom got scared

She said ‘You’re movin’ with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air’

Had I been about five years younger I think The Fresh Prince might’ve become one of my favorite sitcoms. However, while I enjoyed it just fine, the show debuted mere weeks after I started college, and watching television wasn’t a priority in those years. Having said that, three decades after the program ended I could…if properly motivated…bust out what would likely be the worst rendition of the theme song to ever exist, and I’m willing to bet there are tons of 40/50-somethings that could do the same.

7 Those Were the Days (All in the Family)

Boy the way Glenn Miller played

Songs that made the Hit Parade

Guys like us we had it made

Those were the days

Choosing cast members to perform a TV show’s theme song isn’t that unusual, but in the case of All in the Family it’s a bit odd because…well, Archie & Edith Bunker weren’t good singers. I have no idea if Carroll O’Connor & Jean Stapleton could sing in real life, but when utilizing the Queens, NY inspired affectations of their characters, its a performance that wouldn’t exactly make the cut on American Idol. Perhaps though it is that unconventional screeching coupled with the nostalgia soaked lyrics that makes the tune so damn memorable.

6 The Love Boat (The Love Boat)

The Love Boat soon will be making another run

The Love Boat promises something for everyone

Set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance

I really enjoyed The Love Boat and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Every Saturday night at 9pm thru the first half of the 1980s I sat in front of the television watching the adventures of Captain Stubing, Doc Bricker, bartender Isaac Washington, yeoman purser (essentially the ship’s financial officer) Gopher Smith, cruise director Julie McCoy, and a parade of guest stars navigating love & other drama aboard the Pacific Princess. The revolving door of weekly guests provided a soft landing for once prominent stars as their fame descended, as well as an opportunity for up & coming actors who would go on to much bigger things. For most of the show’s run the theme was belted out by Grammy Award winning singer Jack Jones, but he was replaced in the final season by the legendary Dionne Warwick.

That’s all you get for now!! Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of this fun musical adventure!!

2025 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 8

Do you smell that?!?!?? The air has become noticeably chilly. Baseball is in the home stretch. Hockey season has started. The NBA’s preseason has begun, even if no one cares. Christmas decorations are already trying to muscle Halloween decor off store shelves. October has its own vibe, and as I’ve matured I have finally begun to understand the charm of it all. Of course, especially for our purposes here, football is still the best thing going right now, which is fine by me.

Observations from Last Week:

  • It was always Tom Brady…and cheating, never Bill Belichick. He’s been exposed as a fraud.
  • God help me, but my initial reaction to Penn St. QB Drew Allar suffering a season ending leg injury was “Great…now his draft stock will fall and the Steelers will pat themselves on the back, expecting fans to be in awe of their genius for picking him in the 3rd or 4th round 🤦🏻‍♂️.” Anyway, the James Franklin Era in Happy Valley is over, which is a bit shocking since the Nittany Lions were a Top 5 team not long ago.
  • I guess the Indiana Hoosiers might actually be legit. Too bad their head coach will probably bolt for “greener pastures” by the end of the year.
  • Are my Steelers peeps still upset they let Justin Fields walk??
  • Biggest NFL surprises thus far: Colts 👍🏻, Ravens 😂, and Patriots 🤔.

My Season: 23-18

Zach’s Season: 13-28

Texas A&M (-7.5) at Arkansas

The undefeated Aggies have really snuck up on everyone. After six good but certainly not transcendent seasons with Jimbo Fisher at the helm, the Aggies made a change last year and brought in Mike Elko from Duke. He went 8-5 a season ago, and his team was ranked in the Top 20 in most preseason polls, but I don’t believe anybody expected A&M to be in the mix with Alabama, Georgia, and LSU for the SEC crown. Conversely, the Razorbacks are 2-4 and already fired their head coach. Bobby Petrino has been handed the interim gig, which is kind of like casting Charlie Sheen as the lead in a community theater project. You know he brings a certain level of talent & experience, but are understandably nervous about possible collateral damage. I don’t expect an upset, but I feel like Petrino might know enough Jedi mind tricks to make sure his team doesn’t get embarrassed. I still think that means a 10-15 point loss though. Zach likes A&M’s defense to hold the line.

My Pick: Texas A&M 

Zach’s Pick: Texas A&M

Texas Tech (-11.5) at Arizona State

I ranked the unbeaten Red Raiders 14th in the preseason and made note of three important games. In the first of those Tech beat the snot out of Utah by more than three touchdowns. This is the second big one, and the 4-2 Sun Devils have to be asking themselves alot of questions after a beatdown by…Utah. I believe the home field helps State a little bit, but I remain high on Tech and foresee a two TD victory. Zach doesn’t think it’ll be much of a contest and likes the visiting favorites to win big.

My Pick: Texas Tech

Zach’s Pick: Texas Tech

Southern California at Notre Dame (-7.5)

Wow, this old rivalry has really lost its mojo, huh?? Notre Dame leads the all time series 50-37-5 and has won six of the past seven meetings. Citizens of The Manoverse are aware by now that The Irish were my preseason #1, but once they lost their first two games that blew up in my face. They’ve since won four in a row though, so good for them. The Trojans are 5-1, with only a last second field goal by Illinois blemishing their record, which makes the odds for this game feel disrespectful. I sense a hard fought battle on the horizon. Low scoring. Lots of defense. Field position. Time of possession. Perhaps a turnover or two or three. A score of 20-ish to 16-ish. I don’t know who wins, but it’ll be by less than a touchdown. Zach believes Notre Dame was always overrated, while USC is playing at a higher level than they have in several years.

My Pick: USC

Zach’s Pick: USC

Utah (-3.5) at BYU

When we think of football hotbeds places like Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania spring to mind. Most folks probably don’t think of The Beehive State, home of the Sundance Film Festival, The Osmond Family, the Great Salt Lake, and Wilford Brimley, as a place to find great football. However, right now, it is where you’ll see two Top 25 teams with a combined record of 11-1, and the Utes shouldn’t feel bad about losing to Texas Tech. BYU’s double OT triumph over Arizona might’ve been the best game of them all last weekend, but it makes me wonder if they can rise to that level again so soon, especially freshman QB Bear Bachmeier. Don’t miss this game on Saturday night if you can possibly set other things aside for a few hours. Zach thinks the Cougars are better defensively and that’ll be the difference.

My Pick: Utah

Zach’s Pick: BYU

Houston at Seattle (-3.5)

The Texans are the AFC’s forgotten team. At 2-3 they sit below the Jags and the surprising Colts, who’ve been the talk of the NFL, but are better than the Titans, who just fired their head coach. It’s going to be tough for Houston to position themselves as a playoff contender, but there is still plenty of time. Conversely, the Seahawks are in a much better position in their division but can’t afford to take their foot off the gas. There’s just too much competition. The home field is big in this one, and I think the fans will show up & show out for the MNF audience. Zach predicts a Seattle victory on the strength of their special teams.

My Pick: Seattle

Zach’s Pick: Seattle 

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – The Top 20

And down the stretch they come!!!! If you need to catch up just go here and it’ll take you everywhere you need to go. It has always been my understanding that cream rises to the top. As much as I appreciate the previous 80 tunes we’ve discussed, I believe these last few entries are truly legendary earworms that have stood the test of time. Anyone of a certain age can probably sing, hum, whistle, or play these songs on some kind of instrument. Sadly, if you are under a certain age you missed out on the greatness of classic television theme songs, but hey, atleast you have binging & reboots going for you, which is nice I suppose.

20 The Office (The Office)

I was fashionably late to The Office party. I never watched a single episode when it originally aired on NBC from 2005-13. And then we had a global pandemic in 2020. I’ve spoken of my various issues during that time so there’s no need to beat a dead horse, but suffice to say I found myself with ample downtime, which is when I discovered The Office on Netflix. Apparently I wasn’t the only one, as it has been reported that the show was, by far, the most streamed program in 2020, setting new records. Five years later, The Office is available on Peacock and airs frequently on Comedy Central, meaning that it is just as relevant & popular now…perhaps moreso…than first run episodes were a decade ago. Anyway, the composer of the synth-laden theme also wrote the score for 1989’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 5, which seems oddly appropriate.

19 The Facts of Life (The Facts of Life)

When the world never seems to be livin up to your dreams

And suddenly you’re finding out the facts of life are all about you

Actors Alan Thicke (Growing Pains) & Gloria Loring (Days of Our Lives) were married from 1970-84. Younger folks with questionable taste in music might be familiar with their son Robin Thicke. During their marriage Thicke & Loring wrote and performed two notable television theme songs. The Facts of Life was a spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes that actually lasted longer than its parent show and, in my opinion, had an even snappier theme.

18 Rock Around the Clock / Happy Days (Happy Days)

When the clock strikes two, three, and four

If the band slows down we’ll yell for more

We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight

We’re gonna rock, rock, rock, ’til broad daylight

We’re gonna rock, gonna rock around the clock tonight

Sunday Monday happy days

Tuesday Wednesday happy days

Thursday Friday happy days

Saturday what a day

Rockin’ all week for you

Okay, stay with me…

Happy Days can’t outdo The Drew Carey Show and its three different theme songs, but it did have two. The first season utilized a revamped version of the 1954 hit Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets. Starting in Season 2 and for the remainder of the show’s run a song called Happy Days (obviously) was written & performed specifically for that purpose. I assume due to music rights issues. 

17 Making Our Dreams Come True (Laverne & Shirley)

Schlemiel! Schlimazel! 

Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!

More than four decades after Laverne & Shirley aired its final episode, I’m willing to bet almost anyone who has tried to sing its theme song gets it wrong, but that’s alright…it’s an infectious tune that stays with those of us who enjoyed the show back in the day. Happy Days was undoubtedly the superior sitcom, but its most famous spinoff has the more memorable (kind of) theme.

16 Batman (Batman)

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na

Batman!

The 1966-68 superhero comedy is a bit controversial amongst fans of The Caped Crusader. Comic book purists sometimes rail against its kitschy vibe that couldn’t be more different than the dark tone of the original stories. Most big screen adaptations of Batman have embraced the traditional noir aura, with one notable exception…1997’s Batman & Robin. That film seemingly paid homage to the TV show and got lambasted as one of the worst movies of all time. Personally, while I agree that it isn’t a great movie, I feel like it’s not THAT bad, and that opinion likely stems from my appreciation for the television program. Its theme is influenced by spy films & the surfing craze, and performed by a group of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew who also contributed to the Beach Boys seminal album Pet Sounds, Sonny & Cher’s signature tune I’ve Got You Babe, as well as The Godfather film score.

15 The Fishin’ Hole (The Andy Griffith Show)

Whether it’s hot, whether it’s cool

Oh what a spot for whistling like a fool

What a fine day to take a stroll and wind up at the fishing hole

I can’t think of a better way to pass the time of day

Did you know that the TAGS theme has lyrics?? Neither did I until a few years ago when I was working on a project and stumbled across that fact. Fans of the legendary television show are used to hearing the song whistled by its composer Earle Hagen, which adds to the innocence & charm that we love. To be fair, the whistling version was the original, and then a year after TAGS’ debut someone somewhere came up with the idea of updating it with lyrics (sang by Andy Griffith himself). Thankfully it was never used on television.

14 I’ll Be There For You (Friends)

You′re still in bed at ten and work began at eight

You’ve burned your breakfast so far

Things are goin’ great

Your mother warned you there′d be days like these

But she didn′t tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees that 

I’ll be there for you

Not too long ago I saw a headline that said something to the effect that kids viewing Friends nowadays find it super offensive. Thankfully I don’t give a rat’s ass what Zoomers or Gen Alphas think. In the 1990s Friends landed at the perfect time to make 20-somethings of that era feel seen. The fact that it was a Top Ten show for a decade and continues to be popular on streaming services validates its greatness. R.E.M. turned down the opportunity to have their 1991 hit Shiny Happy People serve as the theme song, so series creators wrote a tune themselves and Warner Brothers asked The Rembrandts, whose only notable success at the time was the 1990 song Just the Way It Is Baby, which charted in the Top 20, to record it. 

13 Welcome Back (Welcome Back Kotter)

Welcome back

Your dreams were your ticket out

Welcome back

To that same old place that you laughed about

In retrospect, Kotter is mostly remembered as the launching pad for John Travolta’s career, but that’s a bit unfair. It was a well written, funny show with a great cast. It stayed in the Top 20 during its first two seasons, but in its fourth & final year a confluence of events…new writers, new characters, Travolta taking a step back into a part time role as his movie stardom exploded…led to declining ratings & cancellation. The theme song was written & performed by John Sebastian, former frontman of The Lovin’ Spoonful, whose hits include Do You Believe in Magic? and Summer in the City. Welcome Back became a #1 hit for Sebastian in 1976.

12 The Ballad of Jed Clampett (The Beverly Hillbillies)

Come and listen to a story ’bout a man named Jed

Poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed

Then one day he was shooting at some food

And up through the ground come a bubbling crude

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea

I tend to be overly sensitive about the way southerners, rednecks, hillbillies, hayseeds, hicks, yokels, and bumpkins are portrayed in pop culture. Having lived my entire life in West Virginia I long ago grew weary of jokes, ridicule, and preconceived notions that are largely off base, atleast in my personal experience. At any rate, there are exceptions to every rule, and the Clampetts hail from Tennessee anyway 😂. The show’s nine season run ended the year before I was born, but it’s another 60s sitcom that was in heavy rotation in syndication when I was a young boy. The theme song was recorded by legendary bluegrass duo Flatt & Scruggs and succinctly sets up the program’s entire premise. It actually spent a few weeks atop the country charts.

11 Thank You For Being A Friend (The Golden Girls)

If you threw a party

Invited everyone you knew

You would see the biggest gift would be from me

And the card attached would say

Thank you for being a friend

During its seven seasons The Golden Girls won eleven Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, and a variety of other accolades. All four actresses in the cast…Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, and Bea Arthur…won Emmys. I was a 12 year old seventh grader when the show premiered, certainly not the target demographic for a sitcom about retired women sharing a house in Miami. However, because of its superb writing & top notch cast, The Golden Girls is one of those rare cases of something being so good it defies any traditional parameters. Thank You for Being a Friend had been a Top 25 hit in 1978 for Andrew Gold, although the TV show utilized a cover performed by a female artist.

Please stay tuned for the Top Ten…you don’t want to miss it!!

2025 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 7

Update: I’ve already lost interest in the MLB Playoffs. Perhaps a Tigers or Mariners World Series appearance could pull me back in. In other news, hockey has started, which is even less appealing to me than another Dodgers championship. On the bright side, my six fantasy football teams are a collective 22-7, which is probably as good as things have gone for me in 25 years of playing fantasy sports. I can’t help but brace myself for the moment everything falls apart, which, sadly, is kind of how my life goes. At any rate, let’s make some picks.

Observations from Last Week:

  • Kudos to the 49ers, who won on Thursday night despite a rash of injuries. Don’t be surprised if Mac Jones gets another opportunity to be a starting QB in the NFL.
  • Are we still handing QB Arch Manning the Heisman?? Drafting him #1 overall?? How bout Drew Allar?? 😂
  • Kind of a weird weekend for me. WV played on Friday night (my power went out & I missed most of the 2nd half). Both Marshall & the Steelers had a bye. 
  • “I thought, after scoring, a lot of times it takes a lot of energy. So I always thought I had done enough just by getting to the end zone. There was nothing left to do but to hand the ball to the ref and put six points on the board.” – Barry Sanders
  • Both of my Super Bowl picks…Buffalo & Philadelphia…lost for the first time, but I remain undeterred. They’ll figure things out by January.

My Season: 21-15

Zach’s Season: 12-24

Ohio State (-13.5) at Illinois

The undefeated Buckeyes remain the #1 team in the land, with no one really posing much of a challenge since Texas on opening weekend. The 5-1 Illini have only a 53 point beatdown at the hands of Iowa St. blemishing their record. It’s a home game for the underdogs, which may give them a puncher’s chance. However, as much as I’d love to see a thrilling nailbiter decided in the waning seconds of the 4th quarter, I don’t believe that’ll happen. Zach’s disdain for Ohio St. is well documented, so his choice isn’t surprising.

My Pick: Ohio St.

Zach’s Pick: Illinois

Alabama (-6.5) at Missouri

The 4-1 Tide seem to have steadied the ship after a season opening loss at Florida St. The undefeated Tigers are flying way under the radar. Some might point to their relatively weak schedule thus far, but wins over Kansas & South Carolina shouldn’t be overlooked. That being said, Missouri has an opportunity to make a statement and secure a signature victory that could define their season. Meanwhile, ‘Bama can’t make us completely forget that some were questioning the future of head coach Kalen DeBoer not that long ago. Alabama has won six consecutive games in this rivalry, dating back to 1978, including a 34-0 shutout last season when Missouri was also a ranked team. I’d love to be wrong, but there’s really no reason to believe in a legit chance for an upset. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Alabama

Zach’s Pick: Alabama

Indiana at Oregon (-14)

Credit where it is due…the unbeaten Hoosiers have been impressive, especially the last few weeks in victories over Illinois & Iowa. They are also coming off of a bye, which feels important. However, the 5-0 Ducks have been a buzzsaw. Not only did they go into Happy Valley and take down Penn St. in double OT, but they just had their bye week as well. These should be two healthy, well rested teams at full throttle. I’d be pleasantly surprised by an upset, but don’t think that’ll happen. Can Indiana keep it close though?? If they were at home I might lean in that direction, but in the unfriendly environment of Eugene, OR it feels like a high mountain to climb. Conversely, Zach really likes Indiana and feels like they are atleast talented & well coached enough to remain competitive.

My Pick: Oregon

Zach’s Pick: Indiana

Oklahoma vs. Texas (-10.5)

It’s the 121st edition of the Red River Shootout, a rivalry that dates back to 1900. Texas leads the series 64–51–5, with each team trading wins back & forth the last several years. The shine seems to be wearing off Longhorns’ QB Arch Manning, who certainly hasn’t resembled his Uncle Peyton or even Uncle Eli while leading his team to a pedestrian 3-2 record. However, the unbeaten Sooners have quarterback issues of their own, with starter John Mateer having recently had surgery on his throwing hand. The injury came at a good time, as Oklahoma had a bye week then played with their backup QB against an overmatched MAC opponent, but this is different. They’re not defeating Texas without Mateer, and even if he returns there’s no way he’ll be 100%. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes that’s just life. Zach predicts a low scoring, run heavy game, with the underdogs figuring out a way to get it done.

My Pick: Texas

Zach’s Pick: Oklahoma

Detroit at Kansas City (-3)

Some folks were starting to lose faith in the Lions after a season opening loss at Green Bay, but now they are 4-1 and once again perceived as one of the best teams in the NFC. Conversely, the once mighty Chiefs are 2-3 after a Monday night loss at Jacksonville, and everyone is wondering what in the world is going on. No one is going to convince me that the absence of WR Rashee Rice has been THAT impactful, and I won’t even lay too much of the blame at the feet of Taylor Swift, whose new album apparently contains a song about Travis Kelce’s junk. Anyway, this game feels like an important moment. Will Detroit continue their winning ways and put another nail in KC’s coffin, or will Andy Reid remind his team just who in the hell they are?? Has Swift really Yoko Ono-ed her fiancé’s career?? Should Detroit be the prohibitive Super Bowl favorite?? We’ll know more on Sunday night, when I think we’ll see a mild “upset”. But is it really an upset?!?!?? Zach foresees a tight battle, perhaps even overtime. Ultimately he thinks the Lions will find a way to prevail.

My Pick: Detroit

Zach’s Pick: Detroit

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – Part 8

Here’s a truth bomb: I don’t actually watch much television anymore. Specifically, I don’t watch hardly any traditional sitcoms or dramas. Don’t misunderstand…my TV is on alot, but either a) it’s background noise and I’m not really paying attention, or b) I am tuned in to very specific programming. I DVR “my stories” (thanks to my grandmothers & a childhood babysitter). I love my wrasslin’. On autumn weekends I am happy to vegg out watching hours upon hours of football. Occasionally I might check out the local news. And that’s pretty much it. Once upon a time I used to scope out the Fall Preview edition of TV Guide and decide what new shows I wanted to give a whirl, but that was a LONG time ago. Is TV Guide even a thing anymore?? I sincerely have no idea. The last network television program I remember being excited about was Designated Survivor almost a decade ago, and it faded into the abyss rather quickly. Am I missing out on some good stuff?? Probably. Do I care?? No. Thanks to streaming, if I REALLY get in the mood to watch a conventional TV program I can just rewatch an old favorite. Which reminds me of the task at hand. If you need to catch up please check out the following:

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3

Part 4  Part 5  Part 6

Part 7

30 Peter Gunn (Peter Gunn)

Peter Gunn was a detective series that aired in the late 1950s. It is unlikely that I would’ve been interested in it even if I had been born, which I wasn’t yet. However, the iconic theme song, composed by the legendary Henry Mancini, was also used two decades later on the big screen for The Blues Brothers.

29 Mister Ed (Mister Ed)

A horse is a horse, of course, of course

And no one can talk to a horse of course

That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed

Just imagine that pitch meeting, in which someone floats the idea of a sitcom starring a talking horse. Whatever the approach may have been obviously worked. The theme was written by the same songwriting duo who won an Academy Award for the Doris Day tune Que Sera Sera (from the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock/Jimmy Stewart film The Man Who Knew Too Much) and also wrote the Christmas classic Silver Bells. It is interesting to note that the actor who voiced Mr. Ed…Allan Lane…portrayed cowboy Red Ryder on the big screen in the 1940s. Red Ryder, as we’re reminded each December, is admired by a certain enthusiastic young boy in northern Indiana who desperately wants a replica of the crime fighter’s gun.

28 Mickey Mouse March (Mickey Mouse Club)

Come along 

Sing the song 

And join the jamboree

M-I-C-K-E-Y  M-O-U-S-E

Mickey Mouse has been the beloved mascot of Disney for nearly a century. The character has starred in movies, comic strips, and TV shows, most notably The Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950s, which also introduced the world to Annette Funicello. It’s been revived a few times, including the early 90s with a cast that included Justin TImberlake, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, and Christina Aguilera. 

27 William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger)

The Lone Ranger has been around since the 1930s. He was introduced on a radio program, and has since spawned books, TV shows, comics, and movies. Italian composer Gioachino Rossini wrote the William Tell Overture in 1829, Tell being a legendary 14th century Swiss folk hero. It’s a beautiful piece of music that’s actually about 11 minutes long, but most of us are only familiar with the finale section associated with The Old West’s masked vigilante lawman.

26 Dallas (Dallas)

Every Friday night at 9pm for over a decade my whole family would gather in front of our television to watch the wheelin’ & dealin’ and tribal conflict of the uber wealthy Ewing Family, especially the battles between sibling oilmen JR & Bobby. Because the show ran for 14 seasons the instrumental theme music was tweaked a few times, with the disco vibe of the early years giving way to a slightly New Wave interpretation. Having said that, unless one sat down & listened to each season’s opening individually, most probably wouldn’t notice a huge difference.

25 Angela (Taxi)

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Dallas’ majestic orchestral theme that evolved over a decade & a half, we have a simple, laid back, almost melancholy jazz tune from a sitcom that aired for a criminally short five seasons. The song wasn’t originally intended to be used as the show’s theme, as it was written for an early episode featuring a character named…you guessed it…Angela. However, the powers-that-be pivoted, making that cab ride across the Queensboro Bridge a journey that lives on in the collective memory of an entire generation. The song’s composer, Bob James, is allegedly the second most sampled artist in hip-hop history, after James Brown. I cannot opine on the veracity of that claim.

24 With a Little Help from My Friends (The Wonder Years)

What would you think if I sang out of tune?

Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song

And I’ll try not to sing out of key

My friend Greg once advanced the notion that “time travel is always cool”, a statement with which I generally agree. The Wonder Years didn’t necessarily address time travel, but the framing device was that of a middle aged narrator in the 1980s reflecting on his teen years in the 1960s. Perhaps, in this case, it’d be more accurate to say that nostalgia is cool, which is also mostly true. Actually, the television show was partly inspired by the 1983 film A Christmas Story, which is now a beloved holiday classic, but The Wonder Years had come & gone long before the 24 hour Christmas Eve marathon became an annual tradition. Kudos to the series’ creators for recognizing genius way before anyone else. Anyway, the theme song was originally a Beatles’ tune from the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Joe Cocker released his cover a year later, and it became a #1 hit. 

23 The Streetbeater (Sanford & Son)

Harmonica isn’t an instrument we hear very often, and rarely is it the centerpiece of a song. That’s what sets The Streetbeater apart. Motown icon Quincy Jones apparently composed it in less than a half hour then recorded it just as quickly. That’s quite impressive for a tune that is still instantly recognizable nearly a half century later.

22 Tossed Salads & Scrambled Eggs (Frasier)

Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin’

Tossed salads and scrambled eggs

And maybe I seem a bit confused

Yeah maybe, but I got you pegged!

But I don’t know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs

I LOVED Frasier. If you catch me in the right mood I might be bold enough to assert that Frasier is a better sitcom than Cheers, which I am fully aware is sacrilege to many people. I think it has something to do with my age and the fact that Cheers began when I was nine years old, airing until I was in college, while Frasier debuted when I was in college and was a source of comfort during my complicated 20s. At any rate, the mandate from producers to songwriters tasked with crafting the theme was that there be no direct mentions of psychiatry or a radio program. I think we can all agree that what they came up with is quite creative & snappy. It is also unique that the theme song was not played during the brief opening sequence, but was part of the closing credits.

21 Johnny’s Theme (The Tonight Show)

Late night television has been part of a national conversation lately, and I haven’t been shy about expressing my opinions on the subject for several years. Suffice to say, no one did it better than Johnny Carson. My father loved Carson’s Tonight Show, and I grew up watching it whenever I didn’t have school the next day and could stay up late. Johnny’s Theme originated as a song called Toot Sweet, written by Paul Anka for teen pop star Annette Funicello in 1959. Anka then released his own cover, retitled It’s Only Love. Carson asked Anka to compose an instrumental version, which opened each Tonight Show for three decades.

Stay tuned for Part 9…coming soon!!

2025 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 6

Oddly enough, I’ve been watching the MLB Playoffs for the past couple of days. Citizens of The Manoverse already know that I am a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, so for many years I have essentially lost interest in baseball’s regular season after the initial hype of the first month. The Pirates have a collective record of 669-847 in the past decade, and I’m not wasting my time paying much attention to a team that wins only 44% of their games. At any rate, unlike the marathon 162 game regular season, baseball’s postseason is divided into much more digestible sprints, and there are usually a handful of teams that I have some reason to loathe, which is enough to keep my attention for a month, or until only teams I hate remain standing. At any rate, my point is that switching from football mode to baseball mode then back to football to make these picks isn’t easy. The things I go thru for you people. You’re welcome.

Observations from Last Week:

  • It’s hard being a college football fan in the Mountain State 😱. My Thundering Herd grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory in a double OT loss to Louisiana, while earlier that day I didn’t make it past the first half of WVU’s shellacking at the hands of Utah. 
  • The NY Giants upset of the Chargers is the very definition of a Pyrrhic victory, given the season ending knee injury to star receiver Malik Nabers. 
  • Not a football thought, but what the hell was up with the United States Ryder Cup team?!?!?!?? That effort was EMBARRASSING!!!! ⛳️🇺🇸😬
  • Tyreek Hill is definitely “out, bruh” 🚑.
  • The Philadelphia Eagles special teams coach is Michael Clay, and he deserves a raise 🦅.

My Season: 18-13

Zach’s Season: 9-22

Clemson (-13.5) at North Carolina

I noted in the preseason that I was anticipating this matchup simply because of the contrasting personalities of head coaches Dabo Swinney & Bill Belichick. At 1-3 the Tigers have been an epic disappointment thus far, with virtually zero chance of reaching the CFP. Meanwhile, Belichick seems more interested in indulging his adolescent girlfriend than leading the 2-2 Tar Heels to a conference championship. The home field intrigues me just a bit and makes me wonder if UNC can really make a go of it. However, I believe in the old adage “it isn’t the X’s & O’s, it’s the Jimmys & Joes”. At the end of the day, despite an atrocious first month of the season, Clemson has superior athletes. Zach has no doubt that Swinney will get things sorted out fairly quickly, while he thinks it might take Belichick a few seasons to build Carolina into a great program.

My Pick: Clemson

Zach’s Pick: Clemson 

Kansas State at Baylor (-6.5)

It looks like both teams will be middle-of-the-pack in the Big 12, but the winner might have an opportunity to improve their lot. The 2-3 Wildcats have a really tough schedule ahead of them so this feels like a must win situation. The 3-2 Bears probably have a better shot at atleast securing a bowl invitation down the line, especially with a home victory in a winnable game. I don’t know who’ll come out on top, but I believe the margin of victory will be less than 5 points. Zach thinks the home field is enough for Baylor to win by a touchdown.

My Pick: Kansas St.

Zach’s Pick: Baylor

Miami (FL) (-5.5) at Florida State

For the first time in a very long time this Battle of Florida has meaningful implications. The Hurricanes are unbeaten and ranked 3rd in the nation. The 3-1 Seminoles suffered a brutal double OT loss to Virginia last week. Miami wants to stay in the conversation with other top national title contenders, while Florida St. needs a rebound if they don’t want everyone to assume their early season success was a fluke. I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but I think a field goal one way or another will decide the outcome. Zach sees Miami as a legit Top 5 team. He foresees FSU putting up a hell of a fight, but likes the ‘Canes to get a solid win.

My Pick: Florida St.

Zach’s Pick: Miami (FL)

Minnesota (-3.5) vs. Cleveland

I am intrigued by this game simply because Minnesota just played our Steelers in Ireland last weekend, and now they’ll play their second consecutive game overseas. I assume the whole group stayed in Britain and will make the trek to London at some point this week. That already gives them a slight advantage. Of course they also have an advantage because…well, they’re playing the Browns 🤷🏻. Cleveland is starting rookie Dillon Gabriel at QB, and there is a not-so-small part of me that would be happy to see him ball out, sending a clear message that he is the team’s future at quarterback, not that narcissistic Sanders clown. However, I do not believe that’ll happen just yet. There’s a chance the Vikes could have JJ McCarthy available, but even if they roll with Carson Wentz under center I think they’ll win a low scoring snoozefest…something like 13-6. Zach isn’t very impressed with Minnesota, but thinks receiver Justin Jefferson is a difference maker.

My Pick: Minnesota 

Zach’s Pick: Minnesota

Washington at LA Chargers (-2.5)

Speaking of quarterback returns, it seems as though Jayden Daniels could be back in Washington’s starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained knee. I don’t think the Commanders will overtake Philadelphia in their division, but it’s never too early to lay the foundation for a wildcard berth. Meanwhile, the Chargers sit atop their division thanks in part to the KC Chiefs’ slow start, but they can’t count on that lasting much longer. I’m getting playoff caliber vibes from this one, which I know sounds crazy at the beginning of October. It would certainly add to Daniels’ growing legacy to return from injury, lead his team into hostile territory, and escape with a victory. However, the reality is it’ll probably take a game or two for the young QB to be back in top form, and the Chargers seem like a team out to silence any doubters. Zach concurs.

My Pick: LA Chargers

Zach’s Pick: LA Chargers