Month: October 2026

2026 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 10

We went down in FLAMES last week!! 0-5…both of us. And that’s all I have to say about that. Anyway, Happy Halloween Manoverse!! I know there are a variety of opinions about the occasion, which is fine. Personally, I am not offended by young skulls full of mush dressing up like a firefighter, princess, or their favorite superhero and strolling the neighborhood in search of candy. I understand the origins of Halloween, and won’t disparage those who choose not to celebrate, but I believe in nuance, which means that modern festivities are mostly harmless fun. It’s a bit tricky this year (pun unavoidable) because the holiday occurs on a Saturday. I want to fit in my normal rotation of spooky entertainment like It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!, Hocus Pocus, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, and of course the 1978 classic Halloween…but I also want to watch ball games. We’ll see how it all shakes out. In the meantime, y’all be careful out there. Enjoy yourselves, but never forget that Jesus is the light of the world, and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness and will have the light of life.

My Season: 17-42

Zach’s Season: 24-35

Clemson (-1.5) at Florida State

They might be two of the most confusing teams in college football. We all remember when both programs were GREAT, but in the case of Florida St. that hasn’t been the case for awhile. Clemson’s decline is more recent and less pronounced, but it’s still a thing. Having said that, both teams have shown flashes of their former glory. The 3-4 Seminoles beat the snot out of Virginia, and they were competitive in losses to SMU & Alabama. The 4-3 Tigers have victories over North Carolina & Cal. I’m a bit surprised this is a prime time game, although it is on the ACC Network. At any rate, while I expect it to be a bit closer than Clemson’s two TD win a season ago, I think the same team comes out on top. Zach doesn’t think it’s a matter of talent in Tallahassee, but rather a coaching issue. He sees Florida St. as a team on the rise, and Clemson as a program on the decline.

My Pick: Clemson

Zach’s Pick: Florida St.

Wisconsin at Iowa (-3.5)

The Badgers are 5-2, snuck into the Top 25, and just defeated Southern Cal. The Hawkeyes are also 5-2 but lost last weekend to the underrated Minnesota Golden Gophers. I don’t think either team are legit contenders for the Big Ten title, but finishing in the top quarter of the conference might lead to a playoff berth. They call this the Battle for the Heartland, and it’s the 100th meeting. Wisconsin leads the series 49–48–2, which is pretty damn tight. Iowa has won the last four though, and I believe they’ll make it five. Zach would advise anyone who participates in certain activities to take the under (which is 36.5), and he likes Wisconsin just a tad bit better in a game that’ll be decided by defense & special teams.

My Pick: Iowa

Zach’s Pick: Wisconsin

Florida at Georgia (-11.5)

I still call it the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, even if the more woke among us refuses to do so these days. Florida is 5-2, which is certainly an improvement over last year’s 4-8 campaign, but losses to Missouri & South Carolina indicate there are still kinks to be worked out. Upsetting Texas a week ago was impressive, but it also raises questions about how “up” the Gators can get for the next game. Meanwhile, the 6-1 ‘Dawgs stumbled against Auburn last week, losing on a last second field goal. That probably says more about Auburn than it does Georgia, and I don’t think the favorites will lose a second consecutive game. The only question is the points. If this game were being played in The Swamp and Georgia HADN’T lost last week, I might foresee a real battle, but that’s not the case. I’ll be stunned if the home team doesn’t play pissed off with a point to prove. Zach hasn’t moved off his stance that Georgia is the best team in the country.

My Pick: Georgia

Zach’s Pick: Georgia

Baltimore at Buffalo (-3.5)

Word on the street is that QB Lamar Jackson will return after missing the last three games with a high ankle sprain. The Ravens lost two of those three and sit at the bottom of the AFC North, although they’re only one game back. Conversely, the 5-1 Bills have only a late 4th quarter collapse against New England besmirching their record. I didn’t think Buffalo would be as dominant under new leadership, but I believe I had Baltimore pegged rather accurately. They’ll make some noise and might even be in the playoff picture down the stretch, but they aren’t as good as they’ve been in the past. This will be a fun game, but the home favorites won’t suffer the same outcome as that one unfortunate loss. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Buffalo

Zach’s Pick: Buffalo

Kansas City (-1.5) at Denver

The freakin’ Chiefs KILLED my fantasy teams last weekend. Mahomes. K9III. Butker. Did they all need to have a terrible game at the same damn time?!?!?? Of course, the Broncos group of Bo Nix, Sutton, Waddle, and a RB committee have been inconsistent all season. Still, one of these teams will win the division because the Raiders & Chargers sure as hell aren’t. This is a rematch from the season opener, which KC won by three TDs. I’m going out on a limb to predict a much different result this time. It’s not time for Kansas City to push any panic buttons, but don’t be shocked when they lose two in a row. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Denver

Zach’s Pick: Denver

2026 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 9

A couple of weeks ago, while pulling the curtain back on how this project comes together, I alluded to the fact that sometimes I misplace my motivation. Now is one of those times. It is late on Wednesday night and I am powering thru, because we are picking a Thursday night game, and I will be busy all day tomorrow. Perhaps you’ll enjoy my lack of verbosity…but don’t get used to it.

My Season: 17-37

Zach’s Season: 24-30

James Madison (-10.5) at Appalachian State

Once upon a time these teams seemed to be ascending in a parallel manner. However, at the moment, the undefeated Dukes are chasing their third 11+ win season in the past four years and just announced an impending move from the Sun Belt to the American Conference, while the 4-2 Mountaineers are hoping to avoid a third consecutive losing season. This is the Thursday night contest on ESPN, and though I’d love to see a fun, exciting battle, that seems unlikely. Zach concurs.

My Pick: James Madison

Zach’s Pick: James Madison

Houston at Utah (-6.5)

They were my preseason favorites in the Big 12, and neither team has disappointed. The Utes are an unbeaten Top Ten program, while the 6-1 Cougars are lurking closely behind. The kickoff isn’t until after 10pm Saturday night for me, so I might end up missing the second half. At any rate, I won’t predict an outright upset, but I believe it’ll be a bit closer than the oddsmakers think. Zach foresees a high scoring shootout, and likes the visiting underdogs by a field goal.

My Pick: Houston

Zach’s Pick: Houston

Ole Miss at Texas (-3)

The coronation of Arch Manning is officially on hold, as most of the talking heads have turned on him. The Longhorns have lost their last two games, and face the possibility of missing the playoff altogether. Conversely, the 5-1 Rebels are still trying to figure out what the hell happened in The Swamp a few weeks ago, but otherwise they’re in good shape. This would be an emphatic statement win for Ole Miss, and I think they pull it off on the road. Zach has no confidence in Texas, and believes another visiting underdog can overcome the odds.

My Pick: Ole Miss

Zach’s Pick: Ole Miss

San Francisco (-3.5) at Atlanta

Much to my surprise, the unbeaten Niners are running away with their division. Meanwhile, the 2-4 Falcons have looked good at times, but they just can’t get over the hump. Atlanta will probably show flashes and be competitive, but ‘Frisco is likely to win by a comfortable margin. Zach thinks the 49ers might be the best team in the NFL.

My Pick: San Francisco

Zach’s Pick: San Francisco

NY Giants at Houston (-9.5)

JJ McCarthy will be the Giants starting QB, which doesn’t feel like the right decision, but at 3-2-1 I guess head coach John Harbaugh figures “Why not?”. The 2-4 Texans might’ve figured some things out winning their last two games after an 0-4 start. If this game was being played in New Jersey I might give the underdogs a chance, but I feel like the folks in Vegas probably got it right. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Houston

Zach’s Pick: Houston

2026 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 8

A year ago I wrote “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’”. The Steelers did indeed choose Allar in the third round, and right now he sits on the bench, allegedly learning at the feet of Aaron Rodgers, who is expected to retire following the season. So I’m not always wrong, although you’d wouldn’t know that judging by the atrocious picks I’ve made thus far. Last weekend was a bloodbath. At this point a year ago I was five games above .500 and had a ten game lead, while I now find myself 21 games below mediocrity. Zach was fifteen games below .500, but emerged from that October deficit to capture the championship, so I suppose there’s still hope for me.

My Season: 14-35

Zach’s Season: 22-27

Indiana at Ohio State (-3.5)

We’re comin’ in hot with one of the most anticipated rematches of the year. A season ago the Hoosiers defeated Ohio St. in the Big Ten title game en route to winning the national championship. Fair or not, I still feel like people have questions about Indiana. They’re undefeated, but have only been challenged a couple of times thus far. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes have already tasted defeat once, yet still find themselves ranked in the Top 5. It is undeniable that their roster is loaded with NFL talent. While Indiana’s starting eleven on both sides of the ball might match up with Ohio St.’s top guys, it’s the home team that has a deeper pool of talent. That being said, I think Curt Cignetti is a better coach than Ryan Day, and that can’t be overlooked. In my preseason rankings I had Indiana 12th and felt like it’d be difficult for them to repeat, while Ohio St. was 5th and I opined that rebuilding a defense that lost so much production to the NFL was the key to success. The Buckeyes have the 19th best defense in the country, while the Hoosiers are fifth. I am hopeful this will be a tremendous game that lives up to expectations. My vibe is that the favorites defend the home field, but will lose one…possibly two…of their remaining games, not appear in the conference title game, yet earn a playoff bid. Zach’s disdain for Ohio St. is well documented, but he’s also practical. He thinks Indiana is well coached, while the team itself is overrated and not that great. As painful as it is, he is picking the Buckeyes and doesn’t believe it’ll be all that close.

My Pick: Ohio St.

Zach’s Pick: Ohio St.

Virginia at SMU (-9.5)

The Cavs find themselves 4-2 but still in the ACC title conversation. The 4-1 Mustangs are in the mix as well. The winner stays in the hunt, while the loser will be on the outside looking in. I’ll agree with the oddsmakers that SMU should be favored, but the points seem a bit much. Whoever comes out on top won’t win by more than a touchdown. Conversely, while Zach thought Virginia would be a very good team, he thinks we were all duped. He foresees SMU winning big.

My Pick: Virginia

Zach’s Pick: SMU

Missouri at Ole Miss (-6)

The 5-1 Tigers seemed to have scored a huge upset over Florida a couple weeks ago, until the Gators lost again the following weekend, effectively making Missouri’s win look less impressive. The 4-1 Rebels got hammered by those same Gators, which is even more confusing. Could Ole Miss be looking ahead to games against Texas and #1 Georgia (one of whom I think they’ll upset)?? Might they be on the losing end of a stunner at home?? I believe it’s possible. Zach has questions about Ole Miss’ defense and is also predicting an upset.

My Pick: Missouri

Zach’s Pick: Missouri

Notre Dame (-10) at BYU 

I need to apologize to Zach. When I sent him info on this week’s slate I inadvertently had BYU as ten point favorites, which, upon further review, made absolutely no sense. I usually catch errors like that. Anyway, credit where it is due…the Cougars are unbeaten and QB Bear Bachmeier should be a legit Heisman candidate. However, the Irish are also unbeaten and ranked #2 in the nation. I think The Bear can make things really interesting and further solidify his Heisman profile, but at the end of the night the visitors just have too many athletes. Having said that, I think Notre Dame only wins by 7-9 points. Zach thinks Notre Dame is on a revenge tour of sorts, after being iced out of the playoff last season. He points out that they’ve spanked every opponent thus far, and doesn’t expect anything different now.

My Pick: BYU

Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame 

Seattle (-3) at Denver

Neither team has looked as impressive as expected. Both are 3-2 and trail by a couple of games in their divisions. I have Denver QB Bo Nix on some of my fantasy rosters, and he definitely needs to kick it up a notch. This is the Thursday night contest on Prime Video, and unlike many old school curmudgeons, I rather enjoy those games. At some point these two teams have to wake up and remember who the hell they are. If both do it this week it could be a fantastic game, but what are the odds of that occurring?? If only one team figures things out, which will it be?? Y’all should know by now, in toss up situations I tend to lean toward the home team, even when they’re underdogs. Zach hasn’t lost faith in the Broncos and thinks they’ll be fine. However, he doesn’t believe Seattle will lose two in a row, and predicts their top rated defense will make the difference.

My Pick: Denver

Zach’s Pick: Seattle

2026 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 7

Allow me to give y’all some inside scoop, and forgive me if I’ve covered this territory previously. Here is a basic outline of how the process works. I look at the college & NFL schedules and choose a minimum of five games to pick. This time of year I lean more heavily on college games simply because when their season ends we still have a month of pro games, so I exercise restraint with those right now. It is undeniable that some teams (at both levels) are more interesting than others. You’ll rarely see us opine about a Syracuse/Boston College matchup, or a riveting Sunday afternoon battle between the Jets & Cardinals. That being said, I don’t enjoy being redundant, so we try not to pick games involving the same teams we just debated last week. There’s also the matter of my mood. Seriously. Clearly this is fun or we wouldn’t do it. That being said, sometimes I get busy or distracted with other matters, and occasionally I simply misplace my motivation. Thankfully those aren’t significant issues. I usually have next week’s games chosen by Sunday, find the point spreads on Tuesday, and message Zach with the pertinent information. I then put my thoughts on the page and finish up with Zach’s picks once I receive them. I put everything together on the site with the goal of publishing a final draft by Wednesday night or Thursday morning. This week I looked at the schedule and became intrigued by way too many games, but I’m feeling frisky so we’re loaded. I’ll try to minimize the verbosity.

My Season: 11-26

Zach’s Season: 17-20

Iowa at Washington (-2.5)

The Hawkeyes were undefeated until a beatdown by Ohio St. on their own field. The Huskies have lost two straight and clearly aren’t living up to my lofty expectations. This is a Friday night game on Fox, and I’ll flip over to it when wrasslin’ is over. I haven’t lost faith in Washington completely, and see them snapping their losing skid while defending their turf. Conversely, Zach is all in on Iowa. He appreciates how well they’re coached and their attention to fundamentals. 

My Pick: Washington

Zach’s Pick: Iowa

Texas (-9.5) vs. Oklahoma

Typically it is one of the most anticipated rivalry games on the schedule, but it’s hard to get amped up about the 2-2 Sooners taking on the #1 team in the country. It’s a neutral site game in Dallas, which is about the same distance from both campuses. I’d love to see an upset because that’s just how I am when I don’t have any strong feelings about either team, but I just don’t see it happening. Zach believes Longhorns QB Arch Manning is overrated, but fortunately for him Oklahoma isn’t very good.

My Pick: Texas

Zach’s Pick: Texas

UCLA at Oregon (-11.5)

Has anyone noticed that the Bruins are undefeated?? Not only that, but they’re outscoring opponents 45-19. The 3-1 Ducks are a different level though, despite an inexplicable loss at Oklahoma St. If this game was in Pasadena I might give the underdogs a puncher’s chance, but in the cozy confines of Autzen Stadium in Eugene I’d be surprised if the favorites didn’t handle their business no matter who starts at quarterback. Zach thinks the underdogs could make things interesting for awhile, but at the end of the day Oregon simply has too much of everything.

My Pick: Oregon

Zach’s Pick: Oregon

LSU (-10) at Kentucky

The 4-1 Wildcats have been making some noise, and they have the home field. The Bayou Bengals still have conference title dreams and playoff aspirations despite a heartbreaking loss at Mississippi a few weeks ago. Unfortunately for Kentucky fans, y’all are still a basketball school, and Lane Kiffin is about to make that abundantly clear. Zach sees LSU as a serious championship contender and doesn’t believe Kentucky poses much of a threat, despite their prolific offense.

My Pick: LSU

Zach’s Pick: LSU

Boise State (-7.5) at Fresno State

The Bulldogs are a solid program that has had intermittent great seasons. They just haven’t been able to hold onto a coach for awhile. Matt Entz is Fresno’s seventh head coach since 2011. Meanwhile, Boise might be one of the steadiest, most consistent programs in college football, and they’re aiming for their first Pac 12 title. It’s a 10:30pm Saturday night kickoff, and I sincerely hope I can stay awake to enjoy what might be a really good game. Zach is impressed by Fresno, but feels like Boise is a more complete team.

My Pick: Boise St.

Zach’s Pick: Boise St.

USC (-1.5) at Penn State

The Nittany Lions have dropped two consecutive games, so their playoff dreams are on life support. Conversely, the 5-1 Trojans only loss was to Oregon, and there’s no shame in that. I have seen a couple of mock drafts that had USC’s 6ft.4, 225lb. QB Jayden Maiava land with our Pittsburgh Steelers, so I am intrigued. Having said that, I still like my boy Rocco Becht, and he’ll have over 100k fans in Happy Valley rooting for an upset. Zach doesn’t think Penn St. is good at all, while he believes USC might be on the cusp of returning to elite status.

My Pick: Penn St.

Zach’s Pick: USC

Georgia (-1.5) at Alabama

The Bulldogs haven’t won in Tuscaloosa since 2007. Wrap your brain around that. Both are unbeaten Top 5-ish teams. The loser probably won’t fall out of the Top Ten, but the winner will be in firm control of an SEC title game appearance. I think it’ll be a tight contest, and obviously the oddsmakers see it that way as well. My vibe is that Georgia is marginally more talented and better equipped to handle big moments. Zach believes the game will be decided in the final minute, and gives ‘Bama a slight edge.

My Pick: Georgia

Zach’s Pick: Alabama

Chicago (-2.5) at Green Bay

The 2-2 Packers have been underwhelming, to say the least. The 3-1 Bears are likely to start Tyson Bagent under center while Caleb Williams recovers from a hamstring injury. That, in addition to the home field, would normally make Green Bay clear favorites, but injuries & other issues have caused them to be ineffective. I think it’ll be a low scoring snoozefest, with turnovers and the leg of rookie kicker Trey Smack making the difference. Zach thinks Chicago is a better overall team and foresees them finding a way to pull off a close win.

My Pick: Green Bay

Zach’s Pick: Chicago

San Francisco at Seattle (-2.5)

The NFC West is up for grabs, but Frisco is undefeated and leads the way at the moment. The defending Super Bowl champs are only a game back though, and they enjoy one of the most significant home field advantages in the NFL. I still believe the Rams will ultimately win the division, but these teams would have to be considered serious wildcard contenders. I like QB Sam Darnold to have a huge game and lead his team to an important victory. Zach likes Niners QB Brock Purdy just a little bit more.

My Pick: Seattle

Zach’s Pick: San Francisco

NY Giants at Washington (-3)

I’m not surprised the Giants are leading the division. I am also not surprised that Washington QB Jayden Daniels has missed the last two games with yet another injury. It looks like Daniels is being forced into a return after backup Marcus Mariota also got hurt last weekend. A win by the visitors shouldn’t be considered an upset. Actually, unless Daniels pulls off a Michael Jordan-esque comeback performance, I don’t see how anyone could pick the home team. Zach believes new head coach John Harbaugh has made a huge difference for the G-Men.

My Pick: NY Giants

Zach’s Pick: NY Giants

Baltimore (-2.5) at Atlanta

Don’t overthink it. The Ravens won’t have QB Lamar Jackson, who is dealing with a sprained ankle. The Falcons seem to be on the verge of a breakthrough, and they have the home field on Sunday night after destroying New Orleans on the previous Monday. I believe the home team wins, and it won’t be particularly close. Conversely, Zach likes Baltimore to win a high scoring affair.

My Pick: Atlanta

Zach’s Pick: Baltimore

Buffalo at LA Rams (-2.5)

The 2-2 Rams haven’t been nearly as dominant as expected, and the return of defensive lineman Aaron Donald has fallen flat thus far. Conversely, the 3-1 Bills seemed to be firing on all cylinders until losing to the Patriots in the final two minutes last weekend. This is quite possibly a Super Bowl preview, but both teams still need to work out the kinks. It’s the Monday night game, and should be a dandy. It’s a coin flip for me, and I’ll take the home team to win by a field goal. Zach is choosing the other side of the coin and counting on the visitors to score a mild upset.

My Pick: LA Rams

Zach’s Pick: Buffalo