Illinois Fighting Illini

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

2025 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 4

When I was a kid my father was a much more invested football fan than he has become in his later years. I vaguely recall him actually going to WVU games at old Mountaineer Field before the current stadium opened in 1980. Back then the ‘Eers weren’t on television much. ESPN didn’t yet exist and the networks only aired the biggest games featuring elite programs. As time passed and sports evolved West Virginia was on TV more often. Dad isn’t superstitious, but he is a little stitious, so when things weren’t going well he’d get frustrated, mute the television, and turn on the radio broadcast featuring legendary play-by-play announcer Jack Fleming & color commentator Woody O’Hara. Technology is a bit more advanced now, and I’ve had to laugh in recent weeks as I found myself muting my television during WVU & Marshall football games and finding more familiar audio on my phone. A lifetime ago, not long after I’d graduated from college, my sister happened to be riding shotgun in my car when I popped in a Dean Martin CD. She gave me a puzzled look and simply said “Oh my God…you’re turning into Dad”. If only she could see me now 😂.

Observations from Last Week:

  • Perhaps the biggest surprise is Georgia Tech upsetting Clemson. I ranked Clemson 10th in my preseason poll and felt like they were a level below legit national championship contenders but would remain competitive in a weak conference. Now they’ll have to win every remaining game & claim the ACC title to even get into the playoff.
  • Allow me to reiterate…Notre Dame was my pre-season #1 🤨.
  • Less than a month ago, while discussing the Virginia Tech Hokies, I said “head coach Brent Pry is entering his 4th season in Blacksburg, and I’m not confident there’ll be a fifth”. Pry was recently fired after starting 0-3 and losing to Old Dominion by almost three TDs. Sometimes I know what I’m talking about.
  • Where was THAT Russell Wilson a season ago when he was in Pittsburgh?!?!?!?? Or…or…perhaps, once again, it’s time to ask questions about the Steelers’ coaching staff 🤔.
  • Joe Burrow is out for three months. JJ McCarthy will miss 2-4 weeks. Austin Ekeler is gone for the rest of the season. George Kittle is injured, as are Jayden Daniels, Aaron Jones, and Justin Fields. Pay attention fantasy owners, and adjust your lineups accordingly.

My Season: 9-8

Zach’s Season: 5-12

Texas Tech at Utah (-3)

The Red Raiders are 3-0 and average 58 points/game while only giving up less than a dozen points/game. The Utes are also 3-0, and they’re putting up nearly 46 points/game with their defense yielding only eight points/game. Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff show will be in the house, and the winner of the game will sit in the Big 12 driver’s seat. I ranked Tech 14th in the pre-season, and they haven’t given me any reason to move off that yet. Conversely, Zach can’t overlook the home field, so he believes Utah will win a high scoring shootout.

My Pick: Texas Tech

Zach’s Pick: Utah

Oregon State at Oregon (-35)

Rivalry games used to occur much later in the season, but conference realignment has obliterated so many of those old traditions. They call this one The Civil War, although officially that name was discontinued in 2020 because of…*checks notes*…George Floyd, which is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. Good God…why has our society given so much credibility to a fentanyl addicted domestic abuser?!?!?? At any rate, f*#k those pansies, I’ll call the game whatever I want. It hasn’t been that competitive in recent years, with the Ducks winning six of the past eight meetings. Obviously the oddsmakers don’t see that trend changing, but wow…those points!! I don’t know if we’ve ever considered a game with that kind of spread. I tend to be somewhat conservative, so I’m looking at a 42-14 kind of score, with the home team winning comfortably but not covering. Zach thinks Oregon might be the best team in the country right now. He predicts they’ll be able to rest their starters in the second half and still cover.

My Pick: Oregon St.

Zach’s Pick: Oregon

Washington (-20.5) at Washington State

It’s really a shame what has happened to the once mighty Pac 12. Why the hell are UCLA & USC in the Big Ten?!?!?? What in the world are the Cal Bears doing in the freakin’ ACC?!?!?!?? The Pac 12 will be rebuilt next season with the addition of Boise St., Fresno St., and others, but it’ll never quite be the same. Anyway, the 117th Apple Cup isn’t shaping up to be all that compelling, with the 2-0 Huskies heavily favored over the 2-1 Cougars, who were beaten by nearly 50 points by North Texas last weekend. With all due respect to the Mean Green, that result would’ve been unimaginable just a few years ago. It might be a relative nail biter, but I foresee the visitors winning by 21-24 points. Zach points out how the Huskies fell off under a new coaching regime last year, a season after falling short in the CFP Championship. He believes State will rebound from last week’s ass kicking and atleast make things interesting.

My Pick: Washington 

Zach’s Pick: Washington St.

Illinois at Indiana (-4.5)

It could be the best game of the weekend. Both teams are 3-0, and every victory is huge in the ultra competitive Big Ten. I like the Hoosiers to win at home, but this feels like one of those situations that’ll be decided by a field goal in the final minute, or possibly overtime. Zach thinks the Illini has a slight edge with a better QB, which will be the difference.

My Pick: Illinois 

Zach’s Pick: Illinois 

Denver at LA Chargers (-2.5)

All the sudden the AFC West is in play for the first time in a decade, with Kansas City sitting at 0-2 and looking like they’ve lost their championship edge. I’m not ready to give Last Rites to the Chiefs just yet, but the other teams in the division are looking more impressive than they have in quite a long time. The Broncos lost a heartbreaker in Indianapolis last week, with there being a variety of opinions about how that played out. Meanwhile, the 2-0 Chargers have jumped out of the starting gate with consecutive divisional wins that could become huge later in the season. It’ll be a tight battle, but I like the home team to win by atleast a field goal, perhaps a touchdown. Zach is a huge Jim Harbaugh fan and believes the Chargers should be considered a serious Super Bowl contender.

My Pick: LA Chargers

Zach’s Pick: LA Chargers