Full disclosure…for various reasons I’ve pondered ending these picks permanently, effective immediately. However, I was always taught to finish what I start, so we press on…for now. We’ve got some REALLY good games happening this week. Early November…the lull between Halloween and the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s corridor…is a fantastic time to be a football fan. Baseball is over, basketball is still a month or two away from being worthy of attention, and there aren’t many other distractions. The weather has cooled down but isn’t aggravating yet. Conference races are heating up, and the NFL’s contenders & pretenders are coming into focus. The world has become a vile hellscape, but atleast we can sit back, relax, enjoy a warm beverage, and cast as many cares aside as possible for a couple of days while sinking our teeth into some exhilarating gridiron action. I don’t know if I’ll be doing this again, so for anyone who has followed along and enjoyed this little project thru the years…thank you. Also…FUCK Michigan…the school, the football team, and the ENTIRE shitty state. Burn in Hell you stupid motherfuckers.
My Season: 22-42
Zackistan’s Season: 27-37
Oregon at Ohio State (-7)
I wonder if Oregon QB Dante Moore regrets his decision to remain in college rather than enter the NFL Draft?? Not only did his season end four games in due to a concussion from a vicious hit, but the Ducks probably aren’t playoff bound. Hell, what will Moore do next year…return to Oregon, go to the NFL (after his draft stock has plummeted), or transfer elsewhere for his senior season?? Those are questions for another time. As far as this game goes, the Buckeyes aren’t losing, despite also playing with a backup quarterback. They overcame Indiana last weekend, so I don’t believe Oregon will do any better. The only question is will the home favorites cover?? I think they will…barely. Zachistan is picking Oregon because of course he is.
My Pick: Ohio St.
Zachistan’s Pick: Oregon
Kentucky at Tennessee (-6.5)
First of all, kudos to these two programs for keeping their rivalry where it belongs…on campus. No neutral field locations. Secondly, it must be noted that this battle feels…different. Tennessee has DOMINATED the series 85-26-9. The Vols have won 12 out of the past 14 meetings, including the last five games. However, the 7-1 Wildcats seem to be legit, with victories over LSU & Oklahoma on their resume. The 6-2 Vols suffered two three point losses but could very easily be undefeated. Both teams are coming off a bye, so there aren’t any excuses. As much fun as it’d be for the underdogs to throw a big ol’ monkey wrench into preconceived notions about who should be in the SEC title hunt, I understand how difficult it is to win in Rocky Top, so I’d be surprised by an upset. However, I won’t be shocked at all when the home favorites win by only 3-5 points. Zachistan thinks Kentucky can score anywhere anytime, and he’s a bit surprised by the odds.
My Pick: Kentucky
Zachistan’s Pick: Kentucky
Georgia (-3.5) at Ole Miss
After being upset by Auburn at home a couple of weeks ago the Bulldogs still have an opportunity to prove they’re the best team in the nation. They face three ranked opponents this month, beginning with the 6-2 Rebels, who most certainly wouldn’t have been a Top Ten team a decade ago, when losses actually meant something. Anyway, if there is ANY shred of decency & fairness remaining in the world Georgia will win by three or four TDs. Zachistan concurs.
My Pick: Georgia
Zachistan’s Pick: Georgia
Alabama at LSU (-4.5)
Do you remember when the entire college football universe stopped to pay attention to this game?? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Now, it’s being played at 3:30pm and no one gives a rat’s ass because both teams have already lost a couple of games and neither are even sniffing a championship trophy. LSU is so irrelevant they can’t even host a night game at a venue that has made Saturday nights legendary, while ‘Bama post-Saban has been like watching TheOffice after Steve Carell’s departure. You want to talk yourself into the notion that it’s still great, but it just isn’t. Anyway, I still like the home field advantage for the Bayou Bengals, even if Disney is too stupid to understand the opportunity. Zachistan continues to view LSU as a legit national title contender 😂, and he likes them to win by a touchdown at home.
My Pick: LSU
Zachistan’s Pick: LSU
BYU at Utah (-5)
They call it The Holy War, because…well, Mormons. If any well dressed yet slightly creepy youths ironically knock on your door during this game, just ignore them. Focus, because it should be a dandy. The Utes lead the all time series 62–37–4, although the Cougars have won the last three meetings (after Utah had previously won nine in a row). Home field advantage isn’t a huge factor since the two campuses are separated by less than fifty miles. I love Cougars QB Bear Bachmeier, and I won’t count his team out of the Big 12 title race or a playoff berth. That being said, I think Utah is better & deeper, and they’ll win by a touchdown. Conversely, Zachistan thinks the visiting underdogs will keep things close and find a way to win in the end.
My Pick: Utah
Zachistan’s Pick: BYU
Penn State at Washington (-1.5)
In case you need a refresher, these two teams were both in the Top 5 of my preseason poll, because apparently I was high. The Nittany Lions are 4-4, while the Huskies are only slightly better at 5-3. To be honest, this game isn’t the least bit compelling, and the only reason it’s in our lineup is because I am a self deprecating masochist. However, because I still have love for my boy Rocco Becht, I am pulling for the mild upset. Zachistan agrees.
My Pick: Penn St.
Zachistan’s Pick: Penn St.
Miami (FL) at Notre Dame (-5.5)
I am not nearly energetic enough to confirm, but I suspect this may be the deepest into a college football season that my preseason #1 is actually the top team in the land. That almost wasn’t the case, with the Hurricanes going down to the wire before upending the UNC Tar Heels last weekend. Florida St. took Miami to two overtimes a few weeks ago as well, so their grip on the top spot has been tenuous. Meanwhile, despite stumbling against BYU a couple of weeks ago, the Irish are a Top 5 team whose playoff berth is probably safe unless things go terribly awry, despite what the CFP standings may indicate. This isn’t on the same level as the old Catholics vs. Convicts skirmishes of almost four decades ago, but it is two of the best five teams in a matchup in which the alleged top team in the country find themselves underdogs. I don’t know who wins, but I believe it’ll be decided by a field goal. Zachistan has consistently called Notre Dame overrated all season, and he doesn’t believe the final score will be particularly close.
My Pick: Miami (FL)
Zachistan’s Pick: Miami (FL)
Dallas (-5.5) at Indianapolis
Is there anyone left in the Colts organization?!?!?? How long before the head coach is gone?? The new owner might look like an idiot walking around on the sidelines with a headset & a clipboard, but the fact is she controls the money, and perhaps a total house cleaning isn’t the worst idea. That being said, the Cowboys are equally ridiculous, and it’s fun when they lose, so that’s what I’m hoping for even if it isn’t a smart pick. Have you seen my record?? What do I have to lose?? Hell, we’re all going to be ruled by Zachistan’s beloved Muslim invaders soon enough anyway, so who cares?? He is making the safe pick, which is probably the right call.
My Pick: Indianapolis
Zachistan’s Pick: Dallas
Green Bay at New England (-2.5)
The Packers are a hard team to figure out. Are they the team that whooped Chicago’s ass a few weeks ago, or are they the team that was dominated by Atlanta back in September?? Injuries have cost them, but injuries heal. Are they putting it all together for a playoff run, or will they miss the postseason altogether?? The same questions could be asked of the Patriots, who will need to secure a wild card because they aren’t overcoming Buffalo to win the division. I like Green Bay’s chances just a skosh more, this week and beyond. Zachistan believes the visiting underdogs will win decisively.
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.
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.
The NHL season & MLB Playoffs are both underway. I wish I could feign interest in either one, but unless the Pittsburgh Penguins make the Stanley Cup playoffs in nine months or we’re treated to a Red Sox/Guardians vs. Cubs World Series it seems unlikely that I’ll be an engaged viewer. Conversely, football has my full attention every weekend. Sadly, fandom hasn’t translated into knowledgable forecasting of these games. Almost everything I’ve said from the preseason ‘til now has been completely wrong. My picks have become a microcosm of my life, which has been calamitous for most of the year. That is my cross to bear, but in the meantime we’ll forge ahead and see if we can atleast right the ship in this space.
My Season: 10-22
Zach’s Season: 15-17
Florida (-5) at Missouri
The unbeaten Gators pulled off a huge upset of Ole Miss last weekend, but it doesn’t get any easier from there. The Tigers gave up two 4th quarter touchdowns at Mississippi St. for their first loss of the year. The home team might have a puncher’s chance, but Florida just feels different under first year coach Jon Sumrall. I don’t expect them to run the table, but they’ll be a surprising ingredient in the SEC title mix. Zach thinks Missouri has been overrated and sees Florida as a legit playoff contender.
My Pick: Florida
Zach’s Pick: Florida
BYU (-6.5) at TCU
It isn’t shocking that the Cougars are undefeated, or that QB Bear Brachmeier leads the Big 12 in passer rating. However, let’s be honest…BYU hasn’t been tested yet. The Horned Frogs sit at .500 and appear to be a sloppy, undisciplined team. I don’t believe the game will be particularly competitive, but as we’ve established, I don’t really know what the hell I’m talking about, so who knows?? Zach believes TCU is still figuring out their identity, while BYU is sneaky good. He agrees that the favorites should win easily.
My Pick: BYU
Zach’s Pick: BYU
Notre Dame (-21) at North Carolina
I know it’s not possible for both teams to lose, but as a lifelong Notre Dame hater and someone who views Belichick as a stain on the sport, a double loss would be football nirvana. Realistically though, the undefeated Irish have gotten off to a much better start than last season and look like a playoff certainty unless they stumble down the stretch against a significant underdog. The 2-1 Tar Heels led Clemson with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but gave up two touchdowns in the final five minutes. Carolina has the home field, and they might give their fans false hope for awhile, but the visiting favorites just have too much skill & athleticism. Zach concurs.
My Pick: Notre Dame
Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame
Miami (FL) (-16.5) at Clemson
The ‘Canes were my preseason #1, and thus far they’ve done nothing to dissuade that prediction. The Tigers have been on the downswing after being one of the country’s most dominant programs for a decade. While 3-1 is impressive enough, the truth is they’ve looked beatable in a couple of those victories. Clemson has the home field on Saturday night, but I’d be stunned if they actually won. However, if the underdogs are on the verge of getting back their mojo I suppose it’s not out of the question that they’ll stay within two TDs. Zach doesn’t think Clemson is very good, despite their winning record. He believes they’ll be competitive into the second half, but the visiting favorites will pull away late.
My Pick: Clemson
Zach’s Pick: Miami (FL)
New England at Buffalo (-6.5)
Bills QB Josh Allen is a newlywed who welcomed a baby in the offseason. Buffalo also hired a new head coach. My thought process led to the conclusion that the team would “regress a bit”. I couldn’t have been more wrong. They enter the weekend 3-0 and have looked better than ever. Meanwhile, the Patriots, who I believed would win another division title with relative ease, are 1-2 and in total disarray. Can they reverse course and get back into the playoff mix?? Of course…it’s way too soon to count anyone out. However, I don’t think they’ll win this game. As a matter of fact, don’t be surprised if the home team seizes an opportunity to make a decisive statement. Zach agrees.
I got to enjoy last weekend’s slate of games uninterrupted by any trips to the emergency room, so it was certainly an improvement. I only wish that our Steelers would’ve allowed that bliss to be complete. Sadly, they are the mess that so many thought they’d be. I still don’t feel like Mike Tomlin’s departure was a bad thing, but hiring Mike McCarthy and bringing back a clearly washed Aaron Rodgers were shortsighted decisions. I am trying to brace myself for a terrible season (maybe two) that’ll ultimately lead to a big turnaround, but it’s difficult to remain confident in any kind of long term strategy. It doesn’t help that our picks so far have been abysmal. I’ve always joked that we’re not very good at this and been up front about the fact that I don’t do a ton of research or deep dive into the minutia of these matchups, but I’ve always considered myself a fairly knowledgable football fan with common sense & solid instincts. That hasn’t been the case this year.
My Season: 9-18
Zach’s Season: 11-16
Oklahoma at Georgia (-14)
As a child of the 70s/80s it is wild to see the Sooners be double digit underdogs to anyone, especially when one considers a) they were a ten win team a season ago, and b) they’re 2-1 right now, and in that one loss the score was tied late into the 4th quarter. However, maybe it’s more about the unbeaten Bulldogs, who come into this weekend ranked #2 in the country after obliterating their first three opponents. Oklahoma QB John Mateer began the year as a fringe Heisman candidate & potential first round NFL draft pick. This is an opportunity to validate those expectations. I don’t expect an upset, but I do believe it’ll be a close contest. Conversely, Zach doesn’t believe Mateer or the offense he leads is very good at all.
My Pick: Oklahoma
Zach’s Pick: Georgia
Oregon (-3) at Southern California
I don’t mean to beat a dead horse, but it’ll always be weird that these teams are in the Big Ten. Anyway, the Ducks were so frustrated about being upset by Oklahoma St. a couple weeks ago that they hung 84 freakin’ points on an FBS opponent last weekend. Meanwhile, the Trojans are 4-0 and averaging 43 points/game. I’d love to go with the visiting favorites because they’re a fun team to watch and I’d feel bad for QB Dante Moore if Oregon lost two games this early and found themselves on the edge of playoff elimination already. Moore could’ve been a Top 5 pick in the NFL Draft and been making bank on Sundays, but he delayed that dream to chase a national championship. That being said, The Vibes are SCREAMING that this has upset written all over it. Zach sees USC’s potential, but feels like they are a year away from being top tier. He’s picking Oregon in a tight contest.
My Pick: USC
Zach’s Pick: Oregon
Minnesota (-2.5) vs. Tampa Bay
I really had these teams pegged wrong. I thought the Vikings would be cellar dwellers and the Bucs division winners. Things could still shake out that way, but right now Minnesota is undefeated while Tampa is 0-2. It’s worth mentioning that both of TB’s losses could’ve easily been wins, but close only counts in horseshoes & hand grenades. Call me stubborn, but I’m not buying what we’ve seen out of either team. Tampa is better, and they have the home field. Zach sees things differently. He has faith in the Vikes defense and thinks Tampa has looked terrible thus far.
My Pick: Tampa Bay
Zach’s Pick: Minnesota
LA Rams (-2.5) at Denver
Could it be a Super Bowl preview?? Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps my praise is too effusive for a couple of 1-1 teams, or it’s possible that they’ve worked out the kinks and will be dominant as expected going forward. This is the Sunday night game on NBC, and I think it’ll come down to defense. There will be a goal line stand or Pick Six late in the 4th quarter that’ll decide the outcome. It’s a coin toss for me, and in those scenarios I lean toward the home team. Zach concurs.
My Pick: Denver
Zach’s Pick: Denver
Philadelphia (-4.5) at Chicago
When Bears QB Caleb Williams got hurt last weekend viewers might’ve mistaken him for one of Chicago’s dozens of daily victims of violent crime. As it turns out, he’s just a melodramatic cuck with a pulled hamstring who may or may not play in this game. The 2-0 Eagles haven’t been cruising to victory, but somehow they’ve found ways to win. If Williams plays he won’t be 100%, and if he doesn’t play Philly’s defense will eat the backup quarterback alive. Zach believes the Eagles have been underutilizing RB Saquon Barkley. He has less than a hundred yards rushing cumulative thus far, and that has to change. Whether it does or doesn’t won’t matter right now, as we both think the visiting favorites will win decisively on Monday night.
Do y’all remember an episode of Seinfeld when George gets fired from the Yankees?? Since there is a severance package involved he enthusiastically looks at it as an opportunity for a three month vacation, but after a tumble down some stairs leaves him incapacitated the neurotic Costanza laments “This was supposed to be the Summer of George!”. I’ve been feeling that way after encountering some health issues and having two medical procedures in the past few months, which is why I’ve been looking forward to football season. Sitting in front of my 55 inch smart TV and watching wall to wall college football on Saturday & seven hours of NFL Redzone on Sunday is my happy place. I’m not very exciting and don’t lead an…impactful…life, but when one spends enough time dealing with certain circumstances simplicity & small comforts become significant. I have friends & family who, in recent months, have gone to the beach, jetted off to Europe, and taken road trips to some cool places. Conversely, I’ll be happy to spend weekends this fall comfortably ensconced in my humble abode watching countless hours of gridiron action.
25 Tennessee
Last Season: 8-5 (lost Music City Bowl)
Key Games: 9/26 vs. Texas, 10/17 vs. Alabama, 11/21 vs. LSU
The Volunteers QB situation concerns me just a bit, with two freshmen vying to replace former signal caller Joey Aguilar, who is trying to secure a spot on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster. Tennessee also has a new defensive coordinator who has an entirely rebuilt defense via the portal. Perhaps my expectations are too high for a team in the (alleged) toughest conference in the country, but Josh Heupel is a former SEC Coach of the Year, and with all three key games noted above happening in Knoxville I believe atleast one upset and a nine win season are reasonable expectations.
I am much higher on the Sun Devils than most. The Big 12 is looking like a dog fight, so one upset could make a huge difference. State will need to make their case on the road, and they’ll probably be another team using multiple quarterbacks after Sam Leavitt bolted for LSU. The offense has undergone a significant rebuild, so State will be leaning on its defense to win games.
It seems like we’ve been waiting a very long time for the Cornhuskers to reclaim the glory they had back in the day when I was a boy. Unfortunately former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule is a combined 19-19 in his three years at the helm in Lincoln, and this feels like a make or break year for his tenure. Nebraska brings back 69% of their production on both sides of the ball. The question becomes is that a good thing from a team that was 7-6?? How much does stability matter in college football nowadays, and is the number deceiving anyway since Dylan Raiola bolted to be the backup quarterback at Oregon?? I suppose we’ll find out the answers, and I think it is possible that Rhule, with his back against the wall, can pull a couple rabbits out of the hat.
22 Texas A&M
Last Season: 11-2 (lost in first round of playoffs)
A year ago, in his second season in College Station, head coach Mike Elko led the Aggies to double digit wins for the first time since 2012. They return 65% of their production from last season, including QB Marcel Reed. Of course, they also had a program record ten players drafted into the NFL. I think we’ll see a slight regression, and securing a playoff berth will be challenging, but don’t be surprised if A&M sneaks into the tail end of the final rankings.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer enters his third year in Tuscaloosa, and if he can replicate last season’s success it would calm the waters, although we all know the ‘Bama faithful are getting restless since they’ve been without a national title since 2020. I have a feeling they’ll yo-yo between junior QB Austin Mack & freshman Keelon Russell until one of them seizes control of the job. The Tide returns less than 50% of their production from a season ago and lost ten players in the NFL Draft. Having said that, ‘Bama is the horror movie psycho of college football…just when we think they’re dead in the water they rise up. They host Georgia in October, which is huge. Trips to Rocky Top & Death Valley hold the keys for the entire season.
20 Navy
Last Season: 11-2 (won Liberty Bowl)
Key Games: 10/24 vs. North Texas, 10/31 vs. Notre Dame, 12/12 vs. Army
I always have a soft spot for our service academies, not only for what their players become off the field, but also because their games are unique and fun to watch. The Midshipmen have had two consecutive double digit victory seasons under 4th year head coach Brian Newberry, and I’m predicting another one. I don’t think they’ll upset Notre Dame, but keep your eye on the October visit from North Texas that could be significant in determining an AAC champion.
Former head coach Lane Kiffin famously ditched the Rebels before the playoff began a season ago, so this will be Pete Golding’s first full year in charge. I’m sure he is happy to have QB Trinidad Chambliss back under center after a tumultuous offseason of legal battles to secure another year of eligibility for the young man. Junior RB Kewan Lacy also returns, so the offense should be solid. I believe it will be an uphill climb to equal last season, but don’t be surprised if Ole Miss upsets an opponent or two and Chambliss is a serious Heisman contender.
I find ACC football rather prosaic. I don’t know why. However, with Clemson’s era of dominance seemingly over, the conference is atleast more competitive. The Wolfpack have been average at best for quite awhile, with head coach Dave Doeren in that position since 2013 and winning 8 or 9 games eight times. Can they win just one more game?? Can they go on the road and defeat two or three teams that they should theoretically handle easily?? We’ll see.
17 BYU
Last Season: 12-2 (won Pop Tarts Bowl)
Key Games: 10/17 vs. Notre Dame, 10/31 vs. Arizona St., 11/7 @ Utah
QB Bear Bachmeier, in addition to having a cool name, is only a sophomore. The Cougars also added tight end Walker Lyons from USC and 6ft.6 receiver Kyle Kasper from Oregon. An October upset of Notre Dame in Provo would certainly improve their playoff resume, but even without that, being in the thick of the Big 12 title chase and double digit victories seem like attainable goals.
16 Texas Tech
Last Season: 12-2 (lost playoff quarterfinal)
Key Games: 9/18 vs. Houston, 10/17 vs. Arizona St., 11/26 vs. TCU
Contrary to the legal victories that secured the services of Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss for another season, the Red Raiders found themselves on the short end of the stick when it came to the brouhaha surrounding QB Brendan Sorsby, who was supposed to transfer from Cincinnati to Lubbock, but apparently enjoyed gambling on football even more than playing football. At any rate, in addition to the quarterback situation, Tech has to replace almost half their defense that was drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. I don’t believe they’ll win as many games or be in the Big 12 title hunt, but neither do I think Tech will fall off the map.
After securing a playoff berth in 2024 the Mustangs fell off just a bit last season, but still had a nice year that could’ve been even better. They lost two overtime games, including one to eventual playoff runner-up Miami. I don’t think they’ll go into South Bend and take down the Fighting Irish in November, but an early season battle in Tallahassee against the Seminoles feels like a winnable contest that could set a positive tone for the year.
14 Georgia
Last Season: 12-2 (lost playoff quarterfinal)
Key Games: 9/26 vs. Oklahoma, 10/10 @ Alabama, 11/7 @ Ole Miss
A year ago, while ranking the Bulldogs 11th, I said that I had a vibe that they wouldn’t be in the SEC title race. To their credit they proved me wrong, winning the conference championship before losing to Ole Miss in the playoff quarterfinals. However, I’m stubborn, so I’m ranking them even lower this preseason. They return a plethora of starters, including QB Gunner Stockton, center Drew Bobo, and defensive backs KJ Bolden & Ellis Robinson IV, but a closer examination of last season reveals that they won a couple of games that could’ve easily been losses. The ball could bounce the other way in 2026, but even if it does, a ten win season is nothing to be ashamed about.
13 Southern California
Last Season: 9-4 (lost Alamo Bowl)
Key Games: 9/26 vs. Oregon, 10/3 vs. Washington, 10/10 @ Penn St.
The Trojans return 15 starters, including senior QB & possible Heisman candidate Jayden Maiava, who has drawn comparisons to Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger. Head coach Lincoln Riley enters his fifth year at the helm, with the past three seasons being solid yet unremarkable. They’ll need to approach double digit wins and upset a contender or two if Riley doesn’t want his seat to start getting a bit warm.
12 Indiana
Last Season: 16-0 (won CFP Championship)
Key Games: 10/17 vs. Ohio St., 11/14 vs. USC, 11/21 @ Washington
I understand that the Hoosiers are ranked in the Top 5 of most other polls. I know they are the defending National Champions. To be honest, I’m not even that sold on quarterback Fernando Mendoza as an NFL level talent, and believe it’s not a stretch to think incoming transfer Josh Hoover, a former starter at TCU, could replicate Mendoza’s success in Bloomington. The Hoosiers added additional talent thru the portal and of course retained head coach Curt Cignetti. Having said all of that, when one looks back and realizes that Indiana defeated Oregon (twice), Ohio St., Alabama, and Miami (FL) en route to perfection, it is simply difficult to fathom duplication of that achievement.
11 Boise State
Last Season: 9-5 (lost L.A. Bowl)
Key Games: 9/5 @ Oregon, 10/10 @ Fresno St., 11/14 vs. Oregon St.
The Broncos headline the revived & revamped Pac 12, which lacks the prestige of its former incarnation. However, if Boise wins the conference and gets to ten wins they will be a serious playoff contender, especially if they put up a fight in Eugene against the Ducks to open the season. I don’t expect Boise to win that game, but if they can keep the score within 15-20 points the powers-that-be will take notice.
10 Oregon
Last Season: 13-2 (lost playoff semifinal)
Key Games: 9/26 @ USC, 11/7 @ Ohio St., 11/28 vs. Washington
I’ll never get use to Oregon in the Big Ten. College football is stupid off the field. Anyway, QB Dante Moore decided to return to the Ducks rather than enter the NFL Draft, where he certainly would have been a first round pick. I suppose being throttled by Indiana in the playoff semis left a bad taste in his mouth. But can they even get that far again?? I think Oregon will need to score atleast one big upset on the road to be in the conversation. If they lose all three key games Moore may regret delaying his professional dreams.
The Big 12 is wide open, and I have no idea who may emerge on top. The Cougars return 65% of their production from a squad that won ten games. A key piece of the puzzle is senior QB Conner Weigman, who threw for over 2700 yards with an impressive 147.74 passer rating, added 700 yards on the ground, and had 36 total touchdowns. Houston also added a Top Ten transfer class from the portal. A year ago they were in the thick of the conference title scrum, but a couple of losses doomed their chances. They’ll need to be road warriors this season to flip the script.
This will be QB Arch Manning’s final season in Austin, and it seems like the shine has worn off just a bit. Once upon a time Manning was a presumptive Heisman winner who most assumed would be the #1 overall draft pick, but now some are questioning if the hype was just that. The Longhorns weren’t terrible last year, but a season opening loss at Ohio St. set the wrong tone, and losing at Georgia in November doomed their playoff hopes. They have the Buckeyes at home this time, but will still need to win on the road for things to be better than a season ago.
7 Notre Dame
Last Season: 10-2 (declined bowl invitation)
Key Games: 9/6 vs. Wisconsin, 10/17 @ BYU, 11/7 vs. Miami (FL)
Fool me once, shame on you…fool me twice, shame on me. After ranking The Irish #1 a year ago, they thanked me with back-to-back season opening losses to Miami and Texas A&M. The schedule looks a little different this year because realignment has destroyed traditional rivalries, so I would be shocked if Notre Dame doesn’t sail thru the first half of the schedule, and anything less than ten wins and a playoff berth would be a huge disappointment. Sophomore quarterback CJ Carr is back, while running backs Jeremiyah Love & Jadarian Price are now plying their trade in the NFL. That being said, Notre Dame leads the nation in total returning production at 72%, bringing back 14 starters.
6 LSU
Last Season: 7-6 (lost Texas Bowl)
Key Games: 9/19 @ Ole Miss, 11/7 vs. Alabama, 11/14 vs. Texas
There’s a new sheriff in the bayou, and his name is Lane Kiffin. Former head coach Brian Kelly was 34-14 in just less than four seasons, so Kiffin wasn’t hired to win 9 or 10 games and lead his team to the Citrus Bowl…they are expecting SEC titles & deep playoff runs in Baton Rouge. Kiffin brought in junior QB Sam Leavitt from Arizona St., while LSU is projected to have a Top 5 defense. A mid-September clash at Ole Miss will be hyped by the talking heads for obvious reasons (I’ll be stunned if ESPN’s Gameday isn’t on the scene), but November home games against ‘Bama & Texas will probably decide the conference championship.
The Buckeyes are at the top of most other polls, but I can’t go there after back-to-back losses (in the Big Ten title game & playoff quarterfinals) to end last season. Talent is never a problem in Columbus. Sophomore QB Julian Sayin returns after passing for 3600 yards & 33 touchdowns with a completion rate of 77% (which led the nation). He finished 4th in Heisman Trophy voting. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith fell off a bit last year after a phenomenal freshman season, but that was due to a quad injury that negatively impacted two games in November. There were some huge departures from the defense. Four of the first eleven picks in the NFL Draft were from Ohio St., with three of those being defensive players. Rebuilding that unit is the biggest key to the team’s success.
The Huskies have flown under the radar the last couple of seasons since former head coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama after leading Washington to the CFP championship game in 2024. However, coming off a 9-4 finish there is a ton of optimism in Seattle. Washington is another west coast team inexplicably competing in the Big Ten, but I’ll refrain from beating that dead horse. Skill positions took a hit after RB Jonah Coleman & receiver Denzel Boston were drafted into the NFL, but returning QB Demond Williams Jr., who threw for over 3000 yards and scored 31 touchdowns last season, has been compared to Kyler Murray with flashes of Russell Wilson. Defense will be the difference maker, and I think we’ll see the Huskies pull off a couple of big upsets.
3 Utah
Last Season: 11-2 (won Las Vegas Bowl)
Key Games: 10/24 vs. Houston, 11/7 vs. BYU, 11/21 @ TCU
A year ago I overlooked the Utes in the Big 12, but they were in the hunt right to the very end of the season. I expect the conference to be just as competitive this season, if not more so. Head coach Morgan Scalley takes over for Kyle Whittingham, who left for Michigan. However, since Scalley had been the defensive coordinator in Salt Lake City for a decade, I don’t think continuity will be an issue. Senior QB Devon Dampier threw for almost 2500 yards last season, rushed for over 800 yards, and scored 34 touchdowns. Their defense will have to kick it up a notch or two, and Utah needs to defend their home field against some formidable opponents.
2 Penn State
Last Season: 7-6 (won Pinstripe Bowl)
Key Games: 10/10 vs. USC, 10/17 @ Michigan, 11/7 @ Washington
I’m a big fan of my boy Rocco Becht, who will become the Nittany Lions new quarterback after following head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa St. to Happy Valley. There’s no way around it…last season was a disaster for Penn St., so they needed a total reset. Winning the Big Ten is a tall mountain to climb, but I think it’s doable. There are advantages to being disregarded & undervalued, and this is a team that may just take a few opponents by surprise.
We’d been waiting for the once dominant ‘Canes to be a force once again, and last season they made it all the way to the CFP championship game. The ACC might be the most winnable conference in the country, and it’s odd to recall that Miami didn’t even play in the title game last year thanks to close losses to Louisville & SMU. They snuck into the playoff and went on an incredible run, defeating three Top Ten teams before falling to Indiana. Can they do it again?? Miami lost nine players in the NFL Draft, including three first round choices. QB Darian Mensah has transferred to Coral Gables from Duke, and he might be even better than former signal caller Carson Beck. However, the bigger issue is defense, which was Top 5 in the country a season ago. Can they reload?? Will a new look defense be as good as they were last year?? Winning the conference is a priority, in part because it would make the playoff path somewhat less difficult.
Y’all, I realize we’re not writing the Great American Novel here. I don’t even know if anyone reads this stuff other than me & Zach. It’s a fun little thing that I do because I am easily amused. Having said that, there are times when the struggle is real, and I can’t seem to find the motivation to follow thru with this “fun little thing”. Thankfully, I impose upon myself a deadline. Whether or not we’re picking a Thursday game, our picks are posted before kickoff of those games. It seems silly to call it pressure, so I’ll just call it a beneficial guideline.
Observations from Last Week:
I predicted a final score of 27-7, Indiana over Minnesota. The actual score was 31-7. Not too shabby 🤔.
It was a pleasure watching the Pitt Panthers get absolutely dog walked by Notre Dame at home.
Upon further review, perhaps we should pump the brakes on LaNorris Sellers. He needs to transfer to a school with a more skilled offensive line and spend another year (or two) focusing on the mental aspect of being a quarterback.
I don’t understand 4th & goal inside the one yard line being run out of the shotgun. Why make it more difficult than necessary??
The Washington Commanders should move Heaven & Earth to acquire defensive players Montez Sweat, Josh Sweat, & T’Vondre Sweat and christen them The Sweat Hogs.
My Season: 38-34
Zach’s Season: 32-40
TCU at Houston (-1.5)
The Big 12 is still up for grabs, but this is essentially a must-win for the 8-2 Cougars. The 6-4 Horned Frogs can only play a spoiler role after losing their last two games. I foresee a tight game that’ll be fun to watch, but I don’t think we’ll see an upset with the stakes so high. Zach likes Houston in a shootout.
My Pick: Houston
Zach’s Pick: Houston
Louisville at Southern Methodist (-3)
The 7-3 Mustangs are still in the thick of the ACC title hunt, plus they have the home field. The Cardinals are also 7-3, but have two more conference losses than SMU, meaning they’re pretty much eliminated from contention. The underdogs have also lost two consecutive games, and I can’t overlook momentum. Zach concurs.
My Pick: SMU
Zach’s Pick: SMU
Tennessee (-4.5) at Florida
Neither team is getting near the SEC title game, but it’s pretty clear which one has had a more successful season. The 3-7 Gators have been in the headlines mainly for firing their head coach, with talking heads offering a plethora of speculation about who’ll be the next guy to get the gig. Conversely, the 7-3 Vols have had a nice season and probably exceeded expectations. At the very least they are the more stable program right now. Winning at The Swamp is always a tall order, but I think the visiting favorites will get the job done. Zach, on the other hand, believes Florida is a better team than we’ve been led to believe, while Tennessee is mediocre at best. He likes the Gators to feast in The Swamp.
My Pick: Tennessee
Zach’s Pick: Florida
Jacksonville (-2.5) at Arizona
With QB Kyler Murray injured, the 3-7 Cards have handed the keys to Jacoby Brissett, although I don’t think it really matters. It’d be shocking if Jonathan Gannon is still the head coach in Arizona next season. Meanwhile, the 6-4 Jags are just Jagging as usual. They win some, they lose some. No one outside the state of Florida cares, and even in the state Jacksonville is probably the sixth favorite football team at best. I have to lean toward the visiting favorites, because Trevor Lawrence is atleast supposed to be a good quarterback. Zach appreciates Jax’s dominant upset of the Chargers last week, and though he doesn’t see Arizona as being that bad defensively, he’s still picking the favorites.
My Pick: Jacksonville
Zach’s Pick: Jacksonville
Indianapolis at Kansas City (-3.5)
In my humble opinion the oddsmakers are wrong, or perhaps just disrespectful. A three point home field bump is the standard jumping off point in the NFL, but Indy is 8-2 with wins over Denver & the LA Chargers, while the Chiefs are 5-5 with a two game losing streak. Look, I get it…no one wants to fall into the trap of believing the Chiefs really aren’t great anymore, only for them to roar back and win their fourth Lombardi Trophy in the past six years. QB Patrick Mahomes is just 30 years old and in his prime. Andy Reid is still a great coach. However, at some point we have to start believing what we’re seeing. We can’t keep making excuses for KC while totally disregarding the Colts. That’s why this game is so important. Sure, there are playoff berths & division titles to be decided, but there is also a matter of respect. On Monday, will everyone be saying “See, I told you Indianapolis was just a bunch of posers”, or will doubters concede they’ve been wrong?? Will folks be giving Last Rites to the Chiefs dynasty, or will true blue die hards proudly proclaim “I KNEW they’d wake up!! We’re going back to the Super Bowl baby!!”?? I’m not sure about Indy’s chances to win it all, but I do think they’re the real deal and will prove it. Conversely, Zach thinks the Chiefs will somehow back into the playoffs, and he’s still not sold on Colts QB Daniel Jones.
I’m not going to waste time with a wordy preamble today. Conference races are heating up, division titles are up for grabs, and playoff berths hang in the balance. It is absolutely the best time of the year to vegg out all weekend long watching football and leaving the insanity of the world out in the cold.
Observations from Last Week:
Congratulations to the Oregon St. Beavers for winning the Pac 12.
I agree with Kirk Herbstreit…Oklahoma’s kicker (nor any other player) should NOT be allowed to wear literal shorts as part of the uniform.
Non-football thought: MLB badly needs a salary cap ⚾️.
Kudos to Jags kicker Cam Little, who now holds the NFL record with a 68 yard field goal, the longest in the history of football.
I was defeated in one of my leagues by an opponent who started two players on their bye and another player on IR, so that’s how my fantasy season is going 👀.
My Season: 31-25
Zach’s Season: 20-36
BYU at Texas Tech (-10.5)
Theoretically we could see a rematch in the Big 12 title game next month. I am a little surprised by the points, given the fact that the Cougars are undefeated while the Red Raiders suffered a close loss a few weeks ago. Sure, Tech has the home field, but should that translate into being a double digit favorite?? Perhaps I don’t have all the information, but I’ll be stunned if it isn’t a much closer contest, no matter who wins. Zach agrees. He views BYU as a well coached team and really likes freshman QB Bear Bachmeier.
My Pick: BYU
Zach’s Pick: BYU
Texas A&M (-7) at Missouri
Did you know the Aggies are unbeaten?? I didn’t. The 6-2 Tigers will likely provide stiff competition, despite having lost two of their last three. However, without starting QB Beau Pribula, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, I just don’t think an upset is in the cards. Zach likes Missouri’s defense, but agrees it’s probably not enough.
My Pick: Texas A&M
Zach’s Pick: Texas A&M
Florida State at Clemson (-2.5)
Sometimes the hype just doesn’t match the reality. While there are blueblood programs that simply reload year after year and string together seemingly endless successful seasons, the truth is that each team is made up of human beings. Things happen. Injuries occur. Athletes don’t always live up to expectations. After a decade & a half at or near the top of the mountain, the 3-5 Tigers are struggling to achieve bowl eligibility. The 4-4 Seminoles know all about that, and for awhile it seemed like they’d gotten over that hump after several years of mediocrity. That was before they lost 4 out of the last 5 games. I honestly have no idea what to expect. Will Clemson wake up and defend their home turf?? Or does Florida St. smell blood in the water?? I think it’ll be the latter, with a late field goal sealing the deal. Zach still has faith in Dabo Swinney and thinks the home team will win a close one.
My Pick: Florida St.
Zach’s Pick: Clemson
LSU at Alabama (-10.5)
I’m looking at this game much differently than I would have just a month ago. The wheels are falling off in Baton Rouge, with the Bayou Bengals losing three of their last four games. Conversely, after losing their season opener The Tide have rolled to seven consecutive victories. I think ‘Bama wins by atleast two TDs…maybe three. Conversely, Zach feels like, no matter what has transpired, this is a rivalry game and the underdogs will atleast make it interesting.
My Pick: Alabama
Zach’s Pick: LSU
Baltimore (-4) at Minnesota
Don’t look now, but the rumors of Baltimore’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. At 3-5 they still have work to do to get back into playoff contention, but when healthy & at full strength there might not be a more dangerous team in the NFL. Meanwhile, the 4-4 Vikes are struggling to put it all together. We all understand the potential, and with quarterback JJ McCarthy back in the saddle they’re a better team. However, I foresee more close losses while they continue to build toward a better future in a couple of seasons. Zach concurs.
My Pick: Baltimore
Zach’s Pick: Baltimore
New England at Tampa Bay (-2.5)
So I guess the folks in New England are getting cocky again, thinking that QB Drake Maye is the second coming of Tom Brady. I suppose they’ve earned that confidence after going 7-2 and piecing together a six game win streak. Unfortunately they’re going up against the 6-2 Bucs and their signal caller Baker Mayfield, who knows a thing or two about cockiness. I understand that Tampa has suffered some injuries, but I believe they’ll find a way to grind out a tough win at home. Zach thinks Maye will be good, but he likes Mayfield to prevail this time.
My Pick: Tampa Bay
Zach’s Pick: Tampa Bay
Detroit (-8.5) at Washington
The Commanders came into the season with alot of hype & momentum, but at 3-6 after losing four straight it just feels like a lost season. As much as I like QB Jayden Daniels the fact is that he’s an injury waiting to happen. He cannot be counted on to be available much of the time, and that’s a problem. The 5-3 Lions have lost two of their last three games, but I am still all in on them being a legit Super Bowl contender. Zach agrees.
My Pick: Detroit
Zach’s Pick: Detroit
Philadelphia at Green Bay (-2.5)
It’s early November, so I am assuming the tundra at Lambeau Field isn’t frozen just yet. However, the Packers still get the requisite home field bump. They are 5-2-1 but should actually have a better record, with a rare tie against the Cowboys and an inexplicable loss to Carolina being real head scratchers. Meanwhile, there seems to be alot of locker room drama in Philly. They’re 6-2 and will easily win their division, almost by default…but can they make another deep playoff run and defend their Super Bowl title?? This is the Monday night game so the talking heads will be all over it. Either way the outcome will be interpreted as some sort of defining statement, but it also might be an NFC Championship preview. I think the Eagles will try to silence their doubters with a mild upset. Zach doesn’t believe Green Bay is the real deal, so he’s calling for the “upset”.
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??
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.
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.
