Washington Commanders

2025 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 17

Bowl season has already began. Did you know that?? Did anyone even notice?? One of the concerns some had a long time ago about a college football playoff was that it would negatively impact bowl games, and that has proven to be the case. Teams like Notre Dame, Iowa St., Kansas St., and a bunch of 5-7 teams that never would’ve been invited in the past anyway, all turned down bowl bids, because really, if it isn’t the CFP it doesn’t matter. Why bother?? The transfer portal has essentially created a second recruiting period, and when you add the coaching carousel into the mix, coaches who are basically rebuilding a team from scratch on an annual basis, especially if they are in a new place, simply don’t have time to bother with the Kellogg’s Cereal Bowl against a mediocre directional school on a random weekday afternoon the week before Christmas. There is no honor or prestige anymore. A bowl game isn’t a reward, it is a burden. The benefits of extra practice time have evaporated because the team is going to be completely overhauled by spring anyway. NFL prospects aren’t risking their lucrative future with nothing significant on the line, like a national championship. The only entity that benefits from the bowl system these days is ESPN, because football fans will watch those odd matchups at 4pm on a Wednesday, or atleast their televisions will be providing background noise while they’re doing something more important. At any rate, all of this is just another reason why the entire collegiate athletics business model needs totally renovated, with legitimate leadership. I won’t hold my breath though.

Observations from Last Week:

  • Army-Navy rarely disappoints 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
  • What’s the deal with Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia?? In the wake of finishing second in the Heisman voting to Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, Pavia apparently threw more than one temper tantrum, both in real life & on social media. At 5ft.10 (if that) Pavia is unlikely to make an impact in the NFL, but why torpedo the slim chance that might exist by acting like a petulant brat?? Sit down & shut your pie hole young man 🤐 . Peyton Manning & Marshall Faulk both placed second too, and they did okay in the aftermath.
  • Perhaps there is still hope for Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy 🤔.
  • I laugh at the people who say the Colts should’ve signed Cam Newton or Colin Kaepernick to solve their quarterback problem. Neither one of those guys would have been a better option than Philip Rivers. Sadly, there are no great options, but instead of recognizing that reality some have chosen to interject identity politics into the discussion, because that’s an easy cop out nowadays.
  • Tough season for the KC Chiefs, who were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in a decade. Then, to make matters worse, Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL late in the 4th quarter, which could impact NEXT season 👀. The dynasty may really be over.

My Season: 48-55

Zach’s Season: 49-54

Philadelphia (-6.5) at Washington

The 9-5 Eagles got back on the winning track last week and hold an insurmountable lead in their division. The 4-10 Commanders have seen their season torpedoed by injuries. As a matter of fact, with nothing to play for they’ve already decided to shut down QB Jayden Daniels for the remainder of the season. I am beginning to wonder if Washington may use their Top Ten first round pick on another quarterback. Crazy?? Perhaps. Shocking?? Possibly. But Daniels, as talented as he may be, is injury prone, and potential can never be realized on the bench. Anyway, Philly should win this Saturday evening matchup rather easily. Zach views the Eagles as inconsistent, but also understands they tend to get their stuff together late in the season. Given the circumstances he is rolling the dice on the visitors.

My Pick: Philadelphia 

Zach’s Pick: Philadelphia 

Green Bay (-1.5) at Chicago

Bold prediction…sort of – don’t be surprised if the 10-4 Bears lose their remaining three games, finish 10-7, and miss the playoffs. Am I putting money on that scenario?? Of course not…but it is more than plausible. One of the teams that would benefit is the 9-4-1 Packers, who are clinging tightly to a wildcard berth, but will be without the services of pass rusher Micah Parsons after he tore his ACL last week. This is a Saturday night game, and it is h-u-g-e. Green Bay won the previous matchup earlier this month by a touchdown, and I think they can do it again despite Parsons’ absence. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Green Bay  

Zach’s Pick: Green Bay 

Las Vegas at Houston (-14.5)

I honestly thought the coaching comeback of Pete Carroll and trading for QB Geno Smith were positive steps for the Raiders, but sitting in the AFC West basement at 2-12 indicates otherwise. Conversely, the 9-5 Texans have been victorious in six consecutive games, which is certainly a switch after they began the season 0-3. They are in a hell of a battle in their division, and haven’t yet clinched a playoff spot. No one expects Vegas to win, but can Houston cover?? Although I am somewhat trepidatious, I will ride with the home favorites. Zach feels like the Texans are peaking at the right time.

My Pick: Houston

Zach’s Pick: Houston 

Tampa Bay (-3) at Carolina

The NFC South has traditionally come down to the wire, but the Bucs have been crowned division champs four seasons in a row. At 7-7 these teams are in a tie for first place, and it looks like a wildcard berth isn’t going to materialize for whoever finishes second. They play each other twice in the last three weeks of the season, and despite losing five of the past six games I still feel like Tampa is the better team. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Tampa Bay  

Zach’s Pick: Tampa Bay 

Tulane at Ole Miss (-17.5)

I have made my feelings clear on the playoff. I don’t believe these participation trophy invitations to Group of Five conference champions is the right way to go. This is actually a rematch, with the two teams having ironically met up way back in September. Mississippi won that game by 35 points. Despite the departure of Lane Kiffin, I’d be surprised if the Rebels encounter any problems administering another beatdown to the Green Wave. Zach has a bit more faith in Tulane to be competitive, but still sees Ole Miss pulling away in the fourth quarter.

My Pick: Ole Miss   

Zach’s Pick: Ole Miss

James Madison at Oregon (-21.5)

Ditto, only worse. The Ducks haven’t lost their coach and they’re a better team than Ole Miss. This could get ugly. Conversely, Zach has even more confidence in JMU than Tulane. He doesn’t think they have enough depth or speed to actually upset Oregon, but he doesn’t believe they’ll lose by three touchdowns.

My Pick: Oregon  

Zach’s Pick: James Madison

Alabama (-1.5) at Oklahoma

We can debate whether or not ‘Bama deserved a playoff berth, but atleast this is a compelling matchup. Actually, it is another rematch because, as I constantly have to remind myself, Oklahoma is in the SEC now 🤦🏻‍♂️. When these teams met in Tuscaloosa a month ago the Sooners defense caused three turnovers that led to 17 points en route to victory that wasn’t secure until the final minute. There has been alot of noise lately about Tide coach Kalen DeBoer bolting after just two seasons to take the Michigan job, which would be insane. At any rate, given that distraction and the home field, I believe Oklahoma will win again with a late field goal. Zach, on the other hand, doesn’t believe The Tide will be rolled by the same opponent twice.

My Pick: Oklahoma  

Zach’s Pick: Alabama

Miami (FL) at Texas A&M (-3.5) 

The CFP committee received some heat for giving the playoff nod to the Hurricanes over Notre Dame, but head to head results matter, and Miami beat the Irish in the season opener. Coincidentally, A&M defeated Notre Dame the following week. The Aggies were unbeaten until they ran into in state rival Texas on Black Friday. College Station provides a huge home field advantage, so, though I don’t think it’ll be a blowout, I believe the home favorites will win comfortably. Zach sees the game as a tossup, but feels like Miami, and especially QB Carson Beck, can be a bit erratic at times. He leans toward it being a much closer game than I do, but with the same result.

My Pick: Texas A&M  

Zach’s Pick: Texas A&M

2025 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 11

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”.

My Pick: Philadelphia 

Zach’s Pick: Philadelphia 

2024 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 18

First of all, F*^K YOU NFL. As silly as it may seem, last weekend, when RedZone host Scott Hanson changed his familiar catchphrase “seven hours of commercial free football” because they’re now running a few commercials during the broadcast, it upset me to the point that I was ready to drop out of every fantasy league I’m in and stop doing these picks in the future. Perhaps I have a screw loose. Or maybe the holiday season, which isn’t as merry & bright in my world as it once was, had me all up in my feelings. Thankfully I chilled out enough that my Steelers getting trucked by the Chiefs on Christmas Day barely raised my blood pressure. I still don’t know how I will proceed with RedZone, which I’ve loved for several years. The NFL has tested my patience for awhile with their “social justice” initiatives and watering down the game under the guise of “safety”, but RedZone felt like the last bastion for pure enjoyment of the sport. Now, a corporation that makes BILLIONS of dollars in profits is tainting that innocence for a few more ad dollars that won’t make or break them. It’s sick. Perhaps they’ll change their mind, but I won’t hold my breath. At any rate, Zach (3-2) bested me (1-4) once again to draw within one game of a tie for the season, which still doesn’t upset me as much as the whole RedZone situation.

My Season: 49-55

Zach’s Season: 48-56

Denver at Cincinnati (-3)

Both teams are still fighting for a playoff berth, but the 7-8 Bengals need some help. Obviously that starts with winning this game. Conversely, the 9-6 Broncos will be in with a victory. I really had both of these teams pegged wrong, believing that Cincinnati would bounce back from last season and be a factor in the AFC North, while Denver would secure a Top 5 draft pick. The opposite has occurred with both teams. Having said that, I think the home team wins on their turf and hangs on to a thread of hope for the postseason. Zach appreciates what the Broncos have accomplished with rookie QB Bo Nix, but feels they are an unfinished product with some work to do. He doesn’t like the Bengals defense at all, but gives the nod to Cincy & QB Joe Burrow in a shootout.

My Pick: Cincinnati 

Zach’s Pick: Cincinnati 

Green Bay at Minnesota (-1.5)

It might be the best game of the weekend. Both teams will make the playoffs, but the 13-2 Vikings can still claim a division title and maybe even a first round bye if things go their way. In their previous meeting way back in September Minnesota got a close win on the road, so I expect things to balance out with the 11-4 Packers returning the favor. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Green Bay 

Zach’s Pick: Green Bay 

Miami (-6.5) at Cleveland

I expected the Dolphins to challenge for a division title, but at 7-8 they’re just fighting to finish with a winning record. No one should be surprised by the futility of the 3-12 Browns, who are even worse than I expected and have dropped off significantly from last year’s mirage of success. The home field doesn’t even matter. It’ll probably be a yawn inducing slugfest, but I believe the visiting favorites will win comfortably. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Miami 

Zach’s Pick: Miami

Atlanta at Washington (-4)

Don’t sleep on this game featuring two of the first eight selections in this past spring’s draft (and 2 of the top 4 quarterbacks). Jayden Daniels has been a revelation for the 10-5 Commanders, who are battling the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC’s third wildcard, while Michael Penix Jr. was just inserted into the lineup a week ago to boost the 8-7 Falcons to the NFC South crown, which is the only way Atlanta or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will qualify for the playoffs. Penix might indeed be the answer in Atlanta, but we don’t really have much data yet, whereas I’ve seen enough to know how great Daniels & the Commanders can be. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Washington  

Zach’s Pick: Washington 

Detroit (-3.5) at San Francisco 

One team has lived up to the hype, while the other has had their season torpedoed by misfortune. At 13-2 the Lions are safely in the postseason field, but they need to win to secure the division title & a first round bye. The 6-9 Niners have been a huge disappointment and will need to confront some tough issues in the offseason. A few months ago I would’ve assumed this to be one of the marquee Monday night games of the entire season, but now it just feels like an afterthought. The outcome of Green Bay-Minnesota could alter Detroit’s approach to the game, but either way I believe they will prevail. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Detroit 

Zach’s Pick: Detroit

2024 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 17

With the dawn of a new era in college football we’ve decided to forego our traditional Bowl-a-Palooza and incorporate the playoff games into our normal routine. Let’s face it…most of the bowl games have been superfluous for awhile now, and with interim coaches & transfer portal madness it has become nearly impossible to predict them with any degree of legit knowledge. By all means, if ESPN is airing the Cereal Bowl featuring East State vs. Big City Tech at 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon please enjoy it. Sometimes those random matchups are rather delightful. For our purposes here though, we’ll stick with games that have some degree of importance. I must reluctantly admit that last week (1-4) was abysmal for me, which means that I have finally fallen below .500 for the season, while Zach (3-2) has closed the gap to within three games. Buckle up…it’s going to be a wild stretch run.

My Season: 48-51

Zach’s Season: 45-54

Indiana at Notre Dame (-7.5)

Somehow the rankings happened to fall into place just right, making this intra-state battle possible. Funny how that worked out. At any rate, opinions vary on the 11-1 Hoosiers, especially after they were beaten by three TDs in Columbus a few weeks ago. Should they be here instead of Alabama?? I believe that results matter, and teams can only play the opponents on their schedule. The Hoosiers did that and only lost once, so I think they earned their spot. Meanwhile, the 11-1 Fighting Irish probably have a nearly guaranteed playoff berth anytime they win 9+ games, despite not being a member of any conference. Look…any football fan with actual insight into the game will admit that if these teams met a hundred times Notre Dame would win 80% of the time. Having said that, my Marshall Thundering Herd traveled to South Bend and upset Notre Dame a couple of years ago, so anything is possible. This is a Friday night kickoff, and I know the nephews & I will be hurrying home after our family Christmas dinner to watch. I’d be pleasantly surprised by an upset, but wouldn’t bet money on that happening. However, I feel like Indiana is being overlooked & disrespected just a bit. They’ll keep it close. Zach, however, points out that Notre Dame just signed head coach Marcus Freeman to a contract extension, and on the field they’ve crushed every opponent since an inexplicable early season loss to Northern Illinois. He sees Indiana as talented & well coached, but doesn’t feel like they have what it takes to keep pace in this game.

My Pick: Indiana

Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame 

SMU at Penn State (-8.5)

Much of what I said about the previous matchup applies to this game as well. The 11-2 Mustangs aren’t receiving much love. A year ago they were playing in the AAC, and now they play in the ACC, which is probably the weakest of the Power 4. If they’d been blown out in the conference title game by Clemson it is likely that Alabama would’ve been handed this spot, but SMU played a hell of a 4th quarter and nearly pulled off a big comeback. Conversely, Penn St.’s playoff berth was never in question, despite losing the Big Ten Championship to Oregon. The 11-2 Nittany Lions are probably a little overrated, but they’ve mowed thru most of their schedule with tremendous success, which cannot be denied. Not to be repetitive, but once again…if these teams played one another a hundred times the home favorites would almost certainly win 80% of those games, but anything can happen in this one instance. I think SMU will be more than competitive for three quarters, but end up losing…by a touchdown. Conversely, Zach isn’t sure SMU belongs here and foresees a comfortable win by the home favorites.

My Pick: SMU

Zach’s Pick: Penn St.

Clemson at Texas (-11.5)

I am somewhat surprised by the points. Sure, the  11-2 Longhorns quickly acclimated to the SEC and were only defeated by Georgia (twice). It is also true that the 10-3 Tigers aren’t as elite as they were while appearing in six consecutive (four team) CFPs and winning national championships in two of those years. However, a double digit spread feels disrespectful. Texas will probably win, but it won’t be by more than ten points. Zach is a big Dabo Swinney fan and agrees that Clemson will be more competitive than the “experts” believe.

My Pick: Clemson

Zach’s Pick: Clemson 

Tennessee at Ohio State (-7.5)

Are people overlooking this game?? It’s an 8/9 matchup, so by definition it is expected to be the most competitive in the first round. The 10-2 Buckeyes were considered to be amongst the top teams in the country until being upset by Michigan a few weeks ago, and it seems like that forced everyone to view Ohio St. thru a whole new prism. Meanwhile, the 10-2 Volunteers can look back at a mid-October upset of Alabama as a huge reason why they’re here now. However, that’s all they really have to hang their hat on. Otherwise the schedule was rather prosaic. Georgia beat Tennessee by two touchdowns, and I think that’s the level Ohio St. is on. I’d love to be wrong. Rockytop brings alot of energy to the table. At the end of the day though, I believe the home team gets it done by ten points. To my utter shock & amazement Zach agrees that the Buckeyes are likely unhappy about how they’ve been talked about recently and will use that as motivation to win easily.

My Pick: Ohio St.

Zach’s Pick: Ohio St.

Philadelphia (-3) at Washington 

Our only NFL game this week is an NFC East battle, although the division title has been pretty much decided. The 12-2 Eagles have won ten straight and will win the division, but they have their eyes on the NFC’s top seed & first round bye. The 9-5 Commanders are in the driver’s seat for a wildcard berth, but are far from a lock. I really like rookie QB Jayden Daniels and can see big things for him in the future if the front office continues to build a great team. However, sometimes one just has to be patient and wait for your turn, and it’s not Washington’s time right now. Philly is playing on a different level, and anything short of the Super Bowl will be a disappointment. RB Saquon Barkley may be the best free agent acquisition of the past decade, recapturing the magic that made him a 2017 Heisman finalist at Penn St. and reinvigorating a career that stalled over six seasons with the NY Giants. When these teams met in Philadelphia last month the Eagles won by 12, and I expect something similar now. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Philadelphia 

Zach’s Pick: Philadelphia 

2024 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 13

We won’t rehash last week except to say that I edged Zach by one game. Overall we both sank deeper into the abyss. It might seem like we’re chasing wins with bonus picks now, but that isn’t the case. It just so happens that the schedule is provocative, beginning on Thursday night when our Steelers visit Cleveland and I will regret not having adult beverages on hand. Of course we aren’t dealing with that contest, but I sure do hope it gets the weekend off to a good start. 

My Season: 37-35

Zach’s Season: 32-40

Ole Miss (-10) at Florida 

The 8-2 Rebels find themselves amidst a gaggle of atleast a half dozen teams vying for two spots in the SEC title game, and would like to remain in the very realistic scenario that could see four teams from that conference receive playoff berths. Conversely, the 5-5 Gators would be happy with a bowl bid & a non-losing season. I have to assume that Florida being double digit underdogs in The Swamp is rare, although they’ve lost at home four times this year…all by 13+ points. As much as I hate to point it out, I feel like we’ve landed right back in the era of “style points” being way too important, so for that reason I believe the visitors will deliver the beatdown expected from them. Zach has observed improvement from Florida, but doesn’t believe it’s enough to go against the grain this week.

My Pick: Ole Miss

Zach’s Pick: Ole Miss

Army vs. Notre Dame (-15.5)

In case you haven’t been paying attention, the Black Knights are unbeaten and ranked in the Top 20. Sadly, their program is treated like the precocious child that adults indulge for awhile at family gatherings before banishing them to the kiddie table. Meanwhile, the Irish still have to be kicking themselves for an inexcusable loss in early September to Northern Illinois (a team that currently finds themselves 6-5). They are virtually a lock for the playoff though, unless some really bizarre things occur. I’d love to pick an upset, but I don’t see any way Army loses the game by less than three TDs. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Notre Dame 

Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame 

Wisconsin at Nebraska (-2.5)

Neither team receives much attention in the stacked Big Ten, and considering their matching 5-5 records I suppose that indifference is well deserved. The Cornhuskers have lost four in a row, while the Badgers have dropped their last three games, including a spirited battle against #1 Oregon, which Wisconsin could’ve & should’ve won. I don’t think it’s easy to recover from heartbreak like that, so I’m riding with the home favorites. Zach foresees typical Big Ten, low scoring, smashmouth football. He believes Nebraska is finally headed in the right direction, but predicts a late 4th quarter game winning drive for the underdogs. 

My Pick: Nebraska

Zach’s Pick: Wisconsin 

Colorado (-2.5) at Kansas

I’ll admit that I haven’t shown Coach Prime much respect. He’s an attention whore who led the Buffaloes to an atrocious 4-8 record a season ago. Having said that, credit must be given for a turnaround that finds Colorado 8-2 and ranked in the Top 20. The 4-6 Jayhawks are a huge disappointment after finishing 9-4 last year. However, they have won two consecutive games against ranked opponents and have the home field. Can they do it again?? It’s probably not a very smart pick, but that’s the way The Voices are pulling me. Zach thinks Colorado has a legit shot at earning a playoff spot and sees them winning big this week.

My Pick: Kansas

Zach’s Pick: Colorado 

Indiana at Ohio State (-12.5)

It would be beneficial for college football if this ends up being a more competitive game than the “experts” believe it’ll be. Nearly everyone outside Columbus, OH is cheering on the undefeated Hoosiers. Every March we see a couple of basketball teams bask in the glory of upsetting a blue blood program. They rarely get close to winning the championship, but they earn “one shining moment” in the sun that’ll be cherished for a lifetime. That doesn’t happen as often on the football field, but this could potentially be that kind of occasion. Unfortunately, I think the Buckeyes are just too athletic at every position and the home field is formidable. Being wrong would make me happy in this case, but I don’t think I am. Zach recognizes that Ohio St. has plenty of experience in big games, but his issues with the entire state of Ohio that probably need to be explored by an experienced therapist preclude him from picking them.

My Pick: Ohio St.

Zach’s Pick: Indiana 

Dallas at Washington (-10.5)

It looks like I was a year ahead of the Cowboys implosion. I don’t know if that makes me vaguely psychic or just one of those hard luck bums who’ll be shown in The Great Beyond just how many times I screwed up, coming oh so close to happiness & success only to miss it by a whisper. At any rate, when I was a kid this was a cool rivalry chock full of Cowboys vs. Indians imagery & analogies, but leftists robbed us of that fun like they do in virtually all areas of society, and this year I don’t even expect it to be very interesting on the field. I just hope Jayden Daniels lights up the scoreboard since he’s my starting quarterback in a few fantasy leagues. Zach opines that Dallas probably needs to just scrap everything from the top down and start from scratch.

My Pick: Washington

Zach’s Pick: Washington 

Tampa Bay (-5.5) at NY Giants 

The Bucs are 4-6 but could just as easily be 7-3.  It seems that Baker Mayfield is a rather decent quarterback outside the Vortex of Apathy that sucks the joy out of Cleveland, but he has landed with another hard luck franchise. Meanwhile, it looks like the 2-8 Giants will be drafting another QB next spring, as they have finally admitted that Daniel Jones is indeed the epic failure the rest of us knew he was destined to become five years ago. New York could’ve waited until much later in that draft and snagged Gardner Minshew with better results. Anyway, this is exactly the kind of game RedZone was created for, because I’d rather dangle my junk in the kitchen sink at Diddy’s house than watch the entire sixty minutes. Tampa will win, but no one will notice or give a damn. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Tampa Bay

Zach’s Pick: Tampa Bay

Baltimore (-3) at LA Chargers 

Our Steelers beat the Ravens last week and every Baltimore apologist is still crying about it. Don’t misunderstand…I fully realize that it’s way too soon to get cocky, and the AFC North is still a street fight that’s far from over. However, I told y’all in the preseason that I wasn’t all in on the Baltimore hype, and I was right. Conversely, Jim Harbaugh has transformed the 7-3 Chargers into a playoff contender just like I told you he would. It’s a Monday night showdown that probably isn’t receiving enough attention. It won’t be easy, and I think RB Derrick Henry will rebound nicely from the abysmal game he had in Pittsburgh, but I am boldly calling for an upset. Zach enjoys the Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh of it all, and at the end of the day he also likes the former Michigan coach to prevail.

My Pick: LA Chargers 

Zach’s Pick: LA Chargers 

2024 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 9

We kept our head above water doing bonus picks a week ago, with point spreads playing a key role in flipping several outcomes one way or the other. I’m glad not to be a gambler because I can imagine having a half point ruin your day could be rather frustrating. At any rate, I extended my season lead by one game, while Zach is one game closer to getting back to the .500 mark. We are each in the same general ballpark as this identical point a year ago.

My Season: 28-24

Zach’s Season: 24-28

Notre Dame (-12.5) vs. Navy

Don’t look now, but two of the service academy football teams are undefeated (sorry about your damn luck Air Force). Party like it’s 1946!! In the grand scheme of things that probably doesn’t mean much since it is doubtful they’d be considered playoff worthy, but it could make the Army-Navy game more consequential than it’s been in quite some time. We’re several weeks away from that though. Meanwhile, the 6-1 Irish are praying that an inexplicable September loss to Northern Illinois doesn’t torpedo their playoff aspirations. This rivalry dates back to 1927, with Notre Dame winning 80 of the 96 meetings. The Midshipmen last won in 2016. For some strange reason the game is being played at the NFL home of the Jets & Giants in New Jersey, meaning it’ll be the most entertaining contest those fans have seen all year. As much as I’d love to predict an upset I cannot imagine Navy overcoming what I assume is a notable disadvantage in size, speed, and athleticism. I’d love to be wrong. Zach believes Notre Dame being overrated is business as usual, and he thinks Navy can hang with them by running the ball and controlling the clock. 

My Pick: Notre Dame

Zach’s Pick: Navy 

Kansas at Kansas State (-9.5)

They call it the Sunflower Showdown, with the victor taking possession of the Governor’s Cup. It is actually the 4th longest active rivalry in college football (thanks realignment 🙄), with the Jayhawks leading the overall series despite the fact that the Wildcats have won the last 15 meetings dating back to 2009. State is 6-1 and has the home field, while 2-5 KU has to be disappointed with how things have gone thus far after winning nine games a season ago. I predicted K-St. would compete for the conference title, and they’re on pace to be in that mix. Zach doesn’t feel like it’ll be particularly close.

My Pick: Kansas St.

Zach’s Pick: Kansas St.

Illinois at Oregon (-21.5)

The 6-1 Illini announced their presence with authority last weekend, beating Michigan by two touchdowns. Not to be outdone, the undefeated Ducks sit atop the rankings with victories over Ohio St. and…well, okay, they beat Ohio St. and share the Big Ten lead with Indiana. I’d be surprised if Oregon lost at home, but the points concern me. Is Illinois for real?? They don’t have to win the game to gain that legitimacy, but they do need to be competitive. I don’t feel strongly either way, but I’ll roll the dice on the visitors keeping things respectable. Zach has been impressed by Illinois and agrees it won’t be as easy for Oregon as some might assume.

My Pick: Illinois 

Zach’s Pick: Illinois 

Chicago (-2.5) at Washington

It’s supposed to be a marquee matchup pitting #1 overall pick Caleb Williams against #2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, but the Commanders’ rookie QB suffered a rib injury last weekend so his status for this game remains a bit murky. Daniels, to the surprise of no one who pays attention, has been the more exciting & impactful signal caller thus far, leading his team to a 5-2 record and the NFC East lead. Williams has the Bears looking much improved at 4-2, though they have the misfortune of playing in the NFL’s most competitive division. I’m not a Vegas insider, but it isn’t difficult to figure out that the points are all about Daniels’ questionable status. If he plays and is unencumbered by the injury Washington is a clear favorite at home, but if backup QB Marcus Mariota is under center then things obviously tilt toward Chicago. Can Jayden Daniels channel 1997 NBA Finals Michael Jordan?? Holy schneikes that’d be freakin’ cool. Zach has always been more complimentary to Williams than I’ve been, but he likes the Commanders to score the slight upset.

My Pick: Washington

Zach’s Pick: Washington 

Dallas at San Francisco (-4.5)

The cool thing about this rivalry is that it isn’t completely about nostalgia. Oh sure, those of us old enough to remember legendary names like Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson, Emmitt Smith, Brent Jones, and Deion Sanders in their heyday become a bit sentimental about the classic skirmishes of the past, but the matchup always feels just as relevant as it did decades ago. The 3-4, injury plagued Niners have struggled more than anyone could’ve ever anticipated a few months ago but sit just one game out of the division lead. It’s a similar story for the 3-3 Cowboys, who are currently in third place in the NFC East. They are coming out of their bye week though, which probably offsets Frisco’s home field. It’s the Sunday night game on NBC and will likely get good ratings. I am somewhat surprised that Dallas isn’t favored even though they’re on the road, but watching Jerry Jones get ridiculed by the sports media is delightfully hilarious. Zach  doesn’t have a positive impression of either team, but he thinks San Francisco sucks less than the Cowboys right now.

My Pick: San Francisco 

Zach’s Pick: San Francisco 

2024 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 4

Neither one of us had a good week, thanks in part to underwhelming performances by the Wisconsin Badgers & Houston Texans. We’ll try to do better, starting on Friday night. Kudos to Fox, which, for the moment anyway, has replaced the departed WWE Smackdown (now airing on USA Network, which is fine with this wrasslin’ fan), with a Friday night football game. That means that we are able to enjoy football five out of seven nights. I rarely leave The Bachelor Palace these days as it is, but now I can feel good about it for awhile. 

My Season: 11-12

Zach’s Season: 12-11

Illinois at Nebraska (-8.5)

The college football world has been awaiting Nebraska’s return to relevance for a very long time. They haven’t had a winning season since 2016 and haven’t won ten games since 2012. The Cornhuskers have cycled thru six head coaches since the legendary Tom Osborne retired in 1997. Currently they sit at 3-0, but now the real work begins. The Illini are also 3-0, including an impactful victory over Kansas. This will be the first road game for Illinois, and there will be 90k fans ready to rumble in Lincoln on Friday. I like the home team, but I think the points are a little much. Nebraska probably wins by a 5-8 point margin. Conversely, Zach doesn’t see anything to dislike about Nebraska and believes they’ll get a big victory.

My Pick: Illinois

Zach’s Pick: Nebraska 

Tennessee (-7.5) at Oklahoma 

I don’t like Oklahoma in the SEC, but will reluctantly agree that it creates some intriguing matchups. The Vols are 3-0, having outscored their opponents 191-13. The 3-0 Sooners have the home field, but even the oddsmakers don’t see that as much of an advantage. I believe they are about to receive a very harsh welcome to their new conference, with the suits having to remind themselves that, financially atleast, it wasn’t a terrible decision, even it is a stupid move in every other way. Zach, on the other hand, predicts a high scoring shootout with very little defense. 

My Pick: Tennessee 

Zach’s Pick: Oklahoma 

Utah (-1.5) at Oklahoma State

The Utes were my preseason #1, and thru three games have not given me a reason to regret it. I ranked the Cowboys in my Top Ten and warned the masses not to sleep on this game. ESPN’s College Gameday will be less than a hundred miles away in Norman because…well of course they will be, but I think this will be the better game in that state. I’ll be thrilled if it’s as close as the odds indicate, but at the end of the day I have the visiting favorites pulling out a thriller, and these teams possibly meeting for a rematch in the Big 12 title game in a few months. Zach makes a valid point that Utah QB Cam Rising, who injured his hand a couple weeks ago and didn’t play at Utah St., is so important to his team that his absence would completely change the equation. That possibility is enough to swing the pendulum in the home team’s direction for him.

My Pick: Utah

Zach’s Pick: Oklahoma St.

Baltimore (-1) at Dallas

It warms my cockles to see these alleged Super Bowl contenders sitting at 0-2 & 1-1 respectively, with neither atop their division. Okay, okay…to be fair the Cowboys are in a three way tie, with the 0-2 Giants a game behind. Also, I realize both teams are likely to fix their issues and jump back into the playoff conversation. However, only one can emerge victorious on Sunday afternoon. It’s very interesting that the Cowboys are home underdogs, which probably means the “experts” believe they have bigger problems than their opponents. That being said, I am a bit of a contrarian who likes to go against conventional wisdom. While it pains me to have to cheer for either team, in this case I think Dallas defends their home turf with a single digit win. Zach opines that a Cowboys loss would put head coach Mike McCarthy on the hot seat, which would be fascinating given my prediction concerning him a year ago and my feeble decision to back off on the idea this season. 

My Pick: Dallas

Zach’s Pick: Dallas

Washington at Cincinnati (-8)

Monday Night Football is on an early season roll, and I’m here for it. The Commanders are 1-1, but I think rookie QB Jayden Daniels has an opportunity to be special, especially if the team acquires another weapon or two so WR Terry McClaurin doesn’t have secondaries focusing on him. Meanwhile, the 0-2 Bengals have been disappointing thus far, but it’s way too soon to push the panic button. There is no shame in losing to the defending Super Bowl champions on their home field, especially when the zebras put their stamp on the game. I foresee Daniels putting on a show and almost singlehandedly keeping his team in the game, with Cincy ultimately getting the win but not covering the points. Zach opines that the Bengals have been playing down to the level of their opponents, but believes they’ll rise up and blow out Washington. 

My Pick: Washington 

Zach’s Pick: Cincinnati 

2023 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 20

I’m not a numbers guy. Math has never been my thing. Having said that, the symmetry in our numbers heading into the final week is kind of cool, given the fact that it was mostly unplanned. I knew I had a significant lead and it’d be tough for Zach to catch up, but I am a gentleman and had decided that we’d do bonus picks since it is our finale and it makes RedZone that much more entertaining. There is no Thursday or Monday game, so with the exception of two games on Saturday and an epic Sunday night battle all the action will be on Sunday afternoon. I hope Scott Hanson eats his Wheaties and gets plenty of sleep the night before. At any rate, we were both 3-2 last weekend, and with all but the CFP National Championship to be played Zach is 3-6 in our bowl picks while I am 5-4. What that means is that even if I lose every remaining pick I cannot slip below .500, while Zach could tie me if I lose every pick while he wins all of them. Realistically that won’t happen for a variety of reasons, but it’s amusing to view things mathematically.

My Season: 68-56

Zach’s Season: 57-67

Houston at Indianapolis (-1.5)

The winner will be in the playoffs, while the loser begins their offseason program. When they met in Week 2 in Houston the Colts won pretty easily, but that feels like a lifetime ago. The Texans are clearly on an upward trajectory and I foresee a rather comfortable victory. Conversely, Zach likes RB Jonathan Taylor to lead the Colts rushing attack, enabling them to win with ball control.

My Pick: Houston

Zach’s Pick: Indianapolis

Cleveland at Cincinnati (-4.5)

There’s nothing at stake in the Battle of Ohio except pride & momentum. The Browns are playoff bound and locked into the 5th seed, which means they’ll probably face the winner of the AFC South. The Bengals will miss the playoffs after being in the AFC title game a year ago. Do the Browns rest their starters?? Probably. Is that enough for Cincy to finish their disappointing season on high note?? I think so. Zach believes in Cleveland’s new starting QB Joe Flacco and thinks he’ll have another big game.

My Pick: Cincinnati

Zach’s Pick: Cleveland

Atlanta at New Orleans (-4)

The winner could actually capture a division title…or be out of the playoffs altogether. If Tampa wins this game is meaningless, but if they lose then the winner here gets a trip to the postseason. The Falcons got a home win the first time these teams met a month ago, but I don’t believe they can replicate that success on the road. Zach thinks QB Derek Carr will lead New Orleans to a big win.

My Pick: New Orleans

Zach’s Pick: New Orleans

Jacksonville (-3.5) at Tennessee

The Titans can only play the role of spoiler. If the Jags win they secure a division title, and if they lose they’ll need a couple other dominoes to fall the right way to sneak into the 7th playoff seed. Jacksonville won easily when the two teams met in November, but that was at home. Tennessee now has the home field, though with nothing to play for and rookie QB Will Levis banged up the deck is stacked against them. The favorites will likely have QB Trevor Lawrence back in the lineup, which should be enough. As a Steelers fan I hate it because we need the Jaguars to lose, but I have to be intellectually honest. Zach has faith in the Titans’ rushing attack and thinks they will control time of possession & the line of scrimmage en route to an upset.

My Pick: Jacksonville

Zach’s Pick: Tennessee

Tampa Bay (-5.5) at Carolina

If the Bucs win they’re headed to the postseason as division champs. Lose and they go home. The Panthers are even worse this year than last, but traded away what will now be the #1 overall pick to choose QB Bryce Young in last year’s draft with the top pick. Carolina seems to be a poorly run organization and will need to hit a home run with their next coaching hire. Anything can happen in the NFL, but this feels like a rather low hurdle for Tampa to clear. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Tampa Bay

Zach’s Pick: Tampa Bay

Seattle (-3) at Arizona

The 4-12 Cards are finishing up another miserable season and will spend the next several months asking themselves alot of questions. Conversely, the Seahawks will play in the postseason if they win and the Green Bay Packers lose. Obviously the only thing they can control is what they do, but it might not be as easy as most would assume. Arizona upset Philly on the road last weekend, so can they play that well at home?? Perhaps…but the smart money is on the favorites. Zach opines that QB Geno Smith is playing well right now and believes that’ll be enough.

My Pick: Seattle

Zach’s Pick: Seattle

Dallas (-13.5) at Washington

The Cowboys were gifted a win last weekend by an incompetent officiating crew, and now they can secure a division title with another victory. The Commanders are another team that might be making significant changes in the offseason, but they’d love to finish on a high note by knocking Dallas down a peg. I don’t think that’ll happen, but I do believe it’ll be a surprisingly close game. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Washington

Zach’s Pick: Washington

LA Rams at San Francisco (-3.5)

The Niners have already clinched the NFC’s top seed & a first round bye, so I suspect they’ll sit their starters for all or most of the game. The Rams have clinched a wildcard berth. When these teams met in Los Angeles in Week 2 ‘Frisco won by a touchdown, but much has changed for both teams since then, making comparisons impossible. My vibe is the game means more to the Rams, with the home team having their eyes on a bigger prize. Zach doesn’t believe ‘Frisco will lose even if they rest their best players. They are his Super Bowl favorites.

My Pick: LA Rams

Zach’s Pick: San Francisco

Philadelphia (-6) at NY Giants

The Eagles are playing for a division title despite losing 4 out of their last 5 games. Everyone is trying to figure out what exactly has gone wrong in the past month, and the powers-that-be in that locker room need to fix it quickly. The Giants have really gone off the rails this season and have nothing to play for, but neither do they have anything to lose. I don’t know if Philly can recover their mojo enough to get to another Super Bowl, but I think they’ll find a way to win this game. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Philadelphia

Zach’s Pick: Philadelphia

Buffalo (-3) at Miami

Sunday night has the best game last. The winner will be division champions. The Dolphins are in the playoffs no matter what. The Bills are in with a win, but would need some help if they lose. Miami is battling the injury bug, including the loss of linebacker Bradley Chubb with a torn ACL, which is why the oddsmakers like Buffalo on the road. Everything is pointing toward an emphatic victory for the favorites, but I think the Dolphins are ready to rise up & shock the world. Conversely, Zach likes QB Josh Allen to lead his team on a late, game winning drive.

My Pick: Miami

Zach’s Pick: Buffalo

2023 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 17

Zach & I were both 2-3 last weekend. Out of my six fantasy teams only one made the playoffs, so as a fan I’m hanging on by a thread to these picks, my Herd & Mountaineers in pedestrian bowl games, and the 7-6 Steelers, who average a measly 16 points/game & have the 21st ranked offense in the NFL.

My Season: 56-44

Zach’s Season: 48-52

Tampa Bay at Green Bay (-3.5)

The Bucs are 6-7 but in a three way tie for the division lead, almost mirroring the gridlock in the NFC South a season ago. There’s still time for things to shake out the way I predicted, but credit to Tampa for being slightly better than I thought they’d be. Meanwhile, the Packers are struggling as I knew they would. Not only does Green Bay have the advantage of The Frozen Tundra in December, but I think they’re beginning to figure things out and aren’t that far from being a pretty good team. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Green Bay

Zach’s Pick: Green Bay

NY Jets at Miami (-12.5)

The Dolphins suffered a heartbreaking loss to Tennessee last weekend but still sit atop the AFC East. The Jets surprisingly beat the snot out of Houston but still look to be a season or two or perhaps a piece or two from being contenders. I don’t think Miami will have any problem winning, but the points are certainly eye popping. If the Jets play as well this week as they did last week it could be a close game, but I don’t think they can pull that off two weeks in a row. Conversely, the points are just too much for Zach. He likes Miami to get the win but foresees the Jets remaining competitive.

My Pick: Miami

Zach’s Pick: NY Jets

Atlanta (-3) at Carolina

The Falcons are in that NFC South scrum and might be a great quarterback away from being a solid team. The Panthers could earn the top overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – too bad they already traded it to the Bears. These are two teams heading down different paths…Carolina is treading water in the pool of mediocrity, while Atlanta looks to be swimming away from choppy waters toward a calmer sea. Zach thinks Desmond Ridder still has an opportunity to be the franchise QB the Falcons need.

My Pick: Atlanta

Zach’s Pick: Atlanta

NY Giants at New Orleans (-6)

The sports media is abuzz over Giants QB Tommy Devito, an undrafted free agent out of Illinois. The team isn’t achieving much, but atleast it’s a cool story. The Saints have the good fortune of playing in a mediocre division so their playoff dreams are very much alive. I believe that kind of hope is a great motivator. Zach thinks it’ll be a tight game and is rolling the dice on the Giants.

My Pick: New Orleans

Zach’s Pick: NY Giants

Washington at LA Rams (-6.5)

The Rams have no shot at winning their division, but are still in contention for a wild card. They’ve also won three out of the last four games and gave the Ravens all they could handle last week before falling in overtime. The Commanders have had some good moments this season, but don’t be surprised if new ownership makes a whole lot of changes in the offseason. I wouldn’t be shocked if the visitors pull off an upset, but the home team has much more on the line. Zach concurs.

My Pick: LA Rams

Zach’s Pick: LA Rams

2023 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 13

Both of us were 5-5 last week, which almost makes bonus picks feel like a waste of time. However, I can’t go that far really because having the outcome of those games matter makes them more fun to watch. We’re doing something a bit different this week…or are we?? I think we may have tried this concept once…perhaps a couple of times…in the past. Instead of both of us picking the same games we’ll both be picking five separate games. Enjoy!!

My Season: 43-30

Zach’s Season: 36-37

Wake Forest at Notre Dame (-24.5)

It’s the Sam Hartman Bowl!! The Fighting Irish QB spent five seasons in Winston-Salem under center for the Demon Deacons and became the ACC’s all-time leader in touchdown passes. Wake is 4-6, so they need to win out to become bowl eligible, while the home team is 7-3 and will probably end up playing in a top tier New Year’s bowl game because that’s how college football seems to work these days. Zach is concerned about the points, but he’s feeling frisky.

Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame

Colorado at Washington State (-4.5)

The talking heads have mostly stopped paying attention to Coach Prime since the Buffaloes are 4-6 and have lost three in a row. Having said that, the Cougars share the same abysmal record and have lost six straight games. Yikes. This is a Friday night game on FS1, which doesn’t bode well for ratings. The Vibes are telling me that the Buffs are desperate enough for the additional attention a post-season appearance brings, so they’ll be motivated to become bowl eligible.

My Pick: Colorado

North Carolina at Clemson (-6.5)

It hasn’t been a great year for the 6-4 Tigers, but they’ve won two in a row and would love to finish strong, building momentum for the future in the process. Meanwhile, the 8-2 Tar Heels hit a snag with two close losses at the end of October, which essentially killed their conference title aspirations. Zach isn’t necessarily predicting an upset, but he foresees a close contest.

Zach’s Pick: North Carolina

Appalachian State at James Madison (-11.5)

ESPN will be on hand for Gameday, and as someone who graduated from a school that took the leap from 1-AA/FCS to playing in a Group of Five FBS conference I understand how much that means to these programs. The 6-4 Mountaineers aren’t going to win the Sun Belt or get to ten wins as had become fairly commonplace until last season, but they’d surely love to go bowling. Conversely, the undefeated Dukes have sparked a debate about an outdated NCAA rule that precludes them from post-season participation because this is only their second year at the FBS level. Meanwhile, last year a 5-7 team got a bowl bid, and nowadays players transfer more frequently than most people change underwear. Make it make sense. Anyway, I think the home crowd & all the hype will help the home team, but the points are just too much. JMU gets the victory, but they’ll win by 7-10 points.

My Pick: Appalachian St.

Oklahoma State (-7) at Houston

The 7-3 Cowboys still have an opportunity to get to the Big 12 title game, but questions remain after the beatdown they received last week at UCF. As for the 4-6 Cougars…well, it’s their first season in the conference, and they’ve proven they can hang despite their record. They need to win out to be bowl eligible. Zach doesn’t think that’s going to happen though, predicting the favorites to grind out a hard fought victory.

Zach’s Pick: Oklahoma St.

Kansas State (-7.5) at Kansas

The Battle of Kansas is normally more interesting on the basketball court, but with both teams at 7-3 and not mathematically out of the Big 12 title hunt this could be a fascinating game. You may recall that I had high hopes for the Wildcats, but losing at Missouri back in September squashed those expectations. They did push Texas to triple OT a couple weeks ago before losing, which deserves a tip o’ the cap. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks came out of the gate strong but have rode the roller coaster the last two months. It’s a 7pm kickoff on Saturday night and a chance for the folks at FS1 to present a better game than the night before. I won’t be watching because I have plans, but I think the home team gets it done, or atleast stays really close the whole way.

My Pick: Kansas

Cincinnati at Baltimore (-3)

The AFC North is very much up for grabs, with the 5-4 Bengals battling back into contention after a rough start. The 7-3 Ravens are a confusing team, occasionally looking like the championship contenders that the talking heads promote them as being, but sometimes snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. That’s exactly what Zach thinks will happen, with Joe Burrow leading Cincy to a big win on the last possession of the game.

Zach’s Pick: Cincinnati

NY Giants at Washington (-10)

The Giants season has been torpedoed by injuries. At 2-8 they’re in the running to snag the top pick in April’s NFL Draft, which could force them to ponder whether or not QB Daniel Jones, currently on the shelf with a torn ACL, is really their guy. The 4-6 Commanders have shown occasional signs of life, but they could find themselves in the same boat, having to decide if QB Sam Howell is the future. As for this game, Washington isn’t a dominating enough team to beat anyone by double digits.

My Pick: NY Giants

NY Jets at Buffalo (-7)

What’s up with the Bills?? They’ve lost 3 out of the last four games and just fired their offensive coordinator (while Steelers fans everywhere shake our heads in amazement). The Jets have shown potential but are inconsistent. Neither team is out of division title contention, but they need to shape up rather quickly or Miami will win the AFC East easily. Zach has lost faith in Buffalo and thinks they’d be fortunate to win at all, but if it happens it’ll be by the skin of their teeth.

Zach’s Pick: NY Jets

Philadelphia at Kansas City (-3)

Is it a Super Bowl preview?? Possibly. Both teams should be rested & healthy follow a bye week, and the viewers of Monday Night Football will reap the rewards. The 8-1 Eagles haven’t blown anyone out, but perhaps that’s because they’ve known how good they are and haven’t needed to exert maximum effort. The Chiefs are 7-2 and will cruise to their eighth consecutive division title, but they’ve shown chinks in the armor. Whichever team establishes a ground game, dominates time of possession, and plays better defense will be victorious, and I believe the visiting underdogs are up to the task.

My Pick: Philadelphia