Straight Ca$h Homey 2013: Week 3

After a good week 1, week 2 slapped me right in the balls. Oklahoma State gave up 28 points in the 4^th quarter to un-cover. Notre Dame made Michigan look like the ’07 Patriots and Syracuse got the boom lowered on them by those Wildcats. I thought Wazzu would cover, but when I went to bed at half after they housed a pick-six to tied it at 7-7, I did not expect the FINAL to be 10-7. Lane Kiffin is the best ever. Bucks covered by half and Ducks covered right after half. Should’ve taken Baylor, damnit.

 

This week is Game of the Century 2 as the Crimson Tide stroll into Aggieland. Buckeyes head to Berkley and the new LA football school heads into the Big Red. Week 3 is upon us. Here. We. Go.

7Louisville -14 at Kentucky

12:00 ESPN

$$ Kentucky couldn't handle Petrino, his motorcycle or the Hilltoppers. Teddy B is gonna turn off the lights at Commonwealth Stadium and light a candle for the souls of the Wildcats.

AGREE. The Cardinals and two touchdowns against a Kentucky team that lost to WKU?? UK supposedly has great guys coming up. However, they do not have great guys right now, and Louisville has beaten their ass the last few years. Bridgewater will score touchdowns at will and even if it gets within 7 or 10 late, Louisville can and will score. Cardinals roll early.

Straight Ca$h Homey 2013: Week 2

Well that was fun. College football was back and there were a ton of good games. There were a ton of bad games too with bad teams losing to 1-AAs all over the place. The spread revolution has made smaller teams able to keep up and bigger defenses grab for the oxygen. Bad losses in August get made up by winning streaks in November, but yeah, Oregon State, USF, Kansas State…see ya.

 

How did we do? I went 5-2, winning my money game even though Bama’s offense looked more-or-less like very average, and they still won by 25. I went 2-1 with my alternate picks with Boise getting run off Washington’s new field. Yikes. Also, welcome to the Jamis Winston show. Him along with Oregon’s signal caller are my Heisman darkhorses. Rob went 5-2 as well, getting his money game with the winded Clowney on Thursday. Not a bad weekend over all, but with the Buckeyes up 23 after the first quarter, what the hell was that?! They were on pace for a 92-0 rout :(

This week…well everyone takes a breather. South Carolina at UGA, The U and Gators, Mich and Notre, and that’s about it. Oregon at UVA, ok??

 

Bonus NFL THURSDAY NIGHT PRO FOOTBALL OPENING DAY WEEEKEND BUT ON A THURSDAY AS THE DEFENDING SUPERBOWL CHAMPS HAVE TO PLAY ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THE O’S STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK OF THE CENTURY YEAR BONUS PICK AT THE VERY END THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Week 2 Picks

$$$ Cincinnati -7.5 @ Illinois

12:00 ESPN2

The second best team in Ohio is a lot better than what might only be the third best team in Illinois. #OATW

This seems like a very solid bet, considering Purdue is better than Illinois. I don’t really care about this game enough to put money on it, but I like it the pick.

Straight Ca$h Homey 2013: Week 1

This is the best time of the year. College football kicks off and there will be football every weekend from now until the Super Bowl. This year, I was approached by my buddy Rob (@iamnotajerk) who wanted to get in this straight cash homey. So when I get my lines, I send them to him. He does his picks with his thoughts, and then I respond with my thoughts. If I pick games that he doesn't, then I include those at the end.  He then will or will not send responses to those, because it’s a free country and who am I to have a gavel in my hand? We’re just talking ball and vegas, no big deal.  If keeping track seems confusing, YOU AIN'T GOT NO WORRIES. The picks will be laid out at the very end. NOW ONTO WEEK 1 YES FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL...this may also happen for NFL picks but since every game is +/- 3 points and any team can win for no reason, I may just keep those to Rob..WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE...

Rob is noted at "RP" and in black. My responses are after "JD" and are in blue.

Behind the scenes/techy dork note: writing emails in GMAIL seem to be terrible.  It auto-saves every third word and takes about 20 minutes to type a paragraph.  I am trying to figure out what works the best as I try to transfer and update the text, so the format of this thing may be jacked up.  Bear with me, or not.  Who cares, I’m not getting paid other than these picks.  America.

 

RP: The easy one first:
OSU -35 vs. Buffalo
12:00 ESPN2
Because The's schedule sucks, the best route to a national title game is to impress in every. Single. Game. Plust with suspensions to Roby and Hyde, the backups should want to do everything possible to earn playing time for later in the year. And Buffalo...well they're Buffalo.
JD: Agreed. The first games are always tricky because you never know what your team is and the suspensions and the hype and there are just a lot of questions. But...Buffalo isn't going to stop the Buckeyes and the Buckeyes will stop Buffalo. Also, Urban runs his offense with his 1s, 2s, 3s, and random students from the south stands. If it gets 28-0...he's still going to score. I'll be back at the tailgate by the early 4th with this game locked up. Not like Rice or Pitt in the 90s, but I think the Scarley and Gray are looking in the 60s. MACTION will have to wait.

2013 Buckeyes: Fireworks like the 4th of July

 

Kickoff is right around the corner and what do we have here?? The Buckeyes are number 2 behind Saban the God. Preseason polls are stupid because the rankings are based on last year's bowl game, where the team is after spring ball, and/or where the team looks to finish because everyone can see into the future, but whatever, it's a nice starting point and something to talk about. I don't really rank the teams until after the non-conference is done and everyone is a few games into their respectful league play, but if you start high you have an advantage over a surprise team that is playing catch up the whole year.

 

What I want to do is look at the number 2 ranked team in the country and explain why I get aroused when the local guy comes on the radio and talks BUCKEYE FOOTBALL. Let's break down this team:

 

 

Coach(es): Strength

Urban's best year is his second, when the guys already buy in, know what the hell is expect and he can add more dimensions to the playbook. He also gets more of his recruits in there and can shape his personnel how he wants it. Big game coach, but also has a great view of the overall picture. Dominates rivals on the field and for high school 4 and 5 stars. 12-0 and he is just getting started

John Pigskin Bro

John Pigskin Bro

I want to have a post about the most-talked about college football player since number 15 was smoking fools in Gainsville.  Johnny Manziel (I hate “Johnny Football”).  I don’t really want to get into the HESHOULDGROWUPNOWANDSTOPRUININGTHEGAMEOFCOLLEGEFOOTBALL hot sports take, (UPDATE…I DO)…

 

This was originally going to be a post strictly about John on the football side, but he has had such a brotastic summer that I have to get to his superstardom as well.

 

If you follow college football, you’ll notice a bunch of old guys who think Johnny is an embarrassment and that they know how a college superstar should live his life in college in 2013 that has nothing really to worry about.  Oh, and he’s a bro.  Don’t forget about that part.

2013 Buckeyes - The Look ahead

Now that spring ball following Ohio State’s incredible 12-0 season is over, it’s officially time to look ahead to September.

What’s old?

Offense: Up-front where the battles are won,  4 out of the 5 linemen and the two tight ends (right tackle seems to be a faux-battle, just like last year).  In the backfield, everyone is back.  The to-be-Heisman-finalist quarterback, all 5 running backs (Hyde, Rod Smith, Ball, Dunn, Hall) with Hall more of the in-motion fly-sweep “Percy Harvin” role, and the receiving corps-Philly Brown, Devon Smith, Spencer, Thomas and Fields.

Defense: The young pups at d-end and Leo “Viper” are back as young freaks who will make a lot of money chasing NFL QBs in a few years, one backer in the All-B1G and soon-to-be All American Shazier and 3 out 4 in the defensive backfield (Roby, Bryant and Barnett with no Howard Island).  And the kicker.

What’s new?

Offense: Right tackle-Decker has the job but Farris could start on any B1G team, the possibility of seeing some freshmen in the mix like Wilson, you know, the guy Urb took from Oregon by way of Texas.  Oh, and more PISTOL.  Urban took notes on the Redskins, Seahawks and especially the 49ers and their diamond read-option and play-action sets that gashed millionaires who get paid to stop offenses.  Expect to see 3 running backs with Braxton in the backfield and deep play-action off of that.  I could not be more excited.

Defense: Interior lineman-Bennett, Hale and Schutt (get to know these guys), death-mate to Shazier is Curtis Grant who seems to be “totally different” and living up to his Top 5 high school ranking, Nickel as the base defense (4-2-5) and the 4-3 as more of a short-yardage look, and a few new guys in the secondary as Tyvis Powell is the leader at the Star (LB/SS hybrid) and Dorian Grant at the corner oppo All-American and top 15 draft pick Roby.  Freshmen to look for in the backfield-Armani Reeves, Cam Burrows and Eli Apple.

Schedule:

The non-conf schedule is more like the unborn fetus of the homeless drug addict, with Cal (in Berkley) as the highlight.  Buffalo, San Diego State and Florida A&M round it out.  Yuck.  The conference schedule provides two byes and 3 night games!  Home versus Wisky (September 28^th), at Northwestern a week later (October 5^th-I’ll be there) and home versus Penn State (October 26^th).  And of course the finale in Ann Arbor.  There has been some talk about who would take on the 1-loss SEC team if Ohio State was sitting there, along with perhaps a Pac-12 team and a surprise team like Notre Dame last year.  Ohio State, with the weakest schedule, might be on the outside looking in, but it has also been said that if Ohio State were eligible last year and undefeated after they beat Nebraska in the B1G Championship, they would have faced Notre in the title.  I am not too worried about that bridge just yet and that whole discussion falls into the wait-and-see and I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it camp.

Expectations:

Nothing short of winning the B1G by an average score of 50-10 and challenging the SEC 1-loss Champion in the LAST BCS GAME EVER.  The media loves the Buckeyes when they are on top and pile the f*ck on when something happens.

Prediction:

Buckeyes should roll heading into the B1G schedule.  Of course there will be hiccups, but this team could be just as outstanding at the 2006 squad, only Ohio State has Urban and won’t have to face him for the championship (and they won’t face 3 no.2 teams this year).  I’m going to take it one game at a time, but anything short of reaching Indianapolis in December would be a failure.  Fact.  Weak schedule + majority of team back + Urban year 2 = National Championship or bust, for real.  The Rose Bowl would be a consolation prize.  Think about that for a second.

Picture from 11W

Straight Ca$h Homey: 2012 Recap

Well the season has come to an end.  As many of you know, I did not repeat at the NCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEKLY PICK EM CHAMPION OF ALL CHAMPIONS as I finished in a stellar 13th out of 15th with a total record of 50-54-1.  I went 7-7-1 in money games and came out owing a total of $1.  Not too bad for someone who finished only a few steps up from the basement.

 

Unlike last year where I won by 3 games and finished 67-35-3, there was an actual tie for the winnings.  Brad and Chris both went 60-43-2.  Brad was crowned winner due to more money game Ws (9 to 8).  The leader coming into Bowl Week, Mike Trapp, finished 3rd with a 2-4-1 week and an overall record of 60-44-1, 0.5 game out.  Hale finished 4th at 58-46-1, 2.5 games out.  Holy hell that is awesome.  I would have been sweating off my nuts if it came down to that crap.

 

As you can see below, we were down as a whole from the remarkable season we (and I) had in 2011.  This year was more of the norm.  A lot of big teams didn't cover, there were a few good surprises (Notre Dame, Ohio State, TAMU, Oregon State, Penn State), a few duds (Southern Cal, Wisconsin, Houston, Arkansas) and a few standards (Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Baylor).

 

This year was a little bazaar because I didn't hit too many money games (.500 is unacceptable for stone cold lead pipe locks), and a 6-1 week twice, which helped me get out of my $100+ hole.

 

A few things I learned:

-Go with your gut.  Don't over think it.  You like a 'dog at home? Take that 'dog at home.  You think a blowout is in store? Take the double-digit favorite.  Look at the lines, get your likes, look again, and go with them.

-The first few weeks, you have NO IDEA about ANYTHING!

-Bowl week, you have NO IDEA about ANYTHING!

-I love betting on the 10:00pm games, however I didn't stay up to watch the entire game the entire year (#parent).  I do like not knowing and looking up the score Sunday morning, but I would like to bet on more games I can actually watch!

 

Overall I was under .500, close to .500, but needed two weeks of 6-1 to get there.  Trap games are really traps, and when Saban has time to prepare, look the f8ck out!

 

Side note: I made a couple 6-point teaser parlays once I got a hold on a few teams and ended up + $100 on bovada.  I don't really write about 6-point teasers because it kind of defeats the purpose of picking games. 

 

Anyway, this year was really fun, even when I was out of it in, say, week 6.  Once again, these are my picks, and if you are betting on college kids playing other college kids in football to pay your rent, uhhh good luck?!  I'll see you guys in August.

A few notes from Hale:

(all results are as a group)	Last Season	This Season	Year Over Year %
Overall %	55.4%	51.6%	(6.9%)
Money Game %	60.6%	54.2%	(10.6%)
% of Players Under .500	0%	40%	---

Straight Ca$h Homey Bowl Week: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Don't expect a lot of banging
New Year's Day

Finally some quality bowl games.  No more Monday Night or Thursday Night Jags-Jets games (MY GOD I CANNOT TAKE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE GAMES MY GOD)...There is a great race for the title, as a 3-way tie approaches this final week.  I, however, am no where close to it.  Just playing for my pride at this point (and the last 7 weeks). 

Bowl week is always hard, like the first week, due to a few factors.
1 - Everyone is healthy
2 - Everyone is rested, which allows a hot team to cool off and an underachieving team to kick off next year
3 - Mental states.  Is a team really happy to be bowling, and is their opponent disappointed by their bowl?  How about their coach (if they have one)?  A lot of psychos show up around the New Year.

Those are major major major factors that make a seemingly sure-handed blowout become a potential upset.  The worst thing I fall into is taking a huge big-time program favorite and have them completely not show up (see: Oklahoma every year).  Therefore, I have leaned in my TOTAL BOWL BLOWOUT PICKEM SPECIAL to the underdogs (and by underdogs I mean teams that are favored by less than double digits...old habits die hard y'all).  These picks, however, are pretty standard for yours truly.  TO THE BOWL WEEK PICKS...

Thursday 12/27
HOLIDAY BOWL - 9:45 ESPN
Baylor Pick vs. UCLA
My favorite non-major bowl because the Big Ten is out of the Alamo and usually involves top teams that had a few bad losses.  Baylor has been a surprise and I like them against Jim Mora Jr.

Saturday 12/29
PINSTRIPE BOWL - 3:15 ESPN2
West Virginia -4 vs. Syracuse
Dub V gets their bowl on and runs away in Yankee Stadium

ALAMO BOWL - 6:45 ESPN
Oregon State -2 vs. Texas
Texas has been overrated the entire year.  Oregon State has been underrated the entire year.  I would take the Beavers up to -6 here.

BW3 BOWL - 10:15 ESPN
TCU -2.5 vs. Michigan State
Very close to being the money game.  TCU can handle Sparty's pound-n-ground and could easily run away against the very disappointing green and white crew in the 3rd.

Monday 12/31
PEACH BOWL Chick-Fli-A Bowl - 7:30 ESPN
LSU -3.5 vs. Clemson
Oh man, this game could go either way.  Except you know, it's Clemson against a national SEC power.  I'm taking LSU all day on this one.  A great way to end the year.

Tuesday 1/01
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL - Noon ESPNU
$$$ Oklahoma State -17 vs. Purdue $$$
Purdue is f8cking awful and Okie State can put up some points like men.  It's going to be 24-0 after the 1st quarter.

GATOR BOWL - Noon ESPN2
Northwestern +2 vs. Mississippi State
The only reason why Miss. State is a favorite is because they play in the big bad SEC and any team would lose 5 in a row in that gauntlet.  F8ck that.  The Wildcats are for real.  They should win by at least 10, or at least be up by 10 in the 4th until they give up the lead and lose by 3.

Michigan's Bowl Uni - 2013 Outback Edition

Michigan is once again changing their uniform.  This time, for the Outback bowl.  They are also changing their helmet.  They are going to wear matte navy and maize, which is the trend that seems to be dead (unless it's all black errthing).  The jerseys don't look too bad, which follows their uni changes.  I like the gold numbers and the blue on the shoulders look fine.  I can't tell if they have block Ms on the sleeves or numbers, but either way, it's better than their normal whites with yellow lines all over the place.  Grade: B+ (C- if you are a traditionalist)

After I keep looking at it, adidas has done some pretty good work (Texas A&M, Mississippi State) and some bad work (Wisconsin, Nebraska) and this falls with Michigan's past uni changes.  They want to keep it as classic as they can.  I really like it as a non-die-hard Michigan Man.  The Outback Bowl patch though...

Source: All over the Internet, but I'll give it to Michigan Football's twitter

New Cincinnati Football Helmet for bowl game

They look sweet with the checker pattern and the claw stripe up the back.  This will also be their alternate helmet for next year.  I imagine they will have some sort of pride uni from adidas to match these.  I'm guessing either an all red-out (similar to Arizona) or Black on red with these helmets.  Well done UC.

Grade: A-

From: Uni-Watch

Go Get 'Em Bert

The most surprising move on the college football coaching carousel comes in the form of my most hated program/coach moving down to the SEC to take over the tire fire known as the Razorback football.  I'll be quick and to the point: I have no idea why this is happening, from both sides.  Bert is leaving Wisconsin and is taking his 4TE/Goal line offense down south to rebuild an Arkansas program that was top ten in 2010 and supposed to be back in 2012.  I have two major problems with Bert going to Fayetteville:

1) How is he going to get the players Petrino got?  Nobody down there knows or cares about the Rose Bowl or the Big Ten.  Nobody down there knows or cares about ground-and-pound 3 and 4 tight end sets.  (Nobody = 17 and 18 year olds)
2) He has to face Alabama and LSU every year and running the ball 50 times at them will not and does not work.

Also, why would he leave Wisconsin?  He has built a good program and with Penn State being down for 5-10 years, they are now the 3rd most known program in the Big Ten with back-to-back* Rose Bowls and a good thing going.  He got a minimal raise to move to a program that would be even with Wisconsin at best.  It makes no sense.  He's from Illinois.  He played at Iowa and has a program up in Wisconsin.  Next year, his out-of-division SEC opponents are Florida and South Carolina.  They will be lucky to be .500.  At least Wisconsin can go get Chyrst from Pitt (sorry Mark May but it's karma, bitch).

I just don't get it.  I say he lasts at most 4 years with an average SEC team and then comes back to the Midwest, probably to Iowa when Ferentz gets run out of Iowa City.  Good luck fat man, you're going to need it.  I really hope you get a chance to go for 2 up 40. Against another SEC team, douche.

Straight Ca$h Homey Week 14: KING KONG AIN'T GOT SH*T ON ME

So yeah, that just happened.  6-1, money game, best record, and money for going 6-1.  I went from owing $77 to having $23 in my favor.  I'm still 9+ games back from the lead with the two most sketchiest of weeks ahead, but yeah, s*ck on dat.  Ohio State beats Michigan, the Browns beat the Steelers and Wisconsin loses.  The irony is that I would have gone 7-0 if I took my heart and not-took-Clemson and instead I thought Bucky had an ounce of fight left in them and it turns out that Penn State, yes Penn State of 2012, has more wins than the "Top 10" program in Madison.  F*CK YOU BADGERS!!!!!  Championship Week is upon us.  However not really because I am not making my trip to Indy to see the 12-0 Buckeyes play for the B1G Championship and so Championship Week is not really Championship Week at all.  TO THE PICKS!!!!!!

MAC Championship:
17Kent State +6.5 vs. 21Northern Illinois (Detroit)
7:00 ESPN2 FRIDAY
I have been known to go against the Flashes this year, but just under a touchdown with a 1-loss ball club and a win gets them into a BCS Bowl.  Hell yes I'm taking the Ohio team for the Mac Champ.

PAC12 Championship:
$$$ 8Stanford -8.5 vs 16UCLA (Stanford) $$$
8:00 FOX FRIDAY
So this is a repeat of last week when Stanford dominated the Bruins, but some feel like UCLA took it easy so they wouldn't have to face Oregon.  Uh OK YEAH THIS IS DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL. Stanford ROLLS.  BIG. Like 42-21 big.

West Virginia -20 vs Kansas
2:30 FX
No Kentucky, no Colorado, no Auburn this week.  However, my home-away-from-home-take-me-home got back on the winning track at Ames last week (and covered) and now they get the hapless Fightin' Weis'.  20 is huge, but Geno is going to score and Austin will not be stopped.  'Neers ROLL.  BIG.  Like 49-0 big.

SEC Championship:
2Alabama -7.5 vs 3Georgia (Atlanta)
4:00 CBS
Over a touchdown seems big, but has Georgia shown up in a big game outside of beating Florida this year (6 turnovers)?  Has Alabama not shown up in a big game?  I expect Bama to pull away after forcing Murray to beat them up top.  Damn I wish this was 4.5.

6Kansas State -11.5 vs 18Texas
8:00 ABC
I have no idea why Texas is ranked at all.  They are the same ole Texas of the last few years.  Klein and Co make a statement and knock Texas the f*ck out.

ACC Championship:
Georgia Tech +14 vs 13Florida State (Jacksonville)
8:00 ESPN
Both are coming off losses to their in-state arch rivals.  Only GT looked like shit.  Two touchdowns.  FSU beat Miami by 13.  And they lost their dcoord to UK.  The week of playing an option team.  Closer than the experts think.

B1G Championship:
12Nebraska -3 vs Wisconsin (Indianapolis)
8:17 FOX
F*ck you Badgers.  7 wins and in the championship game.  GO HUSKERS!  (Ohio State beat both these teams so I am rooting for the BUCKEYES!)

Straight Ca$h Homey Week 13: GET IN MY BELLY

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Showdown Saturday is here, just in time as you are released from your turkey coma.  A lot of people don't like the Michigan game after Thanksgiving, but I love it.  No work on Friday, and it caps off a great holiday break.  Also next year, it will give the Buckeyes one week less of layoff before the championship game.  Last week I took some 'dogs and ended up 4-3 with the money game as Northwestern went in to Sparta and beat them straight up.  This week I am going with a lot of heavy hitters and taking the biggest spread as my money game.  I also have tonight's game, a game tomorrow and the rest on Saturday.  I also came out of the basement and now I am second to last and owe $77.  A far cry from last year, but my head is up and my picks are in...on to week 13...

Record Last Week: 4-3, $
Record to Date: 38-41-1, 5 money games, 11.5 games back
Place: 14th out of 15

Thursday:
TCU +7 at 16Texas
7:30 ESPN
The Longhorns have been playing better, but they couldn't really play worse than they did at Kansas.  TCU has shown up this year, and a whole touchdown is a lot of points.  Patterson is good at either stopping the spread or keeping up with it, and I think Texas may be a little down not playing A&M anymore.

Friday:
West Virginia -1.5 at Iowa State
3:30 ABC
Going with my heart on this one.  I think WVU walks in Ames and blows them out of the cornfields.  Anything under 10 and I like them 'neers.

Saturday:
Ohio State -4 vs 19Michigan
12:00 ABC
I mean come on.  Michigan is now running more pro-style with Gardner under center and their best injured player who is a quarterback at running back and running power plays.  Michigan's defense came back to Earth this year and I think Ohio State wins by at least 10.  It could be close because RIVALRY GAME but really, Ohio State wins 55-14.  #hateweek

5Oregon -10 at 15Oregon State
3:00 P12N
Oregon bounces back and puts a whoopin' on State in the Civil War.  Either that, or OSU beats them outright at home and Chip Kelly goes to the Eagles next week.  If you win, your uniforms looks sweet.  You lose, you look like f*cking clowns.  Back to warp speed please Ducks.

$$$ 2Alabama -31.5 vs Auburn $$$
3:30 CBS
This could be a literal murder.  I'm going 55-0 Alabama.  Chizik should have been fired after going to overtime with Monroe.  There is a new NCAA Investigation (don't get me started) and Auburn is runaway Tire Fire of the Year, which after the Razorbacks motorcycle wreck, seemed impossible.  Alabama got up 24-0 on Cam Newton, what in the hell are they going to do against this Auburn team?!

Wisconsin +2.5 at Penn State
3:30 ESPN2
Bucky ends their season with a W in Happy Valley.  Could be close, but I think Wisky pulls away because Penn State doesn't really have anyone.

1Notre Dame -6.5 at USC
8:00 ABC
I keep telling myself, how in the hell does USC score on these guys with a backup freshmen quarterback?  Then I look at the wideouts and Silas and I think they could put up some points.  However, a team that struggles with Matt freaking Barkley behind center will for sure struggle against a top 5 defense.  Notre comes in as a team that has shown up big in big games against a team that has no-showed in big games.  Under 7?  I'll take this all day (which is exactly what Vegas wants).  Notre Dame wins and heads to the National Championship game.  Unbelievable.

Games I like and will keep an eye on:

Rutgers +2 at Pittsburgh

12:00 ESPN

I took Rutgers as a 'dog at UC and they won outright.  They do the same at Heinz Field.

 

12South Carolina +4 at 11Clemson 

7:00 ESPN

Clemson.

 

Louisiana Tech +4.5 at San Jose State

10:30 ESPN2

Tech was down by 3 touchdowns in the second half last week (to 1-loss Utah State) and ended up forcing OT.  They go to San Jose and get that W.  #WACATION

Ohio State "Rivalry" Nike Unifroms

Nike came out and said they were paying homage to the 2002 team.  Then they said they were going to pay respects to the 1968 team.  They did neither.  This looks like a uniform from the Mario level where everything is huge.  I don't mind them and will use them in NCAA '14, however, for the Michigan game, where you can see all the Buckeyes they have earned the entire year, and for this year to be THE last game, I think I am with everyone else when I say that these should have been worn for the Nebraska game, not for THE game.  This game will be the most watched and I get it, Ohio State has now done this for 4 years (3 out of 4 Michigan games).  I just want a normal-looking Ohio State-Michigan game.  These are all the pictures from the pep rally tonight from the Ohio Union.  The numbers are reflective, but won't be that big of deal on a gray November day at noon.  The stripes are all exaggerated, and there are 7 Buckeye leaves on the back collar.  The helmet will feature no Buckeye stickers and is a "dull chrome".  It looks like the scarlet stripe has texture to it, probably Buckeyes or buckeye tree bark.  No black tv numbers (1968) or normal stripes like in 2002.  Good effort, wrong game.  It would be a lot cooler if Nike only chose special teams.  When every team and their mother are doing special uniforms every week, the teams that don't change shit seem to stand out more.  Dream senerio?  1990-2000s throwbacks but used as normal jerseys with the big Steeler gray stripes.  Whatever.

Uniform: B
Timing: F

This picture comes via @BenAxelrod a must follow for Ohio State fans.
Like years in the past, former Buckeye running back Raymont Harris is the model.

New VT helmets

These were worn against BC this past weekend.  All white, with a new Hokie bird on one side, TV numbers on the other.  I don't mind the look if the rest of their set was non-traditional, but with the classic look, the helmet looks 1)stupid 2)out-of-place and 3)trying too hard/ripping off Boise State.  If you're going to rock the UCLA stripes on the shoulders and the same stripes down the pants, go ahead and put those same exact stripes on your helmet.  If you want to go psycho, go all in, like Maryland or Boise or Oregon.  Don't class up the joint with a suit and then wear a neon trucker hat.  All class or all psycho.  And I would like to see the numbers on the helmet match the numbers on the jersey.  Alabama doesn't so not a huge deal though. Grade: C-

Source: Nike Blog

Straight Ca$h Homey Week 12: I Let the 'Dogs Out

Please pick us.
OK!

This week is personal.  Ohio State plays Wisconsin and I hate Wisconsin. I hate their team, I hate their style, I hate their coach, I hate their program and I hate their shitty fans.  When did Wisconsin have a win over Ohio State and when was that win not the biggest win in their program's history outside of Pasadena?  F*ck Wisconsin.  This week, I'm taking the 'dogs.  And whoever is playing against Maryland.  And Bill Snyder.  Simple enough.  On to Week 12...

Record Last Week: 3-4, $
Record Last 2 Weeks: 9-5, $ $
Record to Date: 34-42-1, 4 money games (Last)

10Florida State -31 at Maryland
12:00 ESPNU
At this point, I'm looking at Maryland as Jacksonville State or Savanna State or whatever team that was a 70-point underdog earlier this year and the coach was being questioned about his players literal safety.

$ Northwestern +6.5 at Michigan State
12:00 ESPN2
F*ck Sparty.  If NW gets up by double-digits and then loses to Mich St in OT by 7, I'm going to kick my dog and smack my fiance.

Rutgers +6.5 at Cincinnati
12:00 Big East Network (?)
F*ck Nippert.  Rutgers looks bad one week and now they are just under a touchdown 'dog to a very very average UC team.  Big East Football errr'body!

17UCLA +4 vs 18USC
3:05 FOX
F*ck Lane Kiffin.  If anyone could get the preseason no. 1 team to 4-5 losses, it's Lane.  Coach 'em up.  THROW THE RECORDS OUT FOR THIS GAME.  Home 'dog all day.

Ohio State +3 at Wisconsin
3:30 ABC
F*ck Bert and Bucky.  Ohio State is 10-0 and has shown up to every tough road game this year.  Wisconsin had a good day running at IU.  You know who else had good days running at IU? Lydell Ross.  F*ck Bucky.  No spread offense (aka run right at Hankins and Simon and Sabino is back)? I like the Buckeyes.  A LOT.  ON TO 11-0 after going 6-7!!!!!!!! BLEEP YOU BADGERS!

20Louisana Tech +3 vs Utah State
4:00
WAC Championship.  Both teams have one loss.  Utah State is a missed field goal away from beating Wisconsin at Wisconsin.  LTech put up 48 against TAMU. Utah State is 10-0-1 ATS this year.  LTech is at home and scoring over 50 points a game.  Please put this game on TV.  Home 'dog. Yes.

1Kansas State -12 at Baylor
8:00 ABC
F*ck yes Bill Snider.  Baylor cannot stop anybody and having this as a night game gives Klein an extra 4 hours to heal from his elbow or head or whatever.  Could be a shootout, but K-State pulls away late.

Maryland "Black Ops" Uniforms vs FSU

Blah.  We get it, Maryland.  We get it.  I think people would care if you could field a team.  They look cool, but if you have a chocolate sundae every night after dinner, then the good sundaes get lost with the average to bad sundaes.  Win games. Wear the same shit.  Then bring out special unifroms.  Don't waste them on a shitty shitty football team.  But yeah, if Maryland had 11 of the guy below, watch out ACC.

Source: Dr. Saturday

Ohio State Pro Combat Unis 2012 for The Game

Looks like I am a little late to this since my phone has died due the texts and pictures sent a few days ago about the "leaked" new uniforms OSU will wear next week when they play Michigan.  They are a tribute to the 2002 team and will sport a new helmet.  Chrome? Chrome.  At least it's the same-ish color as their normal helmet.  The stripes will be super huge, which is cool, but they should probably just wear the 2002-style and then forever.  Luckily, I still have a few of those styles left so I will be wearing my 2005 Teddy Ginn authentic.  Also, there are a few shirts available and I plan on getting both of them very soon.  Grade: B+ due to the many possibilities, Nike chose to go this route and it's not horrible.

As soon as anything is "officially" released, I'll be on it

All this comes from a banner from the Ohio State team store.





And my favorite of the bunch I will wear every day...


And up close because why not

Johnny Psycho

Major upsets are fun.  First, when the game is brought up, anyone who brings up that the favorite could lose gets laughed at.  Then the upset happens and everyone then claims they saw it coming and that the favorite was ripe for the upset.  Bullshit.

 

Texas A&M went into Tuscaloosa and beat Alabama and didn’t trail one time.  Their redshirt-freshmen quarterback showed up, balled out, and become a legend after he went half-RGIII half-OMG OMG OMG hey look an open guy.  Bama was down 20-0 and in the 4^th,  needed a Michigan/Nard-dog-everyone-go-deep-and-I’ll-underthrow-it-deep-pass just to be put in a position to take the lead in the 4^th.  Then the QB on the best team who never makes a mistake made a mistake and threw a pick at the goal line which sealed Bama’s fate.  Alabama did have a chance to get the ball back, but what was a microcosm of the entire game, they jumped offside on the punt which resulted in a first down and the Aggies shocked the world.  They were two-touchdown underdogs.

 

Last week, at Game of the Century IV or V or whatever, LSU lost to the Best Team Ever in the History of College Football after they failed on a fake punt, failed on an onside kick and missed a field goal.  The writing was on the wall.  Alabama should have lost and needed a last-minute drive to beat LSU.  Was Alabama showing merit of a champion, because no season goes untested, or did this show that Alabama wasn’t a perfect team and chaos should be prepared for?  Would Bama bounce back and crush the newbie at home, or would the now-overrated Best Team in the History of College Football have to fight for a second straight week and could get beat?  Latter and Latter.

 

A&M came in white hot, but I thought their defense couldn’t stop Alabama.  The spread might give the Tide some problems, but Johnny wouldn’t leave the game under his own power.  You cannot throw 50 times against this defense (see: Michigan) and tell your girlfriend(s) about it on the ride home.  I also thought that even if A&M does give them early fits, Saban will figure it out (like his teams always do) and they will methodically beat down (like they always do) the Aggies and run away with it in the 3^rd and 4^th (like they…you get it).  I took Bama -14 and figured the score would be 35-14 ish with at least two picks and a fumble recovery.

The Aggies came out with 0 shits given and got up by 3 touchdowns.  Alabama looked rattled but was in no way out of it by halftime.  Even when you thought in the 3^rd quarter, “Ok, Bama has settled in.  They  just scored and all the Big Mo is with the Tide.  They will stop A&M or get a pick or fumble, and the rout will be on.”  Well John went legend and marched the Aggies down the field.  That was it.  He showed that he just doesn’t care, and anything wrong that could happen, he’ll just run around ala RGIII and find an open guy because you can’t cover guys for 10 seconds.  He has the speed to get away from 2013 NFL rookies on Bama’s d-line and will/can find an open receiver that has come back to him and find the open spaces.  If not, he’ll just run for 10 yards, make a guy miss and get another 5-15.  Dude is straight out of NCAA 13 for XBOX/PS3.

 

Their new coach came from Houston and has spent a good majority of his career preparing for upsets, and his team showed no fear.  They threw the first punch, then a few more, took a few, but never backed down, even in the belly of the beast.  When TAMU opened up with Florida, Johnny showed up and played like a psycho.  I remember sitting there with my eyes wide open, shocked that this young kid doesn’t care about getting killed by Florida’s defense.  He just did his thing over and over and over again.  His offense might be trashy, with every big play as a broken-play, but I’ve seen young QBs and most of them just get sacked and throw picks and look like young kids.  Johnny is a freak.  There is something with this kid that I haven’t seen out of a QB in a long time.  He doesn’t know exactly what he’s doing, but he’s going full speed and just doesn’t care.  He is going to ball out no matter what.  Welcome to the SEC.  Gig em.  Rawl Tide.  Hello, chaos.

Straight Ca$h Homey Week 11: Call Me Butter 'Cuz I'm on a Roll

Rawr Eagle

6-1 (Hey!  The team that beat Auburn 12-10 showed up!) with my money game, thank you Clemson and Duke.  No matter how Clemson Clemson is, Duke is bowling and so yeah, thanks guys!  This week the Buckeyes have a Bye week so my heart won't be pounding out of my chest for 4 hours on Saturday.  I may even spend time with my daughter.  Haven't seen much of her since camp kicked off back in August. #dadoftheyear

Week 11...nothing really counts other than the money game, so fuggit.  Big favorites and a couple of home dogs.

 

Last Week: 6-1, $

Last 2 Weeks: 9-5, $

Record to Date: 31-38-1, $$$, T-Last

Indiana +7 vs Wisconsin

12:00 ESPN2

Bucky wins, they go to Indy.  IU wins, they still control their own life to Indy.  IU is tough at home, Wisconsin doesn't have a clue at QB and they suck, along to looking forward to the Bucks coming to Camp Randall next week.  I'll take the Hoosiers.

Miami OH +6.5 vs Kent State

1:00 Kent State Closed-Circuit Dorm TV, Sports Time Ohio? FSN Cleveland?

Love the Redhawks.  Kent State had a guy return a punt the wrong way.  The Flashes have been playing well, but just under a touchdown is a lot in Oxford.  Go Hawks. Go #MACTION

1Alabama -14 vs. 15Texas A&M

3:30 CBS

Two touchdowns to the white-hot Aggie squad with their freak behind center.  Bama is pissed and they will be able to score a lot of points.  Aggies, not so much.

13Clemson -31.5 vs. Maryland

3:30 ESPNU

Maryland is missing their top everybody.  Clemson is rolling.  Spread covered by half.

$ 5UGA -15.5 at Auburn

7:00 ESPN2

Auburn is done and if UGA wins they head to the ATL to face Bama.  LOVE THIS GAME.  I wish it was under 14 but that's why Vegas is Vegas.

3Oregon -28 at Cal

10:30 ESPN

Cal lost their QB last week and do not have their best weapon at WR.  Oh and how in the hell are they going to stop Oregon?  They go for 2 up 50.

18UCLA -14.5 at Washington State

10:30 ESPN2

Leach has suspended his best player, there are reports of near fist-fights at halftime, and the Bruins put 66 on Rich Rod.  Again, wish this was under 14 but Wazzu is done.  21-28 point win easily.

Alternate:

9Louisville -3 at Syracuse

12:00 ABC

I like the 'ville, but I could care less about this game.  Also, the Carrier Dome can sneak up and bite you at any time.  I do have a love for the Cuse and want to actually take them, so I'mma keep this one off the board.