Friday, November 01, 2013

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Bear Week Lightning Round and Concrete Edition

Not much time, old dude! We've got to finish this Eagle Scout project and this blog post in record time. So watch me work!

Minnesota Golden Gophers (+9) vs. Indiana Wants Me, Lord I Can't Go Back There Hoosiers. So let me get this straight -- the Gophers destroyed Nebraska and beat Northwestern on the road, and they are a 9-point dog to Indiana? What in the name of  R. Dean Taylor are you talking about? Indiana is the perennial punching bag and the Gophers are on a roll. Can the Gophers get to a bowl that actually isn't named after a pizza chain? Yes. Gophers 63, Indiana 7.

Sorry, I don't see it coming down like that, but I could see the Gophers winning. Indiana can score, though. I'll have a nice glass of Gopher Kool-Aid and say: Minnesota 38, Indiana 35.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-9.5) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes. So the last time that Wisconsin traveled to Iowa City, they won in dramatic fashion and set themselves on the road to the Rose Bowl. It's usually a tough thing to win in Iowa City, but these Badgers are a high-scoring team and can D you up. And it's a shame that they aren't going to get their shot at history this year, most likely. But they can pound a few lumps on the rest of the Big Ten and finally win a bowl game. Wisconsin 31, Iowa 30.

Iowa is underrated. But they can't catch Melvin Gordon. Wisconsin 35, Iowa 24.

Minnesota Vikings (+10) vs. Dallas How 'Bout Them Cowboahs. So the Vikings are a train wreck right now and they are playing the most confusing team in the National Football League. It's all drama with Dallas, with Dez Bryant doing his best Cris Carter imitation and Tony Romo not showing any leadership, although he does sell tickets. I'm always going to be a fan of Jerry World because it's the place where the Packers won the first Super Bowl that I can remember. Will the Vikings enjoy Jerry World? Not as much as I do, but: Vikings 28, Cowboahs 17.

Whaddyer, nuts? The Cowboys are pure Jekyll and Hyde, but they're still in it. They need this game. And they'll get it. Cowboys 34, Vikings 21.

Bear Down Chicago da Bearz (+10.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers. So Gino's beloved Bearz are thinking that this is the time they'll finally break the losing streak they have to the Packers, which now stands at 6 games. Well, not quite. The Packers are dinged up, but da Bearz are hurt worse. Jay Cutler will not play. Lance Briggs will not play. James Jones might play. Aaron Rodgers is doing exceptionally well and Eddie Lacy has given the Packers a running game for the first time in 10 years. Can da Bearz break the curse? Well, only if they have enough guys to stop the Packer offense. I don't see it. Sorry, Gino. Packers 49, da Bearz 17.

I don't think da Bearz will give up seven touchdowns. They have too much pride. Devin Hester makes me nervous, too. But I think the Pack will prevail. Green Bay 31, Chicago 21.

The Old Dude and I have to finish building those dugouts, so we're done for now. But next week we'll have much more time for HYYYYYYYPPPPPE! Ben out!

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