Saturday, October 15, 2016

Benster and D Pick Your Games-----Don't Break My Arrow Edition

Old dude, I understand that you are going down to check out scenic Oklahoma vistas and HYYYYYPPPPE! Tulsa this weekend?

That's it, Seabiscuit. We are in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma for the marching band festival here, featuring the mighty Irondale Marching Knights!

Maybe you can find out exactly where Tulsa is and maybe try and get a hat or something.

We were in Tulsa with my cousin Mary Lou last night, so I can report it's there. A hat would be a good thing, though. On my list of acquisitions. Meanwhile, you are busy working away at school and at predictions, correct?

If you want to be the best, and I am the best, you have to put in the work. So it is time to pick some games, so watch me work!

Minnesota Golden Gophers (+7) vs. Maryland Terps. I'm sorry, but this line makes no sense at all. I understand that Minnesota is probably not going to win the Big Ten West, and they are on the road in College Park, but this line is just too big. The Gophers are not a bad football team at all, and certainly are better than a Maryland team who is still finding the groove in the Big Ten in football. At the very least, show the Gophers a bit of respect for how solid they have looked this year against pretty decent opponents. Gophers 28, Terps 13.

Vegas may be trying to get some wagering on this game with this line. It does seem excessive. These schools really don't have much of a history. Mitch Leidner is not going to play today, which complicates matters for the Gophers. But if they bring their defense, they should be able to handle the Terps. Gophers 17, Terps 14.

A School in Columbus (-10.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers. Okay, time for a bit of a rant. The Badgers clearly have gotten no respect from Las Vegas on this one. I know the Buckeyes are a very loaded and talented team, and even I can admit it. They deserve to be ranked highly and are going to be a tough out. However, the Badgers are certainly no slouches either. They beat LSU on a neutral field, and beat Michigan State on the road, and played a very tight game against Michigan. So why are the Badgers getting disrespected when they clearly deserve equal billing? I have given Urban Meyer a lot of criticism in this space, but he said that the job Wisconsin has done is a very good body of work, and I promise you that even the smug Buckeye fans who I think are the worst should be worried. Wisconsin is a very good football team, and their ranking and body of work in a very difficult schedule shows that. Camp Randall is going to be loud, and the Buckeyes claim they want to be champions. We will see if they can win, or if once again Urban Meyer wastes a golden chance at a title. Wisconsin 31, A School in Columbus 24.

I don't know what to think about this one. I'd love to see the Badgers will it, but I'm skeptical. They have a lot, and I mean a lot, of injuries on defense. It's going to come down to discipline against superior athleticism. On offense, can young Alex Hornibrook get it going against a talented defense. I say he can, but it's going to be tough. Badgers 24, Buckeyes 21.

Illinois College Blueboys (NL, but someone might want to bet on it) vs. Knox College Prairie Fire. This weekend is homecoming weekend at Knox, and I have already seen a lot of alums walking around the place. Knox has only won the one game, which happened to be last week against Grinnell, who are a god awful team. Illinois College is a solid Midwest Conference team, but the Fire should feed off a very large crowd to help the alums write more checks to the financial office. Knox 78, IC 0.

We write checks to Knox, so why shouldn't they? IC is better than solid. Knox will play well, but they will come up short. IC 31, Knox 21.

Dallas How 'Bout Them Cowboys (+4.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers. Dallas is back again in Lambeau, where they have found it to be very tough in the past two years. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot have been able to help Dallas withstand losing Tony Romo. The Packers did not play a complete game again last week, but made enough plays to get the win. The Packers do tend to have trouble with the read option, which I would expect the Cowboys to use a bit of. The Packers still have a number of injuries that are nagging, but I would expect the Packers to win another tough game and keep pace with the Vikings. Packers 27, Cowgirls 24.

The Packers are the best defense Prescott has faced. They will make it very difficult on the Cowboys. Aaron Rodgers needs to play better, but I think he will this week. Surprisingly easy one. Packers 31, Cowboys 20.

Jacksonville Jaguars (Pick) vs. Bear Down Chicago da Bearz. The Bears have been looking better in recent weeks, though John Fox has to continue showing that improvement if he wants to keep his job. Granted, the Bears have had some injuries, but Cameron Meredith in particular has looked like a good option and someone that Brian Hoyer trusted last week. Jacksonville is a tough opponent who should give all NFC North teams fits. Bears 34, Jaguars 20.

The Jags have been a disappointment so far, but they seemed to get better as the season went on last year. This is a game the Bears can win. Will they? Bears 21, Jags 20.

That is all for this week, and we will have to do something about the NFL Network requiring the Bears and the Packers to play on Thursday. Again, I swear they want our readers to upgrade a tier or something. Ben out!

3 comments:

W.B. Picklesworth said...

This will be a good test, both for Ezekiel Elliot and for the Packer's run defense.

3john2 said...

The Packers seemed about as well prepared for that test as Trump was for the last debate.

W.B. Picklesworth said...

On the other hand, Elliot looked great!