Friday, November 19, 2021

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Can't Celebrate Yet Edition

I laughed out loud when I saw that Cheat Carroll blamed the officiating for his team losing to the Packers. He doesn't appreciate the irony in that statement. Sure, the refs are to blame for your offense getting shut out. I've got some great oceanside property in Oklahoma to sell you as well.

He's a beauty. And in the rearview mirror

We move on. The Packers are up here to face off against the Vikings, and the Badgers are looking to take the next step towards getting to Indy. 

It's not a long drive, but it's a very long way.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (-7) vs. Indiana Wants Me, Lord I Can't Go Back There P.J. Fleck has some explaining to do after what happened in Iowa City. Iowa tried to hand the Gophers the game, but the Gophers couldn't take it, and all of a sudden the natives are a bit restless around here. I was told two years ago that the Gophers had turned the corner after that Penn State game, but now it seems like some people are getting off of the rowboat. Indiana has just been a complete dumpster fire all year, and they are probably the worst team in the Big Ten this year. It's really surprising considering they are the defending Big Ten East champions. That's not a typo, by the way. Indiana won that division fair and square before Kevin Warren changed the rules at the last minute to benefit the Buckeyes. Decisions like that is why I want the league to bring in a better commissioner. The Gophers won't be looking ahead to the Axe game by any means, and they should avoid a trap game. Or will they? Indiana Wants Me, Lord I Can't Go Back There 27, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 9.

Well, if you're gonna quote it, ya gotta play it:


Lord, we can't go back there. But Indiana is back to playing bad football. Gophers are streaky, but they should have enough muscle to win this game. Gophers 27, Indiana 19.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (+9.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Last week was easier than expected against the Purple Nerds, which I can appreciate, especially not seeing them again for a while. Bucky looks like they are peaking at the right time of the year, and it's clear that whatever issues existed in the early part of the year have largely been figured out. But this won't be an easy game on Senior Day. Nebraska has been very competitive in a lot of their games. I know that the Big Tuna said that you are what your record says you are, but Nebraska is better than their record indicates. But thankfully the Badgers can ride a dominant defense and a more confident Graham Mertz to a victory. I also want to apologize to Mertz. I was very critical about him and advocated for a change, but he's made me eat my words. Badgers 31, Tom Osborne Ain't Walking Through That Door 14.

It definitely helps to play Rutgers and Northwestern instead of Notre Dame and Michigan. Having said that, the Cornhuskers are talented. But they tend to be dumb in key moments and Adrian Martinez is the football equivalent of former Cub great Shawon Dunston, an eternal rookie doomed to making the same mistakes over and over and over again. And he'll do it again on Saturday. Badgers 28, Nebraska 13.

Michigan State Sparty The Spartans (+18.5) vs. A School In Columbus Ohio State is another team that has improved since earlier in the year, and C.J. Stroud has largely quieted a lot of the critics. This won't be an easy game in the Horseshoe. Mel Tucker was a surprising hire to replace Mark Dantonio, but he has made them a contender again. The temptation for the Buckeyes is to look ahead to The Game next week, but they won't overlook the Spartans. I think Ohio State will win, but it won't be smooth sailing. #NotMy2020BigTenChampions 38, Sparty 34.

Sparty has been a nice story this season, but I'm not convinced they are a good team. Ohio State, on the other hand, is. Ohio State 38, Michigan State 21.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-1.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Packers really had a statement win last week. I know that Russ was clearly rusty and you can argue that he came back too soon. But shutting down Metcalf and Lockett to that degree was very impressive. What Joe Barry has done with the injury challenges he's had to work with has made people like me who were confused about his hiring have to eat major crow. The Vikings are also coming off an impressive win after what happened to the team last week. I'll be honest with you, this game is going to played on November 21. I would dearly love to have the Packers win as a birthday present on Sunday. Don't screw this up, Packers. This is going to be a close game, but one that I feel like the Packers can win. That's including that the Vikings are a textbook case of the desperate team at home. By the way, I'm still not going to discuss any of Aaron Rodgers and his comments regarding the vaccine and his decision to immunize himself. Packers 24, Vikings 19.

Can the Packers make Kirk Cousins panic? That's the key. The defense will do what it can to slow down Dalvin Cook, who has done some very nice Chuck Foreman imitations over the last few seasons, but if you work too hard to stop Cook, that sets up the Viking receivers. It all depends on the offensive line. I think the Packers win, but it's going to be a nailbiter. Packers 26, Vikings 24.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

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