Benster and D Pick Your Games-----The Vikings Are In Trouble Edition

So it turns out that the Packers are indeed mortal. Which also means the beatdown of the Bears looks less impressive, given that the Bears have bigger things to deal with.

Here's a live look at Halas Hall:

,

Meanwhile, some say that Georgia Southern is still getting intercepted by the Wisconsin secondary. This Badgers team is flawed, but I can see what Fickell is trying to do, and should get the time given his track record with the Bearcats. 

Sure, but things will get more difficult quickly.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPPPPEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-5.5) vs. Purdue Spoilermakers Thankfully for the Badgers, losing to the Cougars means that they are unranked and less likely for Purdue Pete to seek his blood sacrifice. Hopefully, he saves the voodoo for the Buckeyes. Wisconsin didn't play great against Georgia Southern, but woke up in the third quarter and decided to play bully ball. Purdue won't be an easy out, given that this is a road game in conference play. However, what should be noted is that the Badgers have dominated Purdue ever since Scott Starks scores on the fateful fumble back in 2004, and Purdue lost to a Fresno State team that might not be up there in the Mountain West. I think the Badgers need to start better and go to the run early, and then let Mordecai cook. Badgers 27, Spoilermakers 10.

Slow starts have been a problem in all three games thus far. I agree - the better formula is to bury the opponent early. Won't be easy in West Lafayette, but the Badgers are the better team. Wisconsin 28, Purdue 22.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (-11.5) vs. Northwestern Purple Nerds So it goes without saying that the Purple Nerds are a mess after the shocking news about Pat Fitzgerald. I don't know where Northwestern goes from here, and this game could be very old-fashioned. The Gophers struggled in Chapel Hill last week, and while they are heavy favorites, the Gophers seem to have lost all sorts of imagination. Where was the creative offense that the Gophers ran in 2019? I know that PJ wants to be like Iowa and Wisconsin, but his style is dangerous. If Northwestern goes to the lead, then I think the Gophers are going to be rowing up the creek. Thankfully, Northwestern is going to roll over and die for the Gophers. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 9, Purple Nerds 0.

Here's a live look at the Northwestern football complex:

You don't necessarily need to be good. This week is one such example for the Flecktones: Gophers 21, Northwestern 9.

A School in Columbus (-3) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish This game is between two schools that I don't like very much. Both teams win too much, have national media love ins, and have fanbases that drive me up the wall because of how entitled and unrealistic they are. The Domers have done nothing since 1988, and yet I still get them shoved into my faces every single time they win, and the Buckeyes still fly a banner for a conference title that required a rule change, if you remember the Curse of the Six Game Minimum that other outlets don't want to admit the existence of. Hey, Dan Shaughnessy built his entire career around a curse, why can't I? So this game should be fun. Ohio State hasn't looked great, while the Domers have already started to anoint Sam Hartman as the next great Notre Dame star, ignoring that he's a transfer. As much as the mystique of Notre Dame Stadium is a marketing product, I like the Domers to get it done. No matter what happens, I get to see an entitled group of fans melt down. Rudy Was Offsides 50, Born on Third Base 48.

Notre Dame has looked better than expected, while the Buckeyes have looked worse. What does it mean? Nothing. Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 21.

Los Angeles Chargers (+1) vs. Minnesota Vikings Both teams are 0-2, and there is going to be an air of desperation downtown. The Vikings weren't good enough to beat the Eagles, and quite honestly given their next few games could be struggling again just like in 2021. The Chargers can't stop anyone, and have had two brutal losses. Cam Akers coming to the Vikings is an interesting move, because the Vikings have not gotten any running lanes established, and they are going to need that to avoid relying on Kirk, who might be in danger of getting run out of town and losing his precious Spire commercials. I think the Chargers are better balanced, and with the Vikings not having a lot of pieces on defense, I think the angry Vikings Whine Line callers will be out in force. Pray for Ron Johnson and Corey Cove. Go Back to San Diego 35, Vikings 26.

Akers has talent, but the Vikings offensive line? Here's a live look at their O-line meeting:

Chargers can rush the passer when it occurs to them. Kirk Cousins has been excellent thus far but he's got a tough assignment here. If Austin Ekeler can't play for the Chargers, that may mean the difference. Vikings 34, Chargers 31. 

New Orleans Who Dat Nation (+1.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers Last week the Packers had a very bad defensive meltdown that reminded me of 2008. Honestly, everyone can be blamed from the players to the coaching staff. We don't know if Jones or Watson is going to be good to go, but Love played very well without his two best weapons, and gave us a great chance to win. The Saints are a hard team to read. Derek Carr is trying to rebuild his career, and while the Saints have talent, Dennis Allen might not be the right guy to coach the team. The Packers should be able to make some more plays, and then it's a short week to deal with the LOLions. Packers 28, Saints 3.

Can the Packers keep Love upright against a pretty good Saints defense? That's the question this time. I think they do but this one makes me nervous. Packers 27, Saints 24.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.