Benster and D Pick Your Games-----LOLions Have Zero Excuses This Week Edition

Old dude, if the Lions don't win tomorrow, this will be on the level of the Packers going into Arizona and beating the Cardinals a couple of years ago on a short week with a wrecked football team. 

Seabiscuit is setting a narrative.

Oh yes, it's time to get revenge on the LOLions. 

The mighty Lions? Somehow that still doesn't sound right.

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

Glorious Green Bay Packers (+8) vs. Detroit LOLions So the Packers beat the Chargers by some divine miracle, and now they get a chance to visit the NFL media's favorite team, the Detroit LOLions. Look, my issue with the Lions isn't that they are good. What boggles my mind is that certain members of the NFL media are forgetting that the Lions were good under Jim Schwartz and Jim Caldwell. So while Dan Campbell is doing a fine job, it's not like the Lions have been consistently terrible in recent memory. Heck, the Lions were a playoff team the year that Barry Sanders quit on them for not being good enough. And I would argue that teams like the Texans and the Broncos have also been major improvements, to say nothing about the Jaguars proving that they are not a fluke. Look, the Packers are banged up, and this is a tough test against a good team on the road, especially after the beatdown in Green Bay in September. But what gives me hope is that the Packers have been quietly playing a bunch of close games lately. They just haven't finished. Don't forget, the Lions were incredibly lucky to escape against a bad Bears team on Sunday. Don't be surprised if the same old Lions show up right on time. Packers 24, LOLions 23.

They hope to dine on better fare this year

I've seen progress, too, but the injury list is daunting. It's going to be difficult to beat a very healthy Lions team when half the team doesn't suit up. Lions 27, Packers 20.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+3.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings last week lost because I thought that Brian Flores sat back a little too much last week. On that last drive, he was too slow to adjust to the Broncos dumping the ball off, and it was a departure from how he called the rest of the game. As for the Bears, last week was a brutal collapse for them. They were very vanilla on offense, and let Detroit march down the field. The Vikings need this one, and I will default to the desperate team at home to make sure that the Griddy Man makes an appearance down the line for the Vikings fans to experience maximum pain in January. Vikings 35, Bears Still Suck 0.

The Bears? They really really really really really really suck. Yes, the Bears still suck. Vikings roll. Vikings 31, Bears 14.

A School In Columbus (+3.5) vs. Michigan Release the Manifesto On a holiday weekend based on gratitude and respect for your neighbors, we have these guys playing. Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh don't seem to get along very well, and this game might make the 2006 game look tame by comparison. For the Buckeyes, this game has taken on an air of importance for Ryan Day. If the Buckeyes don't win in Ann Arbor against a Michigan team dealing with cheating allegations and an interim head coach, the crazies will blow up the Ohio State fan sites and Ohio sports radio call in lines calling for Ryan Cooper to be fired. No pressure, huh? I like Michigan to win, as Ohio State is still under the Curse of the Six Game Minimum. If you don't know what I mean, look in the archives. You know what to do, Buckeyes. Michigan Man=Cheating is Okay? 50, #NotMy2020BigTenChampions 45.

A meteor strike seems in order here. On the field, I still think Michigan is the better team, especially with the game Up North. Michigan 31, Ohio State 28.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-2.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat Thanks to Matt Rhule's genius clock management and some heroic performances by banged up stars, the Badgers were able to gut out a victory that means the bowl streak lives. For the Gophers, last week was strange. I know that PJ likes to control the time of possession, but they played very conservatively against Ohio State last week. I get that there is a talent gap, but seriously playing that scared? Lots of grumbling in these parts. I warned you, Gopher fans. But you didn't listen and said I had an agenda. The bottom line is that for the Gophers, this game is for bowl eligibility and to keep the Axe downtown among everything they want this season. Badgers 41, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 21.

I don't think the Badgers score 41 points this weekend. But they may score more than the Gophers, which would be enough. Badgers 27, Gophers 24.

Enjoy your football this weekend. If your relatives start arguing about politics or stirring up some drama, go watch some football. You'll thank me later. Ben out.