Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Are The Vikings In A Tougher Place Than Most People Think Edition

Welcome back, and while what happened to the Badgers last week was a hard watch in the 2nd half, a Very Special Comment would be unfair considering that the Domers look like a team on a mission. 

Catholics are fond of mission trips, even to exotic Lambeau.

 As for the Vikings, they have made a lot of changes and decisions that I ended up talking to someone I trust who can answer those questions for us. 

I suspect I know the fount of wisdom in this case.

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

 Mississippi State Clanga (+1) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat I have to give the Gophers credit for scheduling a sneaky good non conference home and home with the Bulldogs, and will give the Bulldogs credit for being willing to travel up north. College football can benefit from teams deciding to do at least one interesting non conference game a year besides the cupcake games, and this will give some direct SEC vs. Big Ten comparisons on the field to start the season off. I also have been critical of the SEC not playing 9 league games in the past, so I will give the SEC credit for going to 9 conference games. As for the game, I think that the Gophers looked good last week, and Drake Lindsey looks like he is going to be the best quarterback that PJ has had in his time with the Gophers. The Bulldogs look like they are going to be a middle of the pack SEC outfit, and think that the Gophers are going to play well and get a good non conference win. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 27, More Cowbell 21. 

It pains me to say it, because ol' Peej drives me nuts, but the guy can coach and he's done a good job of establishing a consistently competent and often very good program here. The Gophs have talent on both sides of the ball this year and a number of guys with NFL ability. If Lindsey turns out to be one of those guys, the Gophers could make some noise in the conference. Gophers 24, Mississippi State 21.

  Western Illinois Leathernecks (+39.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers I will give the Badgers credit for hanging in there until Colton Joseph threw the pick 6 last week, but obviously we all knew that beating the Irish would be difficult. I will say that I did see something that looked like Wisconsin football. The bottom line is that for Luke Fickell to keep his job, he needs to win 8-9 games and beat at least one if not both of Iowa and Minnesota. I will say that Shawn Eichorst being AD makes me nervous given what he did with Nebraska, and hope that I am wrong. Western Illinois is your typical tuneup game, and I think that the Badgers should have a get right game. Hopefully it is a low stress game. Badgers 49, Leathernecks 0. 

If the Badgers don't breeze in this one, the voices will be getting louder. For now, all quiet on State Street except for faint rumbling. Wisconsin 42, Western Illinois 7.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (+1.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings So the Vikings ended up deciding to give Kyler Murray the keys to the quarterback position and put JJ McCarthy in the third string role. Given that the Vikings had a busy offseason full of questions about how they would line up against the Packers, I decided to bring in an expert who follows the Vikings. 

Mrs. D, a/k/a Mom, is a Vikings fan as longtime readers know. When I asked her about what she thought about the Vikings offseason, she mentioned she thought that it was a good idea to have McCarthy be the third string quarterback and get to learn the position better. She is also hoping for a successful season which she says is winning a playoff game. 

You should listen to your mother.

Well, I do, but I've learned to tune out the Geritol Fan when necessary.

I'll allow it.

My take on the Vikings is that they need to win a playoff game, because it is hard to believe that KOC has yet to win a playoff game. I get the sense that his seat is slightly hotter than people around here want to admit. As for the Packers, I think LaFleur is going to need to really improve on some things. I personally think that LaFleur has taken a step backwards, and the same mistakes keep piling up. Call me arrogant, but the Packers are an organization that expects to win Super Bowls. The nature of the Josh Jacobs suspension isn't known at this time, but I assume he will be suspended and he deserves to be suspended because of the choices he made back in May. I'm worried about the Packers being banged up along the offensive line against Brian Flores, but on the flip side I think that Jonathan Gannon knows exactly what to expect from Kyler Murray, given their history together in Arizona. Packers 25, Vikings 22. 

It's a good test for both teams. Kyler Murray has never had a better supporting cast than now and he will certainly have his moments. The danger the Vikings face is they have three quarterbacks on the roster and they all have significant injury histories. I thought the team picture they took was particularly interesting: 

Kyler, Carson and 9 on the march, wobbling a bit

 I also wonder if the running game will have enough juice to keep the Packers from going all out on the pass rush. Without Josh Jacobs, the Packers have a similar issue, so this could be a game with a lot of balls in the air. Jordan Love has seen plenty of the Vikings and he's smart enough to anticipate the tricks that Brian Flores will have. Will it be enough? Vikings 27, Packers 24.

 Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Not Our Last Dance Edition

 Old dude, the Packers might be having a Last Dance, but this isn't our Last Dance.

Nope. And I'm glad you opened up the windows. It got a little musty in here over the summer.

And it's great to be back. After a lot of drama, we made it. And it feels good.

Is that a Barry Manilow reference? Or Peaches and Herb?

Maybe you ought to lay off the herb, old dude.

It's only oregano.

Whatever you say, Geritol Fan! I am certainly feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPPEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Miami of Ohio Redhawks (+17.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat Sadly for the Boat Rowers, last week was close but no cigar against A School In Columbus. Despite rumors that I was in the Columbus area a few weeks back, I was nowhere near the campus of Ohio State, and certainly wasn't run out of town by an angry mob of Eleven Warriors readers. With no Mohamed Ibrahim for the rest of the year, P.J. will have to get creative offensively and coach up his other backs. Miami of Ohio is a good MAC team, but this is a bridge too far for them. The Gophers should roll comfortably and build momentum for a more fair test in Big Ten play later on. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 42, Miami of Ohio 21.

I will have to take your word for it. Gophers 31, Miami (OH) 20.

Eastern Michigan Eagles (+27) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers I can safely say that last week was the most angry I have been at the Badgers since the 2019 game against Illinois, and the BYU game in 2018. Nothing against Penn State and James Franklin, but that game was there for the taking, and the offensive playcalling was unoriginal and reactive instead of being proactive. Where were the jet sweeps, zone reads, option, or any creativity? More importantly, what happened to Graham Mertz? Hopefully this team can clean things up. Eastern Michigan is a terrible MAC team, and the issues I mentioned from last week are easily fixable. The only reason this isn't a Very Special Comment is because this team can be good. All of their goals are in front of them still. But they need to start playing better this week. Badgers 35, Eagles 7.

I was not impressed with the Badgers at all. They tried to out-physical a team with more talent. That's always a poor choice. They'll push around EMU, but there may be some heartburn if Mertz can't get untracked. Wisconsin 31, Eastern Michigan 14.

Oregon Ducks (+14.5) vs. A School In Columbus Offline, I mentioned that Ohio State was taking a big risk having C.J Stroud make his first start on the road in Big Ten play. That being said, I'm happy to admit that I was wrong about it. The freshman looked pretty good, and will get to play in front of a full Horseshoe against Oregon. The Ducks are the favorites in the Pac 12, and are an outside playoff contender. But this is an early start far away from Autzen, where the Buckeyes have only lost to Oklahoma and Virginia Tech in Columbus during nonconference play since 2010. A loss for either team is not fatal to their playoff ambitions, but would remove any margin of error. The Buckeyes will win. Even an ardent hater like myself would never pick against the Buckeyes, right? A School In Columbus 24, 1,000 Uniform Combinations, 0 National Titles 17.

Oregon is going to be good. But not on Saturday. Ohio State 35, Oregon 16.

Minnesota Vikings (-3) vs. Cincinnati Bungles The Vikings were not the drama team through most of the offseason, but thanks to some dumb comments by Kirk Cousins, they became the drama team during training camp. I honestly don't know what to make of the Purple. On the one hand they are really talented. On the other hand, we've seen what happens when the Vikings have expectations. Thankfully, the Bungles are beat up, and still don't have an offensive line. They are also a bit short on the back end of the defense. Since I am starting Justin Jefferson in fantasy football, if he could go off, that would be much appreciated. The Vikings should win this one. If they don't, then listen to KFAN after the game. You'll thank me later. Vikings 31, Bungles 10.

These teams don't play often, but Zimmer was an assistant in Cincinnati for a number of years, so there's still some history there. Vikings are more talented, but. . . Cincinnati 24, Minnesota 20.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs. New Orleans Saints, in Jacksonville This game was supposed to be in the Dome in New Orleans, but thanks to the impact of Hurricane Ida, we are in Jacksonville. Please donate if you can to charity, as I am sure that there are a lot of people who could use the assistance. As for the game, the Saints have engaged in some gamesmanship. They picked Jacksonville because the Packers historically don't play well in Florida, and because they don't want Packers fans to take over the stadium. They also have taken the shaded sideline, and will probably wear white to force the Packers to wear green. The Saints are beat up with injuries, but the one thing I expect is that Famous Jameis will be ready to go. People forget, but the Saints have won without Drew Brees under Sean Payton in the past. As for the Packers, after an offseason of will he or won't he, 12 will be taking the field as our starting quarterback. With Randall Cobb back as a peace offering, hopefully this year ends with us lifting a trophy in LA. The march starts this week, and I think the Packers can win. Packers 28, Saints 10.

The Saints are really beat up on defense. That's a problem. If they can't get a proper pass rush, Rodgers is going to destroy them. Packers 34, Saints 20.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out!

Benster and Pick Your Games -- Super Bowl LIII Edition

Old dude, 17 years ago today the Patriots beat the Rams to start their road to becoming a hated sports team that can't win without cheating. It's also the first Super Bowl I remember watching.

I remember Super Bowl V. Which was a bad game. Most of them were bad until the 1980s, actually.

I think everyone can agree that New England has been around too long, and some diversity in teams would be great.

Sure, but that requires the other AFC teams to get better. Other than Pittsburgh, and the Colts under Peyton Manning, has anyone been equal to that task? And is that Brady and Belichick's fault?

No, but let's be honest, Geritol Fan -- we're tired of these dudes.

Yeah, but it's been amazing to watch.

Maybe it's over, though. Maybe today. Watch me work!

New England Cheatriots (-2.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams. It's eerie how circular this game is compared to Super Bowl XXXVI. The Patriots are playing the role as favorite and the dynasty talk will be secured further with a win. The Rams have faced a long road back and are starting a young quarterback who nobody seems to trust outside of Hollywood. If that sounds familiar, it does echo back to 2002. The key to this game is going to be the first two full possessions of the second quarter. That sounds random, but hear me out. New England's experience in Super Bowls is that they do not start fast, but play better once they get settled in. I expect the Rams know this, and they tend to play better as the game goes on. Whomever plays better on the first two possessions of the second quarter should win. I think the Rams are a dangerous team and they are too flexible. Rams 35, Patriots 29.

This Patriots team is flawed, but they are playing very well right now. The underrated part of New England's dynasty is how they've been consistently able to take away what their opponents do best. The Rams present a different challenge, though, because the thing they do best, surprisingly, is on defense. Aaron Donald is again the Defensive Player of the Year and he's the closest thing to an unstoppable defensive lineman I've ever seen. And his partner in crime Ndamukong "Hong Kong Dirty" Suh has been lights out for the last month. Tom Brady rarely has to face a team that can get pressure right up the middle quickly, but that's what the Rams will do. The Patriot O-line is good, but it's strength is on the edges, not up the middle. That's the question today -- can Tom Brady win the game if Donald and Suh can put him on his back consistently? If they can, chalk up another Lombardi Trophy for the Pats. I say. . . Patriots 31, Rams 27.

So the Old Dude disagrees with me yet again. I shake my head. And don't worry, I'm sure there will be plenty of HYYYYYYPPPPPPE! in the pre-game show, which began last Wednesday, I think. Ben out!

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Patriots Aren't Underdogs Edition

Old dude, does it bother you that the Patriots are underdogs? Was Darth Vader an underdog during the Star Wars saga?

When you're talking comparative morality and Las Vegas is involved, I'm not sure it's a distinction of much value.

I really don't like morality plays. I am feeling the HYYYYYPPPPEEEE!, and can't wait to discuss these games.

I sense a disturbance in the Force. Or is it a Very Special Comment?

Watch and see. It is time to watch me work.

Los Angeles Rams (+3) vs. New Orleans Saints. This is a rematch of a game played earlier this year where the Rams were run out of the Dome. Some say that Sean McVay's personal assistant is going to be hired as a head coach, because apparently McVay knows everything and is the coaching flavor of the month. The Saints are almost unbeatable in the Dome these days, and I think they are going to dominate again. The Rams are too much of a finesse offensive team and all their talent has not won anything yet. Saints 70, Rams 49.

Saints are going to make their free throws, I assume? I expect a shootout, but perhaps not to that extent. Rams will have a chance, but I'm thinking Brees will find a way. Saints 34, Rams 28.

New England Cheatriots (+3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs. It's time for another Very Special Comment. I know that New England is not the underdog, but the NFL needs to seriously consider if it is better for their brand to keep having New England being showcased all the time. The Patriots have a coach and star player who knowingly cheated and an owner who makes Jerry Jones look like a moral guardian. How can Patriots fans continue to root for a team that does not care about the rules and is a bad example for our children? If Robert Kraft had any morality or shred of humanity, he would give back all the tainted money and fire every single cheater on his staff, and be banned from ever owning a football team. The Hoodie should be banned and stripped of his wins and be forced to give back his salary to the league. Brady should be stripped of his wins and give all of his mtroney to Adam Vinatieri. Vinatieri is the only reason that the Patriots are relevant these days, and every single Patriots fan should thank the heavens that he could kick in the clutch. Patriots fans, if you have any shred of morality, give up your tickets and turn your back on the team. You are aiding cheating and have shown you won't hold your "heroes" accountable. Kansas City should win, and they have a moral duty to. I am going to call on Roger Goodell to strip New England of every single win that the cheating weasels won and force them to give back their trophies to the teams who were screwed over by a rogue organization that is an embarrassment to the game of football. Chiefs 31, Cheatriots 0.

Whoa. I love you, young fella, but that was some Grade A crapola you just put out there. For a guy who claims he doesn't like morality plays, that's a ton of moralism you're flinging. I checked the record, just to be sure. I believe Adam Vinatieri left the Patriots around 2006. A lot has happened since then. I'll grant you one thing -- the Patriots are shady as hell. But I've been watching them for a long time and they win because they figure out how to beat their opponents and rarely make mistakes when the game is on the line. Anyway, on to the particulars. I think the Chiefs are better overall, but they haven't been in the Super Bowl since the 1969 season. Patrick Mahomes is a heck of a talent, but I have a feeling ol' Hoodie has something special for him. I don't like saying this, but. . . Patriots 27, Chiefs 24.

That was straight fire right there. Ben out.

McCarthy gets the pipe

No one paying attention is particularly surprised Mike McCarthy got fired yesterday. The timing was certainly surprising, though.

The Packers have been on a slide ever since they left the field in Seattle in the 2014 playoffs. They had some good moments and even made a run to the NFC Championship game in 2016, but this hasn't been a particularly good team for a while now. Some of it you can put on McCarthy, of course -- he seemed to lose the team this year. Some of the blame goes to Aaron Rodgers, an amazing talent but a diva of the first rank. A lot of the blame goes to former GM Ted Thompson, whose magic touch ran out years ago.

The NFL is designed to punish the best teams and elevate the worst teams. It's the way to keep interest in the league going. Some teams have good fortune and can avoid the canyons; the Patriots are a great example of that, but the greatest example would be the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have been contenders consistently for nearly 50 years. The Steelers started climbing the mountain way back in 1972. I remember 1972 well, as it was the only post-Lombardi year that the Packers would win their division until Brett Favre arrived. 1972, as it happened, was a false hope for the Packers, and as someone who lived with false hope for the better part of 25 years, it's easy to recognize.

Aaron Rodgers is the same age now that Bart Starr was in 1968. Nothing is guaranteed going forward and the Packers and their fans should not assume the good times are returning just because Mike McCarthy is leaving. There are some good players in Green Bay, but not enough of them. If I could trade rosters with the Chicago Bears, I would. If I could trade the immediate future of the Packers for the Bears, I would do that, too. I expect it will all turn to ashes in Chicago soon enough, because it usually does, but perhaps it won't this time. If you are a Packers fan, you have to assume your rivals are intelligent and competent. In many cases over the last 25 years, that has not been the case. But those days are gone. The Packers need to take the time to get this right, because it's just as easy to hire another Dan Devine as it is to hire a Mike Holmgren.

Benster Picks Your Games----NFL Mandated Emergency Edition

Looks like I am going to have to discuss the Packers on my own today thanks to the scheduling of the game and due to D being on assignment. The Packers won a critical home game against the Tuna Net Victims, but instead are going to have to win on the road for the first time since Cleveland last year. I think we can do that, but it will be hard. Watch me work.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (+3) vs. Seattle Seabags. The last three trips the Packers have made to the Pacific Northwest have been some of the worst days in team history. The best thing that happened was that the Packers were blown out as part of a banner raising on national television. The league office screwed the Packers many moons ago on a play I won't even link, and the last time we were there was a game that I will never watch again because it was arguably the worst playoff defeat a team I support suffered. That was then, and both teams are a lot different since that horrible day a couple years ago. This game matters in the NFC North, because I think this game is the pivot point of the divisional race. If the Packers win, they will gain ground on either the Bears or the Vikings and they still have yet to lose to either of them this year, with the Packers having plenty of time to prepare for Thanksgiving weekend against the Vikings. The key to the Packers getting a win is going to revolve around keeping Russ in the pocket. We all know that Russ likes to move around and get plays off scramble drills. I am looking for one of the outside linebackers to step up along with the linemen. On offense, I want to see Aaron Jones continued to be a featured part of the offense with Aaron Rodgers being able to use short stuff. This game will not be easy, but I think the Packers are on the verge of putting 4 quarters together and vaulting themselves back into contention. Packers 28, Seahawks 13.

Enjoy the football tonight, and we will see you tomorrow to discuss the Vikings, Bears, and other games. Ben out.

Benster Picks Your Games------Emergency Gopher Edition

I gotta fly solo because D is out on assignment at this point of the day. Don't worry, he will be back tomorrow. The Big Ten office moved this Gopher game against Indiana to tonight for reasons unknown to man. I'm a traditional guy when it comes to college football, and like games on Saturday unless it is the first week of the season or Thanksgiving weekend. Watch me work.


Indiana Wants Me, Lord I Can't Go Back There (-2) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat. First of all, I owe you guys the video:

Don't worry about R. Dean, because the game is outside the state lines of Indiana. In fact, he had a much better trip to Indiana compared to A School in Columbus last week. The Gophers got waxed pretty good in Lincoln last week, and it is anyone's guess at who will be playing quarterback tonight. Indiana is a team that would be better served in the West, but is a solid team most years and seem to be getting their type of kids. I don't think P.J. Fleck is worth the price of admission for the Gophers, because he focuses too much on the cutesy metaphors instead of doing his job and coaching his kids. Fleck is a product of our society where having a big personality can substitute for results, and at some point the Gophers have to ask themselves is it worth being known for playing good football or selling stupid shirts with rowing metaphors on them. Hoosiers 30, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 0.

D and I will be back with more football discussion, and I can promise you that I have some more hot takes. Ben out!

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Playoff Time Edition

Old dude, it is playoff time. We shall see if this is finally going to be the year that the Vikings turn the page on their emotional history and make NFL history.

Hope is alive here in the Twin Cities. How will it be dashed? But that's not all, right?

And we get to bash the SEC and I can continue to drop takes that other pundits refuse to tell you because those pundits are scared and beholden to corporate narratives.

Oh, you mean the Alabama Invitational? Yeah, I figured you would have opinions about that.

I feel the HYYYYYYYYYPPPEE and it is time to watch me work!


Tennessee Titans (+8.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are probably the most confusing team left as we begin the playoff journey. They looked so great on opening night in Foxboro, but have looked very ordinary at times. The Titans have quietly built a contender, but going into Arrowhead in the cold is going to be a huge ask. I think the Chiefs win, and are a serious threat to beat New England and Pittsburgh on the road. Chiefs 39, Titans 8.

Someone has to be in the playoffs, I suppose, but the Titans are weak sauce. Chiefs roll. Kansas City 31, Tennessee 10.

Hotlanta Dirty Birds (+5.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams. This is the first playoff game in Los Angeles in my lifetime, and it is good to see that the Rams finally improve. I personally enjoyed watching them during The Greatest Show on Turf era, and those Rams teams were one of my first football memories outside of the Packers. This game should be a classic shootout. I always harp on the Falcons having a great running game, and the key for the Rams is can they stop that running game? I am assuming that Goff and Ryan are going to probably cancel each other out, but Todd Gurley can be the difference maker, since he takes pressure off young Goff. The winner of this game is a potential opponent that the Vikings and their fans should really fear, as they are playing good football when it matters most, and both have enough balance and talent in the coaching department to make some noise. Rams 35, Falcons 31.

I agree with everything you've said, Grasshopper. The Falcons are a flawed team but they have a lot of talent. I'm not sure Jared Goff is ready for the bright lights, either. Still, Gurley is something else.  He's the difference in maybe the best game of the weekend. Rams 33, Falcons 27.

Buffalo Bills (+8.5) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars. I have to be honest with you guys, if you had told me that these teams would playing each other in the playoffs, I would have called you crazy and laughed in your face. Both these teams are great stories for the league, but stories that the league missed out on in order to continually openly root for another team in the league, which plays next Sunday. I feel the Bills should win, because their loyal fans deserve it and it would be fun to see how far they could go. Bills 21. Jaguars 10.

Can Shady McCoy play? That's the only thing that matters. Without him, the Bills are dead. With him, they will have a chance. I think you go with the home team here, though. Jags 24, Bills 13.

Scam Newton and His Carolina Panthers (+6.5) vs. New Orleans Who Dat Nation. I have to continue to praise these playoff games, as the NFC South has been a very fun division to watch all year. Both these teams have strong offenses, and are both strong contenders in a very wide open NFC. The Saints are a lot better than they were in the early part of the season, while the Panthers have seemed to rediscover their form from a couple of years ago. I think the balance and home field advantage of the Saints gives them the edge, and could set them up for a run similar to 2009. Saints 56, Panthers 31.

If these teams played 10 times, they'd split. Very close. I like the Saints because the game is in New Orleans, but that's the only reason. Drew Brees is the best quarterback in the tournament on the NFC side. That's worth remembering, both this weekend and down the line. Saints 33, Panthers 24.

"National Championship Game/SEC Championship Part 2": Alabama Crimson Tide (-4) vs. Georgia Bulldogs, in Atlanta. Time for a Very Special Comment. Georgia won the SEC, and I have no problem with them being in the playoff this year. The Bulldogs did lose to Auburn, but avenged that loss in the conference championship game and earned a return trip to a very partisan stage in Atlanta. Alabama on the other hand lost to Auburn, and did not play for the conference title. They also played Mercer before the Iron Bowl, which is a baffling decision that defies belief. Look, I understand that Ohio State got ambushed in Iowa City, but the Buckeyes won the Big Ten title game fair and square over my beloved Badgers. My Badgers got questioned all year for playing a weak schedule, but at least we did not schedule Mercer. Alabama annoys me because they get benefits that this team did not earn. The SEC plays 8 league games, whereas the Big Ten plays 9. Alabama has not played a true road out of conference game in years, which begs the question what Nick Saban is afraid of. If I were an Alabama season ticket holder, I would wonder why I have to pay extra to go to NFL stadiums all the time instead of getting a good true home and home scheduled. I publicly challenge the Alabama fan base, the Alabama athletic department, and Nick Saban himself to explain to me why a team of Alabama's stature refuses to play a true road game out of conference that would be fun to watch and prove that they can win outside of the South. I also want to call out the media for not asking more questions about this issue, because it seems unfair that other schools play tough true road games, while Alabama never gets on the phone and schedules true road games outside the South.

I had to get that out there. I like Georgia, since the Bulldogs challenged themselves by going to South Bend and playing a team that could have beaten them. That experience is the difference, especially combined with the fact that the Bulldogs have a great running game and defense should pull it out in a partisan Georgia Crowd. Bulldogs 17, Tide Rolled 0.

Dang. I agree with you again. I may need to check my meds. I agree with you about Alabama -- they did play a home and home against Penn State, but that was while the Nittany Lions were in Sandusky hell. Other than that, the last time they played outside of their region against a good opponent was UCLA, back around 2000. But remember, Mercer means business:

Mercer always a Janitor in a Drum full of ass whoopin, so maybe Alabama had more trouble than we knew. Anyway, back to the game. Georgia is about as explosive as the septic system our guy Mercer describes, so if they get rolling in front of a home crowd, this could be the year the Bulldogs finally break through. Georgia 24, Alabama 21.

Again, if you support Alabama and want to explain why the last time you left the South to play a football game was 2011, feel free to comment and tell me why I am a hack. Enjoy your football this weekend, and Ben out!

Football is back

The calendar says September and it's football season. Benster and I were flipping back and forth between a number of games yesterday. Some early thoughts:

• You can't tell much about any NFL team on what happens in the final preseason game. Many of the people on the field yesterday will be unemployed by the end of the day today. Still, you can draw some early conclusions based on the earlier games. The Vikings look to be offensively challenged again and the offensive line is going to be a big problem. I was originally thinking the Vikings were going to have a winning record this year, but I now think something like 7-9 or even 6-10 is more likely. 
• The Packers haven't shown much yet, but their defense looks to have improved a bit from last year. That's damning with faint praise. We don't have a sense of their running game, either. Aaron Rodgers can carry this team to 10-6 all by himself; if they want to be better than that, they'll need some players to step up. Ty Montgomery may be the key to the season.
• The Bears are a work in progress, but I expect improvement. I thought they were a cinch for the NFC North basement, but now I'm not so sure. My guess is teams will want to play them earlier in the season rather than later. 
• The Lions are apparently still in the division.
• We watched a good chunk of the Gophers and the elite debut of new coach P.J. "Row the Boat" Fleck. A 17-7 win over Buffalo, a bottom-tier MAC school, is not a particularly encouraging debut. It appears Fleck has no confidence with either of his quarterbacks, because it seemed like the Gophers spent the whole night running dive plays. His teams at Western Michigan were explosive on offense, so this debut was puzzling to say the least. Ski-U-Meh.
• The most pleasant surprise of the evening was the play of Irondale High School. The alma mater of Benster and Fearless Maria is known for its excellence in music and robotics, but football has been mediocre at best over the years, and quite often worse. The Knights opened the season against Spring Lake Park, the state runnerup in 5A last season and a traditional local rival that has largely laid waste to the mighty Knights. We flipped on the ol' cable access channel at halftime of the Gophers game and saw that Irondale was up 28-0. The Knights added another touchdown and beat SLP 35-0, flashing a ferocious defense that completely stymied the SLP attack. Meanwhile, a junior running back named Parker Freiberg ran for 156 yards on only 16 carries and scored four touchdowns. Had the Knights not played their second string most of the second half, it could have been worse. Perhaps things are changing on the north end of town.

Benster and D will return next week for another season. I sense the HYYYYYPPPPE building.

That's Really Super, Super Bowl

Brief thoughts on the big game and the attendant hoopla:

• While Peyton Manning's courageous (but pedestrian) performance down the stretch of the season was a big story, I think the quarterback who mattered is John Elway. Elway saw his offensive juggernaut of two seasons ago get crushed by a strong Seattle defense and he determined that the Broncos should have a defense of similar talent and ferocity. He went out and acquired some tremendous talent to help MVP Von Miller succeed. You can win a championship in a number of ways, and it's easy to see the Broncos taking a step (or two) back next year, but winning a championship is the goal and the Broncos made it happen because they were willing to change.
• I'm not a fan of Cam Newton, but I would cut him some slack over his performance yesterday, both in the game and afterwards. He didn't have enough talent around him to win against the best defense he saw all season. I don't think any other team in the league could have handled that defense.
• The halftime show was just odd. I've heard most of the songs before, but it felt like a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. I suppose it was better than "Up With People," though.
• I don't have a lot to say about the commercials, either, although I was amused that NARAL got so upset about the Doritos ad with the ultrasound. Some unsolicited advice -- lighten up.
• Mostly a strong Hall of Fame class, although I continue to wonder why Eddie DeBartolo is going into the Hall -- his 49ers teams were great, but it's difficult to see what difference he made specifically. Brett Favre and Tony Dungy are the guys I'll be watching when the induction ceremony happens. Now we need to get going on Jerry Kramer for next year.
• And while it's a cold few weeks, pitchers and catchers report in about a week. Can't wait!

Weekend

A few random observations.

• I really, really, really, really, truly, completely, really, absolutely hate the FAFSA. Filling it out is a great way to destroy an afternoon.
• I'm apparently supposed to have an opinion on Cam Newton, who will be much in the news this week as he prepares for the Super Bowl. I don't like him, but I will say he's an amazing guy to watch. For me, the problem isn't about his showboating or his braggadocio; for the most part, he backs it up, so it's on his opposition to stop him. He's always had the lingering stench of scandal following him since his remarkable year at Auburn, though, and that's difficult to forget, or forgive.
• We had a shooting and a police standoff in our neighborhood on Friday night, apparently related to a drug deal gone bad, which took place about two blocks away from our house. We've lived in this neighborhood for nearly 20 years and nothing like that has ever happened before. We also were in the middle of having Fearless Maria's Sweet 16 birthday extravaganza while things were going down. As it happened, we were having dinner at a local Chinese restaurant when the incident started and as we returned home with Maria and 11 of her friends, we had to get past a police roadblock to reach our home. There was never any danger, although the unfailingly polite New Brighton police officer who was manning the roadblock on our street told us to stay put in our house until things were resolved. Not exactly how you draw things up, but the kids all had a good time.
• Apparently the huge, massive, deadly snowstorm that we've been hearing about for the past week is going to mostly miss us and hit Iowa instead. Personally, I think they've suffered enough.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Season Debut and HYYYYYYPPPE!

Old dude, it's hard to imagine that it's 2015 and it's time to start reasserting my dominant picking skills.

Picking what?

I'm not sure I like the implications of that, Geritol Fan! We're talking football, fella. The sport that brought us Lombardi and Wayne Fontes. The game of destiny! You know, right?

Oh, that. Yeah, we should get back to that.

The way I look at it, if this is the political season of Donald Trump, it's a perfect time to unleash the HYYYYYYYPPPPE!

Wouldn't that be the YUUUUUUGGGE?

Hmm. Maybe. I'm not sure you should do the comedy, though -- it may not work well for you. In the meantime, I have some picking to do. Watch me work:

Minnesota Golden Gophers (-4) vs. Colorado State Rams.  The Gophers gave TCU a good battle, and are going to be good. The problem is that going out to Colorado State is that Goldy is a favored team in a hostile environment. Jerry Kill has quietly done a great rebuilding job, and I feel that Goldy might soon be booking tickets in a few years to Pasadena. I think they win, but considering the struggles they have OOC in my lifetime, expect a tougher game. Gophers 27, CSU 25.

The Gophers gave it a good effort against TCU last week, but you could see some of the same issues we've seen with Gophers teams in recent years, especially that the squad is offensively challenged. This is also a tough place to play a non-conference game -- Fort Collins is not a hospitable place and a lot of teams have left there with problems. Do I see the Gophers having problems? Not necessarily. Challenges? For sure. But they prevail. Gophers 24, Colorado State 21.

Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (+31) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers. The good news is that Bucky always plays well at home. I don't know how much of the offensive struggles was due to coaching, replacing players, or playing an elite defense. Miami is not a Power 5 team, so things will be better. Again, it might be closer than you think. Bucky 35, Miami 24.

Bucky got their trouble out of the way early this year. I'm concerned that they couldn't move the ball at all on the ground against 'Bama -- you would think they could, but the offensive line is young. Miami is not close to Alabama quality defensively, so I think the Badgers will score, but I think that line is a little high. Closer than we'd like. Wisconsin 38, Miami 24.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-7) vs. Bear Down Chicago da Bearz. The Bears learned from their last coaching change. John Fox is one of the few coaches to take a team from each conference to a Super  Bowl, and he gets good play out of his quarterbacks. Problem that the Bears did not count on is that James Jones is back in Green and Gold. He takes pressure of Randall Cobb, and might force the Bears to play man coverage on Adams. This game is a bit of a trap game because Packer fans are living to play Seattle again. Sorry, Gino. Packers 42, Bears 32.

It's not easy being Gino sometimes. I do think the Bears are going to get better under John Fox -- he's won everywhere he's gone. Still, they are a long ways away defensively and it's going to take a while for the 3-4 concept to gel. Cobb looks to be good to go and unless the Bears muster a pass rush, this is going to be a long day for their secondary. I think the Packers win this one comfortably. Green Bay 34, Chicago 20.

Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) vs. San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco must have had horrible luck this offseason, because it seemed like half the team left or retired. It was like Steve McQueen busted them out of Alcatraz or something. Minnesota is a team who is going to be a huge contender in the NFC North. Teddy Bridgewater has improved a lot in training camp, and getting AP back is a huge help. Who knows, it might even be a circular journey for the Vikings, if you get the drift. Vikings 35, Book of Exodus 11.

Who knows about the Vikings, really? We haven't seen Adrian Peterson play in almost a year, so we don't really know what the Vikings offense is going to look like at all. I am very concerned about their offensive line, though -- losing John Sullivan for 8 weeks is a tough blow, especially since there's not much stability elsewhere on the line. The 49ers have been having an against-their-will fire sale in the offseason and I don't know that they have much defensively at this point, so that will be the difference. I think Zimmer will have something in mind for Kaepernick. Vikings 28, 49ers 17.

That's all I have for the moment. But don't worry -- the HYYYYYPPPPE! is building up and you'll be stunned and amazed at how classy and YUUUUUUGGGE! this feature is going to become as the year goes on. Ben out!

If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be NARN*

It's that time of year again when my friend, the estimable Brad Carlson, invites me down to the AM 1280 bunker for our annual tour through the NFC North. I'll be on from 2-3 p.m. CDT, but you should always consider Brad's show appointment radio and start listening at 1 p.m.

Besides tuning in to AM 1280 in the metro area, you can check us out at the Patriot website, on iHeartRadio, or even watch the broadcast via these UStream. So many choices.

*Apologies to Mitch Berg