Benster and D Pick Your Games-------Bears 4th Quarter Magic Strikes Again? Edition

Well, the Packers are going to have to find a new defensive coordinator as expected. I thank Jeff Hafley for his hard work the past two years, and totally understand him wanting to run his own ship. See you back at Lambeau next year, and Miami is getting a good one. As for the next defensive coordinator, I'll have a list of potential replacements after the games are picked. 

It should be fun. I'm guessing he might find a quarterback from Green Bay, too, but I'm sure you'll have something about that anon.

 If it happens, I will report! Meanwhile, we have games to address, so... I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work. 

New England Patriots (-4.5) vs. Denver Broncos The Broncos were able to win last week to take the next step, though it must be mentioned that their interception in overtime probably shouldn't have counted. The Bills made enough mistakes to lose on their own merit and the Broncos deserve credit for winning, but that missed call should be acknowledged. As exciting as a Bo Nix duel with Drake Maye would have been, sadly the Broncos are going to have to start Jarrett Stidham. Obviously, Stidham does know New England from his time as a backup, though that was before Mike Vrabel took over. I don't see a Rick Dockery situation happening for the Broncos, but certainly there is going to be a dropoff. The thing is, I like the Broncos because this game is in Denver and the Patriots have relied on their defense to get by, and the Broncos defense is going to have to win this game by holding the Patriots in check. Broncos 27, Patriots 13.

I have no idea who Rick Dockery is, but I would have assumed the Broncos could have called this guy:

Lotsa mountains near Denver, so you want a guy who can throw the ball over them. But enough about fictional characters. The game is real enough. Not convinced the Patriots are that good, but they are well-coached and Drake Maye looks to have a bright future. It could be the future is now. Patriots 17, Broncos 14

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+5) vs. Seattle Seachickens I can't believe that the Bears pulled some more BS magic out of their hats when Caleb hit that crazy 4th down pass to set up the Bears winning in overtime on Caleb hitting that deep pass. Soldier Field was rocking when the Bears pulled out the win. Hold on. I am being told that the Bears lost because Caleb was picked in overtime. 

Kinda like this guy?

Misinformed? But that can't be. I was told that this was their year and that I was a salty sore loser Packer fan. Welcome to the playoffs, Bears fans. The story doesn't have a happy ending. Now you know how Packers fans have felt in the past. Thank you Rams, and now we can pick the actual NFC title game. 

Los Angeles Rams (+2.5) vs. Seattle Seachickens The Rams were able to survive the Bears, and get a rubber match against the Seahawks. Sam Darnold didn't cough up a hairball last weekend, mostly because Seattle ran all over the Niners right from the jump. The Rams now have the only proven championship quarterback in Matthew Stafford, who is looking to potentially go out a champion like his buddy Clayton Kershaw did last October. But Seattle is a tough venue to play in, and if the Seahawks jump out early, then the crowd will be fully engaged. However, the Rams have enough of a mix of championship DNA and hungry guys who want a ring to block out the noise and get back to the Super Bowl. And you know that the Niners have to be frustrated that one of their hated rivals will be trying to win a Super Bowl in the Bay Area. Rams 19, Seachickens 0. 

Sneaky important thing about this game - one of the reasons that Sam Darnold has been effective on offense is the two-headed running back attack of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Well, no Charbonnet, who suffered a season-ending injury last week. Can Walker handle the load, or does Darnold need to do more? His history suggests he could cough up that hairball this week, especially against a Rams defense that offers quality edge rushers and rather a lot of exotic looks. I think this is going to be a low scoring game. Ordinarily that means Seattle has the advantage, but not this time. Rams 17, Seahawks 14.

And now, it is time to talk about who I would like the Packers to hire as their next defensive coordinator. This list isn't in any particular order, and I would be pretty happy with anyone. 

Jim Leonhard: He has NFL experience now, and I have a high degree of trust given the success he had developing NFL caliber defenders who I enjoyed watching at Wisconsin. Guys like TJ Edwards, Zack Baun, and Andy Van Ginkel can all thank him in part for how prepared they were to have success at the NFL level. He also has no ties to the current coaching staff, and would be coming back home to the state of Wisconsin. 

Al Harris: Not only does he have a ton of credit in the bank given that he played for the Packers, but has really developed into a very good young coach. Would also weaken the Bears, and would bring some toughness and enthusiasm to the defense. 

Jonathan Gannon: We saw firshand back in October how he was able to have the Cardinals play above their talent. He had a lot of success with the Eagles a couple of years ago, and would have a point to prove. 

Raheem Morris: Has experience working with LaFleur, and I thought he got Aaron Donald playing arguably the best football of his career. That would bode well for Micah, and he would be someone who I think would be a very solid pick. 

Daronte Jones: If you couldn't get Brian Flores, why not get Jones? He has been a key figure in the Vikings defensive success, and would also weaken the Vikings. 

Glenn Schumann: He is the defensive coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs. Considering that the Packers defense is basically becoming a UGA alumni chapter, getting someone who is considered one of the key reasons why Georgia went from very good to championship level would be an intriguing option. He is very young, but would be someone who could see this as a chance to get to be a head coach given that Kirby Smart has shown no signs of leaving Athens. 

 Enjoy your football this weekend. Also, if you are bored and looking for something to do on Saturday the 7th of Feburary, go to Hamline University and watch the Border Battle. It is an event matching high school basketball teams from Minnesota against Wisconsin. You will be glad that you did, and will get to see some really good matchups and good players. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- It's Time To Have A Serious Conversation About The Packers Edition

No, I'm not bitter at all about what happened last week. 

Well, I am But it's a bitter resignation. Being a Packers fan is a guarantee of life lessons

And yes, I am still here. It's time to have a discussion about the Packers in the wake of the meltdown at Solider Field last weekend. 

Discussion, you say? Or a Very Special Comment?

Read on and find out. But first, we have business to attend to. I am still feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work. 

Buffalo Bills (+1) vs. Denver Broncos I've certainly been critical of Josh Allen in the past, but last week he showed me how tough he is. Jacksonville is a very good football team, and Allen took matters into his own hands in the fourth quarter to win, with his teammates making a big play on defense. This Bills team is the most experienced team left in the AFC, and you get the sense that they are like a college basketball team that is senior heavy and experienced in March Madness. Denver is a very tough minded team that looks like the Mike Shanahan teams I grew up watching. In particular, I consider RJ Harvey to be one of the most underrated players in the NFL. The thing is, the Broncos still have a pretty young core, and this Bills team feels like they are on a mission. Mile High is a tough environment, but I like the Bills to pull off a win that sets them up nicely to finally break through to the Super Bowl. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills 24, Broncos 17. 

This weekend will have a theme, I think - this is the weekend the nice stories come to an end. With all the injuries the Bills have faced, Josh Allen may have too much to overcome. Denver is not a great team, but they have home field and a nasty defense. As great a magician as Josh Allen can be, he's run out of ladies to saw in half. Denver 27, Buffalo 23.

San Francisco 49ers (+7) vs. Seattle Seachickens As it turns out, Sam Darnold has really made the Vikings front office look questionable for letting him walk. I asked Mrs. D aka Mom if she would have kept Darnold knowing what we know now. She agreed that having an experienced backup would have helped, and that Darnold certainly has a point to prove to the Vikings. The thing is, he has turned up on the injury report and his health is going to be watched closely all night. The Niners certainly have experience and are proven threats, but the problem is that they are running out of bodies. As we saw last week with the Packers, even good coaching can't save you when practice squad guys have to play in positions that they likely weren't going to be in. I don't think Darnold is going to cough up a hairball again, as happened against the Rams last year. Seahawks 35, Niners 14. 

I have to admit - I am very surprised the Niners are still standing at this point. They have had an incredible run of bad injuries to key players. The latest guy to go down in George Kittle, their outstanding tight end and spirit animal. Darnold is likely to cough up a hairball at some point, but I agree, it won't be this week. Seattle 28, San Francisco 24.

Houston Texans (+3) vs. New England Patriots Both teams relied on very good defensive performances and got enough points thanks to their emerging star quarterbacks to get a good win last weekend. As someone who pays little attention to the Titans, it seems clear that Mike Vrabel wasn't the issue in Nashville, and because the Titans aren't good outside of their social media team, New England had an opportunity and wisely hired him and allowed him to build another good team; Vrabel obviously learned how to win in New England and his success as a player for the Patriots has spread to his coaching in Foxborough. The Texans have a great defense that travels very well, and are looking to break through to play in their first ever conference title game. I think that this game is going to be a lot of fun to watch. I feel like this is Houston's time and I've always liked CJ Stroud, even though I am no Buckeye fan. Texans 21, Patriots 20. 

This is the one game that doesn't involve a cute story - these are merciless teams with talent and resolve. The Texans are offensively challenged, but their defense is top-notch and they are not without weapons. I think the Patriots are actually a year ahead of schedule; they have the look of another multi-year contender, but while Drake Maye looks the part, I'm not sure he's seen a defense like the Texans yet. This one is tough to pick. I actually like the Texans more, but to keep it interesting... New England 21, Houston 20.

Los Angeles Rams (-4) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck As much as it pains me to say it given my obvious biases, the Bears did what they had to do last weekend, and the Bears fans who dealt with all of the jokes over the past decade or so do get to serve us some tasty crow. Here is the thing though -- the Bears remind me a lot of the 2014 Florida State football team. If you remember, the Noles went undefeated in the regular season and had won a bunch of games under improbable circumstances via second half comebacks and magic plays by Jameis Winston. I remember distinctly, while attending the Rose Bowl between Florida State and Oregon in 2015 (we had the good fortune to be there) thinking that the Noles were very much alive despite being down at the half in what had been a pretty solid game. But then Oregon came out and laid the hammer down brutally that afternoon in Pasadena. It is a fair question how much magic the Bears have, because eventually you can't come back every week from a subpar first half. The weather is going to be cold and snowy on Sunday night in Chicago, but Matthew Stafford has played in cold weather before and the Rams are a team that seems like they want to spoil the party in Chicago. And to quote Mark Dantonio, pride comes before the fall Bears. Rams House 31, Bears Still Suck 0. 

The Bears are vampires. Sean McVay is Van Helsing. It's become clear that Caleb Williams is a magician of the first rank - some of the throws he made to beat the Packers were nothing less than astonishing. Even though I hate 'em, the Bears are a cute, nice story. The problem they have this week is they don't have an answer for Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. They had trouble dealing with the Packers receivers and the challenge this week is far greater. On offense, Williams will have more trouble with the Rams, who have a better assortment of pass rushers than the Packers could muster without Micah Parsons on the field. The formula for a Bears win would be to run the ball down the throat of the Rams and to keep Matthew Stafford and his crew off the field. I don't think they'll be able to do that. And the league is already getting tired of Ben Johnson's shtick. Los Angeles 34, Chicago 20.

Miami Hurricanes (+8) vs. Indiana Hoosiers, in Miami. If you would have told me that Indiana football would play for a national title sooner than Indiana basketball, I would have called you insane. The Hoosiers have steamrolled both of their playoff opponents, and are getting ready to play a Miami team that has all of the bandwagon fans who were nowhere to be seen 5 years ago coming out of the woodwork. Miami is currently high on my list because of the Xavier Lucas affair where Miami induced him to transfer despite having signed a contract with the Badgers and not entering the transfer portal. As of this writing, the lawsuit is still pending. The good news is that this game is SEC free yet again, which I appreciate so much. As it turns out, the most important position in the SEC is the bagman. With NIL, the bagman doesn't exist in that form anymore. Even though the U gets to play in their own building, this Indiana team is ready to be the third different Big Ten school to win a title in a row, and the first one that isn't a traditional power. Google Them, They Win 24, 7th Floor Crew In Shambles 17.

Arms akimbo and kicking butt

Miami has been impressive in their run to the finals, but Indiana has been otherworldly. The emerging formula for college athletics in the NIL era seems to be if you want to be fun, you hire 5 star high school players, but if you want to contend for championships, you bring in battle-tested transfers. That's how Indiana has been doing this - their players are not as athletically gifted as their opponents, but they are grown-ass men and they cuff around the talented kids. Miami has some of both - I think their quarterback Carson Beck is closer to 30 than 20. While the Hoosiers have been nothing short of astonishing all season, they are not a nice story. They are on a mission, though, and I fully expect them to complete the mission.. Indiana 34, Miami 16.

And now, it is time for A Very Special Comment. The Packers really have to do some soul searching. When I consider what happened on Saturday to be as bad as the Seattle meltdown of 2014, that is when you should know that you done messed up. We just gave the Bears hope and momentum, and lost control of the rivalry. 

Not what you want.

Not at all, old dude! The bottom line for me is that there are 3 simple things that the Packers need to do right now to show that they understand what is going on. 

• Special teams needs an overhaul. I can't believe that I am saying this again, but it is time for a rethink. Rich Bisaccia is getting paid a ton of money, but he left at least 7 points on the board and almost had another disaster on the kickoff that Jacobs almost fumbled. Brandon McManus looks past his prime, and he cost the team at least 4 games. He didn't convert kicks that were key in the losses to the Bears, Panthers, Browns, and Eagles. I realize that I was spoiled by having Mason Crosby around for years to be clutch, but at some point this organization needs to take a serious look at getting guys in for special teams. Even being above league average would be much better. I expect this to be a key decision. 
• Matt Lafleur's fate is unknown as of this time in regards to being a lame duck coach, but he lost me. You knew well after the first meltdown at Solider Field that playing not to lose and letting your foot off the gas was a mistake. Well, the first few drives in the second half were plodding and playing to lose. The Packers let the crowd back into the game, and it's been the same themes for the past couple of years. After the game, it was yet more of "I need to be better" and the usual excuses. Matt, you aren't a young first time head coach anymore.
• It is time for some serious changes in the coaching staff. With Jeff Hafley likely being gone to take a head coaching job, it wouldn't surprise me if Lafleur is being told that getting some coordinators who aren't intternal hires. There needs to be some serious questions asked about if Lafleur is growing too stale. Considering that Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh ended up moving on after accusations of being stale by Steelers and Ravens fans, it is a fair question. 

Ed Policy has shown himself to be more aggressive as the team president. I get the sense that he does want to be stable but also gets that the fanbase expects to win. Call it arrogance and being demanding, but Packers fans my age expect to win, and it has been 15 years since the Lombardi trophy has been back home. I don't think that the Micah Parsons trade would have happened under Murphy, and Policy is going to try very hard to get this team to be more bold in pursuit of championships. The thing is, the Packer way of getting rid of players a year too early needs to apply to coaches and executives as well. It wouldn't surprise me if Policy wants to bring in someone that he wants as a coach. How Lafleur's contract discussions are going will provide a huge sign of how aggressive the Packers are going to be. 

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- So We Get Round 3 Edition

So the Packers get the chance to go back to Solider Field and get the rubber match. 

Bring it on.

 Meanwhile, the SEC is going to be out of the national title game again for the third straight year. You really do hate to see it. By the time this post goes up, will Miami get to play Oregon or Indiana? 

Here's a hint:

So, at least Dan Lanning can't go back there.

He may need to Google that Sadly, I was not able to regain my crown in fantasy football because despite having another good week, my opponent decided to drop 140 points. I know that nobody cares about my fantasy team, but this is the second year in a row I have lost the title game. 

No, that's okay, I care. I care deeply. Really, I do.

Sarcasm does not become you, Geritol Fan! I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.

 Los Angeles Rams (-10.5) vs. Carolina Panthers I'll be honest when I say that the Panthers have been one of the biggest surprises of the year. They have had a lot of turmoil, but all of a sudden they were able to win the bad NFC South and get the reward of playing a Rams team that lost that epic Thursday nighter in Seattle. The Rams have rebounded nicely after paying the price for their all in title win, and probably don't appreciate going across the country on a short week. If you remember, the Panthers won their earlier matchup. I believe that the Panthers are going to play their usual tough game to get the Rams into the mosh pit. But while Carolina is going to be determined, I believe that the Rams will gut out a tough win. Rams 21, Panthers 19. 

Carolina is sneaky good, but I suspect the Rams might be the best team in the NFC and they will handle business tomorrow afternoon. Rams 34, Panthers 17.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-1.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck So we all know what happened a couple of weeks ago at Soldier Field, and how both games between these two have been arguably been the game of the year. I was in favor of the Packers resting players because they have been too banged up in a similar fashion to 2016 where they had to chuck fringe NFL/UFL type guys to guard Julio Jones straight up. For Jordan Love and Caleb Williams, this is the game that they are going to be judged on. If you remember the 2010 NFC title game between these two teams, Jay Cutler's reputation never recovered from the unfair criticism he got that day. A Bears win won't fully erase that playoff loss, but this is a game that both Love and Williams can't lose. This Packer core that will play for the most part is the same as the one that made history two years ago against Dallas, and I like history repeating itself. Also, the Packers should have Jordan Love healthy for the entire game this time and the Bears can't keep relying on 4th quarter magic to bail them out of trouble again. Packers 21, Bears Still Suck 14.

The Bears themselves have been pretty quiet this week, but man, their fans have been insufferable. Perhaps the Packers have too many injuries, but I think they'll do well. The key guy is going to be Christian Watson. If he goes off, and I'm guessing he does, the Packers will move on. Packers 28, Bears 20.

Buffalo Bills (-1) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars While I personally think that Dave Canales should get Coach of the Year, Liam Cohen has also done a fantastic job. The Jaguars really have looked impressive, and in an AFC that is wide open given that the boogeyman of the AFC is at home they have a great chance. The problem is that Buffalo is experienced and is a team that is ready to take the next step. Josh Allen is at a point similar to Peyton Manning was in 2006. Allen has been brilliant and has revived the Bills, but hasn't been able to win the big one to this point in his career. With the Chiefs not being in the playoffs, this is a great chance for Allen to finally break through and win the ring that will silence all of the narratives forever. So while Jacksonville is a team that I like, Buffalo will use their experience to get this done. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like the Buffalo Bills 45, Jags 23. 

I think Jacksonville is, top to bottom, a better team. Buffalo has to go on the road and that will complicate matters further. While, I agree, nobody circles the wagons and all that, I'm thinking this one is where the Jags are overduuuuuuuuuuuuval. See, I can extend words, too! Jaguars 28, Bills 24.

San Francisco 49ers (+6) vs. Philadelphia Eagles Long time readers know that I am not a huge fan of Kyle Shanahan. I consider him a coach that while talented, is a coach who has not gotten it done for the Niners, despite having a loaded roster with Purdy on a cheap deal. This clearly has nothing to do with the Niners knocking out the Packers in the playoffs multiple times in the recent past, don't let that get in the way of this narrative. As for the Eagles, they somehow seem incapable of going a week without getting questioned despite being proven champions. This game is going to be a tough one, as the Niners lost their easy path to staying home all playoffs long after losing to the Seahawks last week. I like the Eagles to figure things out and finally let Jalen Hurts and their wideouts take them home. Eagles 35, Whiners 23. 

To be fair...

the 49ers have had some awful injuries, in some ways similar to what the Packers have gone through this season, and maybe worse. Philly is not the same team as last year, but they did not collapse down the stretch the way they did a few years back after winning a Super Bowl. I do believe they could return this year. To do that, they need to win this weekend And I believe they will. Eagles 27, Niners 19.

Los Angeles Chargers (+3.5) vs. New England Patriots The Patriots did the proper thing when Mike Vrabel was stupidly let go by the Titans and brought him back to New England to rekindle some of that old school vibes. These Patriots aren't as hated as the Cheatriots of old, and the only strike against Drake Maye in my book is helping Phil Longo get enough credibility to get a job with the Badgers. The Chargers are stuck in the cycle of good enough to make the playoffs but not do anything. With the AFC being wide open, New England should like their chances, but I like the Chargers to break through. Even though Jim Harbaugh can't win on a level playing field. Chargers 11, Patriots 8. 

Vrabel vs. Harbaugh is a fair fight. The Chargers are pretty good. The Patriots are better. Patriots 24, Chargers 16.

Houston Texans (-3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Somehow, the Texans are not playing in the Saturday afternoon playoff game? Is nothing sacred in this world? The Steelers won their division last weekend on a crazy end of game sequence and I firmly believe that had the Ravens made that kick that Mike Tomlin would have been looking for work like John Harbaugh. It is nice to see Aaron back in the playoffs for the first time since he melted down in 2021 against the Niners. The Steelers haven't advanced in the playoffs since 2016 and that has been a big issue that the Yinzers have had with Tomlin. If Aaron can summon some of his old magic and the Steelers get enough splash plays from their highly paid defense, then I like the Steelers to win. Steelers 37, Texans 20. 

I hope this isn't the end for Aaron Rodgers, but I fear it will be. The Texans are a nasty group and while Rodgers is wily and will have DK Metcalf back, I think it's going to be too high a hill to climb. Texans 24, Steelers 13.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Do You Want Round 3 Or The Eagles Edition

So as a quick disclaimer, I saw very little of both the Packers and Vikings because we were out of town last weekend. 

Yep, and we saw stuff like this:

Shoot your shot in Fort Smith, Arkansas

And in the case of the Packers, that probably was for the best as Derrick Henry is probably still running through the defense. 

As for the question in the title, because a trip to Chicago or a trip to Philadelphia would both would give the Packers a chance for revenge. Winning a potential round 3 against the Bears would mean that the Packers would once again win a huge game in the context of the rivalry, in da Bearz house. Also going into Philly would get the taste of last year out of their mouths. 

The taste of a cheesesteak marinated in bile.

Not good eatin', to be sure Either result would be fine with me. 

I would prefer a trip to Chicago, because historically we don't get to break out the Happy Schnapps Combo when the Packers beat the Eagles, but your mileage may vary.

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

Glorious Green Bay Packers (+9.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings Quite honestly, I have no issues with resting the starters against the Vikings. They have nothing to gain by winning, and given how this team resembles a walking hospital unit at this point, I have no problem turning things over to Clayton Tune with a week of prep and having Desmond Ridder serve as the backup. My issue with the Packers last week was that knowing that Lamar Jackson was going to be out, I would have thrown everything into stopping the run game and forcing the Ravens to win by passing down the field. To not do it was a bad coaching decision. The Vikings aren't playing for jobs, but this offseason is going to have a lot of interesting questions. I think that KOC is pretty safe, but it wouldn't surprise me if the front office gets a shakeup and the Vikings might move a couple of big pieces because they have locked themselves into a team that is near the top of the cap and could see Flores get a second shot at a head coaching gig. As for the Packers, if they can find a pass rush like they did back in November, they can beat JJ McCarthy and go into either Philadelphia or Chicago with some momentum. Packers 18, Vikings 17. 

That 9.5 line is a sucker bet. Do we assume the Vikings can score 10 points? They've had trouble scoring no matter who plays quarterback. I think McCarthy will want to prove a point, but I'm not convinced he can. This could be a really bad football game. Packers 16, Vikings 9.

Detroit LOLions (+3) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck So the Bears got a huge assist from the Eagles, who will likely resting players, and are likely going to want to get the chance of a home game in the divisional round. The thing is, Dan Campbell is the type of coach who is going to want to make things tough on the Bears and his old understudy, Ben Johnson. I figure that the Bears are going to play their starters for a good chunk of the game, and are hoping that they can get through this game healthy. Jared Goff had an epic meltdown last week with his decision to hand out a bunch of gifts at US Bank Stadium. Thankfully, his performance didn't cost my fantasy team in our bid to win a second title in three years and also make the title game for a third straight year. You love to see it. LOLions 26, Bears Still Suck 15. 

This game has bad karma written all over it for the Bears. The Lions played terribly last week and they will not want to end their season in last place, which would be the result of a loss. The Bears need to be careful here. Lions 28, Bears 24.

 Enjoy your football this weekend. It's almost certain you probably will enjoy it more than the SEC and their enablers Paul Finebaum and Clay Travis. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- What In The Actual?, Part Two Edition

And just when you thought that events in Denver were bad, the Packers find another way to suffer a brutal loss. What in the actual heck happened at Soldier Field? Because this is a family blog post, I can't say what I wanted to say here without turning this into an R rated post. 

Da Bears wear blue and the Packers have you working blue.

Benster would prefer to avoid the Lenny Bruce treatment

Lenny Bruce is not afraid, but I am trying to maintain a level of decorum here. That's what comes with maturity. Or so I've been told.

Ach, maturity is overrated.

I realize it's been a lifelong struggle for you, Geritol Fan! But fear not, there is hope on the horizon. This is going up early because we are going to be on assignment, just so you know. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work. 

New Mexico Lobos (+1.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat, in Phoenix The Gophers had another solid season and as a reward get to spend Christmas in Arizona playing against New Mexico in a bowl game sponsored by a company that has money to burn on sponsoring a bowl game. New Mexico is more of a hoops school, but Badger alum Jason Eck has done a very good job down there in getting his team to just miss out on a Mountain West title game appearance due to tiebreakers. With the top of the Mountain West leaving to reboot the Pac 12, New Mexico should fare better in a weakened Mountain West. The Gophers are going to have plenty of fans because it's an easy flight down to Arizona and they should be very confident. I'm certainly not a PJ fan as longtime readers know, but to his credit the guy has won every single bowl game he has played in as the Gopher coach. I like the Gophers to win because Big Ten teams should beat Mountain West teams. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 31, Lobos 0. 

Not a fan of Peej, but give the devil his due. He's good at this. Gophers 24, Lobos 13.

Detroit LOLions (-7.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Lions came up short last week against the Steelers because they got caught pushing off in front of an official, but of course that didn't stop Lions fans from blaming the refs. If the Lions lose, they are out of the playoffs and the Packers will get in. The Vikings had a nice win against the Giants out in Jersey but will not have JJ McCarthy because he hit his hand hard against a helmet. Max Bromser looked fine in relief, and he should perform better at home against a Lions team that is banged up and is very short at the back end defensively. While the Lions are going to be game, something tells me that Brosmer is going to play a lot better and get a nice win to give Vikings fans some holiday cheer. Vikings 24, LOLions Gonna LOLions 10. 

Lions gotta have this, so they'll come out hot. Max Brosmer hasn't shown much to this point, so I have to pick the desperate team on the road in this instance. Lions 34, Vikings 17.

Baltimore Ravens (+3) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers Well, this game could look radically different depending on quarterback injuries. As much as my fellow Packers fans want to blame Romeo Doubs for muffing the onside kick or Jordan Love getting concussed, the bottom line is that the Packers left points in the red zone too much, and it came back to bite them in the butt once again. It looks like Love and/or Malik Willis could play, and Lamar Jackson is fighting a back injury that has him in danger of not playing as of this writing. Again, I don't know how healthy each team is going to be at the QB spot as of right now. The Ravens need to win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, and the Packers just need to win either Saturday night or next week assuming the Lions do win on Christmas. Also, what was John Harbaugh thinking not leaving Derrick Henry on the sidelines last week against the Patriots? That was as dumb as the Colts taking JT out of the game and screwing over a lot of fantasy football owners. The Packers should win and get in so that way they can get a badly needed rest week. Packers 28, Ravens 21. 

I'd heard about the fantasy owner issue. I have no idea what to think about the Ravens at this point. They are a talented team, but they have been mostly rudderless all season and while Tyler Huntley is a competent backup, I don't see them being able to score much, as Jeff Hafley will have something planned for Derrick Henry. I do agree the Packers left too many points off the board last week and it absolutely bit them in the end, but hey, it's made a lot of moronic Bears fans happy, and goodness knows they need a little enjoyment after 40 years of futility. Packers 31, Ravens 16.

Enjoy your football this weekend, and have a merry Christmas. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- What In The Actual? Edition

Now this is a family blog post, so I can't really say what I want to say about the third quarter in Denver last week, but all of a sudden the Packers went from looking like they were going to have one of their most impressive road wins to losing Micah Parsons and seeing their Super Bowl chances go from a strong favorite to a flawed borderline contender in the span of about half an hour. 

Life comes at you fast.

I can't remember a more terrible quarter the Packers have had in my lifetime, and that might have been worse then the Seattle NFC title game meltdown. It was that bad. Life goes on, and the Packers just need to get in the playoffs. 

They have multiple ways of doing it, but it starts on Saturday in Chicago.

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

Glorious Green Bay Packers (+1.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck In Gary So the Packers are going into Chicago to face off against a Bears team that has a chance at revenge and saw their rivals suffer through a nightmare game, traveling cross country on a short week. The Bears and Packers are going to be banged up, but Micah Parsons and Josh Jacobs are much bigger losses than what the Bears have. The good news for the Packers is that Brenton Cox looks like he is coming back. Micah he is not, but at least would add some beef on the interior. What the Packers need to do now is get someone on defense to decide that they are going to get after Caleb and force him into a mistake. The hardest thing the Packers have is that they beat the Bears once, and it was pretty close. But the good news is that I sense this team is mentally tough and LaFleur is going to bust out something early to win. Just get into the playoffs and see what happens, guys. Packers 33, Bears Still Suck 28. 

I recognize that score. That would be a good score. The Bears are banged up and will be going into the game without two deep threats on offense. The Bears had good success last time by using play action, which bought enough time for Caleb Williams to see the field better and allow his receivers to get open. I don't know if that same scenario will take place this time. If I were to guess, I think the Bears will try to run the ball down the throat of the Packers. If they can do that, they will win. If the Packers can be stout at the point of attack, it will be an easier thing. I also believe Jordan Love will play well - the Bears have some talent on defense, but the Packers have a lot of weapons and it does appear that Christian Watson will play. So if the game is a shootout, advantage Green Bay. Packers 35, Bears 31.

Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) vs. New York Giants The Vikings were able to get a nice win over the Cowboys and their awful defense last week down in Texas, and that should give them some positivity in what has been frankly a tough season for the Purple. With the Vikings eliminated from the playoffs, I asked Mrs. D aka Mom what she is going to be watching down the stretch. She indicated that she wants to see that JJ McCarthy makes it through the rest of the year healthy. I think that the Vikings have a lot to play for because guys are going to be playing for jobs and I do think that there is going to be a lot of deserved criticism towards the Vikings front office, especially because it looks like Sam Darnold has the Seahawks getting home field in the NFC after the epic Thursday Night Football victory yesterday evening. The Giants aren't great, but they play hard and are a team that makes everything difficult. The Vikings could use a nice and comfortable win, and I think they will get it by pulling away in the second half. Vikings 34, Giants 17.

The Vikings have one big problem that I see, which is that their pass rushers are depleted. Losing Jonathan Greenard is huge, as the other edge rushers really relied on Greenard drawing additional attention. The Giants do play tough, but they are a mess and while the Vikings haven't proved much this season, I can see the outlines of a more successful year next year if they stay the course. Vikings 27, Giants 20.

Enjoy your football this weekend and hope you have a Merry Christmas! Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Packers Restored Order For Now Edition

I find it really incredible how quickly Bears fans went from thumping their chests about how they were going to beat the Packers to saying how they are going to win next weekend at Solider Field and how this was a good effort. You really hate to see it.

I was happy with the result, but as Robert Frost would say, the Packers have miles to go before they sleep. And they'd better not sleep on the Broncos.

 I can't really gloat about this because the Packers have a very tough game against Denver this weekend and are going to have to play the Bears in a game that could be for first place. 

You want to gloat though, don't you?

Of course, but you know my high standards for objectivity and decorum, Geritol Fan!

Fabled in song and story and known from coast to coast.

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

Minnesota Vikings (+5.5) vs. Dallas How Bout Them Cowboys? So in the interest of full disclosure, I was coming back from an overnight trip and saw very little of last week's Vikings game live. After watching the highlights, it was clear to me that the Vikings dispatched a struggling Commanders team in impressive fashion. The Cowboys are going to be fighting for their collective playoff lives as they are going to need a win badly. The key for the Vikings is going to be someone on their maligned defense needs to hold down George Pickens. I know that CeeDee Lamb is their top wideout, but Pickens torched the Packers in Week 4, and seems to be a favorite target of Dak these days. This is going to be a hard test for the Vikings and one that they will keep close until Dallas pulls away in the 4th quarter. Though what would help the Vikings is for Justin Jefferson to stand up and go off. Quite frankly, his production hasn't been worth the QB money he is getting even allowing for the QB issues. How Bout Them Cowboys 28, Vikings 17. 

You can play defense in this league and the Vikings have been known to do it at least intermittently this season. Can Dallas block the Vikings pass rush? If they can, it's going to be a long day for the Purple. The second question - can J.J. McCarthy put together two good games in a row? Up to this point, he has not proven that he can. He has an opportunity this week. I smell a shootout. Cowboys 38, Vikings 31.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-2.5) vs. Denver Broncos The Packers were challenged by the Bears, but came through in the 4th quarter to get back leadership of the NFC North and put themselves in a good position to get the top seed in the NFC. However, the Denver Broncos are in a great spot with leadership of the AFC West and are also looking to get the top seed in the AFC. The Packers have only won in Denver once.

Yes, I remember:

Beyond that, the Broncos are a team that is tough minded and knows how to win close games. Also, keep in mind that with the Chiefs looking like they are going to miss the playoffs, a lot of AFC teams are thinking that this is a great chance to break through. I don't think that the Packers are going to overlook this game and prepare for the rematch against the Bears, but this is going to be a battle that the Packers need to be prepared for. I also can't count on the Browns winning in Chicago on Sunday. But the good news is that even if Josh Jacobs can't go, the Packers have won in places they have struggled in recently. Why not continue the trend this weekend. Packers 31, Broncos 24. 

And now, a musical interlude from recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Warren Zevon:

Some good tips for visiting Packers fans right there.

You're always helpful, Old Dude. Now, could you pick the game?

I suppose. I don't know what to think about this game, other than to be annoyed with it. This is a very tough assignment for this time of the year and the way the schedule plays out, it seems incongruent. Having said that, the Packers are well situated now. Based on what I've seen this year, the Packers should win this game. Vegas making Denver a home dog is rare, but the wise guys know things. If Jordan Love has time, he will torch the Broncos defense. Packers 28, Broncos 24.

 Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Packers Have To Do This The Hard Way Edition

So if the Packers want to get back their NFC North crown, it turns out that they are going to have to take care of their own jobs given that the Bears are not going to go away. 

It's for the same reason you had to have a bear box at Scout Camp - if you give bears any encouragement, they come around and pester you. And they aren't pleasant about it.

Did you expect something like this?

I never know what to expect. But that does bear (no pun intended) a resemblance their season thus far.

But the good thing is that the Packers are getting healthier even with the Devonte Wyatt injury. 

Although that doesn't help.

No, it doesn't. By the way, I am not going to do a Very Special Comment about the Axe game. That wasn't close enough to warrant one anyway, and it's hard for me to complain about losing on the road to the Gophers. 

I do have to say that's the first time I've ever seen a fanbase storm the field after beating a 4-8 team. Maybe expectations could be a little higher in Dinkytown?

At least Badger men's hoops is still doing well and I am in a better mood because the US got a very good World Cup draw and Everton played very well to win at Bournemouth this week. 

Your mood is like a circus wheel. It changes all the time.

That sounds like another one of your ancient song lyrics.

It is. Apparently it went right over your head. 

It did. And it sure feels nice. Well, good on you, Wolfman Jack! Meanwhile, the Vikings are getting a ton of heat. As it turns out, Max Brosmer isn't going to turn into Brock Purdy and my calling for JJ McCarthy to be traded is looking a lot better. 

Well, a certain weekend radio host might still beg to differ.

In fact, I am going to say this right now. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's decision to run Sam Darnold out of town to waste salary cap space on questionable contracts to defensive players and draft JJ McCarthy too high is a worse decision than the Vikings trading for Herschel Walker. There, I said it. 

Well, at least I get to use the "uh, no" trope early in this one.

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

 Indiana Hoosiers (+4) vs. A School In Columbus, in Indy So this game is not an elimination game by any means as both teams are safely in the playoff. That being said, winning the Big Ten still matters as well as making sure that a bye and top seed is going to be yours. I personally think that Indiana should be ranked number 1 because their top win was on the road against Oregon when compared to the Buckeyes beating Texas at home. That being said, I get why Ohio State is still ranked at the top of the class because you shouldn't move a team down for winning. I also think that Mendoza and Sayin are going to decide the Heisman in the only way that really matters. I feel like this is Indiana's time because they feel ready to take the next step and being the first school since Sparty to break the brand name stranglehold on the Big Ten title would be fitting. This will be a good and competitive game, but it would be hard to root against Indiana given that this game is in Indy. Google Them, They Win 42, Buckeyes 35.

I don't know what to expect, frankly. I've seen both teams play. OSU has more upside but IU is a talented and ruthless group. Could go either way, but just to be a contrarian.... Buckeyes 42, Hoosiers 35.

Washington Commanders (-1.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings are a flat out mess right now, and even though the Wilfs are very patient there have been a lot of calls to clean house. I asked Mrs. D aka Mom for her view as a Vikings fan. She indicated that she thinks the Wilfs are going to stay the course. The good news for the Vikings is that they are at home playing a Commanders team that hasn't impressed me. Even though Jayden Daniels is going to give it a go, this is a good chance for the Vikings. I feel like the Vikings are going to have a good performance at home to get some confidence back. Vikings 24, Commies 0. 

I really wonder if the Vikings are capable of scoring 24 points in a game. They are such a mess right now that I'm not sure they can. Washington is not good, though. Vikings 17, Commanders 14.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+6.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers I was really happy with how the Packers looked on Thanksgiving. Micah Parsons looked outstanding, and Jordan Love made a lot of great throws. I wasn't a huge fan of LaFleur going for it on the 4th down late, but Wicks fittingly capped out an outstanding day by getting the catch to get out of Detroit with a huge win. There has been a lot of chatter in Chicago about how the Bears are back and that Caleb Williams is going to take back the NFC North. Now, I will admit that the Bears have won a lot, and that this game is going to go a long way to determine the NFC North given that there is a rematch in 13 days. The thing is, the Packers are 3-0 in the NFC North and historically have been very good in December under LaFleur. This will be a close game because of the nature of the rivalry, but order will be restored at Lambeau. Packers 27, Bears Still Suck 20. 

I'm a little nervous about the run game for the Bears. The Eagles have turned into a hot mess lately, but the Bears having two 100-yard rushers against the Eagles was impressive, to say the least. The strength of the Packers defense is lateral pursuit and that should help, but they need some big bodies in the middle to come through - Brinson and Stackhouse have to be stout. On offense, I think Jordan Love will make throws and if Jayden Reed can go, that will really open things up. The Bears have lived a charmed life so far, but as Branch Rickey memorably put it, luck is the residue of design. And for the first time in a very long time, I think the Bears have a good design. But in the end, I think the better team is wearing green. Packers 27, Bears 19.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- Once Again, The Packers Really Have Some Explaining To Do Edition

Old dude, I'll say this much. The Packers are very lucky that I can't do Very Special Comments every single weekend.

They did send this response:

So wait, the Packers hired Dana Carvey?

They've made worse hires.

True. I'd also mention and the Badgers put me in a really good mood. 

Your mood is like a circus wheel, it changes all the time.

Is that one of your song lyrics again?

Yes. Source material:

If you keep interrupting me, you'll be looking at this one:

Good point - this is starting to turn into an old school Guilty Pleasures video with Fearless Maria. Maybe I should ask her if she wants to do one of those again sometime....

That's a good idea, but set that up on your own time, okay. Meanwhile, as a clarification to last weekend's post, I screwed up when mentioning Mike Shanahan, when I was discussing what LaFleur is trying to emulate in Packers history. I meant to say Mike Holmgren, who of course did coach the Packers to a championship. Mike Shanahan of course denied the Packers a championship. That should make a lot more sense with what I was trying to do. I had no problem being called out for a pretty bad mistake. 

It's how we grow, grasshopper.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. I know that this is going up while the Gophers are playing, but by the time this goes up the fate of the Gophers out in Eugene should be clear. Watch me work. 

 Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (+29.5) vs. Indiana They Win, Google Them Last weekend was one of the most shocking Badger wins I have ever seen. How the Badgers won a game when their punter was the leading passer and played 4 quarterbacks makes no sense. You would do well to find a more shocking upset in college football this season. What really impressed me was that it looked like Badger football. The defense played tough, the offense was able to do enough, and beating a ranked Washington football team can hardly be called a fluke. The problem this week is that the Badgers have to go to Indiana. The Hoosiers have a great argument to be ranked first in my view because they beat Oregon on the road. I figure that Google Me Cignetti isn't going to fall into the same traps that Washington did. But you know what, the Badgers have nothing to lose at this point and are playing with confidence. I've been really critical of Luke Fickell, but he has already made me eat some of my words at least for one week. If he beats Indiana on the road, this will be the most shocking win in college football since the 2003 Big XII title game. For reference, that was when a very good Oklahoma team got manhandled by Kansas State. Call me delusional, but strange stuff happens in November in college football. Badgers 21, Google Them, They Win 14. 

If that prediction happens, if you Google them they'll have lost. But it won't. Indiana has been on a mission to destroy their previous tormentors. They hung 60+ on a ranked Illinois team. Despite the encouraging win last week, the Badgers aren't ranked. They're just rank. Historically, the Badgers have crushed the Hoosiers. That was then, and this is now. Indiana 83, Wisconsin 20.

The Bronze Turkey Bowl: Knox College Prairie Fire, Baby! (NL) vs. Monmouth College Scots Longtime readers know exactly why this game shows up every single year. If you are new here, I am a proud graduate of Knox College, and Monmouth is the school a few miles away. Now, I will admit that Knox hasn't gotten the Bronze Turkey back since the current students were born at this point, but streaks are made to be broken. I made a salad one day at the Knox cafeteria, and Monmouth awarded me a degree in nutrition, with highest honors. If you expect me to pick against my alma mater, then you are sadly mistaken. Prairie Fire 500, Scots -100 

Ah, the Turkey Shoot. Monmouth may be lacking in academic rigor (actually not true, it's a perfectly good school), but they have really good football players and have already clinched the conference championship. The Scots have been crushing every team in their path all season. And that's quite likely to happen again. Monmouth 52, Knox 7.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+2.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings ended up losing last week because they failed to finish their drives, and the Ravens are a good enough team to take advantage. I asked Mrs. D, aka Mom, who she thought was going to be the key player for the Vikings to win. She indicated that the key to her is going to be JJ McCarthy taking care of the ball and finishing those drives. The Bears are out for revenge after melting down against the Vikings back in September to start another round of Is Caleb The Guy. With the NFC North looking more scrambled thanks to recent events, the Vikings have to be thinking that keeping their head to head and divisional record tiebreakers intact is critical. This feels like a type of game that the Vikings can win. Vikings 31, Bears Still Suck 30.

They can, but will they? The Vikings are weird; they go into Detroit and look like world beaters, then get a toe tag in their own building against a middling Ravens team. So who shows up? Vikings 27, da Bearz 24.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-7) vs. New York Football Giants While it is true that Brandon McManus missed the game tying kick, he isn't super high on the blame list. The Packers are a team that confuses me offensively. There are games where they look really good, and there are games where the defense does incredibly well and the offense vanishes. If you had told me that the Packers would play well against an explosive Eagles offense, I would have assumed that things would have gone swimmingly. If LaFleur was really serious about changing things, then he should give up calling plays and let someone else do it. As for Love, I wanted him to throw more instead of trying to prove that they could outtough the Eagles. The Giants are a team that just fired Brian Daboll and have to go to Jameis Winston after Jaxson Dart got injured; meanwhile it's apparent that Russell Wilson is washed. I'm surprised that Joe Flacco wasn't signed to face the Packers once again. The Packers are facing a game that they got to have if they want the noise to go away. Thankfully, the Packers know this and should win if they avoid playing with their food. Packers 45, Giants 17. 

The Giants aren't very good and they also have critical injuries on both sides of the ball. This is absolutely get-well week for the Packers. I think they figure it out. Prop bet - Jameis Winston throws a pick six to Xavier McKinney. Packers 31, Giants 14.

 Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- We Got Micah Parsons Edition

Hey, we're back!

We are! So do we need a marketing photo?

Why can't you leave me out of this?

I'm not sure that's helpful, and besides, we'll get to him next week, I'm guessing.

Lotta things are getting to him, to be fair.

Good point, although if you wear that dirty Spurs cap no one will see it. Meanwhile, back to business. I can't believe that the Packers were able to get Micah Parsons. The Super Bowl window is wide open for the Packers. You love to see it, old dude.

It is a game-changer, potentially. It's also the sort of bold move the Packers rarely make. Makes things more interesting to be sure.

 Meanwhile, the Vikings are about to enter the JJ McCarthy era. Lots of discussion around here about how they are going to do and about the big quarterback decision. 

Presumably, you have an opinion, right? 

Well, yeah. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.

Northwestern State Devils (+43) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat So in the interest of full disclosure, I saw part of the first quarter of the Gopher game last Thursday because the Wisconsin game ended up stating around an hour later. That being said, the Gophers had a pretty comfortable win after Buffalo gave them a battle for the first half. Northwestern State isn't a particulary good FCS team, and I think that the Gophers should be able to win this one pretty comfortably. Drake Lindsey seems like he could be good, but will have the growing pains that a lot of freshmen QBs have. Let's face it, if the Gophers struggle in this game then there should be some concerns. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 45, Devils 17. 

I suppose ol' Peej could have scheduled the University of Northwestern, the pride of Roseville. That would have been worse. Al and Alma would be tougher competition, most likely, but a paycheck is a paycheck. Gophers 45, Northwestern Mutual Life 0.

 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (+28.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Last week was a strange one. I thought that Billy Edwards was looking good until he went down, but thankfully the Badgers were able to win because the defense made enough plays and Danny O'Neil settled in nicely in the second half after throwing a bad interception. O'Neil looks a lot better than Locke did, so that is a positive. Middle Tennessee didn't look good last week, and I feel confident that with O'Neil getting a full week to prepare as the starter that this should be a fairly routine game. Badgers 50, Blue Raiders 0.

Middle Tennessee lost to Austin Peay last week. For those keeping score, Austin Peay is located in Clarksville, Tennessee and is the alma mater of ABA legend Fly Williams. I also recall MTSU beat the Gophers in the NCAA basketball tournament back when Pitino Junior was coaching the squad. So that's amusing. More amusing than this game will be. Don't play with your food, Bucky. Wisconsin 31, MTSU 3.

Detroit LOLions (+2) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Packers took the leap from a team that was expected to be a possible contender to a team with serious Super Bowl ambitions thanks to Gutey swinging the Parsons deal. Job number 1 is for them to start winning division games, especially at home. Parsons is going to be a lot of fun, but it is going to take the coaches time to get him bedded into the system. The Lions are coming into this season in an interesting spot. Yes, they are healthier, but the problem is that Dan Campbell lost his elite coordinators to head coaching jobs. Also, the way that they melted down against the Commies last January felt like what happened to the Packers in 2021 against the Niners. I expect the Packers are going to need to protect Jordan Love and get Parsons to make a play or two against Jared Goff. This won't be easy, but the Packers have gotten a lot better in the offseason. Packers 27, LOLions Gonna LOLions 24.

Have the Packers gotten a lot better? I hope so, but I don't know if that's true. I do think the Lions take a step back, but there was more than a step separating these teams last year. The Lions come in with something to prove. Can they? Packers 31, Lions 27.

Minnesota Vikings (-1.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck The Vikings and the Bears both have a lot of questions at quarterback. The Bears have surrounded Caleb Williams with a lot of resources to succeed, but it seems to me like he is behind a couple of his peers already, and though I am biased the Bears need to show that they are deserving of all of the hype they are getting from the NFL media. As for the Vikings, I personally would have kept Sam Darnold. The problem I see is that KOC has had success with veteran quarterbacks in the past. Goff, Stafford, Kirko, and Darnold all were veterans. JJ McCarthy is young and frankly has only played a little bit in the preseason.

 So what would success look like for him? I decided to ask Mrs. D, aka Mom. She indicated that success for her would be winning both games against the Packers and winning a playoff game. That is a good way to get the Vikings fans firmly on his side. 

Always trust content from Mrs. D.

I personally think that McCarthy is in a tough position. He has a lot of offensive talent around him and a QB whisperer as a head coach. It isn't like Jordan Love where he had few veterans around him or Caleb Williams with a badly run organization who has set other hyped QB prospects up to fail. McCarthy is going to have to win against the Bears and Lions as well to continue with Mom's thoughts. Monday night should go well. Vikings 36, Bears Still Suck 35. 

Until da Bearz prove it, I also have to pick the Vikings. I suspect it won't be a high-scoring game, though. The strength of the Vikings is on defense, as they kept their hotshot defensive coordinator, Brian Flores. And Da Bearz have been known to play defense. I am guessing they'll have something weird for J.J., but he has the weapons to beat those nasty ursine wretches. Vikings 24, Bears 16.

Wait, we agreed on everything?

Don't worry, that won't last.

 Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Benster and D Pick Your Games-------Vikings And Lions Grudge Match Edition

It is incredible to think that either the LOLions or the Vikings could win 14 games this year and having to be a wild card team. 

There's never been anything like this in NFL history. And considering how often the NFC North has been suspect, it's amazing.

Meanwhile, the Packers are trying to determine if they are going to fly out to Los Angeles or Philadelphia. I would prefer to face the Rams, but will take my chances with the Eagles. 

Neither is a picnic lunch, but what are you gonna do?

Well, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I am ready to pick some games and am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYPPPPEEEEE! Watch me work.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+10) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The bottom line for the Packers is that they lost last week because they once again dug themselves too big of a hole in the first half to overcome. Given that the NFC North race probably deserved to come down to a Vikings Lions showdown among themselves, I am not as mad as I could have been. Playing the starters is something that I agree with, especially because the Bears are going to be playing hard. Lest we forget, the Bears literally came within one hand of a dramatic comeback the last time. This won't be an easy game, but the Packers should win. Packers 32, Bears Still Suck 10.

The Bears will come hard, but there's a stench of death around that team that wasn't there when they played the Packers in Chicago earlier in the year. Packers are going to be motivated. Not sure some of the mercenaries on the Bears will be. Packers 28, Bears 16.

Minnesota Vikings (+3) vs. Detroit LOLions So it all comes down to this as it should be. The winner of this game gets the road to New Orleans coming through them, and the loser gets a tricky trip to the NFC South winner next week. The Lions won a back and forth game back in October, and rest assured they need the bye. Remember, the Lions got hit with an early bye, and have a bunch of injuries. I asked Mrs. D, aka Mom if she would feel confident beating Tampa if disaster strikes. She indicated that she would be fairly confident as a Vikings fan. This game is going to have a lot of hype to live up to, but I think it will. The magic of 1998, 2009, and 2017 seems to be coming back to the Twin Cities, and I think that the Vikings are going to take a gigantic step forward on Sunday. Vikings 39, LOLions Gonna LOLions 36.

The Lions are so nasty and the game is in Detroit. We'll find out a lot about the Vikings in this one. I think they are better situated to win in a lot of ways, but I don't know. I could see something weird happen to tip the balance to the home team here. So that's how I'm going to pick it. Lions 34, Vikings 31.

Yeah, sorry about not picking the Gopher road game. By the time this goes up, you will know if PJ is going to get mayo dumped on him. 

He did get the mayo bath, and it was glorious.

Coulda been worse, coulda been Chipotle queso

In my defense, I was watching the Badger basketball team take Iowa out to the woodshed. You love to see it, and you especially really hate to see Frantrum take a giant L. Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games-------Can The Packers End Seattle Nightmare Edition?

 The last four times the Packers have traveled out to Seattle, the best thing that happened was a very frustrating defeat. And in the case of the other two, I will never watch any highlights of those games. 

It's a frustrating place to play. But it's been a while since the Packers have been there and the team they will face is very different.

The Packers lost week because of their mistakes, and not because of the refs. Some of my fellow Packers fans need to admit that. They didn't play well enough on defense on the last drive, and I also thought that they started too slowly and gave the Lions enough momentum early on. 

I agree with that, too. Is this the dawning of a new, more sensible Benster? Read on to find out!

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

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-2.5) vs. Seattle Seahawks The Packers are going to be healthier coming off the mini bye, but there is danger in this trip out to the Pacific Northwest. The Packers haven't won in Seattle since 2008. For reference, that was Aaron's first season as the starter. The Seahawks are very much in the thick of the NFC West race, and already know that the Rams got a key divisional win this week. What I want to see from the Packers is a fast start, and for Jordan Love to continue to take care of the football. What gives me hope is that the Packers have won games this year in both LA and Nashville, which were cities in which they have historically struggled. Packers 33, Seahawks 21.

Seattle is a pretty good team, but not a great team and certainly not the Super Bowl contender that the Packers have faced in previous trips to the PNW. Geno Smith is a solid quarterback the Seahawks have offensive weapons, but I have a better feeling about this one, especially since Seattle's primo running back Kenneth Walker likely won't go. Packers will score enough to win. Packers 28, Seahawks 20.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+7) vs. Minnesota Vikings I was very disappointed to see the Vikings fans boo Kirk last week. Kirk didn't trash the Vikings, and both sides simply moved on. The Vikings have a good chance to get right back in the mix for the NFC North given that the Lions are in a coin flip game at Buffalo. The Bears played the Vikings tough in Chicago, but this is going to be in Minnesota. As much as you would think that this is the stage for a classic Vikings letdown game, even I am not delusional to say that it will happen. Vikings 43, Bears Still Suck 21.

Da Bears got boat raced last week by a team that looked dead in the water yesterday. I would be very surprised to see the Bears put up much resistance on Monday night. Williams is going to be a problem in the future, but the Vikings will figure out ways to get to him this time and I think Sam Darnold is going to be shouting "show me the money" after this one. Vikings 35, Bears 17.

And now, time for some thoughts on the Hoodie going to coach in college. I certainly didn't see that coming. What I am going to be curious to see is how he handles recruiting and NIL, given that we haven't seen the Hoodie in the college ranks. The Tar Heels aren't the top football dogs in the ACC, but I think that it will be interesting to see how the Hoodie coaches college kids and he could get them to 10 wins. 

It's an interesting experiment to be sure. Basketball is king in Chapel Hill, so while there will be some pressure it shouldn't be onerous. The college game is quickly morphing into a quasi professional Wild West floating crap game and since everyone who plays wants to be in the NFL, having one of the most successful coaches in NFL history will get the attention of recruits. The ACC just got more interesting.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games-----Phil Longo Is Finally Gone Edition

 I am so glad that the Badgers fired Longo. He is one of the worst assistant coaches I have ever seen one of my teams hire, and I hope that the Badgers can hire someone competent. The bar is very low. We will talk about that later. 

Not sure why it didn't work; his credentials were good, but there seemed to be a mismatch of approach and available talent. Now we'll see what happens next. There are some attractive options out there.

Meanwhile, the Niners are coming into Lambeau banged up. Should be an interesting one.

No Purdy, no Bosa? That does change the calculus a bit.

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

Penn State Nittany Lions (-11.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat Penn State is looking pretty good to get into the playoff, especially considering that the SEC is a complete mess outside of Texas. The Gophers have been looking good, but Penn State is going to be a tough out. If PJ can get to an early lead and play his style of ball, then the Gophers have a chance. But it is going to be a hard one. Even the most delusional Gopher fans would admit that. Nittany Lions 24, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 10.

Having seen Penn State a few times, there's no disputing their talent, but I really don't believe James Franklin is a guy who can win the big game consistently. Fortunately for him, he doesn't have to do that this week. Penn State 28, Gophers 20.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (+1.5) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers You can't blame the defense for what happened last week, as they held Oregon in check. But 13 points from the offense was never going to win this game. At this point, why not start someone other than Locke? You have nothing to lose this week. Nebraska is looking better, but they also need a win to get to a bowl game. You don't want the bowl streak to come down to the Axe game. I want the Badgers to run the ball more, and frankly anyone besides Longo is an improvement to the offense by default. Oh, and if Nebraska wants to promise a win, you better deliver on it. Badgers 31, Nebraska 14.

Promises, promises. Raiola the freshman quarterback may have written a check he can't cash. Badgers have to have this one, and I think they will get it as well. Badgers 23, Nebraska 21.

Indiana Hoosiers (+10.5) vs. A School In Columbus I've been impressed with Indiana. They are a tough team, very well coached, and it's very rare that there is more optimism in Bloomington for the football team compared to the men's hoops team. Ohio State is going to be at home, but this is the toughest test they will have since the Oregon game back in October. You might remember that in 2020, Indiana got screwed over by the Big Ten office changing the rules for the conference title, thus giving rise to the Curse of the 6 Game Minimum. The football gods don't forget. I look forward to seeing that wrong be righted this weekend. Windiana 35, #NotMy2020BigTenChampions 21. 

Indiana has been a great story and I have been impressed with what they can do on the field. Tough minded, veteran bunch. Ohio State is another level, though. Ohio State 34, Indiana 25.

Minnesota Vikings (-3) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck Remember when Bears fans thought that they were finally going to get the Packers? Karl Brooks ended up ripping the heart out of Solider Field. Also, the Bears are sore losers. If they want to complain about leverage, then I am sure that they will admit that Caleb flopped to get a late hit or that the Bears got away with multiple holds all day, or that Swift left early on their last drive. But any mention of that is a felony offense in Cook County. Because I was watching the Packers, I only saw like 2 minutes of the Vikings game, and they ended up winning on their own merits as well as the Titans extending drives due to too many bad 3 down penalties.  The Vikings should win this game, as the Bears won't be able to use the element of surprise with their offense on them. Vikings 32, Bears Still Suck 13.

This is the type of game the Vikings would historically lose. But not this time. My guess is the Packers beat the Bears twice because they will still be fuming over last week and thus will not be mentally ready for the Purple. Will be interested to see how Caleb Williams reacts to the weird stuff that Flores will throw at him, too. Vikings 24, Bears 17.

San Francisco 49ers (+5.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers Just a note for the Packer haters that can't be refuted. Yes, the Packers have struggled in the postseason against the Niners. But the Packers have won the last two times they have played in the regular season, and both of those games were played out there. The Packers have had another close escape, and are going to get a break thanks to no Bosa or Purdy. Getting the head to head over the Niners would be good, as they are going to be desperate to get their ring before some tough questions are going to be answered this offseason. This won't be easy, but a comfortable win would be appreciated. Packers 27, Niners 10.

The 49ers will still have a lot of talent, but Brandon Allen is not going to lead a team to victory in Lambeau. Love has time without Bosa in his grill and he'll have a big game. Packers 31, 49ers 20.

And now, it is time for a list of people I would like the Badgers to hire to replace Longo. This list is in particular order.

Brian Hartline: Co Offensive Coordinator at Ohio State. With Chip Kelly having the offensive play calling duties this year, it wouldn't surprise me to see Hartline leave. Would be an elite recruiter, and has helped develop NFL talent. Would require a huge offer, but you have to make the call.

Tee Martin: QB coach for the Ravens. Has had experience in the college ranks, and has NFL ties. Helped develop Matt Barkley and Sam Darnold at USC. 

Tom Herman: Just fired at FAU. Coached with Fickell at Ohio State, and has a point to prove. Seems like a better coordinator than a head coach, given how his time at Texas and FAU ended. 

Andy Kotelnicki: Offensive Coordinator at Penn State. Would be a reach, but knows the conference. Has been a key part in why the Nittany Lions are so good offensively. And could tempt Penn State's backup QB to come with him. 

Dan Mullen: Analyst at ESPN. While he has been out of the game for a few years, he is a proven QB whisperer. Helped develop Alex Smith, Tim Tebow, and Dak among others. 

Gino Guidugli: QB coach at Notre Dame. Coached with Fickell in the past, and has had success with the Irish quarterbacks. Helped develop Ridder, and has ties to the Midwest.

Jason Eck: Head Coach at Idaho. An alum, and has done a good job at the FCS level.

Junior Adams: Co Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach at Oregon. Has a very good track record in developing wideouts like Puca, Cooper Kupp, and Rome Odunze. Could see this as a promotion as being the sole OC, and has helped develop Nix and Gabriel given that Lanning is a defensive minded coach. 

Good list. If I were to guess, I'd think Herman is the likeliest choice. He's got history with Fickell and he's a very good offensive mind. Will be interested to see what happens.

That's the list. Enjoy your football this week. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games-------Don't Count Out The Badgers Edition

 If you are surprised by the title after me ripping the Badgers pretty good, then you must forget that I am a delusional homer. 

Oh, we know. There's over a decade of documentation on that point.

Meanwhile, it's another rivalry game for my other college football teams. There is a Turkey that needs to come home, if you know what I mean. 

Or, as usual, home to roost.

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

Oregon Ducks (-13.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers So the Badgers are going to be up against it, no questions asked. The Ducks might be the most complete team in the country, and I personally like Dan Lanning. But it is fair to say that they aren't invincible. They struggled at home against the Buckeyes and Boise State, and are going to come into this game with some injury concerns. The strange thing is that I am getting the sense from Ducks fans that they are nervous. Now, this game could get ugly. But I am a delusional homer who backs the Badgers. Luke Fickell is going to quiet the doubters. Badgers 26, Ducks 21.

The Badgers have had a week to stew about what happened in Iowa City, but the larger problems remain. They don't have a competent quarterback and the offensive line doesn't play in the road grader style that worked so well for so long. The Ducks did struggle against Boise, but that was a long time ago, and Ohio State is a much better program than Wisconsin at this time. I could see a scenario in which the Badgers hang around for a while, but talent will out, as it mostly does in the college game. Oregon 35, Wisconsin 20.

The Bronze Turkey Bowl: Monmouth College Scots vs. Knox College Prairie Fire Baby! For those wondering why I would pick a random D3 football game, I am a proud graduate of Knox College. It is really the greatest institution in the state of Illinois, and I spent 4 fantastic years at the school. Monmouth is the rival school, and has sadly dominated the Turkey Bowl for the better part of 2 decades. But streaks are made to be broken. I look for Knox to send our seniors off right, and get the Turkey back. The good news is that I got a degree in English from Monmouth for writing this blog post. Hey, I'm allowed to be biased.  Knox 44, Monmouth -345.

There are four "haves" in the Midwest Conference - Lake Forest, the University of Chicago, Illinois College, and Monmouth. Knox is a have not. They will be getting their annual whipping from their neighbors down U.S. 34. At least your Knox squad consistently beats my Beloit squad, so you got that going for you. Monmouth 45, Knox 17.

Minnesota Vikings (-6) vs. Tennessee Titans The Vikings had a very narrow escape from Jacksonville thanks to their defense. Sam Darnold last week looked really bad, no question about it. The good news for the Vikings is that the Titans can't block anyone, and their offense has set the NFL back a long time. I expect Brian Flores to be really aggressive, and for the Vikings offense to better show all of their high end passing talent. How do you even just kick field goals with all of that talent for Darnold to throw to? Vikings 45, Fall Of The Titans 0.

Titans are terrible. This game feels like a trap, though. But the Titans are terrible. Vikings are getting healthier and should prevail. Vikings 34, Titans 17.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-5.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck Two weeks ago didn't go well for the Packers, and they have only themselves to blame. Way too many errors against a good team in the Lions. I didn't rip them because at the end of the day it was just a sloppy performance by everyone, and as much as that sucks I can typically live with it. The Bears have a lot of issues, and those go beyond Shane Waldron. While it was all well and good to get Caleb Williams some weapons, the Bears should have invested some of their money into giving him a good offensive line. I think Caleb is going to be good, but his coaches and front office really have let him down. Heck, the Bears getting a new stadium doesn't matter until the McCaskey clan sells. This game is going to be really tough. The Bears are always a tough out, and I think that they are going to come into Soldier Field with a point to prove. The Packers should win if they blitz and Jordan cleans up the turnover issues, but don't expect a blowout. Packers 28, Bears Still Suck 21.

I don't expect a blowout, either, but you can see what is happening. My feeling has always been that the Bears never seem to understand why an offensive line has to come first; during the Walter Payton era they did and they won consistently. That was (ahem) 40 years ago. They have struggled with the Packers for 30 years now. The Packers are better from top to bottom. And they will win. Packers 31, da Bears 20.

I am so glad that there are no more political ads. Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games------The Badger Coaching Staff Has Some Explaining To Do Edition

 As much as a lot of people are blaming certain people for the results of a certain event on Tuesday, the Badger football coaching staff served up a huge disaster on Saturday night. Even though they are on bye, I gotta do what I gotta do. It was that bad.

Are we getting very special? It is a specialty, after all.

You'll have to read on to find out, Geritol Fan. The Packers avoid that fate because on Sunday they made too many mistakes compared to the Lions. That happens, as much as I hate it.

Yeah, a frustrating weekend. But we have other games to worry about.

Yes we do. I am ready to pick some games and am feeling the HYYYYYYYPPPEEEEEE! Watch me work.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (-6.5) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights The Gophers have been playing pretty well, and I will give PJ credit for making sure that the boat is in pretty calm waters. But what makes this game very interesting is that Athan Kaliakmanis is going to start against the Gophers. I think that both teams seem to be happy with their quarterbacks, and both Kaliakmanis and Fleck know each other very well. The Gophers should continue to lean on their ground game, and should pick up another win to cement themselves as a sneaky good Big Ten team. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 24, Buttgers 13.

Are the Gophers likely to stub their toe? They have done it before in situations of this sort. Having said that, I've seen Rutgers and they aren't there yet. Gophers 28, Rutgers 20.

Minnesota Vikings (-7) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars The Vikings ended up getting a win, but having a backup kicker kick for them is going to be something to monitor. Jacksonville isn't a great team, but they are going to play hard and they have some talent. With the LOLions having control of the division, I do expect that the Vikings are going to need to win a bunch of games if they want to stick in the playoff hunt, and Jacksonville is going to be a good start. So despite this game likely being close, the Vikings should rely on their talent advantage to get it done. Or do they? Jagwads No More 42, Vikings 21.

Hmm. The Jags aren't terrible, although their record would suggest otherwise. But they have substantial injury issues, especially on offense, so I suspect the Vikings will win based on talent gap and more engaged coaching. But it will be close. Vikings 31, Jags 27.

New England Patriots (+6) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck As I was writing this, I saw a Bears defensive back taunting me beforehand. Well, I got done with this post after he tipped it up and into my hands for a game winner. The Bears have learned nothing from their past. For all of the hype and talk about how this was a different team, the problem is that while Caleb Williams has a lot of tools, the Bears need to get him good coaching and a better line. But because they are the Bears, nothing will change. The Patriots don't really have a quarterback, and it turns out that the Hoodie wasn't the least of their problems. But I do expect the Patriots to pull out a tough win against a reeling Bears team. Patriots 17, Bears Still Suck 0.

Da Bearz. They're going to wreck another quarterback, aren't they? You can see it happening already. Maybe they should draft an offensive line first and then get the quarterback. But do they listen? No. Bears 20, Patriots 19.

And now, it's time for a Very Special Comment. What happened on Saturday night was one of the most frustrating losses I have ever seen from the Badgers. It was on the same level as the 2008 collapse at the Big House, the 2019 Illinois game, the 2018 BYU disaster, and the 2022 Illinois game that got Chryst fired. The bottom line is that there are a number of people who are responsible, and I need to rake them over the coals. How much you think these people are to blame can be debated, and this list isn't indicative of who I blame the most. 

The players completely quit at one point. In a rivalry game, that crap is in no way okay. You have to at least give a full effort. Locke, you make Allan Evridge look competent. I thought Evridge was the worst quarterback I have ever seen play for the Badgers, but you might be worse. Your decision making is terrible, and I hope that you actually improve. Holy crap, what in the world, dude?

Allan Evridge. Wow. 

Phil Longo needs to be fired yesterday. His system has shown no improvement in the offense, and continues to insist on forcing this "Air Raid" offense on players who do not have the ability or the skills needed to pull it off. I was warned by Ole Miss and UNC fans that your offense isn't great, and you no longer have Drake Maye to make you look good. Why did you get away from what worked in the winning streak? You have to adjust to the tools you have, and that means I formation and a power run game. You are the worst assistant coach I have ever seen in one of my favorite football teams, and the anger fans have to you is justified. After Iowa missed the field goal in the first quarter, running the ball and going up 2 scores would have been the right call. Instead, you asked Locke to throw, and I wasn't surprised he threw a horrible pick. How do you get to be a Big Ten offensive coordinator? The quarterbacks have changed, but you haven't. I expect you to resign. 

Luke Fickell, I have to question if you are worth the hype. When he was hired, I praised the hire, and thought that you would look a lot better in year 2. But your choices in who you have brought in are questionable. I get that you can't be blamed for Van Dyke going down, but the changes you have had for the program are causing us to go backwards. Longo is a terrible hire, and Mike Tressel's scheme has been soft. You knew that Iowa is a physical team. This team should not be getting beat off the ball in the trenches. All of this talk about how you want to change the style of team, but nothing has improved. And before you come at me with the Gary Andersen comparisons, Fickell at least had the success with the Bearcats and the support of the athletic department to justify hiring him. But he has a lot to think about, and his seat is getting very hot. Instead of trying to do such a radical change right away, he should have phased it in until his guys are fully in the program. It worked for Herb Brooks, as when he took over the 1980 Olympic hockey team the Minnesota players at least knew his hybrid system. 

The bottom line for the Badgers is that they have to figure out a way to beat one or more of Oregon, Minnesota, and Nebraska. I think they can do that. But it is going to need them to understand and commit to changing what they have been doing. Losing by that much to Iowa isn't acceptable, and as you can probably tell, I am very angry about what happened. Don't screw the bowl streak up, guys. 

Fortunately, Nebraska are the Bears of the Big Ten. But I would not be surprised to see the Ax come back to the Twin Cities. Badgers aren't very good right now. But I understand Detroit is a great place to watch a bowl game, right? Right?

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.