Benster And D Pick Your Games----B1G Rule Change Edition

Hi everyone. That title is intentional, and refers to a certain decision by the Big Ten to change the 6 game requirement for the title game. That noise you hear in the background is a sharpening of an axe, because I have some thoughts.

No -- you have thoughts? There's a headscratcher.

Yep, gotta keep some people honest.

And you use an axe to do that?

When necessary, yes.

Hmm.

Read on, old dude. In other news, the Badgers will actually be playing for consecutive weeks. And the Packers can clinch the North this week. I'm feeling the HYYYYYYPPPEEE! and it is time to watch me work.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (+10.5) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers The Gophers have returned to play, and they will be going to the team who likes to take credit for this season to be happening. PJ Fleck can keep coming up with his usual sayings, but his team has struggled all year. To be fair to him, not knowing if you are going to be playing is hard, and he has a young team. However, every team in the conference has had to deal with that. Nebraska ain't much better, and they really have been at war with Kevin Warren more than focusing on the games at hand. Scott Frost will get the time because he is the Nebraska version of Bart Starr. What I mean by that is that Frost is a link to the glory days and has the trust of the Husker faithful as he knows what it takes. Even if Frost fails as head coach, his legacy is secure. As for the game, I have to favor the desperate team at home. Stuck In the 1990's 31, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 10.

I'd forgotten about the Gophers. They haven't played in a while. As I recall, they're okay. Snow in Lincoln overnight, so we'll see how that plays. Nebraska 31, Gophers 27.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-2) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Well, the Badgers looked awful again last week, and yet are somehow favored going into a game at Iowa City. Graham Mertz looked great against Michigan and Illinois, but looked horrible against Northwestern and Indiana. The defense is not the problem, and to be fair the Badgers have not gotten to play in consecutive weeks yet this year. Iowa is going to be your typical Iowa squad that plays good defense and wants to run the ball. The Badgers can win, but this is going to be hard. The offense needs to step up and actually do something. Badgers 21, Iowans 13.

This a tough one. I don't think the Badgers have it this year. Success will return to Madison, but let's write this year off. Iowa 17, Wisconsin 10.

Minnesota Vikings (+6.5) vs. Tampa Bay Bucs The Vikes are back in the playoffs based on a tiebreaker over the Cardinals. Last week, the Vikings were very loose in the turns and almost lost another "easy game". This time, the Vikings are not at home and facing a desperate team in the Bucs. It's clear that Tom Brady has had growing pains learning a new offense, and the Bucs are a team that has had a lot of internal discord supposedly swirling around. Both teams need to win to stay in the playoff hunt, and there will be a lot of Packer fans watching this game with interest. Even though the Bucs are not as good as they were when the Packers went down there, you have to honor the "desperate team at home" theory. If the Vikings lose, pray for Ron Johnson and Corey Cove. Bucs 28, Vikings 17

The Vikings have been scraping by against bad teams lately. The Bucs are a good team. Tampa 31, Minnesota 20.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-9) vs. Detroit LOLions The Packers are in a great position. All of their goals are within reach, and they can clinch a playoff spot with a win and some help. In fact, if the Vikings lose and the Packers win, the North can be won on Sunday. The LOLions did beat da Bearz last week, and are better than people think. I know that sounds crazy, but they have been in some close games this year, and did jump out to a lead at Lambeau. Plus, Matthew Stafford has a good track record against the Packers. If you remember, last year the Packers had to fight to get that win at Ford Field to get the playoff bye. Packers 24, LOLions 18

I am a bit nervous about this game. The key is the Lions defense is terrible. Shootout! Packers 38, Lions 28.

And now it's time for a Very Special Comment. This will probably come off to you as yet another Benster ripping of the Buckeyes. I know that is part of who I am, and I admit that I have a hatred of Ohio State football. But please hear me out.

So the Big Ten announced that Ohio State would be allowed to play Northwestern next week for the conference crown. That is despite the fact that the conference decreed that a team needs to play in 6 conference games to qualify. Look, Ohio State is a good team, and I don't blame them for taking the offer. You can make an argument that the 6 game rule was dumb in the first place, and that the conference never should have included it. But it was the rule coming in, and the Big Ten was arrogant enough to believe that it wouldn't be a problem. Well, the league decided that Ohio State should get a pass, because they are undefeated. This is a week before the title game. Everyone knew the rules, and now the conference changed them in the middle of the game. Indiana got screwed. Yes, the Hoosiers had their chance to win in the Horseshoe. But under the rules that every school agreed to, Indiana was the team that qualified. Plus, Northwestern is getting boned. Not only do they have to prepare for a new opponent, but they have to play a rivalry game against Illinois while Ohio State gets a bye week. The Big Ten not only changed the rules for a "brand name" school, but gave said school every possible advantage. If Ohio State loses, then it would be one of the worst losses in the history of Buckeye football. They would have had every possible advantage, and thrown it away. 

Now, of course the Big Ten is not the only league screwing with their title game. The ACC canceled games for Notre Dame and Clemson to give them extra rest. But at least in that case, the Irish and Tigers both come into the game on even footing. The Big Ten can say that this is about being fair and making money, but that is missing the point. Big Ten football has gotten a lot more competitive and richer than the 1970s. Back then, it was the Big 2 of Michigan and Ohio State, and the Little 8 of everyone else. Now, there is more strength in depth in the conference, and they can sell Fox and ESPN on the fact that teams like Michigan State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota that can be successful. All of those schools have won big bowl games, and have been positive stories in the Big Ten recently outside of Michigan and Ohio State in football. Heck, the basketball product is the most deep and consistent than at any point in league history. It behooves a conference to favor conditions that help everyone, and not just a handful of schools. Want to know why Nebraska left the Big 12? It was in part because the Big 12 favors Texas and gives the Longhorns a huge cut of revenue. Maryland was a founding member of the ACC, and had deep ties with a lot of those schools. Well, the ACC has constantly been accused of favoring basketball and in particular the Tobacco Road schools. Maryland left in part because that favoritism.

You can argue it is because of money, and there is a good reason why it behooves the conference to respect what each school brings. The Big Ten Network was founded in order to make it easier to make money and showcase all the teams in the league. The conference is strong because every school contributes on the field in different ways. Indiana and Michigan made the College World Series recently, Minnesota has a great hockey tradition, Iowa brings wrestling, Maryland brings great lacrosse, Wisconsin brings consistently good teams in basketball and football. Nebraska brings great baseball and legions of fan support. I love this conference because every team makes the same amount of money, and the various fanbases respect each other and get each other. Ohio State may contribute a lot in football, but they are one school. It's not the Ohio State Invitational League. It's the Big Ten conference. No school is bigger than the league, and every school brings something to the table. It's a shame that Kevin Warren doesn't understand that. If I were a Buckeye fan, I wouldn't accept this. In fact, read this article from an Ohio State fan about why this is wrong. 

Well, that's done. I hope you enjoy the football this weekend. Ben out. 

Election

 There's no doubt in my mind -- the Democrats cheated like hell in the election. There's also no doubt in my mind that Joe Biden is utterly unfit to be Leader of the Free World. 

Still, the case before the Supreme Court brought by Texas almost certainly has to fail. If it succeeds, states can sue other states for things that happen within their borders. And federalism, attenuated as it is, would be dead.

We're in a bad place. Civil war is a distinct possibility now. Frankly, I'm afraid.

Benster and D Pick Your Games---NFL Is a Clown Show Edition

 Old dude, I really have a bone to pick with the NFL over certain things. But I need to sharpen the axe. 

Glad you're doing it. You're keeping this enterprise afloat in a sea of rage.

And I have a suggestion for the Big Ten, but I don't need to sharpen the axe for that. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPPPEEE! for a couple of these games, and we are going to learn a lot about people this weekend. It's time to watch me work.

Windiana Hoosiers (+13.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Well, the Badgers get to keep the Axe, as the Gophers have bigger problems to deal with on their end. The suggestion I have for the Big Ten is simple. There has been rumblings that Michigan might not be able to play against A School in Columbus next week, meaning that the Buckeyes would not have played in the 6 games needed to qualify for the conference title game. It also has been reported that the Big Ten is going to let A School in Columbus play in Indy even if they don't get that 6th game. Well, should the Badgers win out and Northwestern lose next week, then it is only fair that the Badgers get the nod to play. It's only fair, and would be a better test for Ohio State. But, the Badgers can't worry about that. Indiana has been the story of the year so far in the league. I know that Michael Penix Jr. will not be playing, but the Hoosiers are a disciplined team that is well-coached under Tom Allen. The Badgers played like absolute crap at Ryan Field, and yet somehow still could have won the game. Oddly, this is going to be the 2nd and last game at Camp Randall. This will be tough, but the Badgers can win and send the seniors away from Madison with a good memory. Badgers 24, Hoosiers 17.

A good Indiana football team is a rarity, but in a rare year it seems oddly fitting. The Hoosiers have two excellent receivers with strange names (Whop Philyor and Trey Freyfogle), who can catch the ball no matter who is throwing it to them. The Hoosiers also play good defense. But the game is at Camp Randall and the Badgers gotta have it, so I think they win. But they won't cover a -13.5 spread. Wisconsin 23, Indiana 14.

Jacksonville Jaguars (+10.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings did get it done against Carolina, but dodged a massive bullet thanks to terrible clock management by the Panthers. Kirk Cousins got it done, and is probably back in the good graces of the fickle Vikings fans who blame him for the failure of management. The Jags are a team that will play tough and can hang in there even when they are outgunned, as evidenced by their inspired play at Lambeau a few weeks back. This is a trap game for the Vikings, and they need to have learned their lesson from last week. If you come out flat, you will lose. Thankfully, the Vikings have learned their lesson. Vikings 31, Jags 10.

Or have they? Jags 24, Vikings 23.

Philadelphia Eagles (+7.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Packers had no trouble at all against Da Bearz last week, and it was great to have some people in the stands at Lambeau. The Eagles are a mess. Carson Wentz looks like he has regressed, and the fanbase openly wants Jalen Hurts to play more. Well, this is a trap game for the Packers. If you remember last year, the Eagles came in and were the better team. Plus, thanks to the NFC Least making the 2010 NFC West and 2014 NFC South look like competent divisions, the Eagles still have a shot at a division title. I think that the Packers can win as they have more talent, and the pass rush finally looks like doing something. But there is danger in this game. Something in my gut tells me that, and hopefully I am wrong. Packers 31, Eagles 27.

I agree with your assessment. Eagles will give the Packers their best shot. It won't be enough. Packers 28, Eagles 20.

And now, it's time for A Very Special Comment.

So, the NFL seems to have had a bad week. The Steelers and Ravens game was a complete mess. The Steelers have not been getting much luck in when they have played certain teams. They lost their bye week thanks to the Titans mess, and then lost their mini bye thanks to the Ravens having a staffer just totally not following league rules and infecting multiple players. That Ravens-Steelers game was postponed from Turkey Day, to Sunday, to Tuesday, to Wednesday afternoon. Yes, you read that right. They had to play an NFL game on a Wednesday afternoon because apparently a Rockefeller Center tree lighting can't be moved by NBC. Now, the Steelers have to play on short rest for the next couple of games, and are likely to lose one of those games, meaning that Kansas City could sneak in and get the AFC bye. The Steelers have gotten hosed, and hopefully Art Rooney II can raise a stink at the next owners meeting. Plus, they lost Bud Dupree for the year. That game was a complete mess, and ruined one of the games that a lot of people were curious about. 

But the one thing that angers me the most is what happened in Denver. The Broncos lost their entire quarterback stable. Now, I know that Drew Lock was not following the league rules. But the Broncos game didn't get postponed, and they had to start Kendall Hinton, a practice squad receiver, at quarterback. The dude played as well as he could considering he had to learn the offense and got very short notice. Guess who the Broncos played on Sunday? The New Orleans Saints. Guess who is fighting with the Saints for the NFC bye? The Packers, the team I love through thick and thin. The Saints got a free win, as they didn't even have to try. Before you come at me with the excuse that Drew Brees didn't play, just remember that Taysom Hill at least is a quarterback, and knows the offense. He at least gave the Saints a fair chance. The Broncos didn't get the same luxury. Why did the Broncos not get the game postponed to Monday or Tuesday? Maybe then, they would have actually had a chance. You almost have to try and be this incompetent. Heck, the reason this happened was because the Broncos have an ownership dispute involving Pat Bowlen's kids. The Broncos have an awesome fanbase; the fanbase really knows their football, and the Broncos have been a model franchise for most of my lifetime. I hope that Hilton gets a fair chance on the Broncos to show what he can do as a wideout. Heck, he is welcome on the Packers anytime. I'll even buy him a beer. 

Roger Goodell was interviewed at halftime Wednesday by Mike Tirico. He claimed that the NFL was doing a great job this year. Uh, that was a lie. Look, I don't care what you think about the response (or lack thereof) by leaders. All of them screwed up, and that stands for both Republicans and Democrats. To make matters worse, the 49ers have to play games in Arizona because the local California leaders out there don't want there to be football in Santa Clara County. In fact, there are even rumors that the Rams and Chargers might have to leave the state to play. Where are those teams going to play?  This is a freaking dumpster fire. Heck, Rob Manfred and Gary Bettman did a better job with the MLB and NHL seasons respectively. Do you realize how hard it is to do that? I'm a baseball fan, and Manfred is a terrible commissioner who might not even like baseball. That being said, I loved what he did with the opening round of the playoffs that gave us wall to wall ballgames all day and did a great job by getting fans back for the NLCS and World Series. Bettman is hated by NHL fans, but he pulled out a great playoffs in Canada, and I really enjoyed watching the playoffs this year with all the games in the opening round being fun. The NFL had months before the season started to observe other sports leagues. It's clear they haven't come up with any contingency plans. Maybe Goodell is secretly Kevin Warren. Whatever the reason, the NFL is a joke. I remember when they were able to protect the shield. Not anymore. Please fire Goodell and hire Greg Sankey. Sankey actually has a chance to play all the games he scheduled with fans in attendance in the SEC. When I have to praise the SEC, that's when you know something is wrong.

Ben is fired up!

Yeah, I am. Despite all that, enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Cosmic Revenge Edition

 Old dude, it looks like Kevin Warren messed with the football gods. Can you feel it?

It's cosmic!

The Big Ten is turning into a dumpster fire as we speak. How much do you wanna bet that Harbaugh sandbags the Buckeyes?

I hope he doesn't, but frankly, I wouldn't put it past him.

Yeah, I don't want to do a Very Special Comment. I think everyone knows my feelings on the Big Ten leadership. When I agree with Clay Travis, Paul Finebaum, and praise the SEC, you know that is screwed up.

Not my favorite group of commenters, to be sure. But for all the annoying triumphalism about, the Big Ten does not appear to be a great league this year. And while as a fan of the Badgers I enjoy seeing Michigan and Penn State down, it's not good for the league as a whole. So yeah, not good. But we still have the NFL, even if the Broncos are playing a practice squad WR as their quarterback.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYPPPPEEE! and can't wait to discuss some NFL. Watch me work.

Carolina Panthers (+3) vs. Minnesota Vikings Full disclosure, I was watching the Packers game and didn't get to see the Vikings. Boy, all the angry KFAN callers were coming back out of hiding, and somehow didn't bash Kirk Cousins. The Vikings are in a desperate situation and are going to need to win out to get a playoff berth. What will help them is that the NFC West teams will beat up on each other, and the Packers and Bears tangle twice. The Panthers are a team that has a bad record, but they play really hard. Matt Rhule is my vote for Coach of the Year, as he has done wonders. The interesting subplot is going to be the return of Teddy Bridgewater. It's just one game, but this will be a chance to see if Kirk Cousins was the right decision for the Vikings. Can the Vikings win? Yes, but this game could go the other way. Vikings 24, Panthers 17.

We get the Good Vikings some weeks. Last week we didn't. It will come down to the Vikings defense. Carolina is tricky and they have some weapons. Teddy would love to win here. But I think the Vikings are a marginally better team. Vikings 21, Panthers 20.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+9) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Packers had a disaster of a game last week. The morons of our fanbase who blamed MVS for the fumble are as dumb as the Vikings fans who blame Kirk for everything. What really cost the Packers was the offense bogging down, and the coaching staff seemingly playing not to lose instead of winning. But that was last week. It's Bear week, and people are betting on the Bears to cover. The Bears made a change at QB, and are going back to Trubisky. Who would have thought that after every Bears fan told me that Nick Foles was the savior? Maybe BDN loses his powers outside of Philly? What the Packers need to do is to keep playing aggressive, and make Trubisky beat you. Oh, and the Bears blew a 20-0 lead less than a half after knocking Aaron out of the game on a cart. Oh, and Da Bearz don't run this division anymore. Packers 24, Da Bearz Still Suck 9.

The Bears haven't run the division for about 15 years now. They barely run their mouths any more. Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack are always frightening, but no one on the offense scares me much. I will be curious to see how Trubisky plays, but I think the Packers are the better team right now. Packers 28, Bears 14.

Enjoy your weekend. Ben out. 

Coming attractions

Cook! Where's my hassenpfeffer?

It does boggle my mind – we almost certainly will be installing a senile corruptocrat as president in less than two months. It’s easy to believe the Democratic Party engaged in massive voter fraud to put Joe Biden over the top. It’s awfully difficult to prove, though, especially when those who sit in judgment are desirous of the result that’s coming and might be implicated themselves were fraud demonstrated and word of that fraud reached the populace.

Having said that, our overlords have grown tired of dissent. We communicate with technology online, on platforms that are easy to manipulate; the proprietors of these platforms have shown they are more than willing to silence dissenters. Today, I can post such observations. Tomorrow, perhaps not.

We are in a dangerous place. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games---Enough With Friday Gopher Games Edition

Seriously, why are the Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat still playing on Friday nights? It's like the Big Ten wants to have PJ row that boat early.

Fair question. Night time boat rides for the Gophers are often like this:

Robert Mitchum with his knife isn't that much different than Kirk Ferentz, I suppose.

I knew you'd have a great non-sequitur movie reference, old dude! That one is even older than your usual silliness. But still, the state government did cancel youth sports so the Gophers won't compete against high school football. I'll stop right there as I don't have a desire to turn this into a political Very Special Comment.

All your comments are special, Benster. 

Well, yeah. We shall see how the Badgers and Packers do against good opponents. I am feeling the HYYYYYPPPEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.

Purdon't Spoilermakers (-3) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat PJ Fleck can keep on coming up with new sayings and motivational tactics that involve reading odd kid books, but it can't hide the fact that the Gophers have been struggling. Purdue has looked fairly good, and it sounds like Rondale Moore might be making a return. Yeah, things are not going to end well. PJ might want to row the boat before it gets rowed for him. Timeout, Iowa! Timeout, Iowa, Timeout, Iowa! I'm sorry, Kirk Ferentz was interrupting me. The Gophers are going to get lit up. Spoilermakers 35, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 0.

Purdue is pretty good. I think the Gophers will play better this week; not sure they could be any worse. But it won't be enough. Purdue 27, Minnesota 17.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-7.5) vs. Northwestern Wildcats This game is going to have massive implications as to who will be going to Indy. Let's get one thing perfectly clear. Saturday is my birthday, and I would love a win as a birthday present. The Badgers looked great against Michigan in the Big House, and will be getting more guys back from Kevin Warren's dumb rules. But this line is too high in favor of the Badgers. Northwestern always plays the Badgers tough, they are incredibly well coached, and the Badgers struggle every time they play at Ryan Field. But this is a weird year, and this Badger team is on a mission. Badgers 31, Wildcats 23.

So the line is too high, but you're picking the Badgers to beat it? Interesting. Trips to Evanston are the football equivalent of a root canal. Badgers are more talented. It will be a struggle. Badgers 28, Northwestern 24.

Indiana Hoosiers (+20.5) vs. A School In Columbus The other big game in the Big Ten this week that will determine who will be going to Indy. A School In Columbus being involved in this game is no surprise at all. Indiana being involved is a surprise. Tom Allen has built up the program into a team, and they are legitimate threats to the Buckeyes. This line is really disrespectful to the Hooisers. It will take everything they have to beat the Buckeyes, but I would love to see the fanbase have a meltdown in Columbus. Windiana 31, A School in Columbus 0.

Obligatory:

Indiana has really improved. I think they're an excellent team. But Ohio State is at another level. Not yet, Hoosiers. Ohio State 34, Indiana 20.

Dallas How Bout Them Cowboahs (+7) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Cowboys have been an absolute dumpster fire this year even before they lost Dak. They only beat the Falcons because of terrible special teams play on an onside kick, and beat the Giants because NFC East. Why does this division get a home playoff game is beyond me, and needs to be looked at. The Vikings have suddenly gotten hot, and Packers fans have to root for the Cowboys in order to stay ahead in the NFC North. I really hate the Cowboys, and it is because of the ridiculous fanbase and the media cheerleading. I will do so with a strong need to take a shower and wearing a hazmat suit. I hate to do this, but I might have to even agree with Skip Bayless. How Bout Them Cowboahs 35, Vikings 14.

Cowboys are terrible. Vikings are not. Vikings 31, Cowboys 13.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (+2) vs. Indianapolis Colts Fox really screwed over those Packers fans in Minnesota and the western part of Wisconsin when they flexed the game to the late window. Because the NFL can't have the Cowboys play at noon, I have to find alternative measures to watch the Packers, and listen to Troy Aikman ruin yet another Packer game with his "color commentary" and hatred of Aaron Rodgers. Thanks a bunch, Fox. Why couldn't you have sent them to the Vikings game? Now that I am done ranting about NFL flex scheduling, we can talk about the game. The Packers played horribly against the Jags, but this time are in a dome and could get some of their injured back. The Colts are going to be a challenge. They have played well, and are leading the AFC South. The key is to get some pressure on Phillip Rivers and to get off to a better start. Plus, the Packers have played their best games in domed stadiums. This will be difficult, but doable. Packers 28, Colts 20.

Aaron Rodgers has played beautifully in domes this year. The Colts can play defense, but I think the Good Packers show up this time. Packers 31, Colts 24.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games---Better Than Election Counters Edition

 Old dude, I think that I am going to not magically stop and start counting when compared to certain elections in certain parts of the country. 

Will it help our predictions?

Probably not, but who does the counting makes all the difference.

I've known that for years thanks to this guy:

Ahh aaa aaa!

Yeah, there will be some people who are angry. But not as angry as A School In Columbus fans who want Kevin Warren fired. Could you imagine the reaction if they can't play two more games?

Ohio State will go ballistic. As would the NCAA. And the networks, among others.

Yeah. No doubt. In other news, the Badgers are finally back. Thank the Lord for that. I am feeling the HYYYYYYPPPEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Iowa Hawkeyes (-3.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat This game should not be on a Friday night, as it is not traditional. PJ Fleck can keep on dropping his sayings and branded merchandise all he wants, but he has never beaten Iowa. That has to change as I'm getting the sense that some Gopher fans are starting to leave the Boat. Iowa is a tough matchup, and their running game should give the Gophers problems. PJ can't live off one win against Penn State forever. Iowa 24, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 0.

I continue to be confused by what I see from the B1G this year. Difficult to tell what side is up. Game is in Minneapolis and I think that is the difference. Gophers 28, Iowa 20.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-4.5) vs. Michigan Wolverines Thank the lord that I can finally talk about the Badgers again. They are still eligible to defend the West, and this game is going to be interesting. The big question is who will be lining up under center in Ann Arbor. If Graham Mertz is freed from the clutches of Kevin Warren's policies, then I feel great. If not, then the team will have to rely on being hungry like the Chase Wolf. As for Michigan, this game is going to be a defining one for the coaching staff. Jim Harbaugh has been a disaster, and it honestly cracks me up. I remember back in the day when people called out Lloyd Carr for not being good enough. Well, funny how things change. Ann Arbor is a tough place to win, but I think the Badgers can get it done. Badgers 31, Michigan 10.

Ol' Lloyd looks pretty good in retrospect. I have no idea what the Badgers are going to look like, but I don't think a trip to Ann Arbor is going to be pleasant. Having said that. . . Badgers 24, Michigan 20.

Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck So it turns out that Da Bearz could actually be frauds. It just warms my heart. The Vikings have looked good, and could still somehow get into the playoffs. Dalvin Cook is a great weapon to have in cold weather, and the weather is getting colder. Get ready for the announcers to mention how Kirk Cousins has a terrible record in primetime games and on Monday Night Football multiple times. As for Da Bearz, their offense is really bland and predictable under the direction of Big Dick Nick. I hope the Vikings win to help us in the division. But if the Vikings lose, pray for Corey Cove and Ron Johnson. Vikings 24, Da Bearz Still Suck 10.

Lotta history for the Vikings in Chicago and almost all of it is bad. Dalvin Cook is great, but he's injury-prone. If he holds up the rest of the year, the Vikings are dangerous. Bears 21, Vikings 18.

Jacksonville Jaguars (+13) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers So last week went pretty well for the Packers. Despite what morons like Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long had to say about the team, they got it done against the 49ers and should be healthier. Jacksonville has talent, and certainly will be up for this game. This game will not be played in the heat of Florida, but will be in Lambeau in the cold. Packers should roll comfortably. Packers 45, Jags 17.

I don't see a lot of success in the offing for the Jags. The talent gap is pretty big. The point spread seems a bit high to me, but I think the Pack wins. Packers 34, Jaguars 20.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Confident in their victory

Facebook will not let you post this article: 

Too many voters

Watch the turnout figures ‒ they can be a big giveaway.

You never get a 98% or 99% turnout in an honest election. You just don't.

Voting is compulsory in Gabon, but it is not enforced; even in Australia where it is enforced, where you can vote by post or online and can be fined for not voting, turnout only reaches 90-95%.

The main reason that a full turnout is practically impossible is that electoral registers, even if they are recently compiled, can rarely be 100% up-to-date.

Even if no-one gets sick or has to travel, people still die. And when a register is updated, new voters are keen to add themselves to the list.

No-one, however, has any great enthusiasm for removing the names of those who have died, and over time the number of these non-existent voters increases.

I once reported on an election in the Niger Delta where some areas had a turnout of more than 120%.

"They're very healthy people round here, and very civic-minded," a local official assured me.

But a turnout of more than 100%, in an area or an individual polling station, is a major red flag and a reason to cancel the result and re-run the election.

And there's this:

A high turnout in specific areas

Even where the turnout is within the bounds of possibility, if the figure is wildly different from the turnout elsewhere, it serves as a warning.

Why would one particular area, or one individual polling station, have a 90% turnout, while most other areas register less than 70%?

Something strange is almost certainly going on, especially if the high turnout is an area which favours one particular candidate or party over another.

Looking at you, Milwaukee. More, a lot more, at the link. Read it now while you can. 

This won't end well, part three

 Ann Althouse asks a great question:

They want a gracious concession — after the counting and litigation — but they never mention how ungracious the Democrats were when Trump won in 2016. Did they ever concede that Trump won and stand back and acknowledge that he legitimately held the power of the presidency? 

We all know the answer to that question. A few observations and a suggested to-do list:

• The Democrats are almost certainly going to get by with everything they've done for the last four years. Trump has never, not for even one day, had complete control of the executive branch. He still doesn't. John Durham is Godot, to name one example.
• Still, sunlight is the best disinfectant and at this point the best sunlight will leave a scorched earth. If I were Trump, I would continue to exhaust all my legal options until there are none left. 
• He needs to tell the world everything his team has found. It will be ignored or ridiculed, but it needs to be part of the public record. AOC has called for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, so let's begin the process now. Name names and expose the fraud for what it is.
• Following that, Trump should dump the entire investigative pile from Durham and everyone else on the country. Every move that Strzok and Page and Comey and the rest of the cabal made needs to be put out there. There will be no prosecutions now, so they might as well release all the evidence against everyone who was involved. I don't give a good god damn about "national security" or "sources and methods" -- that was always code for ass covering. The MSM will ignore it, of course, but people need to know precisely what happened. And the information needs to be part of the historical record. If Barr and Durham won't cooperate, Trump should can their well-padded asses. Trump owes them nothing. And more importantly, by doing so it will complicate Biden's efforts to get the band back together. I've read multiple reports that Sally Yates is in line to run DOJ. Blow her up. Same with the corrupt cabal of McGenerals -- everything they've done should be catalogued and exposed to the world.
• While he's at it, Trump needs to fire FBI director Christopher Wray and CIA chief Gina Haspel, who have been stonewalling him for the last four years. Trump can put Rick Grenell in charge of either agency for the last two months and he can make things happen. Biden will have to put new people in position anyway, but make Biden have to get his people past Cocaine Mitch first.
• Trump needs to pardon Michael Flynn post-haste. And then Flynn needs to tell his tale. Again, no one in the MSM will cover it, but the tale needs to be told.
• In addition, Trump should ensure that Hunter Biden is indicted for his crimes. He can make his father issue a pardon. And if Trump has anything on Biden himself, dump that. People need to know that Biden is more than a set of chattering teeth -- he's a set of chattering teeth with the stench of a half-century of corruption and self-dealing. 
• Bottom line -- Trump can count on Biden and the rest of the Dems to go after him with everything they have once he leaves office, so he might as well rub their noses in it for as long as he can. The Dems are not going to show Trump any quarter, so he might as well use the power he retains to make their sins known to the widest possible audience.

This won't end well, part two

 It's clear how all this is going to end. As always, William Butler Yeats has the right description of the next Leader of the Free World:

An aged man is but a paltry thing,

A tattered coat upon a stick

It's always been a con, a bait and switch. Joe Biden will get his name in the history books and his elevation should ensure his son won't end up in prison. That's good. But the goal has always been to get rid of the Bad Orange Man By Any Means Necessary.

Mission accomplished, I guess.

It's not going to go down smoothly, though. Even if you think Donald Trump has only built a cult of personality (and with a lousy personality to boot), it's a fundamental misreading of the man and his movement. He had four years to fight the Swamp, but the Swamp won. His acolytes will find another champion. I don't know who it will be yet, but I have a few guesses. And they will be back.

Some people are wondering why the professional Republicans aren't standing up for Trump. It's no surprise -- once you get to Washington, you get rich. Everyone in town is in on the graft in one way or another. Trump's greatest sin was not his bluster or his behavior in office. His greatest sin was that he told the truth about Washington. And for that, and his limited efforts to bring about reform, he needed to be destroyed. 

Back to Yeats -- the poem I quoted is "Sailing to Byzantium." It opens with this famous line:

That is no country for old men. 

Soon enough, that will become evident.

Benster and D Pick Your Games--Politics Free Zone Edition

 Old dude, the good news is that we won't be sued by the Trump/Biden campaigns over what we do this week. Plus, there are other things going on in the world.

Yeah, you probably don't want Rudy Giuliani in your breakfast nook.

No, that would be bad. I am feeling the HYYYYYPPPEEE! over a couple of games, and can't wait to see if certain things go as planned. It is time to watch me work.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (+7) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini PJ Fleck may continue to keep rolling with his brand, but he needs to focus on his day job. Blowing a 17 point lead on the road to the Terps was inexcusable. Look, I know that the kicking position was a wasteland. Sure, Maryland deserves all the credit in the world for fighting back. But at the end of the day it is about executing. The Gophers seemed to keep running the ball over and over, and here is something that PJ might not want to admit with the Gophers. Last year was their chance. This year they are young, and now PJ has to rely on his own recruits. That senior heavy team from last year was filled with guys that the current staff inherited. That Iowa game from last year will haunt the Gophers more than the 2003 Michigan game did for Glen Mason. Illinois is a bit of an enigma to me. Yes, they have some talent. But they did not defend the pass against Wisconsin, and Lovie made the mistake of cutting off his beard. The Gophers should win, but I am not sold on this team doing anything this year. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 17, Cheating Illini 10.

The beard was so good. That was a shame. I think the Gophers will win, but Illinois won't make it easy. They are a pretty good run defense and the Gophers are struggling in the air, Rashod Bateman notwithstanding. Gophers 24, Illinois 20.

Detroit LOLions (NL) vs. Minnesota Vikings Some say that Dalvin Cook is still outrunning the Packer defense. No, I'm not salty that he put up a 50 burger against me in fantasy football. The Vikings somehow pulled out a gutty victory at Lambeau, and have a lot easier job against the LOLions. Matthew Stafford may not play because of the virus, and the Vikings will be sky high after what happened last week. The good news for the Vikings is that as bad as they have looked in the past, the LOLions have been horrible this year. The Vikings should cruise comfortably and look ahead to other challenges. Vikings 45, LOLions 0.

Actually, I beg to differ about the Lions. They really haven't been terrible; they've won more games than the Purple and are still on the outer fringes of the playoff hunt. Dalvin Cook is the key to this game. If he goes off again, the Vikings win. Vikings 24, Lions 23.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-7) vs. San Francisco 49ers I have no idea how this game is going to go, or even if this game is going to be played. The Packers looked like crap last week, and will be scraping the bottom of the running back barrel. The Niners are somehow in worse shape, and half of the guys they might play I don't know who they are. Keep in mind, I have been watching football for years. They will not have Jimmy G, Kittle, pretty much most of their wideouts, and a bunch of guys on defense. This road trip was the one that worried me coming into the year because it is a West Coast trip on a short week. Thanks a lot for that, Fox. Good luck trying to play some of these guys in fantasy football. The Packers should win because they could get healthier, and plus this is a revenge game for the team. Call me a delusional Packers homer all you want for this pick. Packers 31, Niners 10.

It's not delusional at all. I have no idea who is going to be running the ball for the 49ers, but Raheem Mostert won't be. The 49ers are also far less stout on defense without Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner. The Packers should have time to throw and if it's a shootout, they may have more bullets. Packers 34, Niners 31.

Enjoy your football this weekend. #FreeMertz, and that Packer game is going to be a complete trainwreck. Ben out. 

This won’t end well

The only thing we can be certain of is this — half the country will not accept the result. I think we are headed for a very dangerous few weeks. More soon.

il miglior fabbro

 Writing at, of all places, Newsweek, Thomas Krannawitter gets to the nut of this election:

Arguably, the most important reason to reelect Donald Trump in 2020 is to remind Americans how elections should be decided. Right now, there are two large groups who think they—not us—should decide elections in America: violent, rioting, vandalizing mobs of progressives, and millions of unelected bureaucrats who now form what early progressives called the "permanent government."

Both need to learn a lesson. For the violent mobs: Elections should be decided by ballots, not threatening fellow citizens with bullets. We will not stand for it and you only strengthen our resolve.

Threats of violence if Trump wins are sufficient reason to vote for him.

To boot, unelected progressive bureaucrats—public employees, servants of the people—had the audacity to use the power of our government in an attempt to overturn our election results in 2016 simply because one of their own did not win.

Enough.

More, much more actually at the link. Read the whole thing. 

Ruminating on Tuesday -- Bad Behavior

 Why do I believe Trump is going to win? Because enough people recognize the last four years have been less about Trump's policies than about the reaction to him.

I cannot recall a day in which some news outlet, somewhere, has excoriated the Bad Orange Man. I cannot recall a day when Chuck Schumer, or Nancy Pelosi, or some other grandee, has avoided a lectern. The signal to noise ratio is off the charts. We had this:

Ripping good

And this:

Chickenshit Congressman eats chicken

And this:

Not how you laid it out, Congressman

Trump is a bullshit artist. The Democrats are liars. If the American people let the Democrats get by with their behavior without some form of reckoning, it's going to get really ugly.

Ruminating on Tuesday

 A few disjointed thoughts. I have more, but we'll start here.

I haven’t voted for a Democrat for president in my lifetime. I have voted for Libertarians a few times and in 2016 I cast a write-in vote for my wife. Most of the times I’ve voted for a Republican, it’s been with limited enthusiasm. 

Chin music

I was Never Trump in 2016 because I thought he was a charlatan. When Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, who I knew was a charlatan, I was mostly amused. Still, at the point the election was decided, it was time to give Trump a chance, so I put the Never Trump stance away. In the four years since last Election Day, I have observed Trump’s presidency and have been amazed. He may sound like a carnival barker, but he’s actually kept his promises. And despite every obstacle and attack he’s faced, I strongly believe he will be re-elected on Tuesday. And yes, I plan to vote for Donald Trump. Donald Trump has all manner of uncorrected personality traits, but he’s far superior to his opponent.

The modern Democratic party is a hot mess, a septic tank gumbo of careerism, cronyism, corruption, and collusion. Its luminaries are uniformly appalling. Its standard-bearer is clearly demented – put him in a bathrobe and he’d be a modern-day version of Vincent “The Chin” Gigante, except without the artifice. Joe Biden was a plagiarizing buffoon in 1988 and he’s been on the slide ever since then, but the party apparat felt he was a better candidate than any of the others who were running against him. It's a stunning indictment of the Democratic Party.

Benster and D Pick Your Games--#FreeMertz Edition

 Old dude, I have an axe to grind about certain things. Just when I was getting ready to see the Badgers follow up the beatdown they had, some people deserve some ridicule. 

Just some?

Oh, I have lots. Stay tuned.

I sense Very Special Comments ahead.

You have no idea.

Oh, I have an idea.

When I find myself agreeing with SEC shills, you know things are messed up. I am feeling the HYYYYYYPPPPEEE, and it is time to watch me work.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (-19.5) vs. Maryland Terps So it turns out that PJ Fleck has some things to figure out, and those things might not require his brand enhancing. The Gophers looked overmatched against Michigan at home, and are looking to wash that taste out of their mouth. I'll be honest, I didn't watch the Terps game, but getting beat down that badly by the Purple Nerds is hilarious. It is a long journey on a short week, but the Rowers of the Boat should continue to be Elite, and the Gopher fanbase can keep drinking the Kool Aid and keep buying the snake oil. Of course, if they somehow lose, then the honeymoon is over. Terps 24, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 0.

I don't quite follow you, but that's okay. Maryland is awful, so this is get well time for the Flecktones. 

Flecktones?

Nothing quite like a jazz banjo player. Gophers 31, Terrapins 20.

Minnesota Vikings (+6.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Vikings have struggled this year, and are dangerously running low on defensive backs. That is going to be a huge problem when they face off against a Packers team that lit up their secondary in Week 1. Look, the Packers looked good against Houston last week. The problem is that the injury report is getting long. The Packers should still win this game, but the Vikings will make things very difficult. Look for the Packers to try and torch the Viking secondary. If the Vikings lose this game, pray for Cory Cove and Ron Johnson. Packers 45, Vikings 10.

The weather should be nicer at Lambeau and the Vikings may need to bring back Wasswa Serwanga or Ed Sharockman. This could be ugly. Packers 43, Vikings 24.

And now, time for a Very Special Comment. Barry Alvarez may be a living legend, but why not try and find a way to play? Nebraska fans are right to be angry at the Badgers and they should be allowed to play a non conference game. It's become obvious that Kevin "Karen" Warren and the Big Ten "leadership" really didn't want to play, and the only reason they are is because they know that nobody else caved. What they should have done was to do what the SEC did. Look, I hate that conference. Those schools cheat, and the constant love affair that ESPN has with that conference makes me shake my head in disgust. But you know what, they actually had a plan. They built in multiple bye weeks to provide a cushion in case of positive tests that they knew would happen. When Florida had their outbreak, Greg Sankey didn't panic and adjusted. When the Marlins and Cardinals had their outbreaks, Rob Manfred adjusted the plan. I'd also like to note that as a baseball fan, Rob Manfred doesn't seemingly even like baseball when compared to Bud Selig. When I am agreeing with Paul Finebaum and Clay Travis on the Big Ten, you know that's how angry I am. 

I've been a Big Ten and Wisconsin fan for 20 years. I've planned years of fall Saturday afternoons and evenings around watching Wisconsin take on all comers from the league. In this blog space, I have defended the Big Ten and fought for fairness against the SEC lovers who don't understand or respect the conference and the glorious shared history that these teams have. Karen Warren's leadership would make any Boy Scout youth leader cringe. A 21 day wait to return to competition after 2 positive tests? It's disrespectful to the players, coaches, and most importantly the fans of the Big Ten to admit that they are only doing this because other conferences refused to quit. Karen Warren needs to resign now. He had plenty of time in the spring to come up with a plan. I get that the college presidents can't worry about football all the time. But they hired Warren to take care of the athletic side of the league. 

What I would have done is simple. I would have started in late September, and built in 3 bye weeks for each team. I would have released a statement saying that positive tests were going to happen, but that the conference is committed to playing and that this plan would have worked. By the way, that took me all of 10 minutes to come up with. Fire Karen Warren and all of the league presidents. Those presidents are screwing over college kids this year. And Free Mertz. Ben out!

Prediction Time - UPDATED

 Last time I picked Clinton to win. In 2012 I picked Romney to win. So this is probably Trump's kiss of death, but here goes:

Sweep the north

A few particulars:

• If Biden had Minnesota in the bag, he wouldn't be coming here tomorrow. But he is. And so is Trump. Even though Biden's event is in St. Paul and Trump's is in Dodge Center Rochester, I'd bet Trump draws a significantly bigger crowd. 
• I dispensed with the fractional measurements (on Nebraska and Maine) mostly to keep it clean.
• Pennsylvania and North Carolina are currently set up for voter fraud, but based on what I'm reading Biden hasn't built up enough of a lead in the early voting in either state for fraud to work.  There's a plausibility limit to how many found ballots you can find. And Pennsylvania relies on fracking. I also don't think ongoing riots in West Philly are particularly propitious, either.
• Wisconsin is supposedly turning to Biden, but I don't see it. Biden has hinted at more lockdowns and while the 'Rona is on the rampage in my home state, most people there don't want to be locked down all winter. The 17-point Biden lead reported recently is clearly crap. If it were true, Trump wouldn't be visiting Wisconsin, but he will be in Green Bay tomorrow.
• Team Biden and their many enablers in the media have kept the Hunter Biden shenanigans out of the press, but word gets around.
• Biden is not healthy; yes, he's been able to get through two debates, but he's barely campaigned at all in the last week and it looks like he could stroke out on the hustings at any time. People have noticed that as well.
• Trump voters don't talk to pollsters. But they vote.

You can do your own map here. Give me your picks in the comments.

Another view, from our old pal Chuckwagon Boy:

Yet another view, this time from our man Picklesworth:

Justice Barrett

 Amy Coney Barrett is now a Supreme Court justice. This is good news for many reasons. A few observations:

Justice Barrett

• I don't know what happens with Roe v. Wade going forward, and neither does anyone else. A challenge may never reach the Supreme Court. In fact, that would be my guess.
• The two cases that matter more to me are Citizens United and Heller. Both of these are now safe for a generation or more.
• Liberals hate the result, because they have plans and they need the Supreme Court to make things happen for them. Even if John Roberts lets his freak flag fly and sides with the liberals going forward, he's going to be on the wrong side of 5-4 majorities in many instances. 
• Will the Dems pack the Court? They would like to, but I don't think Joe Biden is going to win the election, so it's moot at this point. But that's a subject for another post.
• Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer are morons. If the Dems are upset at what Cocaine Mitch McConnell has wrought, they need to remember why the judicial filibuster is gone. 
• My guess? Barrett will be one of the all-time greats on the Court. She is brilliant and principled. Her intellect is second to none. It's no surprise the Dems hate her, because she is the antidote to the dim cynicism of the modern Left.

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Big Ten Is Back Edition

 Old dude, it is great to have the Big Ten back. No thanks to the presidents and conference leadership being scared. Will the Badgers win and will the Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat keep on rowing?

Both results would be desirable, to varying degrees.

It's just great to have college football that is actually interesting to talk about. I am feeling the HYYYYYYPPPEEE! 

Won't look like that tomorrow night, but in spirit...

Yes indeed, old dude! It is time to pick some games, and time to watch me work.

Michigan Wolverines (-3) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat This game features two coaches that will be very animated on the sidelines. This game is really going to be interesting. For the Wolverines, they have failed to live up to the high expectations that the entitled Michigan fanbase has; in addition to the Khaki Man expectations coming from when he left the NFL for his alma mater. The Gophers should be the favorite as they are probably a favorite to win the West, though there is one knock against PJ that even his sayings and twisting of truth can't hide. He has struggled against his rivals and has only won 2 trophy games in his tenure. Also, the Gophers no longer will be underestimated and will have no crowd in the stands. That is, unless a certain elected official in Saint Paul decides so. I think the Golden Elite Rowers will be #Elite, though I think they won't be Big Ten West "co-champs" again. Oh, and will the Gophers be selling Gameday shirts with oar branding at Goldy's Locker Room? Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 24, Wolverines 10.

It's tough, because we know things about both programs, but nothing about these teams. Gophers have not beaten the Wolverines in Minneapolis for a long time. Does that end Saturday? I think so. High scoring for sure. Gophers 31, Michigan 28.

Illinois Fighting Illini (+19.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers This game is a rematch of that horrible game last year in Champaign, where things went really bad for the Badgers. This time, it will be Graham Mertz getting the nod at quarterback. Mertz is highly touted among some in the Badger fanbase, and I will be curious to see how he does. It sucks not having JT in the backfield, but this team has enough talent to win comfortably. Badgers cruise at home, and move on to the next one. Badgers 42, Illini 17.

Illinois made progress last year, but their victory against the Badgers was kinda fluky. Bucky has plans for this season and the Illini aren't going to stop them. Badgers 49, Illinois 20.

Boise State Broncos (-16.5) vs. Utah State Aggies. You remember last week when there was a mention of another conference coming back. That would be the Mountain West, a conference that I have never picked a game in conference play. They have handled the chaos better than the Big Ten. I'll be honest, I'm not an expert on Mountain West football, and generally watch a bit more of their hoops than their football. Utah State is run by Gary Andersen, who is still in witness protection after that one Big Ten title game. Boise State is one of the original BCS Busters, and I love the Smurf Turf. Boise State was predicted to win the league, and are the favorite so far to win the autobid to a big bowl game. Utah State can win especially considering that Logan is not an easy place to play out in that league. But Boise has too much talent. Broncos 28, Aggies 17.

Sure. Whatever you say. Boise State 27, Utah State 14.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs. Houston Texans The Packers had a horrible quarter against the Bucs, and really looked terrible last week. They are banged up, and you know that Houston was looking at that tape. The Texans have talent, but thanks to their previous head coach are very much a flawed team. What the Packers need to do is keep DeshaunWatson in the pocket, and get some pressure. The Smith brothers have been quiet. I think the Packers can get back on track, though this might be a shootout. Packers 48, Texans 37.

The Texans are talented but dumb. The Packers will not have an easy visit to Houston, but I expect them to win this week. Packers 38, Houston 28.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Thanks in particular to the Mountain West website and Mountain West Connection for helping me with research. Ben out. 

Circle (of) Jerk(s)

 Most readers of this feature have long suspected Jeffrey Toobin of being a bit of a wanker. Apparently he took it to heart, so to speak: 

Has a lot of pull

A top US legal analyst has been suspended by New Yorker magazine after he exposed himself on a Zoom call.

Jeffrey Toobin, 60, also a prominent CNN commentator, has been in demand as the US election campaign intensifies.

The incident, first reported by Vice News, happened during an election simulation involving the New Yorker and WNYC radio last week.

Mr Toobin, in a statement to Vice, said: "I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake, believing I was off-camera."

Not just exposing himself, though:

The New Yorker has suspended reporter Jeffrey Toobin for masturbating on a Zoom video chat between members of the New Yorker and WNYC radio last week. Toobin says he did not realize his video was on.

So what kinda Zoom call was this? Back to the second link:

Two people who were on the call told VICE separately that the call was an election simulation featuring many of the New Yorker's biggest stars: Jane Mayer was playing establishment Republicans; Evan Osnos was Joe Biden, Jelani Cobb was establishment Democrats, Masha Gessen played Donald Trump, Andrew Marantz was the far right, Sue Halpern was left wing democrats, Dexter Filkins was the military, and Jeffrey Toobin playing the courts. There were also a handful of other producers on the call from the New Yorker and WNYC. 

I will say this: having the notorious lefty Jane Mayer pretending to be "establishment Republicans" isn't nearly as a big a stretch as one might think.

Okay, let's think about this. You had a bunch of big-shot writers LARPing on a Zoom call. The players (so to speak) are indulging in a strange fantasy ritual. And in the midst of this Toobin changed his surname into an Urban Dictionary verb. Just a reminder: these are our betters.

Benster and D Pick Your Games---Battle of the GOATs Edition

Old dude, we have some good news.

Bout time. What's the good news?

The good news is that next week the best college football conference in the land will get back in action. 

The Midwest Conference? Beloit/Knox? Grinnell/Ripon?

While that would highly entertaining, I mean the B1G, which means we'll be picking college games again next week.

The news America is waiting for.

Well, yeah. In the meantime, the Vikings look like they will be playing after all and the Packers head south to play the Bucs. 

Will either game provide Southern Comfort?

I sincerely doubt that. Still, I am feeling the HYYYYPPPEEE and it is time to watch me work.

Atlanta Falcons (+4) vs. Minnesota Vikings The big story around the Vikings is the decision by Mike Zimmer to go for it last week out in Seattle. My take on the situation is that it never should have come to that in the first place. The Dalvin Cook injury was unfortunate, and that certainly had an impact. You can't anticipate injuries. On the other hand, the Vikings had a double digit lead early in the second half. You have to hold that lead if you want to beat an elite team in this league. Also, Kirk Cousins deserves the blame for the late fumble and the costly pick that got the Seahawks back in the game. The Falcons are a professional football team, despite all evidence that suggests otherwise. This is going to be a hard game for them. They have had their problems with the virus this week, and are without a head coach. Dan Quinn deserved to get fired, though he should have been fired after 28-3 in the Super Bowl four years ago. I have believed that for years, and it looks like people are starting to recognize that fact. The Vikings should win, though give the rock to Mattison. As a fantasy owner, that would be really good. Vikings 35, Choking Hazard 10.

Vikings should win. I do worry about a team that changes coaches, though -- sometimes the players come out with a chip on their shoulders. I also worry about the Viking secondary holding up against the Atlanta receiving corps, which should include Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley this time. Vikings have to win this, but it's going to be tough. Vikings 31, Falcons 28.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-1) vs. Tampa Bay Bucs The Packers have already gotten some good news this week with getting some players back healthy. This is going to be a tough task, as the Packers have struggled to play well in Florida in the past and the Bucs are talented. One important factor to keep in mind is that the Bucs are allowing some folks into the building, and that hasn't happened yet for the Packers this year. Obviously nobody was in Lambeau for the first two home games, and the Saints and Vikes don't allow fans in their venues. Tom Brady is certainly no slouch, and he also gets his best weapons back healthy. I think the Packers can win another close game, but this will be more like the Vikings game or the Saints game than the LOLions or Falcons games. Packers 31, Bucs 24.

You know what's wrong? This is wrong.

Tampa will be tough. Brady is better than Johnny Unitas in a Chargers uniform, but he's not the same guy he was two years ago. Matt LaFleur has had a week to cook some things up in his laboratory and he'll be featuring someone you aren't expecting. Wild guess? Equanimeous St. Brown. Packers 34, Bucs 27.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Next week I can talk about the Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat and the Badgers again. Oh, and I have a surprise game to pick to give props to another conference that may or may not happen. Ben out. 

Night of the Hunter

 It's a dog bites man story, but it still needs to be told:

Hunter Biden introduced his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, to a top executive at a Ukrainian energy firm less than a year before the elder Biden pressured government officials in Ukraine into firing a prosecutor who was investigating the company, according to emails obtained by The Post.

The never-before-revealed meeting is mentioned in a message of appreciation that Vadym Pozharskyi, an adviser to the board of Burisma, allegedly sent Hunter Biden on April 17, 2015, about a year after Hunter joined the Burisma board at a reported salary of up to $50,000 a month.

“Dear Hunter, thank you for inviting me to DC and giving an opportunity to meet your father and spent [sic] some time together. It’s realty [sic] an honor and pleasure,” the email reads.

An earlier email from May 2014 also shows Pozharskyi, reportedly Burisma’s No. 3 exec, asking Hunter for “advice on how you could use your influence” on the company’s behalf.

Someone tried to give the laptop with this data a bath:

The blockbuster correspondence — which flies in the face of Joe Biden’s claim that he’s “never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings” — is contained in a massive trove of data recovered from a laptop computer.

The computer was dropped off at a repair shop in Biden’s home state of Delaware in April 2019, according to the store’s owner.

Other material extracted from the computer includes a raunchy, 12-minute video that appears to show Hunter, who’s admitted struggling with addiction problems, smoking crack while engaged in a sex act with an unidentified woman, as well as numerous other sexually explicit images.

The customer who brought in the water-damaged MacBook Pro for repair never paid for the service or retrieved it or a hard drive on which its contents were stored, according to the shop owner, who said he tried repeatedly to contact the client.

The client didn't apparently want it. Wonder why?

The shop owner couldn’t positively identify the customer as Hunter Biden, but said the laptop bore a sticker from the Beau Biden Foundation, named after Hunter’s late brother and former Delaware attorney general.

That would seem to be of interest. But there's more:

Photos of a Delaware federal subpoena given to The Post show that both the computer and hard drive were seized by the FBI in December, after the shop’s owner says he alerted the feds to their existence.

Chris Wray and his gang may not have an interest, but others did:

But before turning over the gear, the shop owner says, he made a copy of the hard drive and later gave it to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello.

I'd wondered what Rudy had been up to. There' more:

Steve Bannon, former adviser to President Trump, told The Post about the existence of the hard drive in late September and Giuliani provided The Post with a copy of it on Sunday.

But why did it matter?

Less than eight months after Pozharskyi thanked Hunter Biden for the introduction to his dad, the then-vice president admittedly pressured Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk into getting rid of Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin by threatening to withhold a $1 billion US loan guarantee during a December 2015 trip to Kiev.

“I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money,” Biden infamously bragged to the Council on Foreign Relations in 2018.

“Well, son of a bitch. He got fired.”

He sure did. But if you'll recall, President Trump was the one who was impeached over dealings in Ukraine. We don't talk much about that impeachment much any more. Wonder why....

Benster and D Pick Your Games---There are No Games Edition

 Old dude, thanks to the lack of NFL games of interest and utter incompetence of the Big Ten presidents and Kevin Warren, we are scraping the bottom of the barrel. 

Yeah, but Xavier won! And so did Irondale! And so did Washburn!

So you're doing high school football now? Are you Randy Shaver?

We've picked high school games before.

Right, but you have to pick them. We didn't pick any of those games.

Oh, I guess we didn't. 

Anyway, thanks for the update there, Shaver. Meanwhile, I ask again -- can Kevin Warren join Bill O'Brien on the unemployment line already? And when will Congressman Anthony Gonzalez run the league already?

Have they asked him?

No, but I'm asking him. That should count for something.

Good point. He really should be taking your calls.

You're finally figuring it out, old dude! I am feeling the HYYYYPPEEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.

Minnesota Vikings (+7) vs. Seattle Seachickens So the Vikings won a game that they needed to win on the road, and at least for one week the "fire everyone" subset of Vikings fans can avoid tying up the KFAN phone lines. However, this week is going to be much less of a sure thing. The Seahawks are 4-0, and are arguably just as good as the Packers. One thing to keep in mind, the bandwagon Seahawks fans who don't know who Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselback, and Mike Holmgren even are will be nowhere to be seen on Sunday. Look, the Vikings haven't won here the last two years, and the Seahawks can pass the ball. Plus, Kirk Cousins also struggles in prime time. Get ready for the announcers to reference that every 10 seconds. Sorry Vikings fans, I don't like your chances, even though winning will help the Packers out. Pray for Corey Cove and Ron Johnson on KFAN when they have to do what they do. Seachickens 49, Vikings 10.

I believe the phrase is "Let Russ cook." And he is cooking. The Vikings need to put pressure on Russ to slow him down. They haven't done anything like that all season. I agree, a long night up in the Emerald City. Seahawks 34, Vikings 14.

Philadelphia Eagles (+7) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Well, the LOLions and Packers are on bye, and the college games were not interesting enough to comment. So, we get to discuss the Iggles and Yinzers. The Steelers are a confusing team. Yes, they beat the Titans, but they were in a dogfight for much of their games against the Giants and the Broncos, teams who have struggled so far. The good news for the Steelers is that they are healthy and have gotten rid of the off the field drama from Antonio Brown that led to the end of the Killer B era of the team. Big Ben has looked healthier and is still a Leader of Men. It also helps that they have James Conner and he is a great back to have for fantasy. I should know, I drafted him. As for the Eagles, it is time for a Very Special Comment.

The NFC East is going to be one of the worst divisions in the history of sports. After 4 weeks, the Eagles somehow lead the division with a record of 1-2-1. And somehow this joke of a division is going to be featured on national television just about every freaking week. I thought that the 2014 NFC South was a joke, but that Panthers team could probably beat every team in this division twice. This Eagles team is flawed, and quite frankly they have the wrong quarterback leading the team. Carson Wentz has been unable to stay healthy, and should have been traded after they won the Super Bowl. There, I said it. Big Dick Nick may be a flawed quarterback, but the dude was very comfortable in Doug Pederson's system. Look, I know that Frank Reich left to coach the Colts, and that the QB coach on that team is a scapegoat for Mike Zimmer and Vikings fans. But if this flawed quarterback is the face of a team that is the projected 4 seed and gets a home playoff game by virtue of being in a division that is a dumpster fire, it's a sad state. If a team like the Niners or Cardinals misses out to this Eagles team, then the NFL needs to change the playoff format.

Sorry, needed to get that out of my system. There will be some Yinzers at this game, and I will be honest. I want the Eagles to win, so a certain YouTube series will refuse to die. Sorry Tree. E A G L E S EAGLES 35, This Week On Days Of Our Steelers 10.

You should probably play some of his NSFW highlights, doncha think?

I probably shouldn't reveal where Benster gets some of his insights, but at least Benster mostly avoids F-bombs, so that's something. It's also more than most Eagles fans can manage. I think the Steelers are a better team, especially at home. And it will play out that way. Steelers 31, Eagles 19.

Enjoy your football weekend. Ben out.

Veep Debate -- Fly Me to the Moon

 Very quick analysis from your mostly moribund blogger:

• Pence was exactly as I expected him to be -- solid, Midwestern, generally authoritative. He stayed on point, never lost his cool, and he did two things to set up the next week or two of the campaign. First, he made sure everyone realized that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden will not answer the question on packing the Supreme Court. This is an important question, not some Matsu and Quemoy thing. Second, he turned the question of accepting the results of the 2020 election into an opportunity to remind everyone how the Democrats still haven't accepted the results of 2016. Nicely done.
• Harris wasn't terrible, but she's a demagogue and she has a difficult time keeping her cool. The mannerisms and smirking you got on the split screen did her no favors. She was also evasive on several points and tripled down on the dishonesty of Biden's performance the week before, especially the lie about Charlottesville. She lost the debate, but she didn't lose the election.

SNL won't have to work very hard for their punchline this week: 

Pretty fly for a white guy

I give Pence credit; I would have swatted the fly away for sure, but he kept his composure. I suppose his days in the employ of Dr. Benton Quest helped him to learn how to deal with insects.

Benster and D Pick Your Games---Things Fall Apart Edition

 Old dude, the good news is that our picks have not been delayed. And thank the Lord that the Vikings have been safe so far. 

So far. The Titans are in a bad way, but it doesn't appear they gave the Vikings any of the 'Rona, so that's something. I have to admit their team charter was a bit suspicious:

Well, that's a little morbid, Old Dude!

You want worse? I can do worse.

While I don't doubt that, I'd rather you not. Back on the field, the Vikings are playing for their lives, whereas the Packers are going to have to play the Falcons to continue their hot start. I am feeling the HYYYYPPPPEEEE! over the start the Packers have had. Boy, it's been fun.

It's going to get worse for someone. Three of the teams you're featuring are winless. Some might also be clueless.

Right. But enough goofing around. It is time to pick some games. Watch me work.

Minnesota Vikings (+3.5) vs. Houston Texans The Vikings gave it their best shot last weekend against the Titans, but things fell apart late and now the temperature on the team has been turned all the way up. Mike Zimmer might be playing for his job, and not having their practice facility opened really hurts. The good news is that they are playing the Texans, a team that has a really bad leader at the helm. Bill O'Brien may have done great work at Penn State post-sanctions, but he has been really questionable while coaching the Texans. He famously blew a 24 point lead in a quarter against the Chiefs, and somehow traded his best receiver for pennies on the dollar. Oh, and the Texans have no offensive line against a blitzing team. Look, the Vikings may be going in the wrong direction. But they will win this game. If they don't, pray for Corey Cove and Ron Johnson. Vikings 31, Bill O'Brien Is A Hack 0.

Cove and Johnson are well compensated, so I guess I wouldn't worry about them so much. As for the game, it really comes down to whether the Vikings can fix their offensive line. The Texans have a lot of defensive talent, but I'm not sure it adds up to a good defense. On the offensive side of the ball, getting Dalvin Cook going is absolutely essential. He's been decent, but you always wonder when then the next injury will hit. What do we say about desperate teams at home? Texans 31, Vikings 27.

Hotlanta Falcons (+7) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers If you had told me at the start of the year that the Packers would be 3-0 and win in New Orleans without Davante Adams, I would have been a bit confused. The bad news for the Packers is that Aaron is going to be dangerously short on wideouts even if Adams goes. I'll be straight with you -- this game makes me nervous. Look, I know the Falcons have choked two games and Dan Quinn should have been fired after 28-3. There, I said it. But the thing is that the Falcons are desperate, and a lot more talented then people think. This game reminds me of the Packers/Eagles game from last year, and we know how that went. The Packers can win this game, but don't be surprised if the Falcons are playing for their jobs. This game has trap written all over it with a neon sign that you can't miss from the freeway, even on a dark night. Packers 28, Fire Dan Quinn 24.

Looks like this, I think:

What concerns me is the lack of receivers for the Packers. It's not clear if Davante Adams will be available and we are certain Allen Lazard is not available. So it's possible the #1 for the Packers will be Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who is not the most reliable guy on the team. Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers seem to have a plan for most issues, though. I think the Packers keep winning, but it won't be easy. Packers 38, Falcons 30.

Thanks for reading, and may the President and First Lady get better. I'll see you next week if I don't get cancelled. Ben out.

No epiphanies

 

As news came over that President Trump and the First Lady have the 'Rona, the reaction was typical -- most of the leftists on my social media feeds were almost gleeful. I could publish several examples, but frankly, what's the point? We all know how leftists are. While it's momentarily disheartening to see your otherwise sensible friends become raving loons when Orange Man Bad is the topic of conversation, it's no longer surprising.

I am hopeful the President recovers quickly. We need him.

70s Icons leaving the scene

 They were contemporaries on the pop charts and they left this mortal coil on successive days. Helen Reddy, best known for her feminist anthem "I Am Woman," died yesterday at the age of 78. "I Am Woman" was a smash hit, but it's actually fairly polite and with a moderately brassy arrangement typical of the time:

She had a few other hits over the years, but as a practical matter she disappeared by the end of the decade. Her later hits were somewhat weirder, like this one:

That was yesterday. Today, word came that another familiar face from the early 70s, Mac Davis, had passed away. Davis had one foot in the pop world and another in country, and first made his name as a songwriter. He wrote this one for Elvis Presley:

Not exactly a social justice move, but certainly of the period. About a year later, Davis had his largest hit with this song:

"Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me." It was a smash hit. And I hate this song with every fiber of my being. It's horrible and smarmy, a cautionary tale told by a cad. But it sold a lot of records and since Davis was a reasonably handsome dude, he managed to have a decent career, including a year or two with his own television variety show, in a time where the networks were so in love with the concept that they gave one to a pair of mimes. This might be the most 70s video of all time:

Then again, this is likely the most 70s video of all time.

Yeah, I digress more than a little. But all these years later, the common thread is that entertainers were interested in entertaining, even if they were a little mixed up on their concepts. I don't miss the 1970s, but I am glad we can visit.

The Sound and the Fury

 Yeah, the first debate was a straight-up shitshow. A few very brief thoughts:

• Biden didn't drool on himself, so that's positive. I kinda think Trump made his life easier, because if he'd just dropped the insults on Joe and let him respond, Biden might have said something he would later regret, but Trump can't help himself. Also, many people will object to the full frontal assault on Biden's son Hunter. But my guess is this: if Trump gets a sufficient amount of voters to do a little research on Hunter Biden's, ahem, career, it will work to Trump's benefit.
• Trump is a rat bastard, but he fights. And in a moment where the Left is bidding fair to destroy much of what I hold dear, a rat bastard is probably the right guy for the job of opposing the Left.
• Chris Wallace begged a lot of questions, none to Trump's benefit. And he lost control of things more than once. As annoying as Trump and Biden were, Wallace was a bigger disgrace than either of them. 
• Trump did make one important point concerning the peaceful transition of power; he never got one when he was elected and he's been at war with the Deep State from the jump. I think a lot of people understand that but haven't thought about it much. Maybe the message got lost in the brawling, but it's possible that may resonate with a few people.
• I'd like to say we deserve better candidates for president, but based on my social media feed I don't think that's right. We have the campaign and the candidates we have because we allow the worst government class ever to maintain their sinecures.

If you have thoughts, share 'em in the comments.