Benster and D Pick Your Games----LOL Tampa Bay Edition

 Lots of readers want to see me melt down over what happened last week in the Horseshoe. That is the subject of another post that will require research and the rest of the season to play out in order to get a better set of data. All I'm going to say now is that if the Buckeyes don't win a conference title, I got something special planned. You've been warned.

Wait a minute -- we have lots of readers?

I was also glad to see that the Packers beat the Bucs in Tampa despite having struggles on offense. And seeing the Bucs make a hilarious mistake at the end was the kicker. You really hate to see it.

Well, I don't.

You are a little bit literal minded, aren't you, Geritol Fan?

All in the service of the bit, Seabiscuit.

You be you, old dude. Although I'd rather not think about what that's like. But no matter -- I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEE! for this week, and it's time to watch me work.

Purdont Spoilermakers (+11.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat So the Gophers ended up passing their first test in league play pretty comfortably. Now, them being ranked at 21 in the latest AP poll is low. Outside the top 10, you can make a fair case. But outside the top 20? They should be ranked ahead of Texas A&M, who should be doing a lot better with both the guys they have and their coach, but that is a conversation for another blog post. Purdue is okay, but they are road underdogs for a reason. The Gophers should roll and maybe move up depending how the rest of the picture plays out. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 42, Spoilermakers 14.

Purdue is okay. Were the game in West Lafayette, maybe it would be different. But the Gophers have something going right now and as long as they don't believe their press clippings, they'll be fine. Minnesota 34, Purdue 20.

Illinois Cheating Illini (+7) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers So the good news is that the Badgers won't be the last team to see that scoreline in the Horseshoe this year. There were many takes about the state of the program, and quite honestly everything should be considered and nothing is immune from possible changes. This game marks our old friend Bret Bielema returning to Camp Randall. Now, Bret did a lot of good things with Wisconsin. He won 3 consecutive Big Ten titles, and did a good job as Barry's chosen successor. But how he left Wisconsin left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths, and he probably will get booed and for good reasons. Wisconsin needs to get back to basics, and I think against a much fairer test they should win fairly comfortably in a way that might be #karma. Badgers 31, Illini 10.

Good lord, have you seen Bert lately?

He's an ordinary Joe with a extraordinary Joe

He's gotta go four bills. I really am worried about him, actually. The man can coach, though, and frankly the Badgers have to be careful here. I think Bucky bounces back, but it won't be easy. Wisconsin 28, Illinois 17.

Minnesota Vikings (-3) vs. New Orleans Victim Complex, in London Old dude, who let the Vikings come to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home of your beloved Tottenham club? The Vikings dodged a massive bullet against the Lions thanks to some clutch throws by Kirk and some awful game management by the Lions. The good news for the Vikings and my fantasy team is that Dalvin will be good to go, and it is the start of what Vikings fans like to call "Kirktober", where Kirk plays really well for a month and fuels the delusional dreams of Vikings fans, who forget 60 years of history and start to believe that they might actually not choke in the clutch like they do every time they have the chance to do something. The Saints are in desperate straits and are really banged up. If this game was in the Dome down in New Orleans, then it would be a different story. Or will it? You Wasted Drew Brees 31, KFAN Whine Line Will Be Lit 0.

Uh, no. The Saints have an unbelievable number of injuries. While I think Spurs may want to fumigate their stadium after these teams come calling, it won't be because of the Vikings. Minnesota 33, New Orleans 16.

New England Patriots (+9.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers That was a narrow escape from Tampa, but that win was vital on a day that the Packers didn't play well. Even better, the Packers will be getting a lot healthier with only Jaire Alexander being a question mark. As for the Patriots, they are going to be without Mac Jones, and are in danger of being cut adrift in the AFC. But the Hoodie will find a way to keep the Patriots in it. I'd imagine that he will try and take away Jones and Dillion and force the Packers to win matchups on the outside in the passing game. The Packers should win, but this will not be easy. Packers 26, Patriots 21.

The hoodie is a challenge, no doubt. But remember what the coaches say -- Johnnies and Joes beat Xs and Os. And this is the least talented Patriots team in the past 25 years. Packers will win and cover. Packers 31, Patriots 14.

Kansas City Chiefs (+1) vs. Tampa Bay Bucs Before we get into the main point of picking this game, there is one serious message to share. If you can, please donate to the relief effort in regard to Hurricane Ian. Lots of people in the Tampa area and beyond could use your help, and may everyone in that area be safe and in a good place. 

And now we get to return to our regular programming. God, it was awesome seeing Tom Brady, the Bucs coaching staff, and the scoreboard ops team make mistakes that no self-respecting high school team would make at the end of the game. If the Bucs knew that you needed to go for 2, the failure to not have a play ready for the conversion is unforgivable. What makes it even more hilarious is that they got extra time on the play clock because the touchdown had to be reviewed, even though it was clear and obvious. What makes it even funnier is that Brady isn't some rookie quarterback, and he knew the situation. Get your team lined up! If you are the GOAT, you should be able to do that simple requirement of your job every single time. And to add the cherry on top, the Bucs were dumb enough to show the play they had dialed up on the scoreboard for the Packers to see. And the real crappy part is that the scoreboard ops people will take the blame for that instead of the real culprit. If I were the Bucs, I would bench Brady for this game for taking the delay of game. I'm serious, by the way. The Bucs fired Bruce Arians to keep Brady happy, and it's his team. And all of Brady's enablers in the media will just sweep it under the rug and blame Todd Bowles and Byron Leftwich for this. It's time for Brady to finally take some accountability and have his ego be brought back down to size. The Bucs shouldn't have lost that game on a fundamental error by a quarterback who ain't the GOAT. 

Brad, pick up the white courtesy phone.

As for the actual game, the Chiefs are struggling on offense. But I think that Mahomes and company will come out swinging. And then maybe the Bucs can miss the playoffs and Brady can finally stay retired and go to the Fox booth where he belongs. Chiefs 45, Bucs 28.

Bucs are damaged. Chiefs aren't necessarily at full strength, either. But I agree, the Chiefs are the better team. The difference? This will be a lower scoring game than you think. Chiefs 27, Bucs 20.

It's great to see Brady take a L in a hilarious way. Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out!

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Gophers Getting No Respect Edition

 So the Gophers are 3-0, and not a member of the Top 25. That doesn't make a lot of sense.

No respect. No respect at all.

I realize that the Gophers haven't played a tough schedule, and you want to reward teams who have better wins. If the Gophers were ranked outside the top 10, then that would be a fair ranking in my opinion. But the Gophers have beaten what's in front of them, and that's all you can ask. 

This is true. They get their opportunity to demonstrate their prowess this week.

I am feeling the HYYYYYPPPEEEEE!, and think that the Badgers have a better than average chance.

Well, that's how you roll. Can't wait to see your, ahem, analysis.

Wait no longer, Geritol Fan! It's time to pick some games. Watch me work.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers Of The Boat (-3) vs. Michigan State Sparty The Spartans So the Gophers want to be a ranked team? Well, getting a win on the road in Big Ten play is a great way to make their case stronger. Michigan State is coming off a bad loss on the road against Washington up in Seattle. Meanwhile, the Gophers kicked the crap out of Colorado. Spartan Stadium is a difficult place to play, and the Gophers will need to play well. Mel Tucker is probably the most overpaid coach in the Big Ten, because he hasn't done a whole lot to elevate the Spartans based on the available evidence. Despite my personal views on Fleck which I won't rehash here, Fleck has at least been worth the money. But will it be enough? Sparty 27, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 21.

I think Tucker is doing well. The previous administration was, at the end, a big of a dumpster fire, and he's cleaned it up nicely. Having said that, I'm not sure what to make of this one. The Gophers will miss Chris Autman-Bell and the Spartans can fill up the scoreboard. I expect a fun one. Gophers 30, Spartans 28.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (+19) vs. A School In Columbus. This is going to be a tough game, regardless of my personal views on both these teams. We all know that Ohio State is a very tough out. But what Buckeye fans know deep down but don't want to admit is that the idea that Ryan Day was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple isn't 100 percent false. Look, I do think Day is a good coach. But the Buckeye program by and large can run itself. He didn't take over a team that was down, and he still gets grief due to an entitled fanbase that consists of plenty of smart Buckeyes fans drowned out by people that can't handle losing at all and lack perspective. Wisconsin has zero pressure and can't lose. Don't forget, Notre Dame played the Buckeyes tough, and Wisconsin has done about as well as could have been asked for in previous years against the Buckeyes. Look for the Badgers to pull a huge upset. Wisconsin 21, Ohio State Was Born On Third And Thinks They Hit A Triple 14.

Uh, no. Badgers will play them tough, but the talent gap is huge and growing. And the Buckeyes have something to prove. It will be a typical matchup in the series, in which the Buckeyes eventually wear them down. Ohio State 38, Wisconsin 23.

Detroit LOLions (+6) vs. Minnesota Vikings Well, the Vikings Super Bowl parade plans were put on hold after the Eagles were able to move the ball at will last week. While it isn't quite Kirktober yet, the Vikings love playing against the Lions, though they have struggled the last two times they have played them. I think the Vikings are going to get back on track. A big day from Kirk and Dalvin would be much appreciated by this fantasy football owner. This game might be closer, but the Vikings will win. Vikings 35, LOLions Gonna LOLions 31.

You like shootouts? This will be a shootout. Vikings have just a few more bullets. Vikings 38, Lions 30.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (+1) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Packers were able to calm down some of the worriers with a great win against Da Bearz. Gisele's husband and his merry band of men who are all somehow able to fit under the salary cap are going to be shorthanded, but the Packers are also facing some injury problems. The Packers have also struggled to play well in Florida recently, but this game is personal. You want this one badly to make sure that a potential rematch happens someplace a lot colder. If the Packers can control the clock and get some inside pressure on Gisele's husband, then good things will happen. Packers 25, Investigate The Bucs for Salary Cap Violations 16.

Good grief. Really? Oh well. I want to pick the Packers, but I don't know. Hate picking against them, but... Tampa Bay 20, Green Bay 17.

Hopefully Gisele's husband can join the Fox booth next year. Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----What Was That, Wisconsin? Edition

 That might have been the worst weekend of football I've ever seen involving my teams. Both the Badgers and Packers completely coughed up a hairball. I could grind my axe about both of them, but thankfully the Packers narrowly avoided that because at the very least the stats reflected what happened on Sunday. 

Assuming what it reflected was an ass-kicking, well yes it did. But hope springs eternal, right?

Of course, Geritol Fan! I am still feeling the HYYYYYYYPPPEEEEE!, but what I think about the performance of the Badgers will come at a later time. Good news is that we are going to Milwaukee to see the Brew Crew. 

Very excited to see the Brew Crew at American Family Field. My first visit there, amazingly enough. And it will be a fun road trip. But we have work to do....

It's time to pick some games and watch me work.

Colorado Buffaloes (+27.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat So PJ's guys have looked pretty good. Granted, both of their opponents were cupcakes, but they took care of business, and you can only play what is in front of you. The Buffs have struggled recently, barring a trip to the Pac 12 title game in 2016 and Mel Tucker's one year before he bolted to East Lansing. The Buffs also lost by 31 to Air Force. Nothing against Air Force, as they have a great group of young men who will do great things against bigger enemies, but a Power 5 team shouldn't lose by that much to a Mountain West team, even if the game was in Colorado Springs. The Gophers should cruise, before Big Ten play will tell a lot more about if they are the favorites to win the West. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 59, Buffs 0.

In theory, Colorado should give a better performance than the first two victims of the Gophers, but I'm not sure they have a lot going for them now. Just to be a contrarian... Gophers 34, Buffs 17.

New Mexico State Aggies (+37.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Well, last week was a terrible effort in the second half. If that game was in Pullman, then that's one thing. Honestly, I have no idea how good this team is. The good news is that New Mexico State is terrible. They didn't impress me against the Gophers, but Jerry Kill knows how to build up a program. The encouraging thing was that Graham Mertz looked pretty decent before the end, and that's an encouraging sign. A quick reminder, the Badgers have rallied from early holes to be in contention at the end of the year for their goals. Badgers 49, Aggies 21.

Not actually a Badgers fan

I think Jerry Kill won't be coming back to the Midwest any time soon. Badgers will be angry and will play much better. Badgers 42, Aggies 7.

Minnesota Vikings (+2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles As much as it pains me to say it, Kevin O'Connell had arguably the best debut of the new NFL coaches. Kirk looked better than he has been in a while, and the Vikings looked like they had bought into what O'Connell and his staff were selling. But a trip to Philadelphia won't be easy. The Eagles did what they had to do in the road in Detroit, and we all know that the Linc is a tough place to get a win as a visiting team. This should be a good game in primetime, and could go either way. Eagles 24, Vikings 17.

The league has had a week to analyze what the Vikings did to scheme Jefferson open. The Eagles will have a plan. But as Mike Tyson said, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. Vikings 24, Eagles 20.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+10) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers Well, that didn't go well at all. I wasn't a big fan of playing zone defense to start against Justin Jefferson. I would have put Jaire against Jefferson in straight man, as he's the guy who has hurt the Packers badly. The good news is that all of the mistakes I saw were fixable and not systematic of any issues. Da Bearz did play impressively against the Niners, but let's see how they do on the road without a monsoon. By the way, Aaron needs to take a good look at himself with how he's treated the rookie wide receivers. I get that it takes time for them to adjust to what Aaron likes to do, but instead of skipping OTA workouts to do interviews on podcasts and take certain substances, maybe he should have taught Watson and Doubs about the offense and what he wants. Freezing out Watson for the drop in the first quarter is a bad look, and Aaron's body language was very concerning and negative. The Packers should win the home opener before the trip to Tampa Bay to face Gisele's husband and all of his merry men that are somehow under the cap. Packers 38, Bears Still Suck 14.

Yeah, how do the Bucs manage that? Anyway, as for da Bearz, they looked surprisingly competent last week. I don't think they will be able to hang with the Packers, but it won't be a rout. Packers 28, Bears 17.

And now, it's time for another Very Special Comment. The Badgers performance last Saturday was a complete joke. It's almost like they expected Washington State to come into the stadium and roll over for them. This loss, combined elements of the 2018 game against BYU, the 2019 game against Illinois, and the 2021 game against Penn State. Bobby Engram's playcalling was very vanilla and predictable in the first half. Why keep running it up the gut when the Cougars had it covered? The concerning thing to me was that I expected him to bring something different to the program based on him spending time with the Ravens and seeing what John Harbaugh does with Lamar and company. I didn't see it. 

I used to think that the calls for Chryst to be fired were reactionary and out of touch. Now, I'm not so sure. The offensive line looks terrible, Mertz didn't have a great second half, and the team looked unprepared. It's like the team is unprepared and this time we don't have a JT to cover up some of our flaws. What I think needs to happen is that Chryst needs to be more flexible. Take a look at PJ. A lot of people have said that while PJ is a very good culture builder, his gameday coaching has struggled in the past. So what PJ has done is hire very good coordinators and he has become a better in game coach so far this year. PJ is evolving as a coach and challenging himself to get better. I don't see Chryst doing that. And if things don't improve, then you consider getting rid of Chryst and handing the reigns to someone else. My pick would be to promote Jim Leonhard to head coach and take some of the new Big Ten media rights money to get Joe Brady as Leonhard's OC. If you remember, Brady was able to turn Joe Burrow from a transfer that never panned out in Columbus into one of the best QBs of all time in Baton Rouge. If that doesn't work, then go get Dan Mullen. I just want the Badgers to show some signs of moving forward and quit being stubborn. 

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Welcome to Year 14 Edition

 Old dude, it's hard to believe that it has been 14 years. 

We've been doing this for 14 years? Good grief, that's a lot of invective. And even more HYYYYYYYPPPPE!

I'm still feeling the HYYYYYYYPPPEEEEE! and I have some words about a certain feud between two coaches from last week.

I suppose it's been seven months and you likely have some bile buildup. You may need to call a plumber.

I'll take that under advisement. It's time to pick some games, and time to watch me work.

Western Illinois Leathernecks (NL) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat So it turns out that the Gophers were able to easily dispatch Jerry Kill and his band of Aggies last week. We will talk more about Jerry The Cable Guy and PJ later on. Western Illinois isn't a particularly fearsome FCS school. And the Gophers aren't exactly playing a cupcake schedule out of conference, because Colorado is someone who is a respected program out of the Power 5. PJ has stopped screwing around in these games since he got burned by Bowling Green. Gophers will row the boat and continue on to greater challenges in the name of both winning but more importantly pushing the Row The Boat brand. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 38, Leathernecks 0.

Gophers are serving up more cupcakes than the Heights Bakery these days. The boys from Macomb shouldn't offer a lot of resistance to P.J. and company. On the bright side, Benster, it seems like Tanner Morgan has been doing this for 14 years also. Gophers 31, Leathernecks 3.

Washington State Cougars (+17.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers I thought that the Badgers looked pretty good against Eastern Illinois, though it was a shock to see Zack Annexstad still be in college football. Washington State is a team that is going to be an interesting look. They are under a new coach, and they apparently need to improve their run defense. Well, the Badgers run the ball as well as anyone in the country. And for the record, I don't blame Washington State for being angry at the Big Ten for potentially sending them to the Mountain West as a result of the raid of the Pac 12 that has both already happened and might happen with the LA schools and potentially the Bay Area, Washington, and Oregon leaving right behind them. I'd like to see Graham Mertz continue to improve, as he will be needed if the Badgers want to achieve their goals for this year. All in all, this should be a decently comfortable win and then we can look ahead to the trip to the Horseshoe. Wisconsin 42, Washington State 21.

It's also the return of a Badger surplus running back, Nakia Watson, who never saw the field because Jonathan Taylor was, well, a world-class running back. Badgers always have a few of those, of course. Bucky played well last week but there was no challenge in playing Illinois State. Wazzu is a better program and, from time to time, has been formidable. I don't think they'll be able to beat the Badgers in Camp Randall, though. Braelon Allen goes off again. Badgers 38, Wazzu 23.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-1.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings This is a game that could go either way. We don't know how Aaron will look with his new weapons, and the Vikings are playing their first game under the new regime. For the record, I think Kevin O'Connell was a good hire, though I don't blame the Viking faithful for wanting Jim Harbaugh or DeMeco Ryans. I'm sure that O'Connell has been told that this is the opponent that he can't lose to out of the gate. I do think that Kirk will play pretty well, as he often does against the Packers. It's also great to see that Z is already fitting in with the Vikings by trashing the Packers. After all, some Vikings fans care more about seeing the Packers lose instead of seeing their own team win. In fact, those Vikings fans fit in well with the other two teams in the NFC North. The Packers should win behind a good defensive performance, and I think that Rich Bisaccia's special teams will make 2 positive plays. One of those plays will be a blocked kick or punt. If the Vikings lose, pray for KFAN approved homers Ron Johnson and Corey Cove as they deal with delusional Vikings fans calling for O'Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to get fired after one game. Packers 28, Vikings 17.

No matter what happens, I'm certain it will be "controversial" according to the Whine Line guys. I have no feel for this game at all; in fact, I really despise the current state of the NFL where preseason games are concerned, because there's nothing we've seen so far that tells us anything about the teams we'll see at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. I think it comes down to this -- can the Vikings play run defense? If they struggle with that, it won't matter that Rodgers doesn't have his preferred receivers any more. Historically, Packers teams that win championships are able to ground and pound. We'll start to see if this team is one of them soon. Packers 24, Vikings 20.

San Francisco 49ers (-6.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck So the Bears finally got rid of Matt Nagy and installed Matt Eberflus. I don't know how hiring a defensive minded head coach will lead to improvement by Justin Fields, but these are the Bears. The Niners are in my opinion the sneaky team in the NFC that people are sleeping on. The biggest question for the Niners is how well Trey Lance looks starting ahead of Jimmy G. If Lance looks great, then the Niners would be smart. But the Niners would be wise to remember their recent history. If you remember about a decade ago, I called the Niners tossing aside Alex Smith for Colin Kaepernick a move that the Niners would regret. Well, we all know the story. And before anyone calls this revisionist history due to Kaepernick's kneeling, I didn't like the guy before that controversy started. If Lance fails and Jimmy G goes someplace else and looks really good, then the Niners should fire John Lynch and their entire coaching staff. But thankfully for the Niners and my fantasy team, Lance should win against the Bears. Niners 21, Bears Still Suck 10.

Just a guess -- the Bears are gonna be a dumpster fire this year. I feel bad for Justin Fields, actually. Chicago is a terrible place to be a quarterback. Niners could be offensively challenged to start the year, but I suspect they'll have enough firepower to beat da Bearz. Niners 24, da Bearz 9.

And now, it's time for a Very Special Comment. Before I begin, these are for when I have words for someone, but don't want to derail the main part of the blog post and go off topic. 

You can usually see the wisps of steaming coming out of Benster's ears. It may be a more promising source of power than all those windmills in Charles City, Iowa.

So the big controversy here in Minnesota was how the handshake between the head coaches would go last week. Thankfully, the handshakes didn't turn into a WWE match. 

What surprised me about the pregame coverage is that local media sources were very quick to come to Fleck's defense over the comments that Kill made about his departure from the Gophers and his thoughts on Fleck implementing his Row The Boat Culture. I realize that Fleck has been popular because he has been winning, but these writers should have been honest that Gopher football hasn't been that bad in my lifetime. Sure, you can say that Tim Brewster did a horrible job, but it's not like the Gophers were the dogs of the Big Ten when Fleck took over. Glen Mason did, by and large, a good job in building the Gophers into a well-respected team during his tenure, and Kill and Tracey Claeys did a great job in rebuilding from what Tim Brewster left behind. As I detailed last year, Kill and Claeys did take the program to a level where they won 8-9 games by the end, recruited the "Empire Class" that was so critical to the 2019 team's success, got Athlete's Village built, and took the Gophers pretty damn close to winning the Big Ten West. I have no problem with calling out Kill for his 2019 interview about Fleck if Fleck's tenure has been put under the same microscope. But it hasn't.

Fleck has beaten Wisconsin both at home and away, but he hasn't beaten Iowa. The 2019 Gophers also had close calls against South Dakota State, Fresno State, and Georgia Southern. Even Fleck's signature win against Penn State required the Gophers to withstand a late Nittany Lions rally. I could also point to Fleck committing a needless unsportsmanlike penalty for running onto the field against Iowa, and the Badgers beating the best team the Gophers have had in my lifetime handily in Minnesota in front of a national audience. 

Fleck also makes the Gopher program about himself and his brand. He never talks about the rich tradition that the Gophers have had before him of football excellence. He never mentions Sandy Stephens, Bronko Nagurski, Bernie Bierman, Marion Barber, Tony Dungy, and other legendary Gophers. The official Gopher Football Twitter account has tweeted out a graphic celebrating the Row the Boat culture. Said culture was started at Western Michigan. How come the media in this market never question why Ski-U-Mah turned into Row the Boat? What's wrong with Ski-U-Mah? That's what Kill was upset with. Fleck has taken a football program that has a rich history and was in perfectly good shape and pasted his brand over the brand of the university, all while taking shots at what Kill and Claeys had built. If that happened at Wisconsin, I would call it out. Fleck is your employee who is more focused on building his own brand and vision over the brand of the university and the public. That is a business no-no in just about any other company on the face of the planet.

Look, I don't blame the players or the fans for buying into Fleck. They have good reason to be excited about where the program is. I get that, as a Wisconsin fan, Row the Boat isn't for me. But could the media in this market at least start asking questions about if Fleck cares more about the Gopher football tradition or his own ego? Oh, and if Fleck is reading this and he wants to tell me why I am wrong, I'll meet him in person at a time and place of his choosing. 

C'mon P.J. Pick up the phone. Give Benster a call. I'd pay cash money to see it.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Dobbs

 Dobbs finally arrived:

“The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives,” wrote Justice Samuel Alito for the majority. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”

He was joined in the majority opinion by Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. Justice Roberts filed a separate opinion concurring with the majority.

“With sorrow—for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection—we dissent,” wrote Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan in a joint dissent.

The issue of abortion will now be returned to the individual states to regulate as each sees fit. Dark blue states are expected to impose the most radical pro-abortion policies while dark red states may ban all abortion. Many states may choose to allow abortion only under certain circumstances.

A few thoughts:

• I am Catholic. We walk by faith and reason. Both faith and reason point to why Catholics have always opposed abortion. In that sense, today is a great day.
• Now the battle really begins, and I do not mean the inevitable attacks and violence that will unfold over the coming days. The real battle is to win hearts and minds where possible. As long as Roe existed, all potential discussions about the morality and efficacy of abortion laws were always more theoretical than real, because 7 dudes said so. Now, for good and bad, the people and their elected representatives get to decide the matter.
• The Court's decision is, at bottom, an admission of humility. Roe was always an exercise in raw judicial power, as Byron White said in his dissent nearly 50 years ago. And as is often the case, the best use of power is sometimes to refrain from wielding such power.
• Between this decision and the court's earlier decision this week in the Bruen case, the court has at least started a necessary process of returning to first principles. And if the Court were to continue this process, I'd certainly like them to look at earlier abusive rulings. I'd start with Wickard v. Filburn.

Benster and D Pick Your Games----It's The Super Bowl Edition

 Fun fact, I think that the Super Bowl pregame show has already started. There is way too much of the pregame show. At least have the last hour be just focused on football. 

Especially since there's at least one 15-minute segment dedicated to Stan Kroenke's beauty tips.

Pretty Vacant

Old dude, that's just not right.

Ugly is as ugly does, grasshopper.

What do you expect from the guy who puts the arse in Arsenal? Anyway, it's the first time I can recall a Super Bowl in which the two teams playing both lost to the Packers in the regular season.

That's interesting, but is it relevant?

It's irritating. And it is what it is. Green Bay has nobody to blame but ourselves for this. 

I hope they're not blaming us!

You know what I mean. Anyway, I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.

Los Angeles Rams (-4) vs. Cincinnati Bengals The Rams getting here isn't a big surprise, and they get to have a sort of Hollywood ending if they win, and maybe could win the heart of LA in the same way that the Fakers and Dodgers have. The Bengals on the other hand are a huge surprise. Honestly, it's been the most impressive playoff run since the 2008 Cardinals when you consider that the Bengals were the underdogs in all of their playoff games. I don't want to hear about the Chiefs and Titans choking, the Bengals won those games on their own merits. I don't hate either of these teams, and at least Tom Brady isn't in this game for once. What I think the key is going to be is how the Bengals respond to the crowd noise. Now, I know what you are thinking. You might be saying to yourself that the Rams get outnumbered by the visiting fans a lot. Yes, but this isn't going to be a normal NFL crowd in LA. There are going to be a lot of the corporate types who are just there for the swag, instead of the real fans who actually contribute to the atmosphere. The Bengals are used to playing in front of a more hardcore crowd in these playoffs. Someone is going to end a title drought, and that's at least something positive. Bungals No More 28, Rams 21. 

I would like the Bengals to win, if only to remind people of this guy, an important figure in Bengals and NFL history:

You get both sides of the argument in this video that the NFL apparently won't let us post, but I saw Ken Anderson play and he was one of the best quarterbacks of his era. He should be there. As for tomorrow, it's possible that Joe Burrow is the best quarterback the Bengals have had since Ken Anderson, although Boomer Esiason and Carson Palmer were no slouches, either. The Bengals are built to win and should have a puncher's chance to do it, but I think, overall, the Rams are a better team. And I see Aaron Donald making a huge play late to win the game for the Rams. Rams 34, Bengals 29.

Thanks so much for reading this year, and for all the comments I got. Even those that called me out. Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Yet Another Bicentennial Minute

 Just a guess here....

Video Dilettante, or something less than a Bicentennial Minute

 It's an experiment. And we need to do more than just turn this feature into a tout sheet for the Benster. So here goes. About 1 minute, completely off the cuff, and with only a modicum of stammering:

Benster and D Pick Your Games----We Need To Talk About Saturday Edition

 No, I'm not salty at all about what happened on Saturday. Yes, I'm still here. 

You posed for this, right?

Vintage. That was what you used back in the 1890s, right?

As far as you know.

I will have some words about the Packers, but I have an axe that is being sharpened. I hate to do it, but honesty is the best policy in this case. 

Honesty is tough sometimes. But there's little need for diplomacy at this point. The season is over for the Packers and it wasn't good. So what else?

I am feeling the HYYYPPPEEEEEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work. 

Cincinnati Bungles (+7.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs Needless to say, the Bengals have been the story of the year in the NFL. Zac Taylor took a lot of heat for his performance; it looked like the Bengals might have made a horrible decision to hire him. But it turns out that Joe Burrow can breathe new life into teams named after Tigers in the NFL level as well. Obviously, the Chiefs are probably the favorites now for the Super Bowl, and Arrowhead is rapidly turning into the proving ground for the AFC that Foxboro was for so many years. As much as the Chiefs winning wouldn't be too bad, a Bengals victory would be a real feel good story. I mean, if the Bearcats could get into the playoff, why can't the Bengals reach the Super Bowl? Bengals 28, Chiefs 14.

Why indeed. Cincinnati has been playing very well in the second half of the season and this could be a tremendously entertaining game, as the Chiefs are sporadic in their defensive efforts. The Bengals aren't quite as dynamic as Buffalo, but I see a high-scoring affair coming at Arrowhead. Chiefs 38, Bengals 33.

San Francisco 49ers (+3.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams I'll be fair to the Niners. Even though the Packers had their chances to win, the Niners did enough to win. Soon, this will feel like the 2007 NFC title game. The Niners have gotten this far, and will have to go through a tough opponent to get to the Super Bowl. The biggest challenge that the Niners have is that they will have to beat a good team for the third time in a season. The Rams survived an epic collapse, and major kudos for knocking out Tom Brady and avoiding another Super Bowl where he graces us with his presence. Matthew Stafford is trying to write a Hollywood ending for the Rams, in what might be the most important game the Rams have played in Los Angeles. If the Rams win, then they could make LA take notice of them in a similar way to the Dodgers and the Fakers. I like the Rams in this one, as you wonder how many bullets the Niners used up in JerryWorld and in Lambeau. Rams 45, Niners 18.

For what it's worth, the Niners kinda own the Rams. They've won, what, six in a row? That seventh one will be tough to get, though. I am not convinced that Matthew Stafford is going to do what is needed to win, but he may not have to. Another home game in the Super Bowl, I think. Rams 27, 49ers 24.

And now, it's time for a Very Special Comment. First things first, the Packers defense is excused from what is to follow. They did more than what could have been expected of them, and set the Packers up for success with multiple clutch stops. Only giving up 6 points in situations that they could control is great. But enough nice words, it's time to level some critiques. I take no pleasure in doing this, but I wouldn't be a real fan of this team since 2002 if I wasn't critical. And this is in no particular order. 

Special teams was a complete failure, and Maurice Drayton needs to be fired or leave of his own accord yesterday. Two blocked kicks were inexcusable, and how can you just let guys come up the middle on both of them? Once, I understand. But twice? And on the blocked punt, why didn't anyone cover up the punt? It was too easy for the Niners! All year long, special teams was an issue, but no matter the makeup of the unit it seemed to struggle. The front office needs to go find a great special teams coach, and give said coach all the resources he needs to succeed. 

Aaron, what was that? You played probably the worst game of your career in a game that mattered. Maybe if you stopped spending time with your buddies Pat McAfee and Joe Rogan, you could have played better. If Davante was covered, throw it to someone else. You asked the front office for Randall Cobb, and Cobb was there and healthy. Allen Lazard was on the field. You had options. If you were patient and took what the defense presented you instead of going for the downs, then you would have won. You have been a big distraction all year. I want you back, but you need to learn some humility. I defended you offline, but this is how you repay me? 

Matt LaFleur may be a great coach, but this was ultimately a game that got away from him. This is the first time under his tenure that he was horribly outcoached and failed to provide leadership. After the blocked punt, he should have gathered the team and made it clear that the Packers were still in the game. He also should have told Aaron to not try and win the game by himself, and to be patient. I don't want LaFleur to be fired by any means, and he is probably going to win Coach of the Year. But what he needs to do is to be a leader and proactive. So many times when things go bad, this team goes into the tank. He needed to make adjustments, and get the ball out of Aaron's hands. Hell, he should have gone for it a couple times in the second half. If the special teams is trash, minimize their time on the field! Crap like that is why I got Rocco Baldelli vibes. For those that aren't into baseball, Rocco is the manager of my beloved Minnesota Twins. Rocco seemingly is slow to adjust over the course of the game and not get the bullpen up when a pitcher is struggling. LaFleur needs to learn from this game, or the fanbase will want him gone in a few years. 

You wanna know the worst thing? We might be going into the wilderness again. I wouldn't be surprised if Gutey blows this thing up. All of the past decade has been a waste of talent, just like the Saints and Steelers. We should have made at least two Super Bowls, and won at least one of them. Then, at the very least the pain would have been worth it. I'm not abandoning the team or my fandom. At least the Packers care about winning and have given me fun memories in the playoffs. We will be back if this is indeed the end, and new success will be had. Unlike the Twins, but that's another blog post for another day. 

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games------Packers Are Healthier Edition

We were on assignment last week, so that explains why there were no picks last week. 

Well, I was in St. Louis and apparently there's no football there.

It is arguably the best weekend of football all year. The two best teams in the NFL come out to defend their home fields. 

I am assuming one of them is about 240 miles to the east?

You need to ask? I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.

Cincinnati Bungles (+3.5) vs. Tennessee Titans What a world we live in where the Bengals actually won a playoff game. Fun fact, this is the first time that the Reds or Bengals advanced in a postseason since the Reds won in the 1995 NLDS. The Titans are coming off their bye, and they will end up getting Derrick Henry back for the playoffs. As much as what the Bengals are doing is very impressive, it's hard to look past the Titans. If Henry can shake off the rust, then the Titans should win in a comfortable manner. Titans 38, Bengals 24.

I think the Titans can be had, but they are an exceptionally tough-minded team. They seem to win the games they are supposed to win. This is one of them. Joe Burrow wounds them but does not kill them. Titans 31, Bengals 26.

San Francisco 49ers (+5.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers This is a rematch of the Packers beating the Niners in the Bay Area during Week 3 thanks to Mason Crosby kicking a game winning field goal. The Niners have gotten better since their swoon in November, as they have discovered a winning formula in using Deebo Samuel and getting back to the physicality that led them to a Super Bowl berth two years ago. The Packers have had the bye work to their advantage as a lot of the injuries have healed, meaning that even without MVS being available, this is the healthiest this team has been in months. Even better, the weather forecast is going to be cold, which won't be much fun for Jimmy G and his injured shoulder. I think the two keys are going to be how the Packers contain Deebo Samuel, and how the Packers respond to a Trey Lance package that is similar to what the Niners threw at them in Week 3. I also want to thank the Niners for allowing America to laugh at the Cowboys melting down and causing the bandwagon Cowboys fans to jump off the bandwagon faster than those same fans did with the Golden State Warriors. This won't be easy, but the Packers should win a fairly tight game. Packers 27, Niners 17.

Does this game make me nervous? Sure, but I don't think the 49ers offensive line is nearly as dominant as it was in 2019. Meanwhile, the Packers are substantially stronger than they were in 2019. It's worth remembering that the Packers have won their last two matchups with this opponent and have been able to move the ball effectively. The 49ers will try to play bully ball, but it's not going to be that easy. I think the Packers score early and often and withstand the inevitable comeback. Packers 33, 49ers 24.

Los Angeles Rams (+3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers This is a rematch of a game played earlier in the year in which the Rams comfortably beat the Bucs in LA. In an interest of full disclosure, I didn't watch the Bucs beat the Eagles due to being on assignment, but it looks like I didn't miss much. The Rams had a comfortable win over a Cardinals team that is clearly all sizzle and no steak. Kliff Kingsbury is that guy at your workplace that you wonder what does he actually do to warrant all the praise he gets from the bosses. The Rams can match up well against the Bucs. Look, as much as I think that the Bucs will win, I would love to see Tom Brady not get back to the Super Bowl. And no, it's not because of a certain playoff game last year. Rams 21, Bucs 20.

Tampa Tom is lacking a few weapons this time around. They don't have their pounding running back (Leonard Fournette) and their possession weapon (Chris Godwin). If Jalen Ramsey can handle Mike Evans, the Rams can win this game. While picking Matt Stafford over Tom Brady doesn't seem advisable, I believe the Rams will pull this off. Rams 28, Bucs 24.

Buffalo Bills (+1.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs This is a rematch of last year's AFC title game, in which the Chiefs beat the Bills handily. But the Bills are a better team than they were last year. They took the Patriots to the woodshed last week, and it was more impressive than the Chiefs beating a Steelers team that snookered a playoff spot away from more deserving teams. Even the most delusional of the Yinzers would agree. While it is true that Patrick Mahomes has looked better in recent weeks, the Chiefs have gotten away with some narrow escapes at Arrowhead in the past few postseason games in Kansas City. That changes this weekend. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills 42, It's The Rodgers Rate, Not the Patrick Price 0.

Uh, no. This should be a great game, but there's no way the Buffalo defense shuts out Patrick Mahomes in his building. Up and down the field, all day long. Last team with the ball likely wins. Chiefs 41, Bills 37.

Enjoy your football this week. Ben out.  

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Zimmer's Last Ride? Edition

Old dude, it's quite possible that the Mike Zimmer era could be ending against the Bears at US Bank Stadium on Sunday. But I thought that the Vikings were going to win last week? Even the KFAN approved Vikings hosts like Meatsauce, PA, and Bumper to Bumper told me so. 

What did that damned Benster write about me this week?

Now you're just trolling, Benster. But that's okay. Trolling is fun. And yeah, Zim appears to be dead coach walking now.

You love to see it. You also loved to see the Packers clinch home field a week early. 

It does make things more comfortable. But that's a double-edged sword. The last time the Packers came in feeling fat and sassy, the Saints handed them their asses.

True. But know this much -- I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYPPPEEE! and am ready to talk about some games. It is time to watch me work. 

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+5.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings Remember when Bears fans claimed that the NFC North was run by the Bears? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace should stick in their jobs. I've said it before, they have done a great job running the Bears. As for the Vikings, I'll be talking more about Kirk later, but testing positive wasn't Kirk's fault. All credit to the Vikings fans for being just has hard on Kirk as they were on Aaron earlier in the year. I wouldn't be surprised if both teams go in different directions on Black Monday, but who would be the right people to lead a rebuild? This game is going to be a bit odd. Nobody has anything to play for, and I think it might be slightly more open than most people think. Vikings 26, Bears 23.

It puzzles me a bit, but the Bears seem to be playing better the last few weeks. Maybe the team wants to save Nagy. I agree -- I'm all for it. The Bears haven't had a real GM since Jim Finks and we won't belabor the quarterback jokes. As for the Purple, last week's performance was, well, pathetic. I can't prove the team quit on Zim, but it sure seemed that way. I should pick the Vikings here, but it feels like the Bears are more motivated. Therefore, Bears 24, Vikings 20.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs. Detroit LOLions Meanwhile, the Packers have nothing to play for. It might have been a strange journey, but the Packers have the top seed clinched, and have the luxury of choosing to be careful. I personally would have sat Aaron to give him another week of rest for the toe, but that would have insulted Hub Arkush. When Mike Florio calls you out for hating on Aaron, that is something. I was also glad to see that some of the injuries are starting to heal, and that the Packers have fresh legs. This game has worried me for about a month. On an intellectual level, I see that the LOLions are terrible. But they have clearly fought hard for their coach, and played a lot of teams tough. In Week 2, they gave the Packers a lot of problems in the first half at Lambeau. I think the Packers will win, but it won't be easy, especially when the regulars get their bye week started. Packers 31, LOLions 17.

If you had told me at the beginning of the year that the Lions would look like the second most stable franchise in the division by the end of the year, I wouldn't have believed you. But here we are. The Lions are set up well for success for the first time in, well, 65 years. Extra draft picks and some nice pieces in place; if they don't blow it completely, the Lions could rule the division in a few years. But then again, they are the Lions. Packers 28, Lions 24.

Georgia Bulldogs (-2.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, in Indy Oh great, another SEC vs. SEC title game that nobody asked for. The only redeeming factor to this Big Ten loyalist is that this game will be in Big Ten country, which is something that I have been advocating for years. If college football is to grow and prosper, it's time that the Big Ten get the chance to play games in locations favorable to us and our fans, who have been good soldiers in traveling to SEC, ACC, Big XII, and Pac 12 country for bowl games for years. Georgia laid an egg in Atlanta a month ago, and I'm sure that Kirby Smart has been very clear about reminding the Bulldog players of  that fact. It is hard to beat a good team twice in one season in college football. As much as I want both teams to lose, that isn't possible. If Georgia wins, then at least someone new wins, which could be healthy. If Georgia loses, then at least Bulldogs fans can console themselves with the Braves? Hate Feeds the Dawg 35, Can't Nick Saban Retire Already 34.

I agree -- it's not good for the college game if the SEC keeps dominating, but it's up to the other schools to get better. Georgia looked like a complete juggernaut against Michigan, but they have a mental block where the Tide is concerned. Can they break through? I'd like it, but. . . . Alabama 38, Georgia 29.

It's time for A Very Special Comment, and it's not another rant about why the SEC is evil or why they will rue the day they invited the Longhorns into the league. The Vikings are at a crossroads, and it's clear that Kirk Cousins is at the center of it. Now, I'm not a Vikings fan, and I have no emotional attachment to Kirk. That being said, Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman haven't done a great job in giving Kirk the best chance to win. Zimmer clearly has struggled to keep offensive coordinators, even allowing for losing two to head coaching jobs. John DeFilippo wasn't the right fit, but he was hired in part to improve the offense, and they showed promise. He was right to hand the keys of the offense to Kirk, and to attempt to build an offense around what Kirk does best. Zimmer just wants to run the ball, and as we saw at Lambeau when that fails he is screwed. Also, how come Kirk doesn't have full control of the two minute drill? If Kirk is at the level of an Aaron, Brady, and Mahomes, then he should get more trust in him. Klint Kubiak is a nepotism hire, and the offense is a pale imitation of his dad's. Justin Jefferson might force his way out, as he seems frustrated with the offense at times. 

Rick Spielman has been around since the Triangle of Authority days. While it is true that Spielman has drafted plenty of great players, he hasn't done a good job in getting Kirk the help he needs. Spielman can't draft offensive linemen, and seems to draft a ton of defensive backs in recent years. That is despite defense not being the problem for the Vikings. He also should have told Zimmer in no uncertain terms that Kirk was brought here to get the Vikings over the hump because he thought that Case Keenum couldn't. As much as Vikings fans hate to admit it, the Packers show what can happen when you build around a quarterback when you want to get over the hump. They hired an offensive coach to work with Aaron, got him more weapons on offense, and have improved their relationship with the quarterback since the summer. Why can't the Vikes do the same?

I don't usually say much about your Very Special Comments, but in the case I'd simply observe that Spielman has picked a bajillion defensive backs because that's what his head coach wanted. And I would also add the Packers have spent more draft capital on defensive backs than any other position in recent years, mostly in vain. Having a great quarterback cures many ills and the Packers have had consecutive Hall of Famers. Having grown up with David Whitehurst and the petrified remains of John Hadl, I remain eternally grateful for the efforts of ol' number 4 and Mr. Rodgers.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Badgers Got It Done Edition

 That was a pretty solid win for the Badgers earlier this morning. Thanks for scheduling a game at 9:30 at night local time, ESPN. 

What happens in Vegas should be broadcast very late at night, if at all. But a W is a W.

Oh well, at least it was only one game. The Packers game also got more interesting in the process of writing this post. 

It did, now didn't it? You can't spell COVID without Cousins, apparently.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYPPEEEE, and it is time to watch me work.

Cincinnati Bearcats (+13.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, in JerryWorld The committee did the proper thing and gave the Bearcats a well-earned slot in the playoff. I personally think they should be ranked as the top seed, as they have been the only team in FBS to not slip up in a game. When I saw them against Notre Dame and in the AAC title game against Houston, they really impressed me. Desmond Ridder is a really good quarterback, and they are well-coached. But they are getting no love from the folks in the desert. We all know how good Alabama is, and Nick Saban won't be overlooking Cincy. No matter what happens, this Cincinnati team has changed the narratives in college football surrounding underdogs in a way that no team since Urban Liar's 2004 Utah team with Alex Smith did. Bearcats 35, Tide 34.

I would love to see Cincinnati pull this off, but I don't think they will. Alabama really should join the NFL and be done with it. Tide 42, Bearcats 24.

Georgia Bulldogs (-7.5) vs. Michigan Wolverines, in Miami Oddly, Georgia and Michigan have only met twice. You'd think that they would have played in a bowl game or something, but they haven't crossed paths that much. Georgia is coming off a bad performance in the SEC title game. Now, I don't think Georgia belongs in the playoff. Quite simply, if you aren't the best team in your conference, then you can't be the best team in the country. Nothing against Georgia, but I have to be consistent. Michigan is a team that is peaking at the right time, as their two best performances have been against Iowa and A School In Columbus in their last two games. And don't forget that Georgia does have a tendency to choke in big games, which is damning for Kirby Smart. Michigan 50, Georgia 10.

This game should be quite interesting, actually. Michigan has really surprised me this year; there was no indication coming into this season that they could get so much better. It's worth remembering where the Wolverines were last season:

That 2020 Michigan team was, well, inept. This year, things changed completely. It's been an amazing transformation. Can they beat Georgia? Yes. Will they? Georgia 28, Michigan 23.

Minnesota Vikings (+7) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers I am pretty sure that this line will change, because Kirk did test positive for the virus this morning. This is bad news for the Vikings, as that means that the Packers are going to probably put a bunch of guys in the box to slow down Dalvin. It wasn't a pretty game on Christmas for the Pack, but a win is always appreciated. Unlike the last meeting, this time the Packers will be a lot more healthy. While I do think the Vikings will keep it close as they are fighting for their collective lives, the Packers should pull away late. Packers 31, Vikings 14.

Dalvin is going to see 8 in the box for sure. All day long. Sean Mannion is not going to beat the Packers on a historically cold day in Lambeau. Packers 24, Vikings 10.

Arizona Cardinals (+6) vs. Dallas How Bout Them Cowboahs? Because the Cowboys are the main competition for the Packers in the race for the 1 seed in the NFC, it makes sense to pick this game. Now, I am a huge Cowboys hater. I really dislike Jerry Jones, hate the media cheerleaders like Skip Bayless who always overhype the Cowboys every single year, and find that the Cowboys fanbase has a lot in common with the Lakers fanbase in terms of the number of bandwagon jumpers. At least the Cowboys don't have Lebron, so they don't get the Lebron bandwagon fans. That being said, the Cowboys looked really good against the Gridlocks last week. Arizona is a team that is just tough to figure. They look great for a bit, and then they look just horrible the next week. Maybe call it an overreaction on my part, but after the Packers beat them in Arizona against all odds, how are the Cardinals real contenders? But they have a chance to redeem themselves. Please shut Skip up for a week. That's all I ask. Cardinals 21, The Accident Waiting To Happen 0.

It appears the Cowboys are on the upswing and the Cardinals are collapsing. But the NFL is all about odd narratives, so. . . Cardinals 24, Cowboys 21.

Enjoy the New Year this weekend, and enjoy your football. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Packers 1 Seed Edition?

 Old dude, last week went very well for the Packers. Not only did they become Kings of the North for the 3rd straight year, but the Cardinals and Bucs lost. If they can win their next three in a row, then the road to LA on the NFC side runs through Lambeau. 

It does. Merry Christmas, by the way, to our adoring public!

Indeed. Now, back to the games. Nothing is for certain, as the NFL has been as wide open as I have seen in my two plus decades of watching the league. 

We are close to the NFL's dream of having 20 teams with 7-7 records.

That's about right. I am feeling the HYYYYYPPPEEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl: West Virginia Moutaineers (+4.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat, in Phoenix West Virginia is a team that to be honest, I haven't seen a whole lot this year. After getting off to a slow start, they rallied with a good finish to the season to secure a bowl spot. The Gophers got rewarded for winning the Axe by being put in a worse bowl than the Badgers. The Gophers should win this game, as I don't think West Virginia is as good as they have been in years past. But for the record, I think West Virginia is going to be competitive in the Big XII once the Red River schools leave. Remember, West Virginia had a lot of success in the Big East after the ACC poached Miami, Virginia Tech, and BC from the Big East. Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 35, Country Roads Take Me Home 24.

Haven't seen West Virginia, either. If the Vegas guys think the Gophers are 4.5 better, they probably are. And maybe a little more. Gophers 31, Mountaineers 20.

Las Vegas Bowl: Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-6.5) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils, in Las Vegas Look, we all know that the Axe game was a complete disaster for the Badgers. It's clear that this Badgers team was overrated in the preseason, as much as it pains me to say it. But thankfully, I do think that the Badgers are going to be motivated. Braelon Allen should be healthier, and I feel like Graham Mertz has a point to prove. Arizona State kinda underperformed a bit, as some people thought they could win the Pac 12 South. But Herm Edwards has an important message for the doubters. 

It's obligatory, but it needs to be repeated. Should be a fun night in Las Vegas, and hopefully the Badgers stay away from the Strip. Badgers 28, Firm For Herm 10.

Do you remember this?

I guarantee you the Badgers do. Woe betide the Sun Devils. Badgers 34, Sun Devils 13.

Los Angeles Rams (-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Rams have quietly begun to sneak back into the race for the 1 seed, as they are tied with the Cardinals in the NFC West and only a game behind the Packers. The Vikings have looked a little loose in the turns since they led the Steelers by a score of 29-0, but they got the win in both of their games, and the Vikings defense deserves some credit for how they defended Justin Fields. If the Vikings lose, then a lot of questions are going reappear regarding jobs amongst the coaching staff and executive ranks. Especially because next week the Vikings have to come to Lambeau, where things are looking better now then they did after the first meeting. Rams 42, Vikings 35.

Dalvin Cook is in the protocol. No Dalvin? No chance. Rams 31, Vikings 20.

Cleveland Brownies (+7) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The Packers survived a spirited Baltimore comeback, and thankfully Kenny Clark will be back. The Browns are a bit disorganized. They lost a tough one to the Raiders, while they also lost two days of prep due to their outbreak. While getting a lot of their weapons back is going to help the Browns, it's going to be interesting to see how they play. If you remember, Aaron was rusty against the Seachickens, and I expect Baker Mayfield might be a little off as well on Saturday. Everything is in front of the Packers, and I think they will have a nice win, even if it won't be smooth sailing. Packers 28, Browns 17.

Baker Mayfield is a little off even on his best days. I expect the Browns to attempt to ground and pound the Packers. Kenny Clark will put a stop to that. And then the floodgates open. Packers 35, Browns 20.

Enjoy your Christmas weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games---NFL Is a Dumpster Fire Edition

 Old dude, just when you thought games weren't going to get moved, it turns out that games had to get moved. 

COVID is the gift that keeps on giving.

Meanwhile, the Packers are trying to keep their grip on the top seed in the NFC, and clinch the North. 

How do you keep your grip?

Grab, grab, grab!

Not sure how you keep your grip these days, old dude? Maybe it's Poli-dent? But enough of that. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-6.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens This analysis is going to make the assumption that Lamar isn't going to be able to play because of the ankle sprain he suffered last week against the Browns, and even if he does will be in some discomfort. The Packers are going to need to play a lot better to win, as this is probably the toughest game they have left this year. The special teams need to be better, as it's become clear that Maurice Drayton hasn't matched up to the stellar jobs that Nathanael Hackett and Joe Berry have done with their respective units. I also think the slow start can't be repeated, as the Ravens are more than just Lamar. This isn't going to be an easy game, but I think the Packers can get it done and move on to the next goal. Packers 31, Ravens 20.

The Ravens will be a tough out, but they are decimated defensively, especially in the secondary. I think Davante Adams has a big, big day. Packers 35, Ravens 22.

Minnesota Vikings (-5.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck You remember when Bears fans had hope earlier in the year? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Despite emptying their entire bag of tricks in the first half, they lost again to the Packers. You really hate to see it. The Vikings rode their luck at the end of the game against the Steelers, and although they deserved to win based on the first half, they can't afford to ride their luck like that too many more times. We all know that the Vikings have struggled at Soldier Field over the years, and get ready for the Monday Night Football announcers to mention Kirk Cousins having only 1 victory on Monday Night Football. This is going to be a close game, but I think the Vikings are going to win. Even though I think I speak for most Packers fans in hoping they both find a way to lose. Vikings 21, Da Bearz Still Suck 9.

I was thinking about picking da Bearz, but they have so many COVID cases that they may need to bring in some reinforcements from Fenwick High School. The Vikings stay in the hunt. Vikings 24, da Bearz 13.

And now, it's time for a Very Special Comment. I've always found Urban Meyer to be a coach that leaves toxic messes around when he leaves a team since he left Utah in 2004. Meyer's Gator squads were loaded with talent, but had a lot of players with character issues. Notably, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon James, Cam Newton, Riley Cooper, Janoris Jenkins, Carlos Dunlap, and Chris Rainey all were arrested at various points. By the way, those players were also major contributors to the 2008 Florida team. Ohio State hired Meyer, and he left a huge mess for Ryan Day to clean up in terms of the Zach Smith incident. I wasn't surprised to see him flame out with the Jaguars and leave another trail of destruction. Meyer makes Bobby Petrino look like a great NFL coach. Bobby Petrino quit on the Falcons and couldn't tell them like a man he was leaving to take the Arkansas job. I will always respect Meyer for what he did with the 2004 Utah team, as that was an unthinkable accomplishment at the start of the BCS era. But since then, the trail of destruction Meyer has left should make any team think twice about hiring him. Shad Khan didn't do his due diligence, which is insane to think about for a hire that is this public. Urban Meyer might win at the college level, but he changed since he left Utah, and since the 2004 season has had 3 teams have to deal with turmoil, horrible scandals, and a toxic mess left as Meyer gets out of town and on to the next team dumb enough to hire him. If the Badgers or Packers hire this guy to coach them, then I'll be upset. I'd rather have P..J. Fleck coach the Badgers or Packers, and that's not something I say lightly. 

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Vikings Dodge Massive Bullet Edition

 I gotta tell you, it's a good thing that the locals around here realize that the Vikings rode their luck against the Steelers at the end of the game. 

It's a movie they've seen before. All season long, in fact.

Gotta give the Steelers credit for not quitting. I've seen people blaming Chase Claypool for the celebration, which was boneheaded. But the Steelers have themselves to blame for digging themselves a hole that large.

Yep. Also a trend, from what I've been told.

Now it's time to discuss what is going on with the Packers, plus another game that Packers fans will be watching carefully. I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYPPEEE! and it is time to watch me work. 

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+12.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers The bye arrived at the right time, but the injuries still pile up for the Packers. Losing Cobb is a huge blow, as he has been the second option for Aaron on the money downs. I've got a bad feeling about this. Sure, the Bears are a complete dumpster fire this year, and it's clear that Nagy and Pace are on the hot seat. But what we forget was that back in October that the Bears played the Packers close at Soldier Field. The Packers should win this game, but it is going to be a lot more competitive than people realize. Packers 35, Da Bearz Still Suck 31.

Not sure I agree with that. Da Bearz are still hurting as well. They get Justin Fields back, but he still operates behind a horrible offensive line. The Packers will be rested and motivated. And as a reminder:

Packers 31, Bears 17.

Los Angeles Rams (+2.5) vs. Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals are obviously direct competition to the Packers in terms of the race for the top seed, so it makes sense to pick this game. The Rams don't impress me that much, since it seems that they are too busy chasing names instead of building a team. As for the Cardinals, they haven't collapsed since Rasul Douglas called game back in October. A win for the Rams would be really helpful to the Packers. This is probably asking too much, but I don't trust the Packers winning a second time in the desert. Rams 24, Cardinals 10.

Cardinals are hanging in there for sure. But the Rams gotta have this one. Rams 31, Cardinals 27.

And now for something that is not a Very Special Comment. You might have wondered why I was so interested in the Vikings game. Well, I ended up going to the game with Mom, aka Mrs. D. It was my early birthday gift to her, and we had a fantastic time. The game was one of the best NFL games this year, and had a bit of everything. US Bank Stadium was easy to get to from work, and getting inside the stadium was easy. What really surprised me was that there were thousands of Steelers fans, and that was very impressive by them. You hear a lot about how well Steelers fans travel, but until you see it in person it's hard to comprehend just how well they travel. I was also impressed by the Vikings fans. I give Vikings fans a lot of grief, but they and the Steelers fans were into the game, and the noise level was fantastic. This was a lot less of a corporate type crowd, and that made the game even more fun. The stadium is a lot louder than it is on television. 

I didn't get the best seats in the stadium, but I was able to see the entire field. What I noticed was that the Vikings were a lot more physical in the trenches and really dictated the action for the first half. The crowd also did stay behind the Vikings at the end of the game, which was glad to see. I only heard a little grumbling about Kirk throwing those picks and Greg Joseph missing those two kicks early in the game. The only negative was that it did take some some time to get out of the parking garage after the game, but that was not the fault of the Vikings and a reality of 60,000 fans trying to leave at the same time. 

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Why Is Thursday Night Football Still A Thing Edition

 Old dude, is this week Thanksgiving? So why are the Steelers playing up here against the Vikings on a Thursday instead of a more traditional time slot?

I'll allow the O'Jays to explain:

Dollar bills, y'all.

I know it is money, but this matchup is interesting. 

A couple of teams that are in the hunt, but will those dogs hunt?

I will evaluate that, Geritol Fan! I am feeling the HYYYYYYYPPPEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (+3) vs. Minnesota Vikings This is going to be a game that I will be watching carefully, since a Vikings loss means that there could be a chance for a celebration to the east on Sunday Night Football. Obviously, the Vikings need this one after laying a huge egg against the LOLions. That was inexcusable by the Vikings, and you know things are bad when Vikings approved KFAN hosts like PA, Meatsauce, and Dan Barreiro are mad about the way the Vikings are going to perform. The Steelers got a win they needed against the Ravens when the Ravens went for the win instead of playing for overtime. It's not clear if the Vikes will have a full arsenal of weapons. I think the key is going to be how well the Vikings defend the deep balls that Big Ben is going to throw on occasion. It's beyond obvious that Big Ben is on a serious decline, and he just doesn't throw as deep as he did in the past. Since both teams are desperate, I have to go with the desperate team at home. And this game will be fun to watch for me. Vikings 27, Steelers 24. 

Could be entertaining for sure, as long as you're not interested in style points. No Thielen, no Cook? That's a problem for the locals. Is Mike Tomlin a better coach than Zim? Yeah, I think so. Will the fans be happy or hostile? Steelers 31, Vikings 26.

We will return with our regularly scheduled programming on Friday to talk about what might happen on Sunday Night Football among other things. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----We Need To Talk Edition

 We need to talk about what happened in the Axe game last week, and I have words. But I need to sharpen some things first. Longtime readers of this feature know what is coming up at the end of the post. 

So do longtime contributors. Uh-oh. Are you going to be upsetting Brad again?

Uh, maybe? Even though the Packers are on bye, there still are two games that most of the fanbase are going to care about. 

Wait, we have a fanbase? Cool!

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYPPEEEE! and it is time to watch me work.

Michigan Hail To the Victors (-10.5) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes, in Indy The last time the Wolverines beat A School in Columbus, I was in high school and getting ready to go to Camp Randall for the first time. Hard to believe it was 10 years ago. Michigan looked mighty impressive in doing so, and it was a display of power football that Bo would have been mighty proud of. Iowa may have gotten into this game via the backdoor, but they have nothing to lose. They were the most consistent team in the Big Ten West this year when you look at it objectively. All of the pressure is on Jim Harbaugh to follow up on last week. Michigan should win, but Iowa will hang around for 2-3 quarters. Michigan 31, Iowa 17.

Actually, that sounds about right. Iowa will not be embarrassed, but based on what I've observed this year, I don't think there's much chance Michigan will lose. Michigan 29, Iowa 16.

Georgia Bulldogs (-6.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, in Atlanta In the interest of full disclosure, I haven't seen a single Georgia game all year. But they are the best team in the country. Being the undisputed number 1 in the polls for so long is historically great, and something that lots of the greatest teams in the sport haven't accomplished. But what Georgia hasn't been able to do is beat Alabama under Kirby Smart, and the Bulldogs have struggled in Atlanta. So I would expect what is going to be a very pro Bulldog crowd to be very nervous. A Georgia win would make everything fairly clear-cut in terms of the top 4, and I would imagine that there are a lot of Domers and Cowboys rooting for the Bulldogs. Georgia 35, Alabama 10.

I've seen parts of Georgia games, but I know their calling card is defense. Alabama is a high-scoring team, but they lack the defensive muscle they've had in previous seasons. I also think it's time they don't participate in the playoff, so I want to see Georgia finish them off. I believe they will. Georgia 38, Alabama 23.

Houston Cougars (+10.5) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats This game isn't just the biggest game in the history of both Nipper.t Stadium and the Cincinnati Bearcats. This game is going to impact how teams from outside the Power 5 are going to be viewed going forward. I've been a big believer in Cincinnati since I saw the tail end of their game in South Bend. They are a legit football team, and have earned their ticket to the Big 12. But Houston won't be a pushover. I can clearly see that their fanbase is thinking that everyone expects Cincinnati to roll over them, and they want to spoil the party. Dana Holgerson got pushed out unfairly by West Virginia, which is ironic considering that Houston is also getting into the Big 12. I want Cincinnati to win. It would be best for the sport because if a team is good enough, give them a fair shot. If all of these power programs think they are better than Cincinnati, then why don't they play them and prove it on the field? Cincy 56, Houston 24.

If Cincinnati wins, they deserve a shot in the playoffs. Let's see how they compete. Bearcats 31, Cougars 14.

Minnesota Vikings (-7) vs. Detroit LOLions The Vikings couldn't get it done in the Bay Area, and are now looking at a spell without Dalvin Cook lining up in the backfield. The good news for the Vikings is that they have a pretty soft schedule down the stretch, with their only tough game being the rematch against the Packers in Lambeau. The LOLions are a team that will hang in there, and people forget that the Vikings needed a walk off field goal to win in October up here. I'll say what I said in October. If the Vikings aren't careful, they are walking straight into a trapdoor. LOLions Gonna LOLions 24, Vikings 10.

Uh, no. Vikings 28, Lions 16.

Arizona Cardinals (-7.5) vs. Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck This is going to be one of those games that I really hate. Because the Packers are fighting with the Cardinals for the top seed in the NFC, I'm going to have to root for the Bears. I'm going to be doing this while wearing a hazmat suit with a strong need to take a shower after the game. It's just wrong, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Arizona is a great team, but I wonder if they are mentally strong enough to avoid another collapse. Thankfully the NFC West is a complete dumpster fire behind them, with at best a deeply flawed Rams team the only real competition for Arizona. Da Bearz need to address the offensive line before Justin Fields gets seriously hurt. A win would go a long way to save the jobs of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace. As a Packers fan, I feel those two have done a fantastic job with the Bears, and need to be given extensions. Moving to Arlington Heights changes nothing, and even delusional Bears fans know it deep down. Da Bearz Still Suck 28, Cardinals 19.

Obligatory:

Crown their asses! I miss Denny. We're a long time past all that, but da Bearz still are who we thought they were. Cardinals 33, da Bearz 24.

And now, time for a Very Special Comment. I'm not upset that the Badgers didn't play well enough to win. I'm not upset that the Gophers played Jump Around after the game. As trolling goes, I've seen worse this year. In fact, if one thing didn't happen at the end of the game, I wouldn't even have considered doing this. What really bothered me was P.J. celebrating the replay reversal with a minute left like he had won the Big Ten title. Dude, it was a two score game at that point, and you were going to win anyway. It's like he wants the cameras on his face after every single play. The guy draws attention to himself, and acts like he is the savior of Gophers football. He isn't, and I will explain why. 

Jerry Kill ripped Fleck a new one a couple of years ago in an interview when asked about what he thought about Fleck's work with the Gophers. Jerry Kill did a lot for the Gophers. He and Tracy Claeys lifted the program out of the dumpster fire that Tim Brewster created. The Gophers under Kill and Claeys won 8-9 games, won bowl games, and took the Gophers to a New Years Day Bowl game. Kill also pushed for construction of Athlete's Village, which Fleck gets to sell to recruits. The Gophers have more money coming in under the Big Ten media rights deal, which means that Fleck has more resources to work with. Kill and Claeys also recruited the "Empire Class" of recruits in 2016, who played a major role as upperclassmen in the 2019 team that was so successful. Fleck came in and said that the Gophers were in "Year Zero", and mentioned a need to change the culture. The Gophers finished that year 9-4, with a record of 5-4 in conference play. They also won the Holiday Bowl against a good Washington State team. That's really disrespectful to Jerry Kill, a man who hired Fleck when he was a young coach and helped Fleck get the Western Michigan job. Kill didn't cover himself in glory by taking shots at Fleck's personal life, but still. The Gophers also had a similar level of success under Glen Mason. 

On Wednesday, I took a trip to the Mall of America to hang out. There is a Goldy's Locker Room, which is an official store selling Gophers gear. There was only one shirt that had the Row The Boat Mantra. That's interesting, because the official social media has been pushing the Row The Boat brand hard. On the Gopher YouTube channel, there are videos explaining what Fleck's sayings are, and on the Gopher football Twitter account, there is an image celebrating 7 years of Row The Boat Culture from 2019. That's right, an official Twitter account of a football team celebrating accomplishments that were done at another school. I've never seen a team push the brand of a coach who isn't an elite coach by any stretch and celebrate achievements as much as the Gophers have under Fleck. Have you ever heard Fleck mention any of the past greats of Gopher football or praise the proud tradition the Gophers have? I haven't, and I'm from here. 

Finally, coaches other than Kill have made clear their displeasure with P.J.'s constant references to his culture. Kirk and Brian Ferentz have been vocal about how they feel Fleck uses his tactics. That's damning, because the two of them are pretty calm and collected. When Kirk uses all of his timeouts last year, that's a sign that he doesn't like Fleck. It's been rumored that Jeff Brohm of Purdue doesn't like Fleck, and Scott Frost mentioned his dislike of "sloganeering" at the conference media days last summer. Look, you are going to run into a coach or two who doesn't like you. I've named 5 coaches who don't like Fleck, and this is in a conference where the coaches generally don't call each other out in public. 

So what's my point? My point is that Fleck has been selling his culture, when the culture at Minnesota in my lifetime wasn't broken, and that you can win at Minnesota in football. And I know that the Row The Boat schtick isn't meant for me. I also don't blame the players at Minnesota or the fans for eating it up. They want success, and I'd do the same if I were in their shoes. But I'm not buying what Fleck is selling. When Fleck leaves, the Gophers will have to build their own brand again. Seriously, most outsiders think of Row The Boat when they hear about Gopher football. 

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----We are On Assignment Edition

We are on assignment this weekend, and won't have a ton of time to have this be up to our normal standards. 

We have no time, dude.

It is time to watch me work.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-7) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat Should be a physical game, but even with this game up here, Badgers should win because of their defense having a point to prove. Badgers 28, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 14.

Sounds good. Badgers 27, Gophers 10.

A School In Columbus (-8.5) vs. Michigan Hail To The Victors This game should be close, but unfortunately won't go the way my heart wants it to go. Buckeyes 16, Wolverines 13.

Screw both these teams. Ohio State 31, Michigan 19.

Los Angeles Rams (-1) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers Need to block Aaron Donald somehow, but Lambeau should be the equalizer despite Stafford having cold weather experience. The bye week is coming at the right time. Packers 42, Rams 17.

It will be much closer than that. Packers 24, Rams 21.

Minnesota Vikings (+3) vs. San Francisco 49ers Vikings need to block well against the Niner pass rush, and hopefully what happened on Wednesday gets resolved as best as it can. Niners 21, Vikings 0.

Vikings don't need distractions. They are a distraction most weeks. Niners 24, Vikings 13.

Enjoy your football this week. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Can't Celebrate Yet Edition

I laughed out loud when I saw that Cheat Carroll blamed the officiating for his team losing to the Packers. He doesn't appreciate the irony in that statement. Sure, the refs are to blame for your offense getting shut out. I've got some great oceanside property in Oklahoma to sell you as well.

He's a beauty. And in the rearview mirror

We move on. The Packers are up here to face off against the Vikings, and the Badgers are looking to take the next step towards getting to Indy. 

It's not a long drive, but it's a very long way.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYPPPEEEEE!, and it is time to watch me work.

Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat (-7) vs. Indiana Wants Me, Lord I Can't Go Back There P.J. Fleck has some explaining to do after what happened in Iowa City. Iowa tried to hand the Gophers the game, but the Gophers couldn't take it, and all of a sudden the natives are a bit restless around here. I was told two years ago that the Gophers had turned the corner after that Penn State game, but now it seems like some people are getting off of the rowboat. Indiana has just been a complete dumpster fire all year, and they are probably the worst team in the Big Ten this year. It's really surprising considering they are the defending Big Ten East champions. That's not a typo, by the way. Indiana won that division fair and square before Kevin Warren changed the rules at the last minute to benefit the Buckeyes. Decisions like that is why I want the league to bring in a better commissioner. The Gophers won't be looking ahead to the Axe game by any means, and they should avoid a trap game. Or will they? Indiana Wants Me, Lord I Can't Go Back There 27, Row Row Row Your Boat Elitely 9.

Well, if you're gonna quote it, ya gotta play it:

Lord, we can't go back there. But Indiana is back to playing bad football. Gophers are streaky, but they should have enough muscle to win this game. Gophers 27, Indiana 19.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (+9.5) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers Last week was easier than expected against the Purple Nerds, which I can appreciate, especially not seeing them again for a while. Bucky looks like they are peaking at the right time of the year, and it's clear that whatever issues existed in the early part of the year have largely been figured out. But this won't be an easy game on Senior Day. Nebraska has been very competitive in a lot of their games. I know that the Big Tuna said that you are what your record says you are, but Nebraska is better than their record indicates. But thankfully the Badgers can ride a dominant defense and a more confident Graham Mertz to a victory. I also want to apologize to Mertz. I was very critical about him and advocated for a change, but he's made me eat my words. Badgers 31, Tom Osborne Ain't Walking Through That Door 14.

It definitely helps to play Rutgers and Northwestern instead of Notre Dame and Michigan. Having said that, the Cornhuskers are talented. But they tend to be dumb in key moments and Adrian Martinez is the football equivalent of former Cub great Shawon Dunston, an eternal rookie doomed to making the same mistakes over and over and over again. And he'll do it again on Saturday. Badgers 28, Nebraska 13.

Michigan State Sparty The Spartans (+18.5) vs. A School In Columbus Ohio State is another team that has improved since earlier in the year, and C.J. Stroud has largely quieted a lot of the critics. This won't be an easy game in the Horseshoe. Mel Tucker was a surprising hire to replace Mark Dantonio, but he has made them a contender again. The temptation for the Buckeyes is to look ahead to The Game next week, but they won't overlook the Spartans. I think Ohio State will win, but it won't be smooth sailing. #NotMy2020BigTenChampions 38, Sparty 34.

Sparty has been a nice story this season, but I'm not convinced they are a good team. Ohio State, on the other hand, is. Ohio State 38, Michigan State 21.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-1.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Packers really had a statement win last week. I know that Russ was clearly rusty and you can argue that he came back too soon. But shutting down Metcalf and Lockett to that degree was very impressive. What Joe Barry has done with the injury challenges he's had to work with has made people like me who were confused about his hiring have to eat major crow. The Vikings are also coming off an impressive win after what happened to the team last week. I'll be honest with you, this game is going to played on November 21. I would dearly love to have the Packers win as a birthday present on Sunday. Don't screw this up, Packers. This is going to be a close game, but one that I feel like the Packers can win. That's including that the Vikings are a textbook case of the desperate team at home. By the way, I'm still not going to discuss any of Aaron Rodgers and his comments regarding the vaccine and his decision to immunize himself. Packers 24, Vikings 19.

Can the Packers make Kirk Cousins panic? That's the key. The defense will do what it can to slow down Dalvin Cook, who has done some very nice Chuck Foreman imitations over the last few seasons, but if you work too hard to stop Cook, that sets up the Viking receivers. It all depends on the offensive line. I think the Packers win, but it's going to be a nailbiter. Packers 26, Vikings 24.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.