Week 9: Bears -3 at 'Manders
What does it say about the present-day NFL that the first two picks in this year's draft are plug and play QBs for insta-contenders? Yes we're in Washington this week where the 4 - 2 Bears take on the 5 - 2 'Manders.
Here are the college lines and the NFL lines for this week, and Thursday's lines posted below for posterity. Wishing a safe and happy Halloweekend of football voting to all.
Rams for the Thursday single
ReplyDeleteIndiana
DeleteToledo
Okay, I’m essaying the Hoosiers, who are basking in the glow of College Gameday as we speak. They’re 6-1 ATS and a legit team in the Big Ten. There has been a notable travel penalty in the Big Ten this year for the eastern schools going to the Pacific Coast and vice versa. Washington giving up 40 in Iowa City to a program that doesn’t typically get to 40 in a guarantee game is a prime example of this phenomenon. IU just pasted a Nebraska program who had some early season “back” rumors 56-7. 5.5 is a very makeable number for this IU team having a dream season and I like them for triple biscuits.
DeleteMy Manders
DeleteTitans
Steelers
Deletencaa 10/25
ReplyDeletelouisville
boise
usc
hometeam
texans -5
Deletejets -7 (essay)
bears -3 all play
this spread feels like a big number, but the jets are 0-2 since aaron rodgers got hc saleh fired. he owes a pay day. though rodgers has some nagging injuries his start this season is poor. he has 7 INTs in 7 games and hasn't had 300 passing yards since he joined the jets. there's no excuse. jets wr wilson is 3rd overall in the nfl and has 27 catches for 1st down. in addition rodgers now has devante adams. adams also disappointed in his nyj debut last week. this is week the jets go off. though the jets were the pats' b*%ch in a past life, the happy times are over for ne. rookie drake maye is admittedly impressive but with a novice coaching staff, half the starters either on parole or on the commissioners list or publicly insulting each other on sports talk radio maye needs and deserves better. .
I'll run with the Rebs tonight -4 over Boise for a single
ReplyDeleteSorry Rebs are PLUS 4
DeleteFor the vote of the week we'll go with Bowling Green +2.5 over Toledo in the Battle of I-75. Throw the records out for this rivalry game, folks. Toledo has a question mark at QB today, BG has the best player in the game (and one of the best in college football) in Canton McKinley product Harold Fannin, and I've got personal reasons to believe BG is the more worthy institution in this matchup. Even apart from the fact that Toledo's leaders haven't rejected the absurd proposition that they join the Mountain West.
DeleteAlso backing Illinois +21.5 v. Oregon
Oh heck I'll join the Sparty party as well +4
DeleteBears and Ravens to round out my slate thx
DeleteEastern Michigan -2.5
ReplyDeleteIndiana -5.5
Jacksonville +4
Seattle +3
AP - Washington +3
Essay - Atlanta -2.5
I don't have any data to back up my pick. Other than the Bucs have a bad defense, bad running game and now they're missing their top two WR's, including Mike Evans - the man that makes QB's careers. I'm ambivalent on Baker (not a hater), but he's going to struggle without the future Hall of Famer. As for Atlanta, they can run the ball and put up some points. Also, there has to be some Raheem Morris resentment towards his old team, so I have to think Atlanta rallies behind the best coaching hire of 2024.
Essay: Central Florida. BYU needed a series of massive breaks to beat feeble Ok St last week and really doesn't have the feel of a true undefeated team. UCF found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and is reeling. This is a get right spot, however, and a decent spot for UCF's run focused attack which should fare well against this Cougars defense.
ReplyDeleteOtherse:
Dolphins
Texas A&M
Cincinnati Bearcats
Kansas Jayhawks
All play: Commanders
1. Indiana -5.5 v. Washington
ReplyDelete2. Toledo-2.5 v. Toledo
3. Colorado -6.5 v. Cincinnati
4. Browns +8 v. Ravens
AP. Commanders +3 v. Bears
E. Steelers -6 v. Giants
Steelers are my essay for the 3rd straight week. Pittsburgh with a kickoff under the lights, they have magical powers. Moonwalk Wilson is somehow effective. Giants offense has no change against that defense. As limited as this Steelers team is, they get the most out of their roster every year. This year might be best example.
DeleteMichigan State (+4) over Michigan
ReplyDeleteEagles (+2.5) over Bengals
DeleteBoom: There is, uh, an unfamiliar scent in the NFL Primetime studio this week. You all know my fondness for Jacksonville's waterways and oceans, the lovely golf courses, and the smell of coffee in the air near the stadium. Well, this week, I detect the scent of cheese curds hailing from The Bay of Stinking Waters.
DeleteTJ: You mean Green Bay?
Boom: Packers fans are everywhere, Tom. This house needs a sage cleansing.
TJ: Considering how few biscuits we've earned the last five weeks, we could use it, too.
Michigan State (+4) over Michigan
Eagles (+2.5) over Bengals
Chargers (-7) over Saints
Chiefs (-9.5) over Raiders
Steelers (-6) over Giants
ALL PLAY & ESSAY: Commies (+3) over Bears
TJ: I have some good news, Boom. Jayden Daniels is active.
Boom: In the words of Tom Coughlin, "I suggest we adopt the term 'grit'" to describe "Iron" Jayden Daniels. And you know he wants to prove he should have been number one overall in the draft.
TJ: I know I would. This line is giving the Commies points because the lack of practice brought great uncertainty. But Daniels coming back can inspire a team, Willis Reed style.
Boom: Whatchu talking 'bout, Willis?
TJ: You know exactly what I'm talking about. And you can bet many others are laying biscuits on the line for the Commies, so we need to double down with a Play Of The Week.
Boom: Our lovely audience may smell a Play Of The Year, but we'll let that stew in our kitchen for another week.
Michigan -4 over MSU
ReplyDeleteLSU +1 over Texas A&M
Falcons -2.5 over Bucs
DeleteGiants +6 over Steelers
Bengals -2.5 over Eagles
Commanders +3 over Bears
DeleteIf Jayden Daniels wasn't on the injury report, this line would be at least Commanders -3. He may well end up playing—his prognosis looked worse earlier in the week (when this line was locked) than it appears now—and even if he doesn't, Washington didn't miss a beat with Mariota last week. Yes, I know they were playing the Panthers, but the Bears' wins haven't exactly come against a murderers' row either. After a slow start to the season, Caleb Williams has been feasting on some of the worst teams in the league, and now everyone is high on him. But I think Jayden is the better QB (at least for this year), and the Commanders are the better team. They'll show it today, regardless of who starts at QB for them.
1. AP: Washington
ReplyDelete2. Oregon
3. MSU
4.
5.
6.
4. Essay Browns
Delete5. bills
6. Falcons
I like this spot for the Browns. Ravens are back to back on the road and on a short week. I like a home dog of over a touchdown in that position. Hopefully Jameis isn't awful and cant put up some points through the air. This is where the ravens D is vulnerable. Im sure Ill regret my decision at about 1:15 but we are gonna go with the home team in a nice spot.
Indiana-5.5 to Washington
ReplyDeleteBYU +2.5 to UCF
Illinois +21.5 to Oregon
Bengals -2.5 to Eagles
DeleteAll play: Bears -3 to Commanders
Essay: Bills -3 to Seahawks
Essay: Bills
DeleteThey are playing well on the road
They play exceptionally well against the NFC
and they absolutely dominate against vulnerable defenses
High scoring
Bills win
Washington Huskies 5.5 over Indiana
ReplyDeleteWashington L
DeleteBears over Commanders
Broncos -11 over Panthers
Bengals -3 over Philly
Bills -3 over Seattle
Essay: Browns +8 over Ravens
Enter Jameis Winston, exit the worst quarterback in the NFL. Baltimore coming off a short week in back to back road games. Browns will play with pride on both sides of the ball and at least keep this close against a very injured Ravens secondary.
1(loss) shsu -6 at fiu
ReplyDeleteub +6 at ohio
2 navy +13.5 vs nd
iu -5.5 vs uw
toledo -2.5 vs bgsu
byu +2.5 at ucf
emu -2.5 at akron
uconn -7 vs rice
3 mizzou +17 at bama
4 ill +21.5 at oregon
5 vandy +17.5 vs texas
ravens -8 at browns
texans -5 vs colts
cards +4.5 at fins
6***AP commanders +3 vs bears
cant remember vegas offering more dares for us to hop on [maybe] overrated top 25 teams than this week but i'm willing to own my squaredom and let it roll with navy mizzou illinois and vandy. eff it, they're smarter than me, why fight it? but only at a price of one biscuit each.
so that leaves the all-play which i also will not overthink: i saw the commanders against the browns and i was REALLY impressed. daniels has been great but i think the story is the effect great (or good) qb play with smart offensive gameplanning and execution has on every other aspect of the team. austin ekeler is a menace. this is probably terry mclaurin's last year as the most unknown top tier in the league. bobby wagner is all you want in a inspirational defense captain. if jayden daniels is rookie of the year, then kliff kingsbury is coach of the year and yeah that includes over dan quinn. this game will good be a test of kingsbury's game planning, i think he'll manage it, and besides i don't think the dc fans will let them lose even if they try to.
Navy +13.5 over Notre Dame
ReplyDeleteMizzou +17 over Alabama
Penn St -6.5 over Wisky
MSU +4 over Michigan - Essay (POTY)
Lions -11.5 over Titans
DeleteCommanders +3 over Bears
Was already feeling the Spartans POTY pick when I saw the Wolvie faithful were betting this line into absurdity, and then Michigan announced Davis Warren is starting and Will Johnson is out. Jonathan Smith is a professional ball coach that has the Spartans improving every week and coming off a huge win against Iowa. Sherrone Moore is a bum who just got spanked by Bert in the Illini so he's making another panic switch at QB. Hope you losers enjoyed cheating your way to that natty.
DeleteSanford +3
ReplyDeleteBowling Green +2.5
AP: Da Bears -3
ReplyDeleteUTSA -9
Vandy +17.5
Duke +11
Patriots +7 (Essay)
Steelers -6
Yup, the annual free fall is hitting just in time (both in this and in fantasy football, this year I was tricked into joining two leagues), aligned with peak fall foliage and the crossover of Oktoberfest beers and pumpkin ales. I’ll be at Lowe’s tomorrow frantically checking my phone for updates. Or not, since I’m not wagering the mortgage and all contests are just friendly fun festivals of mirth.
This week I’m going against both NY professional football franchises, with an anti-Jets essay pick. The Jets are just not good on the field and from an organizational standpoint. Despite this their passing stats are ok compared to the rest of the league, until Aaron Rodgers finds a way to throw an INT or fumble just in time to stop a drive. The Pats organization is not afraid to move on from players or coaches when their special sauce recipe doesn’t work anymore. I’d much rather be a Pats fan than a Jets fan, because there’s hope for better days ahead. In a battle of equally inept teams I’m going with the one with the TD handicap.
Illinois over Oregon
ReplyDeleteCardinals +4.5 vs Dolphins
DeleteJets -7 vs Pats
Bengals -2.5 vs Eagles
Commanders +3 vs bears AP
Lions -11.5 vs Titans EP
Titans just traded deandre hopkins. They play hard, but many of the titans players, fans, and coaches much be slowing staring into the abyss of realizing your owner has no idea what they are doing. Maybe the Callahan coaching tree family can figure this out over time but there just isn't much to be excited about for the Titans. Dan Campbell and Jared goff form a dominant force, and as long as Jared gets to play in domes, he's a very good quarterback. Nice home game for the lions and I'll take them in a blowout.
Duke vs SMU for a biblical battle tonight. Hopefully it will only involve football and we won’t see a dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and a crown on each head. The last time SMU and Duke went head to head was 68 years ago with Duke being the victor. I love that the Methodists have a mascot, Peruna, named after a high alcohol content prohibition era “tonic”. Nothing fits college kids better than hiding drinking. Anyway, the Mustangs are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games in October, which seems as good a reason to bet on Duke +11 as there ever was.
ReplyDeleteCincinnati +6.5
ReplyDeleteA flyer on WSU -14.5 over SDSU
ReplyDeleteChalk:
DeleteRavens -8 over Browns
Lions -11.5 over Titans
Packers -4 over Jaguars
Bills -3 over Seahawks
Essay/All Play Commanders +3 over Bears -- too late to essay the 1 PM games, not quite late enough that Jayden Daniels has had his status confirmed, basically concur with everyone else that this line is a gimme if he's playing and not significantly compromised by the rib injury. I can't remember a time when the Washington franchise was this fun to watch, and rooting against ex-USC quarterbacks comes naturally to me anyhow, so I might as well make this the three biscuit play.
Bears
ReplyDeleteWednesday night essay
ReplyDeleteAccording the to the internet, Kennesaw State University one of Georgia's most innovative institutions in teaching and learning, and apparently they also have an FBS football team. Scrappy the owl is their mascot and according to Wikipedia they are already scheduled to play Georgia Southern in football in 2032. I was watching a game recently (different school) and they described their quarterback as a 7th year senior so it’s possible some upcoming freshman have something similar to look forward to. I also took 7 years to graduate undergrad and who’s to say it wasn’t just to maintain my eligibility to play college football. Anyway what is exciting about this matchup is Kennesaw fresh off a win over liberty despite being 27+ point underdogs. They are up against Western Kentucky who has a 6 game cover streak and is getting 80% of the voting money as of late Tuesday night. Kennesaw state +24
jax st +2.5 at liberty for one biscuit mainly because i'm tuning in to see how luke kuechly does in the booth. i bet he's good.
ReplyDelete