Are You Ready For Some Thursday Night Non-Power 5 Football!?

Crappy week last week.  Let's have a short memory!  Love the board this week.  I feel a 5-0 coming on.

Here are your 2016 NCAA Week 9/NFL Week 8 Picks!  Oct 25 - Oct 31 WINNERS! (cue Trombone Shorty music)

App. State @ Georgia So. +4.5 LOSS

San Diego State @ Utah St. +6 LOSS

Army +7 @ Wake Forest WIN

Tennessee @ South Carolina +13.5 WIN

NYJ @ CLE +3 PUSH

Here's what last week looked like:

• Oregon +3 @ California PUSH 49 - 52 (2OT) (Margin +3)  Losing entire game until first OT, the Ducks were in the driver's seat after scoring a TD and then forcing a FG in 2OT.  Then the rookie QB threw an INT on the 2nd play.  Push is a win!


• East Carolina +2.5 @ Cincinnati LOSS 19 - 31 (Margin +12)  Screw the Pirates.


• Wyoming @ Nevada +6 LOSS 42 - 34 (Margin +8)  Probably just missed winning this game multiple times, but I don't know as I didn't watch.


• BUF @ MIA +3 WIN 25 - 28 (Margin -3)  Despite being one of the hottest teams in the NFL, Buffalo was only favored by 3 against a pretty dismal Miami team.  That is a stinker just like last week vs the Steelers.  Jay Ajayai puts the team on his back for the second straight week and gets me my second straight Miami winner.


• TB @ SF +1 LOSS 34 - 17 (Margin +17)  Whatever.  49ers were up 14-0 about 10 seconds into the game and then only managed 3 points for the rest.  Throw some more INTs, America Hater.

Here is a breakdown of the season as of right meow.

NCAA Week 8/NFL Week 7 Record: 1-3-1

Overall 2016 Football Season Record: 22-16-2 (57.8 %)

NCAAF 2016 Record (8 weeks) 15-12-2

NFL 2016 Record (7 weeks):  7-4-0

Overall 2016 football picks that were underdog outright wins:  15 of 40 (37.5 %)

Point Differential by week:

NCAA Week 1:  +13.5 with spread.  +50 straight up.
NCAA Week 2:  -51.5 with spread.  +24 straight up.
NCAA Week 3:  +95 with spread.  +116 straight up.
NCAA Week 4:  -59 with spread.  -30 straight up.
NCAA Week 5:  +13.5 with spread.  +31 straight up.
NCAA Week 6:  -74 with spread.  -35 straight up.
NCAA Week 7:  -26 with spread.  +20 straight up.
NCAA Week 8:  +21.5 with spread.  +37 straight up.

Total point margin including spread:  -67  (-8.4/week)
Total point margin straight up:  +213 (+26.6/week vs +34.9/week spread)

If You Ain't A Gator, You're Gator Bait!

Not a bad 3-2 record for last week.  Should have been a 4-1 record, but Nebraska failed to choke like they have in the post-Osborne era.  The Gators defense covered the spread (the offense still isn't 13.5 points better than anybody).  Guess I was Gator bait.

Here are your 2016 NCAA Week 8/NFL Week 7 Picks!  Oct 18 - Oct 24 WINNERS! (cue Trombone Shorty music)

Oregon +3 @ California  PUSH (2OT)

East Carolina +2.5 @ Cincinnati  LOSS

Wyoming @ Nevada +6  LOSS

BUF @ MIA +3  WIN

TB @ SF +1  LOSS

Here's what last week looked like:

• Nebraska @ Indiana +3.5 LOSS 27 - 22 (Margin +5)  Huskers added a FG with 48 seconds left after a long clock killing drive.


• Vanderbilt +14 @ Georgia WIN 17 - 16 (Margin -1)  Despite giving up 421 yards of offense and only gaining 171 yards of total offense, Vandy keeps it close and squeaks out a win.  Scored points on 3 "drives" by way of a long kick return and penalty, a shanked punt, and two long pass plays.


• Missouri +13.5 @ Florida LOSS 14 - 40 (Margin +26)  Fluke game.  After a 0-0 first quarter, Mizzou's QB decided to throw 2 scores for the Gators.  Despite the 2 INT returns for TDs, the Tigers were only one score away from a back door cover with 1:23 to play.  Then Florida ran back the onside kick for good measure.


• Utah @ Oregon St. +7.5 WIN 19 - 14 (Margin +5)  Defensive battle.  Despite missing a FG in the 4th quarter and going down two scores with 3:25 to play, the Beavers drive to score a TD to get within 5.  Utah DOESN'T return the onside kick and the Beavers even get the ball back for a chance at a miracle comeback.  At least they didn't throw a pick-six from deep in their own territory.


• PIT @ MIA +7.5 WIN 15 - 30 (Margin -15)  The NFL is strange sometimes.  How can the Steelers not move the ball against Miami?  I know Big Ben went out, but he came back after one drive!

Here is a breakdown of the season as of right meow.

NCAA Week 7/NFL Week 6 Record: 3-2-0

Overall 2016 Football Season Record: 21-13-1 (61.7 %)

NCAAF 2016 Record (7 weeks) 15-10-1

NFL 2016 Record (6 weeks):  6-3-0

Overall 2016 football picks that were underdog outright wins:  14 of 35 (40 %)

Point Differential by week:

NCAA Week 1:  +13.5 with spread.  +50 straight up.
NCAA Week 2:  -51.5 with spread.  +24 straight up.
NCAA Week 3:  +95 with spread.  +116 straight up.
NCAA Week 4:  -59 with spread.  -30 straight up.
NCAA Week 5:  +13.5 with spread.  +31 straight up.
NCAA Week 6:  -74 with spread.  -35 straight up.
NCAA Week 7:  -26 with spread.  +20 straight up.

Total point margin including spread:  -88.5  (-12.6/week)
Total point margin straight up:  +176 (+25.1/week vs +37.7/week spread)

I Want People That Wanna WIN!

Well as we move into the 7th week of 2016 football action, things are looking good.  The system is doing it's thing.  I'd like to say I'm much better at identifying games that fit the system.  Not as much research or effort.  I have spotted quite a few before the lines even moved or the ones that were likely not to move.  Usually the action from the sharps comes early (if the value is there) and the line jumps a point one way or the other and then you know based on which way it goes, if it's going to be a good pick almost immediately.  If there is a bunch of action on one side and zero line movement that is also a big indicator.  Washington St. at Stanford was a pretty good one last week, but I didn't pull the trigger.  The line moved so much so early and fast (-12 to -7), that I decided to stay away.  Stanford then took one of the biggest ass beatings that a "ranked" team has taken in recent memory.

Who knows, maybe I'm just getting lucky.  I don't want to win 'em all and I'll take 62% if I can get it.  Let's see if we can keep the train running on the same tracks.

Here are your 2016 NCAA Week 7/NFL Week 6 Picks!  Oct 11 - Oct 17 WINNERS! (cue Trombone Shorty music)

Nebraska @ Indiana +3.5 LOSS

Vanderbilt +14 @ Georgia WIN

Missouri +13.5 @ Florida (The Gators aren't 13.5 points better than anybody)  LOSS

Utah @ Oregon St. +7.5  WIN

PIT @ MIA +7.5 WIN

Here's what last week looked like:

• Cincinnati @ UConn +3 WIN 9 - 20 (Margin -11)  High percentage of ATS bets put on Cincy (at least >60% I believe), yet the the line didn't move from +3 all week.  Good indicator of sharp money on UConn.  They pull off an outright win.


• Houston @ Navy +17.5 WIN 40 - 46 (Margin -6)  Even more of a high percentage on Houston compared to Cincy.  I believe this was nearly 90% of the ATS bets.  Line barely waivered from +17 to +17.5.  Navy pulls off a pretty big upset.


• Va. Tech +1.5 @ North Carolina WIN 34 - 3 (Margin -31)  Huge line movement on this game towards Va. Tech.  Started somewhere near UNC -3 and dropped to -1.5 despite most of the action on UNC.  Friday night to Saturday morning before kickoff, Va Tech was favored by 2.  That is major line movement.  Turns out the line didn't matter at all, as long as you were on the right side, which was the Hokies all the week long.


• New England @ Cleveland +12 LOSS 33 - 13 (Margin +20)  Game went downhill after Kessler through the ball backwards into his end zone (for a safety) AND got injured enough to be removed from the game.  I still stand behind this one, a bit of bad luck.  I'd rather be good than lucky.  I'll take luck when it comes, but nobody can be lucky all the time.  Take away the stupidity play that cost them a safety and we're one garbage TD from a winner or if they kick the PAT early in the 4th quarter, we're one score away from a push (with a 4/5th string QB depending on what you call the Pryor Sr./Whitehurst combo).


• Atlanta +5 @ Denver WIN 23 - 16 (Margin -7)  Falcons led from start to finish.  This line dropped from 5.5 or 6 to around 3 or 3.5 by game time.

Here is a breakdown of the season as of right meow.

NCAA Week 6/NFL Week 5 Record: 4-1-0

Overall 2016 Football Season Record: 18-11-1 (62.1 %)

NCAAF 2016 Record (6 weeks) 13-8-1

NFL 2016 Record (5 weeks):  5-3-0

Overall 2016 football picks that were underdog outright wins:  12 of 30 (40 %)

Point Differential by week:

NCAA Week 1:  +13.5 with spread.  +50 straight up.
NCAA Week 2:  -51.5 with spread.  +24 straight up.
NCAA Week 3:  +95 with spread.  +116 straight up.
NCAA Week 4:  -59 with spread.  -30 straight up.
NCAA Week 5:  +13.5 with spread.  +31 straight up.
NCAA Week 6:  -74 with spread.  -35 straight up.

Total point margin including spread:  -62.5  (-10.4/week)
Total point margin straight up:  +156 (+26/week vs +36.4/week spread)

Tennessee Is Luckier Than Auburn's 2013 Squad

That duck came up with another miracle comeback after Georgia had them on the ropes.  Maybe that is putting it lightly.  Georgia takes the lead with 10 seconds left and somehow loses.  Remember when Auburn had that ridiculous stretch of games back in 2013.  There was a tipped ball that fell right into the receivers hands.  Then ran back the ill-advised FG attempt in the Iron Bowl to win the SEC West.  Then won the SEC champ game only to get hosed by a weak PI call in the Natty Title game.  Maybe they weren't that lucky on that one.

Hopefully got some winners down there.  I think they look good.  5 dimes has Cleveland catching 12. Everyone else has 10.5.  Take the best line you can get.

Here are your 2016 NCAA Week 6/NFL Week 5 Picks!  Oct 4 - Oct 10 WINNERS! (cue Trombone Shorty music)

Cincinnati @ UConn +3 WIN

Houston @ Navy +17.5 WIN

Va. Tech +1.5 @ North Carolina WIN

New England @ Cleveland +12 LOSS

Atlanta +5 @ Denver WIN

Here's what last week looked like:

• Ohio @ Miami (Ohio) +3 LOSS 17 - 7 (Margin +10) Defensive TD for Ohio with 1:30 left in the game.  Miami lost their starting QB during the game also.  A little bit unlucky here.


• Michigan State @ Indiana +6.5 WIN 21 - 24 OT (Margin -3) Sparty almost spoiled this game by tying the game up with another last second TD.  But then Indiana won because they are better and Sparty is a big pretender this year.


• DET @ CHI +3 WIN 14 - 17 (Margin -3)  Bears get their first win against a crappy Lions team in the NFC North's "Battle for the Basement."


• DEN @ TB +3 LOSS 27 - 7 (Margin +20)  The Bucs couldn't even stop Paxton Lynch from scoring TDs.  Still can't figure how they were only getting 3 points.


• DAL @ SF +2 LOSS 24 - 17 (Margin +7)  Is Dak ever going to turn the ball over?  That would have been nice in this game.

Here is a breakdown of the season as of right meow.

NCAA Week 5/NFL Week 4 Record: 2-3-0

Overall 2016 Football Season Record: 14-10-1 (58.3 %)

NCAAF 2016 Record (5 weeks) 10-8-1

NFL 2016 Record (4 weeks):  4-2-0

Overall 2016 football picks that were underdog outright wins:  8 of 25 (32 %)

Point Differential by week:

NCAA Week 1:  +13.5 with spread.  +50 straight up.
NCAA Week 2:  -51.5 with spread.  +24 straight up.
NCAA Week 3:  +95 with spread.  +116 straight up.
NCAA Week 4:  -59 with spread.  -30 straight up.
NCAA Week 5:  +13.5 with spread.  +31 straight up.

Total point margin including spread:  +11.5  (+2.3/week)
Total point margin straight up:  +191 (+38.2/week vs +35.9/week spread)

That's One Strong Duck

As it turns out, a Duck can pull a Truck.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, it is referring to the comments a Florida player made prior to their game against Tennessee.  Something about Florida being the Truck and Tennessee being the Duck and that the Gators were a sure thing to win.  Despite the post title, I didn't make my pick based on some dumb kid's funny comment.  The numbers were there and the Gators held a 21-3 lead at half.  The Duck took some insta-roid/HGH/speed/cocaine mix at half time and came out to pull that Truck anywhere it pleased.  What a meltdown.  Add the bad beat of UCLA in there and it was a good week!  Three outright winners for dogs including two from the city of Buffalo!  Go Bulls and Bills!

Despite the powers of the Duck, I still like Georgia right now, but I didn't include it in the picks.  Pulled it off the board because the Redhawks of Miami were screaming at me.

Here are your 2016 NCAA Week 5/NFL Week 4 Picks!  Sep 27 - Oct 3 WINNERS! (cue Trombone Shorty music)

Ohio @ Miami (Ohio) +3 LOSS

Michigan State @ Indiana +6.5 WIN

DET @ CHI +3 WIN

DEN @ TB +3  LOSS

DAL @ SF +2  LOSS

Here's what last week looked like:

• Army @ Buffalo +14 WIN 20 - 23 (Margin -3) Comeback win for those Bulls (too bad the same couldn't be said for USF's Bulls).


• Florida +4.5 @ Tennessee  LOSS 38 - 28 (Margin +10) After a fairly dominating first half, the Gators forgot to play defense in the second half and gave up 5 TDs.


• Stanford @ UCLA +3  LOSS 22 - 13 (Margin +9)  This game was a winner until 24 seconds left in the game when Stanford kicked the PAT to make it a 3 point game.  So then it was going to be a push.  PUSH is a win.  Then Stanford sacked the QB with no time left and ran the ball back for a worthless TD (for the game, not the betting public).  What a horrendously bad beat.  Yes SVP had this game as I predicted.


• ARI @ BUF +4  WIN 18 - 33 (Margin -15)  Buffalo was up from start to finish.  The wise guys had faith in that new offensive coordinator.


• PIT @ PHI +3.5  WIN 3 - 34 (Margin -31)  Get on the Wentz wagon?  This line was pretty stinky.  I still can't explain what happened.  Didn't watch the game, but saw the score change as the Eagles apparently dominated from start to finish?

Here is a breakdown of the season as of right meow.

NCAA Week 4/NFL Week 3 Record: 3-2-0

Overall 2016 Football Season Record: 12-7-1 (63.2 %)

NCAAF 2016 Record (4 weeks) 9-7-1

NFL 2016 Record (3 weeks):  3-0-0

Overall 2016 football picks that were underdog outright wins:  6 of 20 (30 %)

Point Differential by week:

NCAA Week 1:  +13.5 with spread.  +50 straight up.
NCAA Week 2:  -51.5 with spread.  +24 straight up.
NCAA Week 3:  +95 with spread.  +116 straight up.
NCAA Week 4:  -59 with spread.  -30 straight up.

Total point margin including spread:  -2  (-0.5/week)
Total point margin straight up:  +160 (+40/week vs +40.5/week spread)