Saturday, November 02, 2013

TTP Picks: Week Ten


Danimal Picks:
Good news! Danimal went 3-0 (4-0 if you count the bonus pick!) for the first time this season. Bad news…so did Mark.
Rat bastard.
So I remain 5 games behind. Mark owns a very impressive 18 & 9 record with Danimal just getting back to .500 at 13-13-1.
I’m just gonna keep grindin.

So it’s Florida/Georgia week here in JaxVegas. For the first time in a few years I won’t be making it down to the shit show. My gut says Georgia is going to take them down but I can’t get myself to make them one of my picks this week. These two are too unpredictable and more so when they play with each other. I expect another debacle like last year, that’s what I predict.

Onto the picks!

VaTECH -4.5 at Boston College
VaTech all day long. How ‘bout some props by the way with my Duke pick last week? No love there from the GTB nation. Go back and read that. Yeah, I’m barely .500 and getting my arse kicked by the great Hughes, but that was something special. VaTech is a consistently inconsistent ball club. I expect great things from them tomorrow. Go Gobblers. (making loud turkey call right now)

Michigan +4.5 at Michigan State
Well something is going to have to give here. Michigan State has the nation’s 3rd best defense and Michigan is a top 10 scoring squad. Squad is a funny word. Say it a few times. Michigan heads into Lansing with a 6-1 record and #21 in the America. MSU is 7-1 and #22 in the America. HUUUGE rivalry game. Gonna be tight. Tighter than 4 & a hook people. I gotta take the points and the Wolverines.

Wake +3.5 at Syracuuuuse
Ya’ll probably didn’t know I grew up a HUGE ‘cuse fan. That’s right. If you recall from a recent comment, I was born in the shithole that is currently Oneida, NY, home of the silverware maker and not much else. Oneida is oh about 30 minutes from Syracuse. Big daddy and I went to plenty of games in the dome, in fact I was at not the very first game at the dome but the 2nd or third, football that is. I used to watch Orange hoops in the days of Leo Rautin and Roosevelt Bouie. I loved all things Syracuse. I simply offer this for the readership’s benefit. I like to let you in a little closer, to get to know the real “me.” As I write this, the line is SU -4.5. I made this bet on Tuesday with SU giving 3.5. (am happy to provide a screen shot to the rules committee) This is a matchup between two teams that play dog doo doo football. They just stink. Both of them. Syracuse had last week off after getting shellacked 56-0 by the Techsters from Georgia. Wakes comes off a disheartening loss to Miami, a game they had in their grasp. Based on those two pieces of data, you’d think Wake right? Well that is not to be. Syracuse wins & covers.
‘Cuse is in the house omygodomygod!



(from Mark: Added the video...because I love this song)

Mark Picks:

Nice bounce back from Danimal and myself last week. By my calculations, if you had bet all six of our picks last week you'd be able to buy your own small caribbean island today. I'm not 100% sure on that though. Math was never my strong suit.

Virginia Tech -4.5 @ Boston College
Nice pick on the Duke upset of the Hokies last week by Danimal. I have to admit I didn't see that coming. Duke covering? Sure. But an outright win? That's some impressive clairvoyance.  I hate betting on Logan Thomas since he's, ya know, not good and all but this strikes me as a get well game for Frank Beamer and his weird plastic neck. Virginia Tech's D is stout and their special teams are good as usual (I'm required to tell you here that Beamer coaches the Special Teams. No, really.). Boston College on the other hand is down this year as they rebuild under the watchful mustache of Steve Addazzio. I'll lay the 4.5 and take the Hokies.



Tennessee @ Missouri -11
Tennessee is pretty solid at home. As evidenced by my 0-2 record picking against them in Neyland Stadium. They are a far different team on the road however. To make things worse, they'll be starting true freshman Josh Dobbs at QB this weekend in Columbia. Missouri isn't exactly an intimidating environment for opposing teams. Their stadium is decidedly un-SEC like but their D-Line is definitely SEC worthy. Their is certainly some fear of a hangover for the Tigers after their heartbreaking loss to South Carolina last weekend but I think Gary Pinkel can get his guys back up for this game. After all, Missouri still controls the SEC East and a trio to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. The Tigers start slow but pull away late and win by two TDs. Mizzou.

Kansas @ Texas -28
I have to be honest, I really struggled to pick a third game this week. I was leaning toward to taking Oregon State at home over USC before I got cold feet after seeing Marquise Lee was active for the Trojans. So here we are at Kansas-Texas. Texas has quietly put their season back together since trouncing Oklahoma in Dallas a few weeks back. Meanwhile, Kansas is as bad a football team as you'll find in a BCS conference. This is the opposite of riding a juggernaut like Oregon or Alabama. I'm essentially betting on how shitty Kansas is. Chin up Jayhawk fans, basketball season is nearly upon us. Hook 'Em Horns.




Bonus: Georgia -3 vs. Florida (Jacksonville)
The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party has lost a bit of luster since August. At the time it looked like a possible matchup of two top 10 teams with designs on SEC and BCS Championships. Since then, these two teams have suffered a rash of injuries unlike anything I've ever witnessed as a CFB fan. Neither of these teams are going to accomplish their goals for the season and, at this point, probably just hope to finish strong enough to gain a bid to a semi-decent bowl game (read: Not one in Shreveport). As far as injuries go, Florida lost starting LT DJ Humphries this week with a sprained left MCL. Obviously this is bad news. Florida's OLine was already the worst unit on the team before the injury to Humphries. Now? Shit, I wonder if the can even give Tyler Murphy enough time to complete a three step drop. Conversely, Georgia is getting back it's best player, Todd Gurley, for today's game. Gurley's been out since the South Carolina game in September but when he's healthy he's among the best players in the country. I don't think Florida can come close to scoring enough points to hang with Aaron Murray, Gurley and the rest of the Bulldog offense. I'd advise you to take Georgia.

95 comments:

Marls said...

Mark: If I see those two ladies at the game today I will send them your regards.

Marls said...

Tomorrow I have to go to the happiest place on earth for three days. I am decidedly unhappy about that. Maybe Rob and I can have a mini summit at an airport bar. I'll be the guy with the wide stance.

Danimal said...

Which game is Marls attending?

Mark gives me the sought after love I was looking for. Preesh.

Marls said...

Texas vs. KU.

Mark said...

Listening to Unkle: Pysence Fiction for the first time in a long time this morning. Still pretty brilliant.

Mark said...

Thanks, Marls. I can always count on you.

You lads need to start coordinating your Orlando trips so I can make an excuse to travel over to that tourist trap for a mini summit.

Greg said...

Apologies Danimal, when I first saw your VaTech-Duke prediction, I privately mocked it. But then I saw you were right. Well done good sir.

Mark said...

Greg's such a stand up fella.

Mark said...

Scott Stapp is FSU's celebrity picker? AHAHAHAHAHA. Most FSU celebrity EVER.

Mark said...

I guess that wasn't Scott Stapp. My bad. All those long haired white guys look alike.

Greg said...

Jake?

Mark said...

There is an air show across the street from my neighborhood today. It has turned A1A into an absolute shit show. Who are these people who get excited about an air show?

Greg said...

Airshow? Buzz-cut Alabamians spewing coloured smoke in their whiz-jets to the strains of "Rock You Like a Hurricane? What kind of country-fried rube is still impressed by that?

Greg said...

To Fly! Dream of man and flightless bird alike!!

rob said...

drinking a manhattan at the brown derby. i'm pretty fancy. this rain poncho suggests otherwise.

Mark said...

I can see most of this air show from my front yard. I'm sitting on my couch watching football though.

Clarence said...

I'm at ODU vs Rhode Island. Decidedly not big time college football, but you know what? College football is fun, period.

P.S. I'm drinking for free. Wheeee!

Danimal said...

Vatech is terrible.

Mark said...

Bettingon the Hokies never fails to make me feel stupid.

mayhugh said...

Wife out of town for the weekend. I split some firewood the old fashioned way and now drinking a jack. Possibly the manliest day I have ever had.

Hokies pick might still work out, but they seem to tend to lose in bunches once they lose late in the season. That, and Logan Thomas is still their quarterback. His decisionmaking on the pick-six was abyssmal.

mayhugh said...

nevermind. Stick a fork in them.

mayhugh said...

Number 76 blocks two guys at once on that BC run. Not a shed, not a combo, just him blocking two guys. Very impressive.

rob said...

the tribe might be favored against purdue. that team is ass.

mayhugh said...

Logan Thomas is a turnover machine.

Mark said...

Florida is awful. My Saturdays aren't a lot of fun lately.

zman said...

Does splitting wood the old fashioned way have anything to do with splitting dark oak?

Danger was my jam at one point. Thanks Mark.

zman said...

By the way, Hofstra advertises on the mobile version of this post.

Mark said...

I heart Solomon Patton. One of the few bright spots in dark, sad season.

zman said...

Emporium scene on encore!

mayhugh said...

I think Greg has more experience with dark oak than I do. Apparently I overdid it, as every muscle on one side of my body chose to cramp up a half hour ago, leaving me walking around like Verbal Kint.

Mark - I feel for you. Florida has no confidence in their line and seems surprised whenever a vertical play works and follows it up with a quick screen for -2. And Georgia's OL looks fantastic, at least on the 10 or so plays that Gurley has been in.

Marls said...

Football is fun

Greg said...

Takes a "real man"...

Mark said...

Florida's OLine is awful and the play calling is predictable. The defense was able to keep Florida in games earlier this year but they've regressed mightily.

Mark said...

Florida brought in the kicker they use for long FGs. And he left it short. Of course he did.

mayhugh said...

I don't know if it will make you feel better that the Pantsless Griffins shut out New Hampshire today...

mayhugh said...

More good news: Gennady Golovkin fights tonight. I'm a little giddy.

Danimal said...

Navy scored a touchdown against Duke and Western Kentucky this year. Today, 5.

mayhugh said...

This game got a hell of a lot better.

Danimal said...

Mark....I doubt you've watched much of nd game but Folston is coming into his own. 100+ yards today w some very nice runs.

mayhugh said...

Huge play there, even with the penalty.

zman said...

Every time I come to G:TB today I say to myself "Why didn't I go to Texas?"

Mark said...

Fuck you for making me care, Florida.

Mark said...

Danimal- we flipped over to the ND game a few times during commercial breaks. Saw Folston was over 100 yards. Happy for him. Cocoa, FL is an awful place.

rob said...

interesting mix of families and drunks at the international food and wine festival at epcot. reminded of clarence's neighborhood again.

Danimal said...

I just took Miami.

mayhugh said...

Jameis Winston wears contacts... EXCEPT when he's playing football? Someone explain this to me.

Mark said...

Danimal...why. I took FSU late. Because I believe in Jameis.

Danimal said...

I think it was the .5 on top of the 21 that did the trick for me Mark.

Mark said...

The hook is quite persuasive.

Danimal said...

Terrible call there. Awful.

Danimal said...

Bad Saturday.

Danimal said...

Possibly a 14 point swing there and Miami w ball at half. This game was probably over, for betters too if not for that INT. Thanks jdub.

Mark said...

I still believe on Jaboo.

rob said...

according to reports from boston, jake peavy bought the duckboat he rode on during today's parade after drinking throughout, and mike napoli was seen bar hopping shirtless after the parade was done. good to be the kings, it seems.

Mark said...

Napoli is the only guy on the Sox I'm happy for. He deserved this after the heartbreak he went through with Texas.

mayhugh said...

Mark - fight did not disappoint. Check it out if you have not already.

Mark said...

I'll check it out. In other news, I was responsible and called a cab from the bar. The cab never showed up. So I took the 20+ minute walk home. Fuck that shit.

zman said...

911 is a joke.

Clarence said...

The Skins wearing throwback uniforms. Except with Redskin head helmets and with Redskin head patches on either shoulder. Snyder wagging a huge middle finger at the Native Americans protesting. The Bud Light stand says "Fire Water" and they are calling RGIII "Wounded Knee."

Clarence said...

P.S. The Skins still suck, especially their special teams.

zman said...

Aaaaaaaardbvydsvigdjgt!!!!!!!

Greg said...

Clarence has really gone off the reservation. Hey man, smoke a peace-pipe!

Mark said...

I imagine that was Z's reaction to the 100 yard pick six Teul threw. I also imagine he had a very similar reaction to Tamba Hali's fumble return for a TD. Chiefs defense is the best offense on the field in Buffalo today.

Marls said...

Sitting in the Austin airport waiting to get on to my flight to Orlando. The mix of small children and lingering hangover is not a good one.

Clarence said...

Slap one of them. The others will shut up immediately.

Mark said...

Good thing you're flying to Orlando then Marls. Not many kids there.

zman said...

That was my reaction to Tuel's pick-6 which I saw on a 100 foot wide TV screen at the Meadowlands. TR laughed good-naturedly.

mayhugh said...

Washington Football Team - wow. A goal line stand (aided by crappy SD playcalling, but still) followed by a 78 yard TD drive in overtime? Who are these guys? I don't recognize them.

Mark said...

I have absolutely no idea what's happening in Seattle.

Clarence said...

Agreed, Mayhugh. Great day to be a Skins fan, not to be a Saints fan. One of the few.

Clarence said...

Sean Lissemore was the Charger who caught the batted ball for a TD today. Teaneck, NJ native. Tribe alum.

zman said...

Tamba Hali, also a former Highwayman.

zman said...

rob = mush

zman said...

So ... Nick Foles?

T.J. said...

Last week, I started the Jets defense on fantasy. I cut them in favor of...wait for it...the Raiders defense. Solid personnel decision.

zman said...

Two TD later I reiterate ... so ... Nick Foles?

mayhugh said...

Hey, if Jason Campbell can have 3TD's, why not Nick Foles with 7 and counting? It's the day of the underdog. I support it.

Speaking of which, Cleveland's defense is a really fun unit to watch. Great pash rush, incredible bump and run coverage, very physical. If they had a consistent 4 or 5 out of 10 at QB, they might be formidable.

Mark said...

Agree on the Browns D. Really talented and young.

Mark said...

Josh Gordon is also developing into a #1 WR. Some intriguing pieces there.

Mark said...

My football weekend: Gators make huge 2nd half comeback but still lose. Bucs blow huge 2nd half lead and lose.

zman said...

Chiefs/Bills highlights gave me agita. Ate a fistful of Tums.

Mark said...

I'm more excited than I should be about the Magic. Not in regard to this year but the future of the franchise. Lots of young talent on the roster.

rob said...

for the record, the weather in orlando today is more pleasant than the weather in minneapolis.

rob said...

marls, where are you staying in o-town?

Marls said...

I'm at the JW Marriott.

Clarence said...

It's near the TY Hilton.

Greg said...

Which is close to S.E. Hinton

Danimal said...

marls...that's a client site of ours so stay there often. if you have flexibility, eat downstairs at primo's.... 4 outsiders out of 4

zman said...

RW McQuarters?

mayhugh said...

His real name was Joey Chicago. Fought under the name of Kid Minneaopolis.

Mark said...

Tex Colorado. The Arizona Assassin.

Dave said...

i may post something soon.

amanda young said...

I love both songs,one in the day,one in the night;)..Amanda Vanderpool

amanda young said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marls said...

Thanks for the tip Dan. I'm not very flexible physically or during this conference, but I will try.