We were back to our winning ways again last week with a 4-2 week. And the fact that both losses were toss-ups makes me think maybe (just maybe) we have righted the ship.
A $ix-Rack of college football tidbits:
- Brian Kelly looks to become the fourth straight LSU coach to win a college football championship during their tenure.
Brian Kelly’s accent by September: pic.twitter.com/D7I2hmcMLO
— TJ Shoemaker (@tshoemaker2423) December 3, 2021
2. Something to keep in mind for LSU’s upcoming bowl game with Max Johnson and Miles Brennan transferring: LSU will either burn Garrett Nussmeier’s redshirt or start a walk-on quarterback. Will be an interesting decision.
3. Meanwhile, you can add Mario Cristobal to this list of hometown heroes who are going to save The U: Randy Shannon, Mark Richt, and Manny Diaz.
Manny Diaz took the Temple job and ditched them after two weeks when a better offer came along. https://t.co/jGtzuMuO7I
— Wells Dusenbury (@DuseReport) December 5, 2021
4. You made a lot of money if you picked against New Mexico this year as they finished NCAAF-worst 1-11 ATS.
5. Michigan is the first team to start off the season unranked and make the CFB playoff.
6. Pitt is this year’s ACC Champion – the first time since 2014 (Florida State) that Clemson didn’t win the ACC.
A $ix-Rack of NFL tidbits:
- Only 7 NFL teams have hit more overs than unders so far this season and one of those teams is the New York Jets.
2. The Packers remain an NFL-best 10-2 ATS this season.
3. Cooper Kupp already has 100 catches for 1366 yards so far this season. To help put that into perspective: Tony Gonzalez, Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce, and Keyshawn Johnson each only had 100+ catches in a season once in their careers. Randy Moss, Torry Holt, Cris Carter, and Rod Smith only did it twice.
4. Bill Belichick’s first NFL job was a $25/week gig in 1975 with the Baltimore Colts. Eleven current NFL head coaches weren’t born yet, while Mike Vrabel and Matt Rhule were both born in 1975. I seriously wonder what his monthly rent was.
5. The NFL’s extra point percentage is 92.5% entering this week – the lowest since 1979.
6. Derrick Henry is still third in the NFL in rushing yards.
Now for the recap:
WEEK 14 RE$ULTS
1. Wake Forest vs Pitt OVER 71.5 ❌
Complete travesty. I tried to do some research on other games with 35 1st quarter points that didn’t score 70 points and I just don’t think it exists. ZERO of the top 6 non-OT scoring affairs had 35 points in the first quarter. The 7th highest scoring game, Western Michigan vs. Toledo in 2011 scored 35 points in the first quarter and went on to combine for 129 points. Some guy named T.O. Owens was the winning QB that day.
2. Western Kentucky team total OVER 38.5 (vs. UTSA) ✅
I feel like the Hilltoppers had a shitty showing and still scored 40 points. I will be all over these guys again in bowl season. Also, here’s a sneak peak of Bailey Zappe’s mugshot in the Editor’s Bowl breakdown.
Tell me this man doesn’t look like he is about to dial up 500 yards on someone.
3. Northern Illinois +3.5 (vs. Kent State) ✅
God Bless you Thomas Hammock, you are a treasure.
4. Baylor +5.5 (vs Oklahoma State) ✅
On top of an ea$y cover, this turned out to be one of the best games of the year. When Coach Tony D’Amato said football was a game of inches, he wasn’t kidding.
5. Bills -2.5 (vs. Patriots) ❌
The Bills had TWO chances to score and win this late but stalled out in the red zone twice. I have tried to convince myself the Bills probably would have missed the extra point and only won by 2 points to make myself feel a little better.
6. Chiefs vs Broncos UNDER 47.5 ✅
Highlighted by a 20-play Captain Checkdown-led Broncos drive resulting in zero points, we didn’t have to sweat this one at all.
Week 14 So Stupid It Doesn’t Make Any Sense Longshot Moneylines:
Alabama +200 (vs. Georgia) ✅
New rule to oneself: always bet on Alabama when you’re getting plus odds.
Jets +235 (vs. Eagles) ❌
Hot start. Cold finish. Still, another week in the black for the SSIDMASLSML.
Week 14 1:1 Parlay (-104) ❌
- Vikings -325 (vs. Lions) ❌
- Dolphins -200 (vs. Giants) ✅
Damn you Dan Campbell. The man was out to get me.
Now let’s get to some winners.
WEEK 15 WINNER$:
1. Navy vs. Army UNDER 35.5
It’s that military matchup statistic again. Now, just watch them score more than Wake Forest and Pitt.
2. Giants team total UNDER 16 (vs. Chargers)
3. Chargers -10 (vs. Giants)
Whether it’s Mike Glennon or Jake Fromm, it doesn’t truly matter. The Giants aren’t mustering up 16 points and they’re not keeping this within two scores. And speaking of QB mugshots.
4. Packers -11.5 (vs. Bears)
Packers 10-2 ATS and the Bears are 4-8 ATS. It’s a home game in Lambeau where Green Bay is 5-0 ATS. Seems pretty straight forward.
5. Lions vs. Broncos UNDER 42.5
The Broncos (2-10) and Lions (4-8) have combined to hit just 6 of 18 overs so far this season.
6. Saints vs. Jets OVER 42.5
I had to pick at least one over and this one seems to make the most sense. Alvin Kamara will be back. Both defenses are bad – combining to surrender nearly 54 PPG. This gives us some wiggle room totaling double digits. And as we have learned the hard way this season, never assume two pathetic offenses will automatically hit the under.
Week 15 So Stupid It Doesn’t Make Any Sense Longshot Moneylines:
Navy +240 (vs. Army)
The eye test tells me Army is substantially better but it’s a rivalry game so throw out the records.
Week 15 1:1 Parlay (+100)
- Cowboys -200 (vs. WFT)
- Chargers -500 (vs. Giants)
- Packers -750 (vs. Bears)
Yes, I am well aware this is going to lose.