This is one of the best weekends of the year for football fans. You get a full days worth of games on Thursday for Thanksgiving, some college football games on Friday–soon to be NFL games, as well, then Rivalry Week in NCAA on Saturday which was not a let down this year, followed up by a full slate of games Sunday. The couch definitely has an imprint left after this long weekend. Or is that just mine?

As a Lions fan, the NFL season comes with a lot of heartache and disappointment. However, Thanksgiving Week is always one to look forward to. Not just because it’s typically our only “Prime Time” game of the season, but playing on Thursday allows for a beautiful Red Zone session on Sunday. We Lions fans typically only get to enjoy a Red Zone week on our single bye week, because every other week we’re likely to be playing at 1pm. Today, it’s different. It’s a Sunday without a broken heart or stress for us, and that doesn’t come often.

With my team having already played, and lost–but covered!–I was able to do extra homework this weekend to find the locks. My extra efforts did not go in vain. I have found the picks. Here they are:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cleveland Browns Line: TB -3

It’s about time for Tom Brady to come alive. The team is going to win the division, and we know anything is possible if you just make it to the playoffs. If you add Tom Brady playing better then this team will be scary. Tom can make a big statement by coming out and throwing for three touchdowns today. Something he’ll need to do when the Bucs make it to the playoffs. He hasn’t been doing that this season, but I know better than to count him out. Tampa wins this one on the road, even if it’s not the prettiest game.

Pick: TB -3 Bucs 26 Browns 20

Atlanta Falcons @ Washington Commanders Line: WSH -3.5

Speaking of playoffs, are the Commanders somehow going to find their way in? Unbelievable. I can see it happening. They just need to keep winning. They’ve beat teams better than the Falcons, I expect this to be an easy cover by one of the biggest surprising teams of the season. Can’t believe I’m betting on the Commanders…

Pick: WSH -3.5 Commanders 27 Falcons 23

Houston Texans @ Miami Dolphins Line: MIA -14

Huge spread, but why can’t the Dolphins cover it? They have all those weapons on offense and a ton of talent on the other side of the ball. They’re going up against the Texans so I feel confident in the victory, just can’t have them letting off the gas. This could be another week where Tua ends up looking like an elite QB, stat wise.

Pick: MIA -14 Dolphins 34 Texans 17

Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars Line: BAL -3.5

That little .5 is going to end up mattering isn’t it? I just have that feeling. Ravens seem to always keep it close when they should blow teams out…it evens ends up close after they’ve been blowing a team out. They’re a tough team to figure out, but when in doubt always bet against Jacksonville. It’s an easy way to make a living.

Pick: BAL -3.5 Ravens 24 Jaguars 20

Los Angeles Chargers @ Arizona Cardinals Line: LAC -2.5

A battle of two disappointing teams. The Chargers had high hopes entering the season with a revamped roster, but now they may again miss the playoffs. The Cardinals has playoff aspirations of their own, only to see them crumble away almost immediately and things haven’t improved much since. Kliff is basically the Walking Dead at this point, which means we’re going to get another sequel of the show tonight when he plays the Chargers. Just end the thing! Let him go off in peace! What a house, though…

Pick: LAC -2.5 Chargers 30 Cardinals 26

New Orleans Saints @ San Francisco 49ers Line: SF -9

We saw it last week. This 49er team is poised to make a deep playoff run. No team would want to play them. Especially the Saints right now. Who’s going to play QB? Who should be playing QB? The defense can’t continue to do it all for New Orleans, and they’re going to have a rough go at it against San Francisco who can beat you in so many different ways. Saints can’t keep up with the amount of points the 49ers can score, regardless of how good the defense is.

Pick: SF -9 49ers 29 Saints 19

Dog Of The Week: Green Bay Packers +6.5 @ Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles haven’t looked the same the past few weeks. They lost to Washington and barely beat Indy last week. Meanwhile, the Packers have started to show some sort of light, and the key to their victory, or path to victory rather, will be running the football. Rodgers is beat up, so they should let Aaron Jones do his thing today. I think both teams will keep the ball on the ground and the clock should keep going. That should help Green Bay cover the spread and keep this game close. I’ll go Eagles 24 Green Bay 21

The post Pick Six: NFL Week 12 appeared first on Korked Bats.

We’ve come to the end of the road. The final week of the regular season has arrived and it has been a doozy of a year. After the rollercoaster ride of emotions, it all comes down to this final game. Will TCU hold on? Who will win The Game? And whose season could come to a bitter end today and kiss their playoff hopes good bye? There’s a lot at stake not just for the players and schools, but most importantly–the bettors.

With so much on the line, home field advantage should be a big…advantage…this week, and I see it coming into play in several crucial games. We’re going to have to look past emotions and go facts over feelings to end the season with the perfect week. Several times we only dropped one game, but that is no longer good enough. We’re ending the season with a bang. Calm those nerves. Let’s get to picking!

Michigan @ Ohio State Line: OSU -8

I didn’t want to include this game in my picks, but how could you not? I’m back and forth on it. At first I had Ohio State because they’re home and have all that talent. Then, I realized Michigan’s defense is the best that the Buckeyes will have seen. But, Blake Corum is hurt. Ohio State has injuries, as well. The weather will be nice which favors the Buckeyes. But 8 points is a lot for a rivalry game, but of course Ohio State can beat any team by 8 points. What do we do? I think a healthy Michigan team would make this interesting, but they aren’t. Without their best player it’s going to be a rough go, even with the best offensive line in college football. I’m starting to rethink this again. I think at some point QB play has to matter in this game, and one of these quarterbacks is about to be a Top 10 pick in the draft. I guess I can bet on him. I hate this.

Pick: OSU -8 Ohio State 34 Michigan 24

West Virginia @ Oklahoma State Line: OKST -7

Convincing myself the Cowboys won’t let me down again because they only have to win by a touchdown. They’ve hurt me so much, but the pain feels so good. They’re going to let me end the season on a high note, after a season of disappointment. I did it to myself.

Pick: OKST -7 Oklahoma State 30 West Virgina 20

Oregon @ Oregon State Line: ORE -2.5

I think this instate rivalry game should be close, but the Ducks are the more talented team still and should be able to win it by a field goal. The Beavers have the home field advantage going for them, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to stop Oregon’s offense. Bo Nix has had a great season, he needs to end it with an exclamation point if he wants to remain in that Heisman chatter.

Pick: ORE -2.5 Oregon 34 Oregon State 30

Iowa State @ TCU Line: TCU -10

I’m fading myself on this one. I’ve been saying week after week that I didn’t expect TCU to end up making it to the college football playoff. I had a feeling that loss was coming eventually. Now, it looks like I was wrong and I am fully willing to own that. It’s not like it’s the first time it’s happened, after all. Iowa State, again, has a great defense but I,, again, doubt if they can put up points. Especially when they’ll have to keep up with TCU. I can’t see it happening. Congratulations, Frogs.

Pick: TCU -10 TCU 30 Iowa State 17

LSU @ Texas A&M Line: LSU -10

They still somehow have a shot at getting into the playoff. That means they should come out motivated and ready to play. This hasn’t been the Aggies year and they could easily come out and lay an egg in this one. It’s cuffing season, lock it down.

Pick: LSU -10 LSU 28 Texas A&M 16

Notre Dame @ USC Line: USC -4

The Irish could keep their hot streak alive here, but I’m betting on USC getting the job done. Caleb Williams could end up winning the Heisman after transferring from Oklahoma. Lincoln knows what he’s doing with QBs, and continues to work his magic. I’m not worried about the offense. It’s the defense that’s the big concern with USC. Anyone is capable of putting up points on them. This game could come down to just one stop, and I think they have the talent and skill to do it. Notre Dame started slow this season before getting it going, but they’ll have a tough time keeping up with USC on the scoreboard.

Pick: USC -4 USC 36 Notre Dame 27

Dog Of The Week: Louisville +3 @ Kentucky. Kentucky continues to be one of those teams that is so hard to believe in. They give you a reason, then take it away. Louisville, on the other hand, averages more points a game than Kentucky while allowing roughly the same. I’m going to go with the better O on this one and think both defenses are capable of keeping this game close, so I’ll take the points and Louisville.

The post Korked Bets Pick Six: NCAA Week 13 appeared first on Korked Bats.

How the mighty have fallen. There is no longer an undefeated team in the NFL after the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Washington Commanders last week. That’s right. The team who was at the top of the rankings lost to the team that lost to the Detroit Lions. Not a good look, but that’s been the story of the NFL this season. Every game matters, and anybody is capable of beating anybody, and every team is capable of losing to anybody. We saw that last week. We have seen it with the Lions beating the Green Bay Packers. Then the Packers beating the Cowboys. The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Colts (pre-Jeff Saturday), and the Bills lost to the Jets. You gotta love it.

Despite all this parity in the league this year, my algorithm is still spitting out winners. I’ve got six more this week and the Dog Of The Week. According to the computer, these are guaranteed to win. Of course, the computer has been wrong before. I’m just relaying what I was told in the fine print. Let’s get to picking.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Indianapolis Colts Line: PHI -6.5

They can’t lose to two bad teams in a row can they? I think they correct the mistakes and come back firing against the Colts. Take this line while it’s under a touchdown, I’m surprised to see it still there. The Colts looked rather motivated under Jeff Saturday to the surprise of many, but he was doing the right things. Put Matt Ryan out there and give it your best shot. Props to him for getting things right immediately. I think the Eagles will be too much to handle, can’t blame it on the Coach or anything. They’re just more talented. I think the Colts still could have a big day on the ground, but it will be hard to keep up with the Eagles on the scoreboard.

Pick: PHI -6.5 Eagles 30 Colts 23

Detroit Lions @ New York Giants Line: NYG -3

The Lions keep games close. Then typically will let it slip away. The Giants, this season, have been winning close games late. I think that’s what this one will come down to. New York has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, but they aren’t a loaded team by any means. They’ve lacked a true number one receiver all season and have been throwing to no-name guys for most of the year. However, Barkley has been doing his thing and Danny Dimes has changed his approach. He’s not turning the ball over like he’s been known to do. I think this could be a close game and will come down to the 4th quarter, which favors the Giants.

Pick: NYG -3 Giants 27 Lions 23

Washington Commanders @ Houston Texans Line: WSH -3

Who are the Commanders? I cannot get a read on this team. If they can get Chase Young back then I’m really going to be at a loss trying to figure out the identity of this team. One thing I do know? The Houston Texans are not good. The Commanders have pulled off big wins against much more talented teams, they should be able to beat the league’s worst team (arguably) by a field goal. Then again…I still don’t know who they are so anything is possible. Take the low spread and just enjoy football.

Pick: WSH -3 Commanders 23 Texans 17

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings Line: DAL -1.5

Dallas being favored here means the wise guys in Vegas know something I don’t. The Vikings are on a hot streak. They’re fresh off one of the best games in the last decade, and pulled off an amazing win that we will be seeing highlights of for decades to come. The Cowboys, meanwhile, lost to Aaron Rodgers who can’t seem to beat a cold these days. We know that Parsons and the Cowboys defense has a ton of skill, but the offense rarely comes together like we expect it too. The Vikings have Justin Jefferson playing out of his mind and Cook can still run the ball. Being dynamic should help against the Cowboys dangerous pass rush. The problem is we all remember Cooper Rush beating the Vikings not too long ago, thanks to Skip Bayless constantly reminding us. If they beat the Vikings with him before, then they can win with Dak. I think the Vikings can keep this one close and pull it off. They’re better than the media is saying they are. I’m going to keep riding the hot hand. More chains for Kirk on the way.

Pick: MIN +1.5 Vikings 31 Cowboys 28

Kansas City Chiefs @ Los Angeles Chargers Line: KC -5.5

I cannot bring myself to bet against the Kansas City Chiefs. Yes, Justin Herbert always seems to play great against them. Yet, those great games don’t allows lead to wins. The Chargers could be getting some weapons back this week, but how much they could play is a huge question mark. They’re just beat up all around. If both teams were healthy this would be one of the best games of the year. However, they aren’t. With that considered why not go with the best team in the league to win by under a touchdown? Trust me, I don’t want to see the Chiefs keep winning. I’m tired of it. But, they’re just too good. I can’t be tricked into betting against this team.

Pick: KC -5.5 Chiefs 42 Chargers 30

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals Line: SF -8

The 49ers are a team built to win. Running game? Check. Weapons to throw to? Check. Defense? Check. Coach? Check. They’re scary right now and I wouldn’t want to play them. It’s looking more and more every week like we’re going to have a Super Bowl rematch with 49ers vs Chiefs. San Francisco just does everything right. I don’t always like watching it, but there’s no arguing that it works. What doesn’t work? Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury. I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes there, but it cannot be good. It’s like the prophesy in Harry Potter, “neither can live while the other survives.” This isn’t working. Professionally or personally it looks like. Someone is going to have to go…and it’s unlikely to be the quarterback. He’ll probably get to finish the season, but it’s over. This game against San Francisco is only going to cement the fact that this duo is done.

Pick: SF -8 49ers 30 Cardinals 20

Dog Of The Week: Chicago Bears +3 against the Atlanta Falcons. This spread seems like a bit of a head scratcher, so I’m going to run with it. Why can’t the Bears win this one outright? They’re incredibly hot right now and Justin Fields is in the middle of a historic run. Granted, he’s still not throwing for many yards which is a concern, but Chicago has added a weapon in Chase Claypool, so I think they will start to come eventually as this team continues to build. What does Atlanta really have going right now? Mariota is stuck in the mud. I’m betting on the Bears. Didn’t expect to say that this season.

The post Pick Six: NFL Week 11 appeared first on Korked Bats.

Things are about to get interesting. What teams are going to end up making it through the chaos to be one of the final four teams in the College Football Playoff? There’s still no way of telling, but we know one thing: people are going to be pissed. Someone is going to get left out who deserves a spot, and someone is going to get into the playoff who shouldn’t have and will end up getting blown out, leaving the team who was left out to complain and play an imaginative game of “what if.” Personally, I’m all for opening it up. Give us that 12 team playoff, that way we can eventually head towards the end of “what if-ism.” A 12 team playoff would allow anyone with an argument to get into the playoff and then they have to walk the walk.

Who’s going to end up walking and who’s going to end up talking? Michigan and Ohio State still have to play each other. It’s unlikely both will advance. Georgia still has some big games on the table. Tennessee needs to win and get some help. Is Alabama done? Will TCU be the next Cincinnati? Only time will tell on that one, but for now we’ve got Week 12 games to bet on. To make the playoff, they’re going to have to win one week at a time, and it starts today. Will one of these teams choke away a game that they should win? Anything is possible.

In the mean time, I’ve found six (alleged) locks for this week and the Dog Of The Week which is certain to win us money and give us something to be thankful for this holiday season. Let’s get to picking!

TCU @ Baylor Line: TC -2.5

Will the Frogs end up in the College Football Playoff? They’re the team everyone is expecting to be the first to drop out, but week after week they keep winning. Do I think they’ll still be standing at the end? No, I don’t. But, I also didn’t expect them to still be standing now. However, I think it will keep rolling this week. Baylor has been too inconsistent this season, but that game against Kansas State has me prepared and confident in backing TCU by a field goal. I think they’re the better team, but being on the road and will so much pressure I could see it getting to them. If the spread was any bigger I’d be nervous, but having the 4 seed only need to win by a field goal sounds like a winner to me.

Pick: TCU -2.5 TCU 36 Baylor 33

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma Line: OU -7

In the words of Michael Scott, “I am ready to get hurt again.” No team burns me like Oklahoma State, but I’m back on the horse supporting the Cowboys. This isn’t the same Sooner team we’ve been watching the past few years. While both of these teams have had embarrassing losses putting up zero points this season, I think Oklahoma State is still capable of going into Norman and coming out with a win. I’ve been an Oklahoma State guy all season long through thick and thin and it’s only right that I back them in this rivalry game. I think this will be a much closer game than most are expecting and the Cowboys should be able to keep things close enough where it won’t be a blow out. Give me the Cowboys and the points, and let me go down with my ship.

Pick: OKST +7 Oklahoma State 33 Oklahoma 31

Florida @ Vanderbilt Line: FLA -14

Vandy is fresh off their first SEC win in a long long time. Good for them. They deserve it. Now, it’s back to normal. Florida is the better team all around. They score more points, and hold opponents to far less points per game than the Commodores do. It’s going to be tough for the Vanderbilt team to keep up with Richardson and the amount of talent they’re going to be going up against. Yes, it’s a large spread…but it’s Florida vs Vanderbilt. I feel alright.

Pick: FLA -14 Florida 40 Vanderbilt 20

Kansas State @ West Virginia Line: KSU -8

Kansas State blanked Baylor last week, why can’t they do something similar against West Virginia? Both teams are averaging more than 30 points a game this season, but Kansas State is only allowing 17.5 points allowed, while West Virginia allows 32. That’s going to play a factor. Adrian Martinez brings a lot of experience to the game, as he’s been playing college football since 2010. This is the same guy we saw at Nebraska for a decade! It’s him! He’s like the Franklin Roosevelt of college football. How many terms can this guy serve? Bet on the man, not the boys.

Pick: KSU -8 Kansas State 36 West Virginia 26

Texas @ Kansas Line: TEX -9

Kansas started this season as one of the biggest surprises in the league. They stayed undefeated for a long time, and have since definitely regressed towards the norm. Now they have to play Texas? Ouch. I want to see Texas light them up. The Longhorns need to turn it on to end the season to enter next year with some momentum. I like the idea of seeing Arch Manning play there, and don’t want the Longhorns to drop winnable games and lose the recruit. Texas has been through a lot, and they deserve to be back. It didn’t happen this year, but they have all the right pieces and just need to keep improving. Then, next year they could enter the season as a favorite to advance to the playoff. I think they can beat the basketball school by double digits.

Pick: TEX -9 Texas 28 Kansas 17

Ole Miss @ Arkansas Line: MISS -2

Ole Miss is coming off a loss against Alabama, but they probably should have won that game. I know we don’t like to deal with the shoulda, coulda, wouldas but they impressed me enough to still believe in them. I think the way you play Alabama can speak volumes, whether it ends in a loss or a win. Ole Miss proved they’re legit. Meanwhile, Arkansas proved the same by hanging in there with LSU all day last week in a game they very easily shoulda, coulda, woulda won, as well. I’m still riding with the Rebels here. They’re better on both sides of the ball and their ability to put up points is so much greater than Arkansas. The Razorbacks have a great defense, but the Rebels have an offense that can drop 40 at will, Arkansas can’t keep up with that.

Pick: MISS -2 Ole Miss 30 Arkansas 24

Dog Of The Week: Oklahoma State over Oklahoma. I’m doubling up on this one, not only do I think Oklahoma State can cover, I think they will win this one outright. The Sooners are one of the biggest busts this season. Is the coach going to work? I think they’re vulnerable and the Cowboys have a chance to finish the season strong after a few let downs towards the end of the season. A money line bet sounds great for the Cowboys today.

The post Korked Bets Pick Six: NCAA Week 12 appeared first on Korked Bats.

We’re just about halfway through November, some of you may have already finished your Christmas shopping. Others, may not be in a position to afford gifts at the moment and are brainstorming endlessly trying to come up with cheap gifts for family this year. Am I getting too specific? Thankfully, I have found a solution to this problem, and the answer lies in the slate of games in week 10 for the NFL season. If our picks stay hot, we can afford to give loved ones real presents this year, not just our presence.

There is snow across the country, and it’s about that time where weather is going to begin playing a factor. Make sure to check before game time to see if there’s anything extreme happening. Especially in games that are expected to be close and come down to a field goal or something. Really plays into over/unders, too. So, do your homework in the morning!

Here are the (alleged) locks that are going to help us not be shunned this holiday season.

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears Line: CHI -2.5

Me? Betting on the Chicago Bears? What has this come to? Well, they’re playing the Lions so of course I feel safe betting on them this week. But let’s not start planning the parade, yet. Seriously, I’ve seen the articles. Slow down, baby. I know Justin Fields had a historic game last week running for nearly 200 yards. It was fun to watch, but talking about him being one of the best quarterbacks in the league is a bit much. A little too soon. Let’s see him throw for 210 yards one time this season before we give him that title. Now that I think about it…that title could be coming this week against the Lions. We know Detroit cannot play on the road. Dan Campbell is yet to win a road game. None! Zero! Fields and the Bears will get it done this week. But again…no need to plan the parade, yet.

Pick: CHI -2.5 Bears 30 Lions 23

Houston Texans @ New York Giants Line: NYG -4.5

Love me this spread. I’m glad it’s not any higher because I think this could end up being low scoring as there should be a lot of running the ball and killing the clock. The Giants surprising start to the season will continue against the Texans, just please don’t make me have to watch this game.

Pick: NYG -4.5 Giants 27 Texans 20

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs Line: KC -9.5

It’s a big spread…but it’s the Jaguars! I think Mahomes and company are very capable of putting up points on the Jaguars and even though the defense in Kansas City isn’t the best it’s been, I think they can still contain Trevor Lawrence. He’s still too inconsistent. I don’t know if I’ve seen any signs of the Prince Who Was Promised. He’s looking more like the Duke of Disappointment. Bet on the Chiefs.

Pick: KC- 9.5 Chiefs 40 Jaguars 27

Indianapolis Colts @ Las Vegas Raiders Line: LV -6

Oh boy. This whole Jeff Saturday thing has been out of control. You’ve even got Joe Thomas on TV saying it’s the most embarrassing thing ever and a slap in the face to coaches across the league and the guys in that locker room. They can’t be happy about this hire. They simply can’t be as competitors. This is a game the Raiders have to win. They have to. However…they are the Raiders. Can we feel comfortable with anything they do? Even when they’re up 17 points it isn’t enough. This week though, we have to believe they can pull it off. If they don’t then just fold the franchise now. Stop construction on that mega mansion Mr. Davis is building and go back to Oakland to re-strategize.

Pick: LV -6 Raiders 26 Colts 19

Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers Line: DAL -4.5

I see a lot of people betting on the Packers. The wise guys think they know something. I’m not buying it. I’ve watched this Packers team pretty much every week and I have no reason to believe in them. There are no signs of life, it’s over. On top of that, Dallas is actually good. Horrible week to expect the Packers to turn it on, regardless of the relationship with the coach and who’s on the opposite sideline. McCarthy is getting the better of Aaron this time around, and good for him.

Pick: DAL -4.5 Cowboys 30 Packers 24

Los Angeles Chargers @ San Francisco 49ers Line: SF -7

I loved the Chargers entering the season and thought the 49ers were overhyped. Now, it’s turned. The 49ers are legit, I like them better with Jimmy G at QB, as I’ve said all year. Their defense could be the best in the league, they have weapons galore, and a creative coach who knows what he’s doing. The Chargers coach? Can’t say that about him. Health is an issue for both teams, but Justin Herbert can’t be expected to do this alone. He’s in trouble.

Pick: SF -7 49ers 28 Chargers 20

Dog Of The Week: Minnesota Vikings @ Buffalo Bills. This line keeps moving down as it looks less and less likely that Josh Allen will play. Currently at -3.5 as I write this. I’ll take the Vikings money line. They’re a great team, too. This isn’t all about Buffalo. Especially if Allen ends up missing the game, but even if he plays he’s not going to be the same. The Vikings are fully capable of pulling this off. If the Jets can beat Buffalo then I’m pretty sure the Vikings can do it, as well. This is a big game for them and I think we’re going to end up seeing Kirk Cousin in some jewelry after the game.

The post Pick Six: NFL Week 10 appeared first on Korked Bats.

We are getting closer and closer to games that really matter. I expect the chaos to begin…immediately. We’re getting to lots of rival games and matches that will have major implications for the College Football Playoff. At the same time, there are lots of matchups this week with double digit spreads that has me absolutely terrified. Either way that makes for some tough pickings. Thankfully, I have the inside scoop from a stranger who offered up his algorithm in exchange for tickles and compliments. This could end up being the perfect week. Minus those tickles.

Here are my six alleged locks that I have gone very far to obtain for you, along with the Dog Of The Week.

LSU @ Arkansas Line: LSU -3.5

Fresh off a win against Alabama that could end their rivals chances at making the playoffs, the LSU Tigers are hot hot hot. Arkansas is not not not. I think LSU can carry that momentum forward another week on the road against Arkansas and keep everything interesting in the SEC. Big game coming for the Tigers.

Pick: LSU -3.5 LSU 33 Arkansas 27

Georgia @ Mississippi State Line: Georgia -16.5

This is a scary spread, but gotta believe in Georgia’s defense to make the stops. My fear is it could be a low scoring game like we saw last week, but I think the Bulldogs can put up enough points to sneak by with a cover. Maybe I’m just blindly betting on the cutest mascot in all of college football. But can you blame me?

Pick: UGA -16.5 Georgia 34 MSU 16

Missouri @ Tennessee Line: UT -19.5

The Vols will need a lot of points to cover this one, but I think they should have proper motivation to do it. They didn’t look good against Georgia last week. At all. Didn’t look like the team we watched beat Alabama. Didn’t look like they were capable of putting up 50 burgers last week. Mizzou isn’t a chump, either. We all can recall them giving Alabama a run for their money with many drinks on the line in Columbia. They almost pulled that off. I think they deserve their respect, they’re just getting Tennessee at the absolute worst time. I expect Tennessee to come out showing that they were worthy of that number one spot coming into last week, Georgia is just that good. We should be seeing a more familiar Volunteer team, and Hooker should come out trying to reclaim that Heisman light. He has some work to do, but there are still plenty of opportunities to make it happen.

Pick: UT -19.5 Tennessee 42 Missouri 20

UNC @ Wake Forest Line: Wake -4

This is what I like to see. This has all the ingredients for a delicious matchup. I expect every drive to end with points in this game, that’s what I want. I think North Carolina can end up covering the four points in a close game, or win it outright. Both of these QBs can sling the pigskin around like the best in the sport, so passing yards shouldn’t be hard to come by in this one. Can UNC continue what they’ve been doing? They just Maye.

Pick: UNC +4 UNC 40 Wake 38

Louisville @ Clemson Line: CLEM -7

We all knew the ugly Clemson game was coming. It did. They looked terrible against Notre Dame for most of that game, showing they really don’t deserve a spot in the College Football Playoffs, but if they continue to win out they still could have a chance given the craziness we’ve seen the past couple of weeks. I still think they have talent on all sides of the ball, just not like we’ve seen in previous Clemson team. I think that talent will be enough to beat Louisville at home by at least 7.

Pick: CLEM -7 Clemson 27 Louisville 17

Maryland @ Penn State Line: PSU -10.5

I’m not in love with this game, it just felt like a reasonable spread. Coach Franklin is just one of those guys who I am never fully comfortable betting on. I’ve been let down so many times before, but I am ready to get hurt again. Maryland seems just as inconsistent at Penn State, and I really like what Penn State can do on both sides of the ball, especially defense. The spread is big enough to keep things interesting and make watching it worth while, but my money is riding on Penn State here.

Pick: PSU -10.5 Penn State 34 Maryland 23

Dog Of The Week: TCU +7 against Texas. Everyone loves Texas in this game, and it’s hard to blame them given the product on the field. However, I think the Frogs will stay hot another week to stay undefeated and alive in the playoff hunt. I think I will be rooting for Texas, however, but my money can stay on TCU. I don’t want them in the College Football Playoff. I think they’ll get blown out by whoever they play, so I’d rather see someone else take that spot in the final four teams. For now, they’re good enough to at least cover against Texas but I wouldn’t count out a victory. TCU 33 Texas 30 sounds about right here.

The post Pick Six: NCAA Football Week 11 appeared first on Korked Bats.

By hiring Jeff Saturday as their Interim Head Coach, the Indianapolis Colts have proved an old saying true, “it’s all about who you know.” Saturday had a tremendous NFL career, spending 13 years in Indy with the Colts which included a Super Bowl victory, five Pro Bowls, and four All-Team selections. He went on to make the Pro Bowl playing for the Green Bay Packers. Off the field, Saturday had a ton of charisma (the dude is a hunk!) and immediately landed a broadcasting job with ESPN. The guy knows football, there’s no doubt there.

The concern with the hire, in my opinion and in the eyes of many, is a lack of coaching experience. Okay, let me be more specific. A lack of professional coaching experience. He was a High School coach in Georgia for a few years. However, he’s never worked as a coordinator. Never as an assistant, and certainly never worked as a head ball coach in the NFL, or college football, for that matter. However, this concern over his experience, or lack there of, isn’t shared by everyone. In fact, the Colts owner, Jim Irsay, said that Saturday’s lack of experience is a reason he got the job? It’s a good thing?

That wasn’t the only wild quote to come from Irsay during the press conference. Clearly, food was on his mind, as he attempted to make an analogy comparing building a football team and making sausage. Irsay said, “I don’t know how to make sausage. I don’t know what goes into sausage. But, I do know how to build a football team.” It didn’t make much sense, to be honest. It sounded more like the scene in Tommy Boy where Tommy is trying to use his dad’s quote about the butcher but for lack of a better term totally butchers it.

The only thing that makes less sense than the sausage comparison, has to be the hire. How on earth can you try to talk yourself into a lack of experience being a good thing? No habits mean no bad habits? No experience means he’s never lost a game? Now, I can’t blame Irsay and company for firing Frank Reich. It was time. You can’t do a merry-go-round of quarterbacks changing every year and expect to have success. You need some sort of consistency. It wasn’t a good look, both on paper and on the field. The problem was it’s not like there was nobody else to turn to. Irsay said he was the best available, but there’s no way that’s true. There are better options (way better options) already on the payroll. John Fox is a senior defensive assistant. He has tons of head coaching experience, including a Super Bowl appearance. Gus Bradley has been an NFL head coach, he’s currently the Defensive Coordinator. You didn’t have to look very far to find candidates for the Interim job, you didn’t have to look outside the building!

It’s clearly just the hiring of a buddy. There couldn’t have been a real process behind this hire. I’m sure Jeff is a great leader, but there’s a little more that goes into being a Head Coach in the NFL. If coaching experience doesn’t matter and it’s all about your passion and knowledge of the game and the X’s and O’s, and your gut…then could we end up seeing professional Madden players be NFL head coaches? Why not? They arguably know the game just as well as someone who played the game themselves. They are likely experts on game management, something we see current NFL coaches fumble every week. Game management is a crucial part of being an NFL head coach, you have to know when to use your timeouts and when not to use them. You need to know how much time you have to run certain plays. Then decisions like when to go for it on 4th down, and when to go for a two-point conversion, the best Madden players in the world know how to manage the game. The understand situational football. They can read defenses and develop schemes. I could see a team exploring this option one day, as crazy as it sounds.

The unexpected hiring of Jeff Saturday isn’t the only example of an organization looking to hire a Head Coach with no experience. The Houston Texans were reportedly interested in hiring Josh McCown who also has no coaching experience, but has a relationship with the higher ups in the organization. Those are just two examples that we know of, I’m sure it happens much more often than the public knows. I say a team should go for it. Why not? The best Madden player in the entire world has to know what they’re doing. I saw a movie once where a kid developed a wicked fastball after a freak injury, and he went on to play for the Chicago Cubs and even won Rookie of the Year. Would this be more crazy than that happening? I encourage NFL teams to make the leap and reap the benefits on your way to the Super Bowl.

The post Are Madden Esports Players The Next NFL Coaches? appeared first on Korked Bats.

After the completion of Monday Night Football tonight, we will officially be half way through the 18-week NFL schedule. As we approach the half-way mark, I think we can all agree this season has come with a plethora of surprises. Some of those surprises have been in a good way. Others entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations and the door is already closed on them after Week 9.

The unpredictability and parity across the league has provided much entertainment. Any game can go any way. Said unpredictability and parity has also made gambling on the games more interesting. A 17-point lead is no longer comfortable, as we have seen (truly) countless times already this season. With most of those coming from the Raiders, but still it’s happened to several teams…not just the Raiders…but mostly the Raiders.

With so much craziness already happening across the league this year, I got to thinking: what team has been the biggest surprise of the year? I felt like it could be any number of teams, for one reason or another. Some shockers are more obvious and talked about in the media, while others are more subtle, but equally as surprising. Let’s dive into the candidates before making a pick on the biggest surprise of the season, at the halfway mark.

Pathetic Packers

Once Adams left for Las Vegas (we’ll get to them more later) we all knew it was going to be a different type of season for Aaron Rodgers. He has always had that go-to guy, whether it was Adams, Nelson, or Jennings. Now, he was going to be left with a 3 receiver as his number 1 with Allen Lazard. He’s talented, sure, but he’s not a go-to guy. He’s had a good connection with Robert Tonyan when he’s healthy, but he’s not enough. Then, Watson drops his first career pass that could have gone for a touchdown and his relationship with 12 was over immediately. So, there was no doubting this season would look different. However, I didn’t expect it to be this different. I thought the back-to-back MVP would be able to make it work. He hasn’t. I thought the coaching staff would be able to develop a game plan to help out. They haven’t. I expected the defense to be one of the best in the league and take a load off of the offenses shoulders. It has not.

They have now lost five (checks notes) five! games in a row. That’s pathetic. Then, after not landing anything in Free Agency when you desperately need that wideout, you strike out. Only to make it worse by adding that you tried really hard for several guys…and naming them. It’s like not going to the prom and then saying “yeah, but I asked Jessica, Sarah, and Megan but they went with someone else.” Just stay quiet. The extra details only make you look worse.

Looking at the rest of their schedule, I don’t see how they turn it around. The team I (embarrassingly) picked to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl is not going to make the playoffs. And they play in the NFC North. What??

Eagles Flying To An Undefeated Record?

I will be the first to admit: I undervalued the Philadelphia Eagles this year. In the words of Gob Bluth, “I’ve made a huge mistake.” I took the NFC East as a joke and wrote it off to the Cowboys in the preseason like they would have it no problem winning this talentless division. Ouch was I ever wrong. On many things in the NFC East it turns out. While I was way off on my expectations for the Eagles, I can’t be the only one. Did anyone see this team being undefeated at the halfway point of the season? I mean I could understand maybe a Wild Card placement or just missing the playoffs, but I didn’t see this coming. Looking at it now, I should have believed in them. They have all the pieces. Two outstanding wideouts, one of the best five tight ends in the league, arguably the best offensive line in the NFL, and a defense that’s quite intimidating and only got better at the trade deadline, and a dual threat QB. I didn’t think Jalen Hurts would be as successful with his arm as he has been this season. I knew what he could do with his legs, but needed him to prove the arm was there as well. So far, he was. I still think that’s going to be the biggest concern for the team, but having so many weapons to throw to helps minimize that risk. I also want to question the Head Coach, but I have nothing to point to outside of that initial press conference, possibly the worst of all-time. Health will be a huge factor for the team moving forward but they could make a real run and finish the job, which the Phillies came close to doing but ultimately couldn’t. Maybe the Eagles will get redemption for the city. Much to America’s dismay.

Slept On Seattle

Entering the season, I expected the Seahawks, Lions, and Falcons to be the top contenders for the first pick in the NFL draft. I’m looking pretty foolish now. The Falcons are 4-5, the Lions still have a good shot at. that pick but just beat the Green Bay Packers, and the Seahawks are 6-3 atop the NFC West. Geno Smith is looking like a totally different dude than we saw with the Jets like a decade ago. What happened? Let’s be honest, he was terrible with the Jets. Just brutal. Unwatchable. I think the only memorable moment was him getting punched out by a teammate in the locker room. Now, he’s playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the league…and Seattle is winning.

This is huge and unexpected for many reasons. Obviously, they traded away Russell Wilson over the offseason. At first, I thought Seattle was going to lose that trade. Now, Pete Carroll looks like a genius, and possibly saved his job, and Wilson has high kneed his way to becoming the laughing stock of the league. I thought it was over for Seattle when Russ left, now I’m picturing the moment he left being like when Ace Ventura leaves the monastery in When Nature Calls and all the monks are happy and celebrating…not his accomplishments, but celebrating the fact that he’s leaving. Former teammates took to social media to poke fun at Russ after that Week 1 Seahawks win over the Broncos. And things only got worse from there.

I don’t know how this is going to end up, but at the halfway point the Seattle Seahawks are definitely one of the biggest surprises of the season. Can they finish that way? Or will they regress towards the norm? I would think things would start to fall flat but they’ve got a lot going for them. Geno needs to just stay consistent. Walker has emerged as a great weapon and addition to the team (Go Green), and they have an experienced coach. Those are recipes for success. Don’t be surprised if they find a way to win this division at the end of the year. I never thought I would say that.

Let’s Ride…To The Bottom

I think we just covered the Russell Wilson stuff pretty sufficiently. No need to beat a dead Bronco. Surely, this can’t all be his fault, right? I don’t know, man. Do I think they would also be 3-5 if they had started Drew Lock and had the same roster as last year? Yeah, probably. Maybe one more loss? It wouldn’t be very different. Russ is turning into a cheesy Baker Mayfield. At least Baker was kind of funny and likable in his commercials, though. Russ is just embarrassing and tries so hard. But both of those guys were all over your TV and social media, while playing like a middle of the road QB. Stop focusing on your brand and your endorsements and focus on playing football. It has to play a part at some point. If I’m Russell Wilson’s teammate, and I’m seeing all these horrible ads and videos, and then he’s showing up Sunday, often in Prime Time, playing like that? Nahhh I wouldn’t be having it. I have no doubt that the Denver locker room can’t stand Wilson. Anyone who has played sports, whether collegiately, high school, or little league has played with someone like him. Trust me…they cannot stand him.

However, I don’t think we can point all 10 fingers at Russ. Two of those fingers have to go to their new Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett. Have you ever worked with a colleague who is so far out of their depth that you know they just don’t belong and will gone before long? Someone who has to ask you questions every second, then it gets to the point where you’re basically doing their job for them and they know truly nothing? That’s how I picture Hackett. Watching these games you get a sense that he is so far out of his league. He is not a Head Coach. I reckon they gave him the job in hopes of luring Aaron Rodgers, and then came up short…and stuck with him. His decisions are head scratchers, his game plans are boring, and it isn’t working. They also lost a lot of picks and have a ton of money invested in Mr. Unlimited. That’s not great. I don’t know how they will improve, but they need to find something. If the front office thinks this roster is going to work for them, then their stadium isn’t the only thing that’s a Mile High.

Rams Super Bowl Hangover?

The Rams have been going through a Super Bowl hangover since Week 1. From the start of the season, it was clear this was not the same team we saw win it all last year. Not even close. The Cincinnati Bengals were able to sneak into the big game last year with a week O-Line, but were exposed. This line for the Rams? Looks even worse. What was once the best defense in football now looks mediocre at best. Even when the have the game won like they did Sunday against the Bucs, they let it slip. On the other side of the ball, it’s Kupp or bust. It’s not very hard to figure out for the opposing defense. It’s not working and they are probably wishing they could have some picks back, because the future isn’t very bright right now unless they make some serious adjustments, and attract better free agents in the offseason. It’s Los Angeles, it shouldn’t be too hard. Am I writing them off as back-to-back Super Bowl champions? Absolutely, yes.

Vikings On A Raid?

The Vikings have been a solid team for a few years now. Not great, but solid. They have flashes where they’ll beat a red hot Packers team, then drop a dud against a team they should beat easily. Rinse and repeat. Now, they’re sitting at 7-1 and look like near locks to secure the NFC North. I like what I see from the most weeks, they have the ability to run a balanced offense where they can be deadly with the run and dominant with the pass. Weapons isn’t a problem. The defense isn’t this year, either. The big question is: can Kirk win the big games when it matters? If history has anything to say about it, then no. But this team feels different this year and with little competition in-division they’ll glide into the playoffs. I knew they’d be good, but I didn’t expect 7-1 good.

While talking Vikings and Kirk Cousins, I think it’s a good time to point out that Kirk succeeds where Russell Wilson fails. I feel like Russ tries to be cool and ends up being incredibly cheesy, where Kirk tries to be cheesy and turns out being incredibly cool. Not like real “cool” but likable cool. It’s comical, at least.

Drama In New York

When Robert Saleh announced that he was keeping receipts on people talking bad about the Jets, I remember making a comment that said receipt was going to be CVS-sized. Just an endless amount of paper. Well, he has that on record somewhere in that mess of paper, but good luck finding it. The Jets have soared to a 6-3 record at the halfway point of the season. That includes wins against the Super Bowl favorites Buffalo Bills and back-to-back MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Greet Bay Packers. While Zach Wilson certainly hasn’t looked good (handsome, sure but not quality play) the defense has really stepped up to keep them in games and allow them to pull off stunning wins. I still don’t see them making the playoffs at this point as there are still some challenging games on the schedule, but they definitely deserve their props for getting to the point they’re currently at and playing the way they are.

The Jets aren’t the only surprise in New York. The Giants are somehow 6-2. Even crazier, I think they have a legit shot at making the playoffs this year. The NFC East entered the season being dubbed the NFC Least but now I think 3/4 teams should make the playoffs. To me, this is a huge surprise as I am someone who has doubted Daniel Jones since he entered the league. I just don’t see it. However, when you have a running back like Barkley, winning is possible. Giants’ new head coach Brian Daboll is off to a fantastic start in his freshman year as head coach and could end up winning Coach of the Year for what he’s been able to do with the Giants and the way he’s turned them around. Outside of Saquon, they really don’t have any weapons. They’re playing with unknown receivers and pulling off W’s. They aren’t fun to watch, by any means, but at 6-2 they’re one of the biggest surprises of the season.

On top of those teams playing in New Jersey, there’s also a lot of surprise surrounding the only team that plays home games in the state of New York–the Buffalo Bills. Ahead of Week 1, they were heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl in Vegas. I can understand it. Josh Allen continued to get better, he has tons of weapons, the defense got better with a huge addition of Von Miller. Why not be Super Bowl favorites? Well, turns out when Allen doesn’t play well, you have nothing else. For years now the Bills problem has been a lack of a running game. They haven’t had one. Yet, year after year they refuse to address it. It could really help Josh Allen out. That’s why I never bought in on the Super Bowl hype and picked the Kansas City Chiefs to win it all this year. Until the Bills address their glaring needs, I can’t believe they are a legit Super Bowl favorite. They proved that this week losing to the Jets. This team still has a lot of problems and I cannot see them lifting the Lombardi at the end of the season. I don’t buy the hype. I think it’s starting to show, too. For me, the Bills have been a bit of a surprise to many this season because they have not been dominant as expected.

Hotlanta?

Talking about the Seahawks earlier, I mentioned that the teams I expected to compete for the first pick in the draft are the Lions, Seahawks, and Falcons. Two of those teams have been surprisingly good this season. The Falcons sit at 4-5, that’s not bad! I would have guessed they would finish the season with 3-4 wins, so they’re already exceeding my expectations. Marcus Mariota hasn’t been a star, but he’s been good enough and I always say good enough is indeed good enough. However, with more wins come a worst draft pick so now the Falcons are likely going to be looking at a few more years of being mid because they won’t be in a position to draft a game changer or one of the best players in the draft. Pros and cons, baby. Pros and cons.

Raiders Or Raidees?

The Raiders have not been raiding much on the field this year. As you saw in the stat earlier, they have blown several big leads that turned into losses. It’s almost become predictable. It’s not a good look for Coach Josh McDaniels. Could he be another one and done head coach? I haven’t seen much to deserve another year. Derek Carr looks worse than ever. Things aren’t clicking in Vegas and there could be some serious changes coming for next season. I expected them to be much more competitive, especially with the Carr to Adams connection. I kind of just feel bad watching them. It physically hurts watching those leads slip away.

Dolphins Made Me A Flipper

Coming into the season, I did not believe in the Dolphins. At all. I thought Tyreek Hill made a mistake leaving Patrick Mahomes to play with Tua. I thought he wouldn’t get his yards and it was strictly a business decision to go to Miami make a lot of money and have fun in the sun. Turns out, he’s doing all of that and then some. Hill is putting up better stats than ever! Tua is looking fantastic, and maybe he’s not just a guy or another game manager like many, including myself, expected. All of those weapons on the offense, tons of talent on the D, and an innovative likable coach. I like the equation. I think they could be a dangerous team to face late in the season, and I did not think that would happen. Tua may scare me when he drops back to pass, but I think it’s time I change my perspective. This one might be on me. What’s not to like with this team? They’ve shown they can come back to win games after being down big, and can play and dominate on both sides of the ball. I’m changing my tone on the Dolphins.

Is Brady Back?

The Bucs are a hard team to get a read on. If they were healthy, I’m sure it would be different. But, they aren’t so week to week seems like a different journey for this team. On Sunday against the Rams, however, Brady reminded the country that he is indeed the GOAT. With a minute left to play he led an impressive drive down the field for the game winning touchdown. After looking like a shell of his former self all season long, this was the first time all year where I saw Tom be Tom. It was a much needed moment not just for Tom, but for the team. They’re only 4-5 but still number one in their division. That’s all they need to be. If they can find a way to win their division, which there’s no excuse not to, then who says Tom can’t pull off a couple of wins against weak teams in the NFC to find himself in yet another Super Bowl? What if they make the playoffs and he faces the Giants? Seahawks? You telling me he can’t win those? Even as bad as they have been this season, you still can’t write them off as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, yet. Had they lost on Sunday it could have been a totally different conversation, but Tom continues to do enough to silence the doubters. I can’t say they’re out of it. I won’t do it.

What’s The Biggest Surprise Of The Season?

We’ve gone over some of the big stories, we didn’t even have time to get to all of the surprises, but I think I’m ready to say what’s been the biggest surprise of the season. For me, it’s the success of the Seattle Seahawks. No way are they supposed to be where they are. Who has Geno Smith become? He could end up Comeback Player Of The Year and should. Carroll could snag Coach of the Year. If Walker keeps it up could he be Rookie Of The Year? One could argue! Things have really come together for the Seahawks at this point in the season, and there’s little doubt left that they won the trade with the Denver Broncos. Turns out it could be a little addition by subtraction.

What do you think has been the biggest surprise of the season so far? Send me a tweet.

The post What NFL Team Is The Biggest Surprise Of The Season? appeared first on Korked Bats.

I continue to get burned by the late games, maybe I’ll avoid them this week.*checks schedule* Never mind, we’re willing to get burned again. Despite losing the late games we went 5-2 last week, keeping the fire going another week. Just in time for it to get cold, too.

Across the country, it’s election week so we’re going to run with that theme today. Looking at the ballot, we’ve got some heavy favorites that are basically running unopposed, so my confidence is high. We’ll be backing a lot of favored incumbents this week. We’ve been doing the research and reading the polls like Nate Silver and there’s simply no way this thing goes wrong. They say you shouldn’t show your ballot or talk about who you’re voting for. Humbug I say! Here are all my picks on the ballot and which campaign we expect to extend even longer.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions Line: GB -3.5

Green Bay has been bad this year, but not Detroit Lions bad. It’s been a while since Detroit has had a defense they could hang their hat on. Probably since the days of Suh. Those days are long gone and after seeing a bad defense year after year, we’ve now seen the worst it’s been. There’s no hope in sight. They just traded away their most talented player in TJ Hockenson for next to nothing. And they sent him to an in-division foe who’s about to make a playoff run. Even when they end up with the number one pick in the draft, the Lions are still going to be left with several holes to fill. This team is so bad that even a broken Aaron Rodgers should be able to walk away with a win this week. Just like Dak reportedly picked to make his return against the Lions, Rodgers has this game circled on his calendar as one where they’ll start turning it around. And he’s right. It may not be pretty, but I have little to no faith in the Lions at this point. Don’t consider this as a sign that the Packers are about to make a run. They aren’t. You just can’t lose to this team.

Pick: GB -3.5 Packers 27 Lions 23

Los Angeles Chargers @ Atlanta Falcons Line: -2.5

The Atlanta Falcons deserve a lot of credit for the season they’ve had. They’ve managed to win several games! I didn’t see that coming. Now, I expect them to regress towards the norm. They can’t keep this up. It’s shocking that they’ve pulled any of this off. They likely expected Mariota to coast by and they’ll end up with the number one draft pick at the end of the year, but that didn’t happen. They’ve been winning. They’re atop the NFC South at 4-4! The Chargers haven’t been playing their best ball, but I’ll credit that to injuries…well…mostly. I have to admit I don’t understand a lot of Staley’s decisions. I’m left baffled. If they don’t make the playoffs again this year? He gone. This game against the Falcons is one they need in the W column, and they know it. All they have to do is pull it off by a field goal? That should happen. Just stop going for it on 4th down on your side of the field…with the game on the line.

Pick: LAC -2.5 Chargers 33 Falcons 24

Miami Dolphins @ Chicago Bears Line: MIA -4

Who are the Dolphins? They’re one of the harder teams to figure out this year. They were down big early to the pathetic Lions last week, before coming back with an impressive victory. They have weapons on offense. A lot of them. Do I believe in Tua? No. But Joe Flacco won a Super Bowl. That’s all Tua really has to be. Just don’t turn it over. Let your weapons be weapons. Let them do the work. It’s a simple equation, really. Now that they’ve added Bradley Chubb they already solid defense got better. They could end up making a real run. Maybe? I still think QB matters in this league and watching Tua is now like watching Alex Smith after he returned from that leg injury. Every time he drops back to pass I’m scared for him. That’s just the health part, too. If I was a Dolphins fan I’d be a little nervous watching him drop back to pass for different reasons. Speaking of dropping back to pass, that’s something Justin Fields doesn’t do very much. He’s thrown for over 200 yards once this season (208). I think it’s good they acquired Claypool at the deadline, and that should help them next year. This year? I’m still not buying it. Too inconsistent and they got rid of valuable pieces on the defensive side of the ball. No team burns me like the Bears, but I think the Dolphins stay hot.

Pick: MIA -4 Dolphins 30 Bears 20

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets Line: BUF -11

Zach Wilson is having an awful sophomore campaign. Is it injury? I don’t think you can blame it all on that. It’s a lot of poor decision making that’s leading to the dreadful season for Wilson. The Bills will get their turnovers without you literally gifting it to them, so I am scared for the Jets on this one. They’ve been having a much better season than anyone expected, but this week I think we’ll see the Jets we all expected to see this year. No real inditement against them. I think this is a good week for Josh Allen to pad some stats on his way to his first career MVP. He should have a field day.

Pick: BUF -11 Bills 36 Jets 17

Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Commanders Line: MIN -3

Only a field goal? Sure. The Commanders have pulled off some good wins lately, but they’re far from a good team. Minnesota has flashes of brilliance followed by lame duck drives. They’re hard to get a read on, but the Commanders are the only team that the Lions have beaten this season. The Vikings can beat this team. I know that’s not great logic, but sometimes you have to see things that way. Minnesota can beat you in the air or on the ground, so you really can’t make them one dimensional. Plus, what’s my rule? If there’s a back up QB in the game you bet against them. Sure, they pull off shocking wins here and there, but they are the back up for a reason. I’m comfortable betting on that.

Pick: MIN -3 Vikings 26 Commanders 20

Baltimore Ravens @ New Orleans Saints Line: BAL -2

New Orleans came alive last week. That has me scared. Can they do that two weeks in a row? I don’t think so. I think the Baltimore D can be just as good as the Saints D, and I trust Lamar Jackson more than I trust Andy Dalton to get the W. They aren’t going to shut out the Ravens. This one should be close and if it’s going to come down to a field goal then I’ll trust the best kicker I’ve ever seen. It’s going to be one of those kinds of games.

Pick: BAL -2 Ravens 26 Saints 23

Dog Of The Week: Tennessee Titans +12.5 against Kansas City Chiefs. I need to start by saying I do not expect the Titans to win this game. I’m not going ML here, but I do believe they can lose by less than 12. What do they do? They run the ball. Eat the clock and give the ball to King Henry. Win or lose that’s what you’ve got to do. That’s what they do. I think they lose by 10…unless Mahomes decides to go for the jugular and run up the scoreboard. I can’t see Coach Vrabel and the Titans defense letting that happen. Regardless of who plays QB, the game plan shouldn’t change much for the Titans. I think the run game will help us on the spread this week. I admit I’m a little scared this could end up being like the Bills game. Chiefs and Bills both have explosive offenses and are capable of putting up a 50 burger at any time. But what’s a little risk with no reward?

The post Pick Six: NFL Week 9 appeared first on Korked Bats.

How is it already November? Make sure to spend this month of Thankfulness being thankful for college football while we still have it, it’ll be gone again before we know it. I’m getting emotional over here! I’m not ready for winter! You’re telling me that tomorrow it’s going to be getting darker even earlier than usual? Earlier? It’s already dark by 6pm, I don’t know if I can stay sane having it get dark any earlier than it already is. I’m panicking over here. Good thing we have football to keep us grounded within reality these next few months of what will feel like eternal darkness. Since we’re going to be trapped inside watching games, we might as well make some money doing it.

I’ve done research, science, and math to identify six sure things and one Dog Of The Week. Let’s dive in.

Texas Tech @ TCU Line: TCU -8

Why not stay undefeated and keep making a case for the College Football Playoff? TCU has some big wins on their resume against the likes of Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Kansas, and Oklahoma in the past five weeks alone. Duggan has thrown for 22 touchdowns and only 2 picks so far this year. They’re averaging more than 44 points again while giving up about 27. I expect a high, high scoring game here but the Frogs should be able to cover easy.

Pick: TCU -8 TCU 40 Texas Tech 30

UNC @ Virginia Line: UNC -7

Pre-season I would have enjoyed this lineup more, but what happened to Armstrong? Maye is having an incredible season throwing for 29 TD and only 3 interceptions. Like we just talked about with TCU, UNC is a team that scores a lot of points but also gives up a lot of points. Thankfully for them, Virginia does not put up many points, averaging only 17 a game. You combine low scoring offense against a Maye who’s on fire and what do you get? A lock, baby.

Pick: UNC -7 UNC 34 Virginia 24

Tulane @ Tulsa Line: TULN -7

I’ll be the first to admit I have not watched either of these teams play a single down all year. I mean…can you blame me? But I look and see a Tulane team that’s 7-1 going against a Tulsa team that’s 3-5 and the 7-1 team only needs to win by a touchdown? Sign me up! Sure, they’re on the road but that 7-1 has to have had some wins on the road, against better teams than Tulane. This is more of a gut feeling here, as I have done no research on this game outside of their records. That’s part of the fun of gambling, though.

Pick: TULN -7 Tulane 33 Tulsa 23

Oklahoma State @ Kansas Line: KU -1

Yes, yes. I’m backing Oklahoma State again. After a brutal shutout loss to Kansas State last week, I expect the Cowboys to be ready to bounce back to form. Last week was embarrassing. I believe they have regrouped and will come out prepared to make a statement. Kansas had one of the hottest starts of the year, but now they’re regressing towards the norm. I think Oklahoma State should be able to keep this one interesting, and they are the better team here. That should lead to a W. As long as they stay far far away from whatever the game plan was last week.

Pick: OKST +1 Oklahoma State 30 Kansas 24

Clemson @ Notre Dame Line: CLEM -4

Clemson somehow made it into the first college football playoff picture over the likes of Michigan and TCU. Yes, they’re undefeated but are we sure they’re a better team than those other two? Or even Alabama with one loss? Clemson is going to have to really prove that they belong the next couple of weeks. A big win against the Fighting Irish would help silence the talkers. I think this will be a closer game than most are imagining, as I don’t think Clemson will finish in the Top 4. Maybe I’m just hoping they don’t because they bore me this year. However, this shouldn’t be the week that throws away their season. They’ll cover the 4 points.

Pick: CLEM -4 Clemson 26 Notre Dame 21

UCLA @ Arizona State Line: UCLA -11

UCLA is 7-1 entering the week, with their only loss being at the hands of the 10th ranked Oregon Ducks. Outside of that loss, they’ve put on some great performances and average almost 40 points a game while allowing 24. I’ve been saying all year that Arizona State is a program nearing rock bottom and I think UCLA’s experience can help the Devils get there. I expect a big game from UCLA this week, leaving Arizona State struggling to keep up.

Pick: UCLA -11 UCLA 34 Arizona State 20

Dog Of The Week: Tennessee +9 against Georgia. Game of the week? I think so! So much on the line here. We’re getting to the part of the season where the SEC will start cannibalizing itself, and who will be left standing? One 8-0 team will come out of this game with a loss, and their playoff hopes potentially crushed. Will Georgia’s D come through? Or does Tennessee have enough fire power to overcome it? I’m betting on the offense. Hooker is the Heisman favorite right now and I just can’t see the Bulldogs being able to put up enough points to keep up. Even Alabama couldn’t! I’m sure Georgia will get more stops than most teams, but it’s going to be a long day for them. Even if Georgia wins, I don’t see it being a blowout. Loving me some Tennessee here.

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