SATURDAY SMACKDOWN

INDIANA +7.5 VS WISCONSIN

ALABAMA -14 VS TEXAS A&M

BOSTON COLLEGE +20 VS NOTRE DAME

TCU +6.5 VS KANSAS STATE

OREGON STATE +4 AT STANFORD

LINGY DINGY DNG DONG'S SEASON BEGINS

Ok boys, sorry about getting excited with football a couple weeks ago. I should stick to what I know. Lock these ones up tonight. College plays will start soon.

Heat -5 @ Hawks

Hornets -6 vs Bobcats

Rockets +7 @ Grizzlies

Spurs -5.5 @ Kings

Pacers +2 @ T’Wolves

JOHNNY 5

Wisc 17
Indiana 24

NW 27
Michigan 34

Purdue 17
Iowa 27

Penn St 24
Neb 17

Minn 24
Illinois 13

SATURDAY'S CARD

A tough loss with Louisville last night but we're back at it today with 5 locks that figure to improve your weekend.

NORTHWESTERN -5 VS IOWA
TEMPLE +6.5 AT PITT
INDIANA +2 AT ILLINOIS
PURDUE -3 AT MINNESOTA
USC -6.5 AT ARIZONA

ALL ABOARD

It’s been too long. It has to have been painful for this blog’s followers. But don’t you worry because Lingy Dingy Ding Dong is back. You can all crawl out of the moldy, dirty, stinky hole you have been confined to for the past year due to the depression that hacks like Slapshot Bob has put you in. No longer will you have to take the advice of a guy who hasn’t watched a sporting event in over 5 years. You will all remember this day as one of the greatest of your life. I say “one of the greatest” because in a week and a half, we may all see Barack Obama ousted from office, which would instantly catapult that day as the greatest day this fine country has ever seen.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am more of a basketball expert. I will provide you with winning week after winning week when the season begins. What you will not see in me is excuses and lies and placing blame. My camp is not run like the Obama administration.

Listen, I understand that a lot of you have become accustomed to some people on here. I’m sure you all have started to enjoy that depression filled hole that Slapshot drove you in to. Maybe Slapshot has warped your mind into thinking mediocrity is ok. I am here to remind you that being mediocre is NOT OK. We are here to win, not to lose. Denis Waitley once said, “Loser make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep.”

So, if you want to keep losing and keep failing, stay with the promise breaking Oba….er….I mean Slapshot. Or jump on board with the winner producing freight train that is about to steamroll its way through the NBA And NCAA Basketball seasons. As part of my commitment to you, I am going to give you a couple football plays this weekend. Like I said, I am a basketball man but I want to gain your trust now. When you see my winning ways on my “less knowledgeable” sport, you will surely jump off the Slapshot bandwagon and onto the freight train.

Louisville -3 1/2

USC -6 @ Arizona

Ohio St +1 @ Penn St

Wisconsin -6 vs. Michigan St

Oklahoma -11 vs. Notre Dame

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN

Two big wins for us last night got the weekend headed in the right direction. 51-53 on the season is still subpar but the comeback has begun. Tonight we've got an excellent matchup as the undefeated Louisville Cardinals host 1 loss Cincy. Mr. Thursday Night knows the Cardinals are legit and will be laying the points. Lock it in!

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS -3.5 VS CINCY BEARCATS

JOHNNY 5

Our Big Ten expert Johnny 5 looks to continue his spectacular season with these sure fire locks:

Iowa 20
NW 27

Indiana 31
Illinois 27

Purdue 28
Minny 17

MSU 17
Wisc 20

Ohio State 20
Penn State 27

Michigan 24
Nebraska 27

THURSDAY NIGHT!

TAMPA BAY BUCS +5.5 AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

CLEMSON TIGERS -11 AT WAKE FOREST DEACONS

NFL SUNDAY

Another good Saturday gets us to 49-50 on the season as we enter another interesting NFL Sunday. We like the favorites today, ain't no doubt about it. Good luck!

VIKINGS -7 VS CARDINALS
BILLS -4 VS TITANS
GIANTS -6.5 VS REDSKINS

SATURDAY IS HERE

45-48 is not where we want to be on the year but things are trending in the right direction after a 4-1-1 day last Saturday. We're heavy on the Big Ten today but that's what we know best. Good Luck!

Purdue +18.5 at Ohio State

LSU -3.5 at Texas A&M

Michigan State +9 at Michigan

Indiana +3 at Navy

Tennessee +20 vs Alabama

West Virginia -3 vs Kansas State

JOHNNY FOOTBALL

Our Old Pal Johnny 5 is back with his 7-3 record to predict the Big Ten this week!

OSU 38, PU 27

Wisc 27, Minn 17

Neb 38, NW 35

Mich 27, MSU 17

Ind 38, Navy 17

IA 20, PSU 14

SATURDAY!

We're back and charged up for a big day on the college gridiron! 41-47 on the year.

IOWA +7.5 AT MICHIGAN STATE
OKLAHOMA -3 VS TEXAS
PURDUE -1 VS WISCONSIN
KANSAS STATE -6 AT IOWA STATE
STANFORD +7.5 AT NOTRE DAME
SOUTH CAROLINA +2.5 AT LSU

JOHNNY 5

Iowa 17
Michigan St 23

Northwestern 31
Minnesota 17

Purdue 31
Wisconsin 24

Illinois 13
Michigan 38

Ohio St 42
Indiana 20

SUPER SATURDAY

VIRGINIA TECH +6.5 AT NORTH CAROLINA
VIRGINIA +1 AT DUKE
ARIZONA +10 AT STANFORD
CLEMSON -11 VS GEORGIA TECH
TCU -6.5 VS IOWA STATE
LSU -2.5 AT FLORIDA
GEORIGA +1.5 AT SOUTH CAROLINA
WEST VIRGINIA +7 AT TEXAS

JOHNNY 5

Michigan State 38
Indiana 27


Northwestern 17
Penn State 21


Illinois 13
Wisconsin 24


Michigan 21
Purdue 27


Nebraska 20
Ohio State 31

THURSDAY NIGHT ACTION

ST. LOUIS RAMS +2 VS ARIZONA CARDINALS

USC TROJANS -14.5 VS UTAH UTES

NFL LOCK OF THE YEAR!!

A mediocre Saturday has us chomping at the bit today and we've got our NFL lock of the year to start the day. This is a must win for Detroit and the Vikings value is inflated due their huge win last week over the 49ers. We do not expect this game to be close. Elsewhere, the favorites will dominate the early games as we love the Falcons to keep rolling against Cam the Scam. Good luck!

LIONS -4 VS VIKINGS
FALCONS -7 VS PANTHERS
SEAHAWKS -3 VS RAMS

SATURDAY CARD

Good morning fellow degenerates! We enter today 38-39 which is not acceptable around these parts. For the morning games, we like several home teams to take care of business. Be sure to check back later today for the afternoon card which promises to improve your weekend. Good luck!

VIRGINIA +4 VS LA TECH
MIAMI -2 VS NC ST
WEST VIRGINIA -11 VS BAYLOR
ARKANSAS +13.5 AT TEXAS A&M
IOWA/UCONN/NORTHWESTERN ML PARLAY
OHIO STATE ML AT MICHIGAN STATE
VIRGINIA TECH -6.5 VS CINCY
ASU -2.5 AT CAL
COLORADO +19 VS UCLA
OSU +2 VS TEXAS
WISKY -11.5 AT NEBRASKA

FRIDAY FOOTBALL

This weekend promises to be a big one and we kick it off in Utah as Hawaii travels to BYU.

HAWAII +26.5 AT BYU

JOHNNY 5 RETURNS!

Our ole pal, Big Ten Expert Johnny 5 is back as conference play opens this weekend!

Indiana 27
NW 34

Penn St 10
Illinois 17

Iowa 24
Minn 17

Marshall 17
Purdue 31

Ohio St 21
Michigan St 17

Wisconsin 13
Nebraska 27

MR. THURSDAY NIGHT

Thursday is here again and it is time to continue the winning ways as both the NFL and the NCAA have interesting games on tap. We are heading back to the Pacific Northwest for our second home dog of the week as we are officially putting Stanford on upset alert! Red hot Slap Shot Bob has also joined us on the Huskies. In the NFL, the real refs are back and the chaos is gone therefore things will settle back towards normal which means Baltimore will take care of Cleveland despite the potential hangover effect from their big win over New England Sunday Night.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES +7 VS STANFORD CARDINAL

BALTIMORE RAVENS -12 VS CLEVELAND BROWNS

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS ML +150 VS GREEN BAY PACKERS

NFL SUNDAY

A below average day Saturday has us eager to recover today as the NFL takes center stage. Good luck!

BENGALS ML AT REDSKINS
LIONS -4 VS TITANS
CARDINALS ML VS EAGLES
BILLS -3 AT BROWNS
JETS -2.5 AT DOLPHINS

SATURDAY, SATURDAY

Good morning fellow degenerates! We've got a full slate of college action to look forward to today and it looks like Mr. Thursday Night is starting to find his groove. Back to .500 on the season only means the turnaround has begun for this legendary gamer. Be sure to check back later when we finalize our card which will include an automatic winner in the Notre Dame/Michigan game. Good luck!

IOWA -14.5 VS CENTRAL MICHIGAN
ARIZONA STATE -6.5 VS UTAH
MINNESOTA +1 VS SYRACUSE
IOWA/WISCONSIN/VIRGINIA TECH ML (-170)
VIRGINIA +18 AT TCU

MICHIGAN +6 AT NOTRE DAME

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

A tough 1-1 last night after the Boise offense refused to show its face. Tonight, ULM returns home after nearly running roughshot through the SEC. A win at Arkansas was followed by a heartbreaking overtime loss at Auburn. The Baylor defense looks suspect through two games and the offense has a huge hole to fill behind center. This one looks like a winner, go Warhawks!

ULM +7.5 VS BAYLOR

MR. THURSDAY NIGHT

Mr. Thursday Night is back to produce two locks on his favorite day of the week! We're still sputtering out of the gate at 28-29 however brighter days are ahead, starting today. We see the favorites dominating these two early season battles. Good luck!

BOISE STATE -7.5 VS BYU
NEW YORK GIANTS -1.5 AT CAROLINA PANTHERS

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

A decent day yesterday gets us back on track entering tonight's clash between Denver and Atlanta. The Falcons always cause problems at home and we feel the Peyton Manning/Denver Bronco love has gone too far. This matchup will likely be high scoring as the Atlanta secondary will have their hands full while Denver has to deal with the White/Jones WR combo housed by the Falcons.

ATLANTA FALCONS -3 VS DENVER BRONCOS

NFL LOCKS

After a damaging day on the college gridiron, we look forward today to bouncing back with these sure-fire NFL locks. Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Monday Night play!!

ARIZONA CARDINALS +14.5 VS NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
DETROIT LIONS +7 VS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS -1.5 VS INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
BUFFALO BILLS -3 VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS -4.5 VS NEW YORK JETS

SATURDAY'S CARD

Saturday is here again and we've got a full card of winners! This looks to be the weekend where we kick it into high gear......good luck degens!

MARYLAND ML +125 VS UCONN
MICHIGAN STATE -6 VS NOTRE DAME
VIRGINIA TECH -11 VS PITTSBURGH
CAL/OSU UNDER 55.5
WISCONSIN -13.5 VS UTAH STATE
ARIZONA STATE +6 VS MISSOURI
USC -9 VS STANFORD

FRIDAY NIGHT ACTION

1-1 last night mainly due to a disgusting performance by Jay Cutler. Tonight we've got an UGLY one in Las Vegas as UNLV hosts Mike Leach and Washington State. UNLV lost at home last weekend to Northern Arizona which forced them to 0-2 while Washington State enters at 1-1. Mr. Thursday Night thinks that the Cougars will be able to generate just enough offense to cover this number. Check back later today and early tomorrow for Saturday's card which is shaping up to be the best of the young season!

WASHINGTON STATE -8 AT UNLV

THURSDAY NIGHT DOUBLE PLAY

A pair of interEsting football games on Thursday Night as Rutgers visits South Florida and the Chicago Bears head north to face the Green Bay Packers.

South Florida returns home after an impressive win at Nevada. We think the Bulls pull this game out but do not cover the number as the after effects of a cross country flight and short week take its toll.

The Bears looked to be a contender in week 1 with an improved offense against Indianapolis while the Packers sputtered to a season opening loss at the hands of San Francisco. Despite the fact that Chicago beat a bottom 3 team in the league and Green Bay lost to a top 3 team, we like the Bears. The tough, physical teams have proven to be a problem for the Pack in the past. Also of note is Greg Jennings injury status. At this point he appears to be 50/50 to play at best.

CHICAGO BEARS +6 VS GREEN BAY PACKERS

RUTGERS +7.5 VS SOUTH FLORIDA

MONDAY NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER

A big 5-3 day gets us over .500 for the season at 21-20. Two games are on tap Monday with the Ravens hosting the Bengals and the Raiders entertaining the Chargers.

RAVENS/RAIDERS ML PARLAY +135

NFL SUNDAY

A late push salvaged a Saturday that looked ugly from the beginning. Looking forward, our first full Sunday of NFL action is upon us and there are opportunities all over the board. Our record on the early season now stands at 16-17.

LIONS/RAMS OVER 46
AZ CARDINALS (+125) ML VS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
BUFFALO BILLS (+130) ML VS NEW YORK JETS
ATLANTA FALCONS -3 VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
GREEN BAY PACKERS -5 VS SF 49ERS
4 TEAM ML PARLAY (+140) BEARS, EAGLES, LIONS, SAINTS
DENVER BRONCOS -3 VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS
TAMPA BAY BUCS ML (+135) VS CAROLINA PANTHERS

SATURDAY'S CARD

WHOA NELLIE. Lots of action to talk about today. You'll notice we like 3 Big Ten teams to cover the number tomorrow but our strongest play will be against the Big Ten as Illinois travels to the desert to face Arizona State. Questions at quarterback combined with an upstart Arizona State team will result in a beating not seen at Sun Devil Stadium since Iowa visisted in 2004. We do like the Badgers to boucne back after last weeks suspect performance against Northern Iowa. Rex Burkhead looks unlikely to play when Nebraska visits the Rose Bowl and UCLA however the Huskers have more than enough depth to take care of business. Penn State did lose last week but it was to a very solid Ohio team. We don't think they'll win this game but 10 points is too many. We may add a play or two throughout the day so stay tuned!

MIAMI +7 AT KANSAS STATE
NC STATE -3.5 AT UCONN
PENN STATE +10 AT VIRGINIA
AUBURN ML (+125) AT MISSISSIPPI STATE
WISCONSIN -7 AT OREGON STATE
ARIZONA STATE -3 AT ILLINOIS
NEBRASKA -5 AT UCLA
PURDUE +14.5 AT NOTRE DAME

ADD-IOWA -3.5 VS IOWA STATE
ARIZONA +11 VS OKLAHOMA STATE
GEORGIA -1.5 VS MIZZOU

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Utah travels to Utah State tonight in what looks like the Aggies best chance to defeat the Utes in quite sometime. Looking forward to tomorrow there are at least three games that jump off the page at us and all three involve Big Ten teams which is our area of expertise. Enjoy the game tonight and check back early tomorrow!

UTAH ST +7 VS UTAH

MR. THURSDAY NIGHT

It's our favorite day of the week once again. Hopefully you've enjoyed the first week of football as much as us. We've got a shitfest to look forward to tonight as Pittsburgh, coming off a home loss to Youngstown State, heads to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats in their season opener. The home field will be the difference as Cincy squeaks out a narrow cover. Good luck degenerates!

CINCINNATI -4.5 VS PITTSBURGH

NFL ACTION

A 4-0 finish to the weekend salvages the opening week, landing our record at 9-10. Looking forward, we've got NFL action starting on Wednesday when the Super Bowl champions get their rings while entertaining the Dallas Cowboys. As usual, the Cowboys had an eventful offseason and camp was particularly rough on them with injuries all over the board. We do not think the Cowboys are ready to win a big road game with their current medical situation. Lay the points, take the champs.

NEW YORK GIANTS -4 VS DALLAS COWBOYS

BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS-POST WEEK 1

All was not lost for the greatest conference in all of the land this weekend even after Michigan's embarassing showing against Alabama. The conference did go 10-2 and I think even the biggest Big Ten supporters were OK seeing Penn State go down.

1. WISCONSIN-Escaped against pesky I-AA Northern Iowa. Up next is a trip out west to Oregon State.

2. MICHIGAN STATE-A late score secured a nice win over Boise State. The defense looks the part.

3. NEBRASKA-Steam-rolled a solid Southern Miss team. Martinez looks improved.

4. OHIO STATE-Blew out Miami (OH) in the debut for Urban Meyer. UCF up next.

5. MICHIGAN-Clearly over-matched by Alabama. Can Robinson stay healthy all season?

6. IOWA-Fortunate to be 1-0, Hawk fans hope to see drastic improvement from week 1 to week 2.

7. PURDUE-A 48-6 opening win pleased the faithful in West Lafayette. Notre Dame this Saturday.

8. NORTHWESTERN-Blew a huge lead only to come back to win at Syracuse. Looks like the same team as 2011 NW.

9. ILLINOIS-An encouraging start vs a decent Western Michigan team. 1st test this week at ASU.

10. MINNESOTA-A triple OT win at UNLV for the Gophers moves them up 1 spot.

11. PENN STATE-Once the emotions wore off, it was apparent how much talent has left the program.

12. INDIANA-Won a tight one in their opener against Indiana State. Not real encouraging.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

A 2-0 Sunday has us primed to finish the long weekend strong as Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech square off on Monday Night on ESPN. Remember, the NFL Season kicksoff Wedndesday and there will be a huge opportunity waiting! 7-10 overall is not where we want to be but the season is young and things are looking up once again here at HC&P. Good luck!

GEORGIA TECH +7.5 VS VIRGINIA TECH

UNDER 47.5

SUNDAY RECOVERY

An ugly Saturday left us reeling but we're back with these two plays that promise to improve the holiday weekend.

BAYLOR -11 VS SMU

LOUISVILLE -14 VS KENTUCKU

SATURDAY'S CARD

We took a visit to the ole 0-2 BBQ yesterday thanks in part to Sparty's knee inside the 5 yard line. The good news is, there are locks all over the board today as the first college football Saturday of the year enters our lives. We apologize for the late post, had forgotten the Notre Dame start was 6am Pacific. As of press time, that wager was currently looking pretty good as the Irish led 27-3 at half in Ireland. Good luck!

NOTRE DAME -14.5 VS NAVY

PENN STATE -6.5 VS OHIO

WESTERN MICHIGAN +10 AT ILLINOIS

SOUTHERN MISS +19.5 AT NEBRASKA

5 TEAM ML PARLAY (ND, IOWA, CAL, WASH, AZ) +170

MICHIGAN +14 VS ALABAMA

ARIZONA -10.5 VS TOLEDO

ADD--HAWAII +42 AT USC

IOWA/N. ILLINOIS UNDER 47

FRIDAY FREE FOR ALL

We've got two Friday picks for all of our degenerates at no extra charge! Stay tuned for a handful of Saturday locks that promise to kick your season off on a winning note.

MICHIGAN STATE -7 VS BOISE STATE

NORTH CAROLINA STATE ML (+140) VS TENNESSEE

#1-WISCONSIN BADGERS

Everyone's favorite asshole, Bret Bielema looks to have another powerhouse on his hands after landing Danny O'Brein a year after securing Russell Wilson. Record breaking back Montee Ball returns however his status is currently up in the air after an off the field incident. Ball has 61 career touchdowns, 17 from the all-time FBS record.

It'll be hard for Ball to top his 2011 showing. 39 touchdowns and nearly 2000 yards will not be repeated but the combination of Ball and James White remains the countries best backfield duo. Jared Abbrederis will be the primary threat for O'Brien, the Maryland transfer, who will look to replicate Wilson's outstanding 2011.

Mike Taylor and Chris Borland anchor the best front 7 in the league. Borland, a 5-foot-11 junior linebacker had a team-high 19 tackles for a loss in 2011. The defense will look to avoid giving up the big, back-breaking plays that haunted them last fall.

A week two test at Oregon State is the only thing standing between Wisconsin and a 4-0 start. Once conference play arrives, Wisconsin gets Michigan State in Madison and doesn't play Michigan. A September 29th batle in Lincoln against Nebraska will be an excellent early test for the Badgers.

#2-MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Ole Sparty is looking for an unheard of (in East Lansing), 3rd straight season of 11 wins however Mark Dantonio much replace school legend quarterback Mark Dantonio.

Andrew Maxwell will be the man charged with replacing Cousins and he'll be without last years top target, BJ Cunningham who has graduated. The running game and offensive line behind Fou Fonoti will once again be a strength as the Spartans will need to ease Maxwell into the offense. Fonoti did not allow a sack last season after starting the last 11 games.

Defensively, Michigan State returns eight starters, including standoutlineman William Gholston and linebacker Denicos Allen. Keep an eye on Lawrence Thomas. He's a man without a position but is too talented not to be on the field.

The season starts off on a very interesting note for Michigan State as they host Boise State. The annual clash with Notre Dame will be difficult as will the conference opener against Ohio State. A late October clash in Madison against Wisconsin could be a preview of the Big Ten Title game once again.

PREDICTION: 10-2 OVERALL, 6-2 CONFERENCE

MR. THURSDAY NIGHT RETURNS!!

The man, the myth, the legend is back after an extremely profitable 2012. Opportunities are all over the board tomorrow as college football kickoffs. These locks promise to start the year off on a winnng note....good luck fellow degens!

WASHINGTON STAT +12.5 AT BYU
UNLV +8.5 VS MINNESOTA
SOUTH CAROLINA -7 AT VANDY

2 TEAM BONUS PARLAY:
UCLA AND SOUTH CAROLINA ML

#3-NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

Year two in the Big Ten for the Huskers sees Taylor Martinez returning to do his best QB impersonation while Bo Pelini enters year 5 in Lincoln looking to end a 14 year conference title drought.

Martinez ranks fifth in career rushing yards by a Nebraska quarterback but must improve his inconsistant throwing skills if Nebraska is to be considered a serious conferenc title thread. Martinez's main man on offense will be the multi-talented Rex Burkhead. The dangerous Kenny Bell is back at wideout and hopes to benefit from an improved Nebraska air attack.

Nebraska was near the bottom of the conference last fall in rush defense and as a result, multiple coaching staff changes took place on the defensive side of the ball. The Huskers lost 3 all conference defensive players but will look to Will Compton, their top returning tackler to carry some of the load.

A trip out west to UCLA appears to be the only real challenge in yet another of Nebraska preseason cupcakes. We'll get a good idea at what the 2012 Huskers have in the tank as the Big Ten season kickoffs with Wisconsin visiting Nebraska. The next week they'll travel to Ohio State followed by a trip to Northwestern. The schedule gets no easier as week 4 of conference plays has Nebraska hosting Michigan before a trip in week 5 to East Lansing.

PREDICTION: 10-2 OVERALL, 6-2 CONFERENCE

#4-OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Another year of probation in Columbus can not hold back the enthusiasm as Urban Meyer comes to town with hopes of a quick turn around. Meyer has made an immediate impact in the recruiting game and figures to get the Buckeyes back towards the top of the Big Ten on the field in 2012.

Braxton Miller returns, hoping to avenge Ohio State's first losing season since 1988. Despite not starting until week 4, Miller had three 100-yard rushing games and led the team in rushing yards. Junior Carlos Hyde and senior Jordan Hall will get the bulk of the carries out of the backfield while the receiving group looks for a leader to step up.

Last years head coach, Luke Fickell will run the Buckeye defense this season and he's got two horses on the defensive line in Johnathan Hankins and John Simon. The situation at linebacker remains unresolved with both outside spots up for grabs however junior safety C.J Barnett will help cover any holes that arise in the meantime.

California visits the Horseshoe in early September for what looks to be the only semi-legit test for Ohio State in the non-conference. The Big Ten season opens up with a bang as the Buckeyes face Michigan State and Nebraska. As usual, the season finale with Michigan appears to have conference title implicatons.

PREDICTION: 10-2 OVERALL, 6-2 CONFERENCE

#5-MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Brady Hoke returns experienced talent on both sides of the ball in 2012 and the faithful in Ann Arbor are ready for Blue to return to the elite class of the college football world. Look for Michigan to be a better team in 2012 with a worse record than 2011 due to a brutal schedule.

Denard Robinson is Mr. Everything on offense for the Wolvernies. In 2010 he set the NCAA record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (1,702) and followed that up with 2,173 passing yards and 1,176 rushing while accounting for 36 touchdowns last season. Look for Thomas Rawls to join Robinson in the backfield after Fitzgerald Toussaint was suspended indefinitely due to an offseason DUI arrest. Receivers Junior Hemingway and Kevin Koger are gone but Jeremy Gallon and Roy Roundtree return.

Greg Mattison's defensive took gigantic steps forwards last fall, moving all the way up to #6 in the country in scoring defense. The defensive line features seniors Craig Roh and tackle Will Campbell while the linebacking corps figures to be speedy with Kenny Demens, Desmond Morgan, Brandin Hawthorne, and Jake Ryan all seeing significant playing time. Future NFL stud Blake Countess locks down one of the cornerback positions for Michigan.

As previously mentioned, Michigan has a tough schedule ahead of them. Non-conference games against Alabama and Notre Dame lead into a difficult conference slate. The ball will have to bounce right for the Wolverines to win 11 games again this season.

PREDICTION: 8-4 OVERALL, 5-3 CONFERNECE

#6-IOWA HAWKEYES

Changes are everywhere for Kirk Ferentz as he enters his 14th season in Iowa City. Two new coordinators will be challenged in replacing many new starters on both sides of the ball.

James Vandenberg returns for his senior season after a 2011 campaign that saw him put up impressive numbers....however the overall numbers do not show the struggles Vandenberg had on the road and facing blitzes. If Vandenberg is truly ready to take the next step, he must improve his game in both areas despite losing the top WR in school history, Marvin McNutt. The running back situation is again laughable as 5 scholarship backs have departed since last December. Keenan Davis will be the primary target for Vandenberg. Davis, a former top recruit, looks the part of a skilled WR but has yet to put it all together. The offensive line will be the strengh of this unit lead by Brandon Scherff who might be the next great Iowa offensive lineman.

Questions need to be answered everywhere on defense for new DC Phil Parker. The defensive line on paper appears to be the worst Iowa has sported since 1999. The linebacking core hopes James Morris returns to his 2010 form which landed him on many freshman All-American teams. The secondary does have some depth and experience. B.J. Lowery and Micah Hyde form a solid cornerback duo while rumblings out of Iowa City have placed Nico Law as the next Bob Sanders.

Iowa should have some time to answer many of these questions with a schedule that is very favorable. Anything short of a 5-0 start would have to be considered a disappointment. A trip to East Lansing should be the first true test. Iowa finishes with Michigan and Nebraska but otherwise, there are winnable games everywhere.

PREDICTION: 8-4 OVERALL, 4-4 CONFERENCE

#7-PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

Optimism has returned to West Lafayette in 2012 after Danny Hope got the Boilers back into a bowl in 2011 and returns his most talented team yet. With Penn State and Ohio State on probation, Purdue figures to be Wisconsin's main threat to the Leaders Division throne.

Senior Caleb TerBush will be the man behind center but who will he be handing the ball of to? Ralph Bolden blew out his knee for a 3rd time last season leaving Akeem Shavers and Akeem Hunt as the best options for a running game that has improved under Hope's guidance. Talent and experience return at all of the line positions which should allow an average group of receivers more time to get open.

It's been years since the Boilermakers fielded a competitve defense and this unit figures to hold Purdue back from being a serious divison threat. Outside of All-American canidate Kawann Short, the defense lacks talent and playmakers.

Notre Dame looks to be the only bump in the road on the non-conference schedule. In conference play, Purude misses Nebraska and Michigan State however opens with a brutal 3 game strech of Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

PREDICTION: 7-5 OVERALL, 4-4 CONFERENCE

#8-NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats managed to lose their 9th straight bowl game to close 2011 and enters 2012 with new staters and inexperience all over the board.

Kain Colter looks to finally have the starting quarterback job to himself despite leading the team in rushing and being in the top three for receiving yards last fall. USC transfer Kyle Prater appears to be the best weapon for Colter when he looks to the air. The situation at running back looks thin with Mike Trumpy returning from an ACL tear and a couple of true freshman behing him.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Wildcats introduce new starters at each level and their development will be key in determining if Northwestern can get back to the 9 win team that they were in Fitzgeralds 3rd season in Evanston. Brian Arnfelt and Will Hampton anchor a weak defensive line while Ifeadi Odenigbo moves to linebacker.

Northwestern opens at Syracuse before returning home to face Vandy. The Wildcats face their 3rd BCS conference foe in the first 3 weeks when they travel to Boston College. Two wins in this three game strech would be an excellent start to the season considering the youth on this roster. Northwestern does not play Ohio State or Wisconsin this season which makes the conference schedule a bit more managable.

PREDICTION-5-7 OVERALL, 3-5 CONFERENCE

WEEK 1 EARLY LIKES

The season is still a few days away but here are a few numbers that have caught our eye thus far. If you'll recall, 2011 was a dominating season here at HC&P that saw record winners and profits.

UNLV +8.5 vs Minnesota
Washington State +13.5 at BYU
South Carolina -7 at Vandy
Michigan State -7 vs Boise State
Western Michigan +10 at Illinois
Michigan +13 vs Alabama

#9-ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

The Zooker is gone after a 6 game swan dive to close out 2011. Enter former Toledo bench boss Tim Beckman and BOOM, you have the delusional Illini faithful thinking their squad can compete.

Illinois is hoping junior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase can take the next step this fall after a disappointing 2011. Injuries and inconsistant play from Scheelhaase were the main factor in the Illini falling from the top 20 to 6-6. The offensive line figures to be the strength of this unit which will benefit the backfield of
Donovonn Young and Jason Ford.

Defensively, Illinois hopes to duplicate a strong season last fall as they held opponents to an average of less than 20 point per game. Linebackers Jonathan Brown and Michael Buchanan will roam sideline to sideline while 3 starters return to a deep secondary.

A solid Western Michigan squad visits Champaign to kickoff the season before Illinois travels to Tempe to square off against Arizona State. Illinois figures to split these two games and enter October 3-1. Indiana, Penn State and Minnesota look to be the only wins on the conference schedule.

PREDICTION: 6-6 OVERALL 3-5 CONFERENCE

#10-PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

September can't get here soon enough for the fans and players in State College after what would have to be considered one of the worst off-seasons in the history of college sports.

Bill O'Brien is left to pick up the pieces in what will likely be the last season in the next decade that Penn State is somewhat competitve. Gone are Silas Redd, Justin Brown along with numerous other players and recruits. Matt McGloin will take the snaps behind center for what was already a challenged offense.

Four starters return on a defense which will be anchored by the defensive line, specifically Sean Stanley and Jordan Hill. Trouble looms in the secondary however as all 4 starters will be new and inexperienced.

The season opens with a game against pesky Ohio which could go either way. The following week Penn State travels to Virginia before finishing up the non-conference with Navy and Temple. The Big Ten slate will be difficult to navigate with little depth and a subpar offense. Only a home game against Indiana will prevent the perverts of Happy Valley from going winless in the Big Ten.

PREDICTION: 4-8 OVERALL, 1-7 CONFERENCE

#11-MINNESOTA GOPHERS

Jerry Kill looks to improve on his 3 win debut season in Minneapolis with senior quarterback MarQueis Gray hoping to lead a Gopher uprising.

The good news on Gray is that he rushed for nearly 1000 yards last season. The bad news is that the converted WR threw for only 1400 and only 8 touchdowns. Gray has been a project since day one and the rodents are counting on this being the year the light comes on. Outside of Gray, very little talent or experience returns on the offensive side of the ball.

Senior linebacker Keanon Cooper leads a defense that will struggle to slow opposing offenses. Kill is counting on JUCO tranfers Briean Boddy and Martez Shabazz to lock up the cornerback positions. The defensive line is young and undersized.

Minnesota opens the season at UNLV which should be an easy win however strange things happen when Big Ten teams head out west. The rest of the non-conference schedule looks very managable with only a home test standing between Minnesota and a 4-0 start. At home versus Northwestern and at Illinois figure to be the two shots at a conference win for the Gophers.

PREDICTION: 5-7 OVERALL, 1-7 CONFERENCE

#12-INDIANA HOOSIERS

Our annual Big Ten Conference prediction/power rankings begin once again this year with the Indiana Hoosiers who failed to win a conference game in 2011. Some young talent returns however true progress figures to be a year or two away in Bloomington.

Head Coach Kevin Wilson enters year 2 with Tre Roberson as the leading option at QB after multiple off-season departures. The dual-thread signal caller became the first Hoosier freshman to start games at QB in school history last season. Roberson and RB Stephen Houston figure to cause some ground problems for opposing defenses in 2012.

Speaking of defenses, Indiana is still looking for one after yet another embarassing performance last fall. Indiana'a pass defense and rush defense were among the worst in the country and that doesn't figure to change much this season.

Indiana should be able to rack up 3 early season, non-conference victories with the cupcakes they have lined up but reality will set in once again come October as conference play begins. The conference schedule is difficult and doesn't hold much promise for Indiana obtaining that elusive Big Ten victory.

PREDICTION: 3-9 OVERALL, 0-8 CONFERENCE

FOOTBALL RETURNS!!!

Tonight's Hall of Fame Game between the Cardinals and Saints officially kicks off football season.....the next time we'll be without football for more than a few days will be in 6 months during the Super Bowl bye week! Here at Hot Chicks & Picks, we look to build on what was an exceptional 2011 football gaming season. Record profits were realized and degenerates all across our great land were pleased. We usually do not make a habit out of wagering on preseason games but considering tonight's tilt involves the Cardinals AND since it is the first game of the season, we're in! The Saints are laying 3 but we're looking for better. With Kevin Kolb and John Skelton hooked up in a QB competition, look for each player to get a few more reps than the top two Saints QBs. This will ultimately be the difference as the Cardinals take this one outright!

ARIZONA CARDINALS ML (+120) VS NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

NHL ROUND 2 PICKS!

CAPITALS OVER RANGERS IN 6

FLYERS OVER DEVILS IN 7

PREDATORS OVER COYOTES IN 5

KINGS OVER BLUES IN 7

FINAL MACK DRAFT!

1 - IND: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
No-brainer! Not fair either.
2 - WAS: Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor
Some say he should be the #1. Let's hope for the Colts sake they didn't give up Peyton for the #2 guy.
3 - CLE: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
They have many needs, especially on defense, but this guy is to good to pass up although Claiborne would make sense here as well. Whoever the Vikings QB circus chooses as the ringleader, he will need a lot of protection. Will he be Matt Barkleys starting LT next year?
4 - MIN: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Whoever the Vikings QB circus chooses as the ringleader, he will need a lot of protection. Will he be Matt Barkleys starting LT next year?
5 - TB: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Perfect match for the Bucs. He has the best ball skills in the draft.
6 - STL: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Giving up RG3 for picks galore should fill holes galore for Rams.
7 - JAX: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
Pure pass rusher. With speed and size this guys hard to pass up.
8 - MIA: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Tannehill is the guy here after losing out on a number of FA QBs but is he a top 10 pick? I don't think so.
9 - CAR: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Cox is a big tough guy that would fit in a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme. I believe he is better than Poe but his combine slotted him 2nd for most teams.
10 - BUF: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Buffalo would be very happy if Reiff fell to them here.
11 - KC: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
This guy is gonna be a beast and can QB a team's defense for years. The next Brian Urlacher.
12 - SEA: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
A defensive pass rusher is a big need for this team. This guy will be the first of many DEs to start coming off the board.
13 - ARI: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
This guy is gonna be a pro-bowler for years to come. He is a cerebral guy who has a nasty side which works well for a road-grater type OL.
14 - DAL: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
This guy has been flying up the boards. SS Mark Barron is another option here.
15 - PHI: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
Workout warrior. Lots of risk but upside potential.
16 - NYJ: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
The Jets need more weapons on offense but Rex is going to find it hard enough to pass up on a pass rusher with this pick. Question is do you want Eric Smith starting in the secondary again?
17 - CIN: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
The Bengals take a flyer on this guy despite off the field issues.
18 - SD: Nick Perry, DE, USC
A hometown guy with this pick would make San Diego happy.
19 - CHI: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
Led the FBS with 9 forced fumbles in 2011. He is a solid pass rusher for a D that needs to improve. Another hometown pick.
20 - TEN: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
A CB has been talked about here but the DT position needs depth.
21 - CIN: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Dalton was a nice suprise last year. A guy to help protect his butt would be the wide move here.
22 - CLE: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
They are esactic this guy falls to them.
23 - DET: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
D line 3 years on a row? Watch our Aaron Rogers. They wanted a CB here but the next guy Jenkins is to risky for the 1st round.
24 - PIT: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama
The Steelers need another stud in the middle. This guy has all the tools to be the next great steel curtain LB
25 - DEN: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut
The DT position needs depth. Broncos have no one in this position.
26 - HOU: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
Houston would love nothing more than to pair this guy up opposite of Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson would love it as well.
27 - NE: Courtney Upshaw, ILB, Alabama
One of the biggest fallers in the draft. A risky player so I'm not sold that NE takes him but he is still a 1st round talent.
28 - GB: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
Long armed player with great closing speed and initial quickness.
29 - BAL: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
The Ravens have some holes on the OL. Peter Konz and OG Cordy Glenn are their top choices.
30 - SF: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia
The 49ers are in a good spot being able to draft the best player avaliable in the draft. Might as well beef up a good OL with another good player.
31 - NE: Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame
Perfect for the Bellichek system.
32 - NYG: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
If this guy is here the Giants and Eli Manning are overcome with joy.

SLAPSHOT BOB RETURNS

After a year off, a red hot Slapshot Bob returns to the site coming off two stone cold winners yesterday in Pittsburgh and Vancouver. Ole Bobby is loving the home teams tonight including the Capitals without Nicklas Backstrom.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS ML VS BOSTON BRUINS

SAN JOSE SHARKS ML VS ST. LOUIS BLUES