NFL SUNDAY!

Another good Saturday sends us into Sunday with some momentum. Be sure to check back later for an additional late day play or two. 31-24-1 on the season means we are in the black!

TEXANS -2 AT RAVENS
JAGS +19.5 AT SEATTLE
COWBOYS -3.5 VS RAMS
FALCONS +2 AT MIAMI
LIONS PICK EM' AT REDSKINS

SATURDAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

We are back and have a handful of locks to brighten up your fall weekend. The favorites will roll early today as evidenced by the card below. For better or for worse, we are back on the Iowa bandwagon and expect a relatively easy victory this afternoon. Good luck!

MINNESOTA -3.5 VS SAN JOSE STATE
ARKANSAS STATE -4.5 AT MEMPHIS
RUTGERS -2 VS ARKANSAS
USC -7 VS UTAH
IOWA -16.5 VS WESTERN MICHIGAN

NFL SUNDAY-9/15

Our first rough Saturday of the year leaves us at 28-22-1 and in search of a big recovery Sunday. We see the Manning Bowl coming right down to the wire and expect the Lions to flex their muscles again during a trip to the desert. The Bills will be live home dogs as host the Panthers while the Saints travel to Tampa to blow out the Bucs. Good luck!

DOLPHINS +3 AT COLTS
CHIEFS -3 VS COWBOYS
SEAHAWKS -2.5 VS 49ERS
LIONS -2 AT CARDINALS
BILLS +3.5 VS PANTHERS
SAINTS -4 AT BUCS
GIANTS +4.5 VS BRONCOS

SATURDAY'S COLLEGE ACTION-9/14

Good morning degenerates! We've got a full card on this early fall Saturday and intent to build on our hot start to the season. We're huge fans of the Big Ten today as there are 3 teams from that conference we see taking care of business. The exception is Wisconsin who travels out west to face a severely undervalued Arizona State team. In this week's game of the century, we project Bama will not only cover the 8 but also take A&M behind the woodshed. Good luck!

BOWLING GREEN ML (+120) AT INDIANA
ILLINOIS +10 VS WASHINGTON
ALABAMA -8 AT TEXAS A&M
NEBRASKA -3.5 VS UCLA
KENTUCKY +15.5 VS LOUISVILLE
IOWA -2.5 AT IOWA STATE
ARIZONA STATE -4.5 VS WISCONSIN

MR. THURSDAY NIGHT-9/12

25-17 on the season as we enter our favorite night of the week. We are leaning towards the home teams tonight as Texas Tech and the New England Patriots host challenging visitors. TCU's Casey Pachall is out this evening so that coupled with the home field advantage gives the Red Raiders a big cover. The Patriots/Jets game will not be pretty however we don't think the Jets have enough offensive firepower to stay within this number. Look for something along the lines of 24-10 New England. Good luck!

TEXAS TECH +3 VS TCU
NEW ENGLAND -11.5 VS NEW YORK JETS

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Yet another winning day gets us up to 24-16 on the season, an impressive 60%! We've got two Monday Night Football games this evening as Philadelphia and Washington square off while San Diego entertains Houston. We like both road teams to cover the number tonight as Chip Kelly unveils his new Eagles offense and the Texans batter around a weak Chargers squad.

PHILADELPHIA +4 AT WASHINGTON
HOUSTON -6 AT SAN DIEGO

NFL SUNDAY

A late Saturday 3 game win streak gives us yet another winning day and shoots us into NFL Sunday with some momentum. The season record currently stands at an impressive 20-13. Today we like the points in what should be an excellent match-up in San Francisco as the Packers clash with the 49ers. We've placed two wagers against bad teams, the Jets and the Jags who figure to be in the bottom 3 of the league in 2013. The Pittsburgh offense will sputter to put up enough points to cover that large number and Sean Peyton's return launches the Saints into an opening week victory over Atlanta. Good luck!

GREEN BAY PACKERS +5 AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
TENNESSEE TITANS +7 AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -3 VS ATLANTA FALCONS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -4.5 AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS -4.5 AT NEW YORK JETS
CARDINALS/RAMS UNDER 41.5
DALLAS COWBOYS -3.5 VS NEW YORK GIANTS

SATURDAY'S LOCKS

A nice win by Boston College gets us to 15-9 on the season. There is a lot to like about today's card as we've got winners all over the board. Several early games have caught our eye including USF at Michigan State. USF is not a good football team but their defense is decent and we don't think Michigan State's offense is good enough to put up enough points to cover that large number. Later in the day, we see a banged up Georgia squad reeling from last week's loss looking to be in major trouble as the Gamecocks come calling. At night, we've paired Indiana and Arizona to cover 12.5 numbers against far weaker opponents. Good luck tonight and be sure to check back tomorrow for our first NFL Sunday!

IOWA -24.5 VS MISSOURI STATE
MIAMI +3.5 VS FLORIDA
SOUTH FLORIDA +23.5 AT MICHIGAN STATE
CINCINNATI -9.5 AT ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN -4.5 VS NOTRE DAME
SOUTH CAROLINA +3.5 AT GEORGIA
INDIANA -12.5 VS NAVY
ARIZONA -12.5 AT UNLV
WASHINGTON STATE +16 AT USC

DRAFT REVIEW-HARRY TIMBERCRANK

3 special guest GMs combined to write this review!

The Who – Chandler, AZ resident via Cedar Falls via Royal Oaks. University of Iowa graduate. Degenerate, Dictator/Tyrant of Fantasy Sports, Lover of Canada, hockey, IPA’s, Hippy Extra-Curriculars and Speed Metal. Has more PTO days than the rest of the league combined. Has a Father in Law, but is not married.

Best Value Pick – Jason Witten ($7) – Witten may not score many touchdowns but will be the best TE in the game from 20 yard line to 20 yard line. Given this is a PPR league, and his homoerotic relationship with his QB. that’s a recipe for success.

Worst Value Pick – Reggie Bush ($39) – Being a homer is one thing, but Harry put things on a whole new level with this purchase. Like Reggie’s big butt X girlfriend, Harry may get pee on his face for this purchase. Yes, Reggie may catch a boatload of balls but his lack of TD’s from the RB position is horribly concerning.

Sleeper Pick – Ryan Broyles($1) – As the NCAA record holder for receptions, Broyles has already proved he is a very good WR. An unfortunate knee injury late in his college career took this once coveted WR off a lot of people’s radar. He appears to finally be healthy and ready to contribute. Now, if Matthew Stafford can take his eyes off of #81, Broyles could emerge as a legit #2 and a legit fantasy option.


Draft Grade - It’s not a good sign when you look at a team and struggle to come up with their Best Value and Sleeper Picks but have numerous candidates for Worst Value Pick. The fact that Kaepernick has no one to throw to, Ridley may be sharing red zone touches and nearly 20% of your budget was spent on Reggie Bush, this GM is in trouble. The receiving duo of Thomas and Jones is as good as it gets but may not be enough. The one saving grace could come if his handcuff selections of Fred Jackson and Kendall Hunter work out but relying on injuries isn’t exactly a recipe for success. C-

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Peyton Manning and the Broncos rolled the Ravens last night giving Mr. Thursday Night yet another win on the early season. We currently stand at 14-9 with one college play on tap this evening. Wake Forest travels to Boston College in what is surely a match-up of two awful football teams. We do however see a good opportunity to pounce on a weak number. Neither team was tested last week while facing low level FCS and below squads. Good luck tonight and be sure to check back tomorrow for a huge Saturday card!

BOSTON COLLEGE -3 VS WAKE FOREST

DRAFT REVIEW-PIMPHANDSTRONG

The Who-Born and raised in Iowa, mayor of Reinbeck, IA. Grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, father of two beautiful little girls, boxer. The best fielding slow pitch softball pitcher in the Midwest from 1999-2001.

Best Value Pick-James Jones ($5)-With Greg Jennings off to Minnesota, Jones will move into the #2 slot in Green Bay. In that position he’ll hold more value than a home security alarm system in North Cedar. Last season as the #3 he racked up a whopping 14 receiving touchdowns.

Worst Value Pick-Alfred Morris ($48)-With RG III less of a running threat this year, Morris will get far more attention from defenses than he received in 2012. While I expect Morris to decent numbers this season, the yardage and touchdown totals will drop. $48 is just too high for a RB likely to finish outside the top 10 at his position.

Sleeper Pick- Brandon Myers ($1)-Myers was a top 10 tight end last year and that was with a cluster fuck of Raiders quarterbacks attempting to throw him the ball. Now with the Giants, Myers will be a primary target for Eli Manning.

Draft Grade-Pimphandstrong landed 4 high dollar players during the auction in Peyton Manning, Dez Bryant, Alfred Morris and LeSean McCoy. 10 of the 16 players on this roster were purchased for $1. Surprisingly, the rest of the roster looks pretty good outside a possible lack of depth at wide receiver. If Pimphand can stay relatively injury free, he’ll be in the mix come playoff time. B+

DRAFT REVIEW-FORTEOUNCEMALTLIQOUR

The Who-Omaha via Washington DC via Iowa. Owner of the greatest golf shot I have ever seen in person. Also a new father, below average PS3 College Football gamer, former Capitals season ticket holder.

Best Value Pick-Lamar Miller ($8) - Miller is an emerging star on an improving Dolphins squad. Do not be surprised to see him finish in the top 10 in the NFL in rushing. Honorable mention to the $3 Stevie Johnson addition. Johnson will be E.J. Manuel’s favorite target in 2013.

Worst Value Pick-Matt Forte ($43) – A steep price to pay for a declining, aging running back. Given the team name I suppose Forteouncemaltliqour had no choice but this is similar to paying top dollar for the largest woman at the Spearmint Rhino. Sure it was once an attractive option but the best days have long since passed.

Sleeper Pick-Giovani Bernard ($6)- Bernard will be the starter in Cincinnati by week 4 and has shown great promise in the preseason. He was very productive at North Carolina and the Bengals think the production will continue in the AFC North. This may turn out to be one of the biggest steals in the League of Champions this season.

Draft Grade-This general manager had an outstanding draft in regards to running backs and wide receivers. Those two units are unmatched in the league. However, it became quite apparent at some point the Boone’s Farm took over as he completely ignored quarterback and tight end. Forteouncemaltliqour only took one of each and both are outside the top 15 of their positions. Relying on Michael Vick and Coby Fleener for consistent production is the very reason Police Chief Grady coined the phrase “desperation is a stinky cologne” in Super Troopers. C

MR. THURSDAY NIGHT

It's our favorite day of the week once again and we've got NFL action as Baltimore travels to Denver for an AFC playoff rematch. Many of the faces have changed since last year however as Denver will be without Champ Bailey, Von Miller and Elvis Duberville while Baltimore will be missing Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Anquan Boldin among others. The number on this game is Denver -7.5 which on the surface indicates the true value would be with Baltimore. However we all know what happened last year and think the Broncos will do everything in their power to ensure this is not a one score game late. We see Denver getting their revenge and kick starting what should be an interesting season in the Mile High City. On the college grid iron, just two games, neither of which are of any interest (Florida Atlantic at East Carloina/Sacramento State at Arizona State). After Monday's loss, Mr. Thursday Night currently stands at 13-9 on the young season. Good luck!

DENVER BRONCOS -7.5 VS BALTIMORE RAVENS

DRAFT REVIEW-THE ONES WHO KNOCK

The Who-Florida native currently living outside of Washington DC. Tampa Bay Rays diehard, graduate of the University of Iowa and Vanderbilt, reckless go cart driver. Real life Saul Goodman.

Best value pick-Eric Decker ($5)-Decker caught 13 touchdowns last year and the fact that he went for 5 bucks is more of an indictment of the incompetence of this league than a savvy move by The One Who Knocks. Regardless, this was a steal of the Better Call Saul variety.

Worst value pick-Aaron Rodgers ($43)-Anytime the biggest asshole in the NFL goes for over 40 bucks, questions must be raised. Yes, Rodgers will produce good numbers once again but quarterback is too deep to spend that kind of money on Rodgers. This price is softer than a late game Commodore defense.

Sleeper pick-Miles Austin ($3)-Austin is a household name however many have written him off as a significant fantasy contributor. Dallas is going to throw, throw, throw this fall, Austin is still only 29 years old and will face many single coverages with Dez Bryant commanding the bulk of the attention on the other side.

Draft grade-The One Who Knocks appears to have gone with the “stars and scrubs” strategy as he only spent double digit dollars on three players (Peterson, Foster, Rodgers). On paper however it looks as though he has assembled more than just scrubs with his low dollar bids. Vernon Davis is a solid option at TE and Mike Wallace could prosper in Miami. This is a well-round team with no significant holes. A-

DRAFT REVIEW-CUCKOO 4 KEKUA MUFFS

The Who-Iowan, Northern Iowa graduate, Panther homer, hates doing the dishes. Light hitting utility infielder, Woody Harrelson clone, has proven that white men can indeed jump.

Best value pick-Dwayne Bowe ($13)-With Matt Cassel gone and Alex Smith in, Bowe has a competent NFL quarterback throwing to him for the first time in over three years. Somewhere Over Dwayne Bowe will emerge once again as a top ten fantasy pass catcher.

Worst value pick-Frank Gore ($26) and Eddie Lacy ($17)-Bids like these are where fantasy seasons are lost. Gore is on the wrong
Worst value pickside of 30 while Lacy will have trouble finding 10 carries per game. Spending over 20% of your budget on two players who may not even be their teams starter by week 4 will come back to haunt this disgruntled general manager.

Sleeper pick-Kenbrell Thompkins ($1)-Thompkins is penciled in to start for New England in the spot opened up by the departure of Brandon Lloyd. After a huge preseason, it is surprising Thompkins went so cheap in the auction draft.

Draft grade-Getting Russell Wilson cheap really opened up the budget for Cuckoo. Unfortunately, the additional funds were not spent wisely as we see major holes at RB and TE. The wide receiver trio of Bowe, A.J. Green and Vincent Jackson might be unmatched in the league of Champions. Moving some of the WR depth for a back or two would go a long way in getting this GM out of his consolation bracket home and into the winners circle. C

DRAFT REVIEW-ROSIE PALMER

The Who-Phoenix via Northern Minnesota. Fan of nautical fires and hefeweizens, Visual Walter White clone and democrat. Burned his Viking braids after Gary Anderson’s fateful miss in 1998.

Best Value Pick-Reggie Wayne ($13)-Wayne had a tremendous bounce back year in 2012 and $13 is a cheap price for someone who will likely be a top 20 wide out. Wayne will fall off the cliff at some point but it won’t be this fall.

Worst Value Pick-Steven Jackson ($40)-After playing in previous leagues with this GM, at this point I am 100% convinced Rosie Palmer wants to make sweet man love to Steven Jackson. Paying $40 for this aging, injury prone running back is more embarrassing than the Obama presidency.

Sleeper Pick-Danny Amendola ($10)-Everyone knows the name and 10 bucks is a lot to play for a sleeper but I think the real surprise here will come when Amendola replicates Wes Welker’s New England production. 100 catches is a great asset to have in a PPR league.

Draft Grade-The quarterback position should be in good shape with the reliable Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford poised for a big year. The group of wide outs is deep and gifted led by Larry Fitzgerald. Running back appears to be a major hole with Jackson, Murray and Jonathan Stewart the only 3 backs on the roster. This GM would be wise to move one of the QBs and a WR for some help at RB to help balance out this flawed roster. C

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

We've got some Monday Night Football of the college variety this evening as Florida State takes on Pittsburgh. Mr. Thursday Night went 1-1 yesterday to move his season record to 13-8. Pittsburgh's first ACC tilt is a tough one as the stingy FSU defense returns many of it's starters. On the offensive side of the ball, the Seminoles are young which leads us to believe this is going to be a low scoring affair. Also factoring into our decision is the chance of rainfall in the Pittsburgh area tonight. We are going to stay away from a side tonight and go with an over/under play. Stay tuned this week as NFL kickoff is on Thursday and we've identified an early stone cold, lead pipe lock. Good luck!

FLORIDA STATE/PITTSBURGH UNDER 47.5

DRAFT REVIEW-VON URINE SPILLERS

The Who-Iowa resident, University of Northern Iowa graduate. Scratch golfer, Panther Lounge lover, new father. Does not hesitate to place 4 team Missouri Valley parlays.

Best Value-DeAngelo Williams ($5)-With Jonathan Stewart on the shelf again, Williams has the job to himself. While many past Williams’s owners have referred to him as DeAngela, you really can’t go wrong for 5 bucks. Honorable mention here to TY Hilton for 3 dollars, Hilton may very well be a top 15 fantasy WR this fall.

Worst Value-Brandon Marshall ($41)-Over 20% of the budget on an injury prone head case who has Jay Cutler throwing to him. I’d be hard pressed to come up with two bigger asshats than Cutler and Marshall. Congrats Bears fans, you’ll win 5 games for your trouble.

Sleeper pick-Montee Ball ($3)-While most people have Ball on their radar, I don’t think many project him as a top 10 fantasy running back. If he gets the majority of the carries, Ball will be one of the better running backs in the league. He proved during his time at Wisconsin that he has a nose for the end zone.

Draft grade-Von Urine waited longer than any other GM before dipping into the player pool. Whether or not that will be an effective strategy remains to be seen. On paper, the grouping of receivers/tight ends looks strong. The stable of running backs will also be effective as long as Ball steps up and Sproles continues to catch passes. What Cam Newton we’ll get this year is anyone’s guess. This roster, as it stands now, has a high floor but a low ceiling. C+

DRAFT REVIEW-STECK EXPRESS

The Who-Phoenix via Iowa, University of Iowa graduate. Recently severely outkicked his coverage in marriage, master of all things real estate, weekend hack on the golf course.

Best Value-Robert Griffin III ($10)-Compared to what some of the other QBs went for, this is a low, low price for a quarterback who finished in the top 3 last year. The only concern here is Griffin’s knee appears wonkier than a Dan Fletcher ankle.

Worst Value-Marshawn Lynch ($49)-This is when we remember that the Steck Express is an annual donor in all the fantasy leagues he plays in. Spending ¼ of your budget on an aging back is the type of behavior that lands this GM in the consolation bracket time and time again. It should be noted however that Lynch will always hold a special place in my heart for this classic postgame drive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iChgCGa0ikg

Sleeper pick-Rashard Mendenhall ($6)-Getting a starting NFL running back and one who has had a top 10 season for six bucks is worth the gamble that he’ll stay healthy and that the Cardinals putrid offensive line will block for him.

Draft grade-As far as drafts go, this is one of the best this general manager has ever had. That is however like saying Vanderbilt is going to have a good football season…….the bar is not real high. The draft does look solid however one must wonder if the fantasy football gods will punish the Steck Express for his actions during the auction regarding Calvin Johnson. Deliberately outbidding a fellow GM, no matter the price to deprive him of Black Jesus is something that will not soon be forgotten. B+

DRAFT REVIEW-EL CAPITAN

The Who-Iowa born, now spends his Sundays in Kansas City via Phoenix. Northern Iowa graduate, former owner of an automobile titled “cherry popper, panty dropper,” new daddy, once suffered a 3 inch facial cut after a particularly awful Jets play.

Best value pick-Eli Manning ($1). El Capitan blew his proverbial load early and was left scrambling for a QB. Manning isn’t a bad option for a buck. Fully expect the Capitan to blow the majority of his waiver budget on Geno Smith come week 4.

Worst value pick-Jimmy Graham ($38)-Owning the top tight end is like bringing home the skinniest chick at a defensive tackle convention. Sure it’s nice to have but not something you’ll ever be proud of. Tight end is too deep to spend 19% of your budget on this position.

Sleeper pick-Josh Gordon ($1)- The Cleveland Browns offense appears to actually be competent this year and Gordon will be their primary deep threat. Le’Veon Bell at $2 also appears to be an excellent buy after news has come out that he will not require surgery.

Draft Grade-El Capitan went all in on running backs which is a risky maneuver in a PPR, 3 WR league. After Randall Cobb, several $1 wide receivers will need to step up if this general manager hopes to contend for the league title. Perhaps most disgusting of all is this die-hard Jets fan owning the New England defense. That alone drops his draft review nearly a full letter grade. C-

SUNDAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

A wild Saturday ends up at 7-5, leaving Mr. Thursday Night off to a sparkling 12-7 start on the new season. Today we've got a pair of games on the slate including a match-up between two excellent signal callers. Teddy Bridgewater leads Louisville and their sky high expectations this fall into their season opener against Ohio and Tyler Tettetlon. In game two, we are also taking the dog. Colorado and Colorado State appear to be equally putrid this year so when in doubt, take the points. Be sure to check back again tomorrow as we've got yet another college game to handicap, Florida State at Pittsburgh.

OHIO +21.5 AT LOUISVILLE
COLORADO +3 VS COLORADO STATE

DRAFT REVIEW-SANDUSKYHELDMYVICK

The Who-Iowa resident, Northern Iowa graduate, the best shortstop in Eastern Iowa from 1997-2004.

Best value pick-Anquan Boldin ($1). Injuries have hit the 49ers wide receivers hard and Boldin figures to benefit the most. Sandusky will like this pick more than a pool party at the Hard Rock.

Worst value pick-Victor Cruz ($30)-A Mexican hasn’t sold for this much since Chi-Chi’s restaurant left Blackhawk Village in Cedar Falls. Injury prone and undersized, Cruz looks like a flash in the pan from where I’m sitting.

Sleeper pick-Shane Vereen ($1)-This would have been Matt Ryan ($5) to take another step up but it doesn’t look like he’ll see much action sitting on Sandusky’s bench behind Brady. The Patriots ran the ball more in the red zone than anyone in the NFL. Vereen figures to get many of these carries and is just a Ridley injury away from being a major fantasy factor.

Draft Grade: The stable of running backs is impressive with Doug Martin and Jamaal Charles however we see major questions at wide receiver in this PPR league. There will be no worries at quarterback but tight end is always a concern when relying on Jermichel Finley. B-

SATURDAY'S WINNERS-8/31

A 1-1 Friday puts us at 5-2 on the early season. Plenty of opportunities on the board today and we intend to take full advantage. Iowa opens up at home against 2012 BCS team Northern Illinois. We project an Iowa 10-14 victory making the current number of 3 a great buy. Our National Champion dark horse Clemson will learn their fate early as Georgia comes calling. Mr. Thursday Night sees an outright Tiger victory this evening. Purdue and Toledo face tough road tests but will hang around just long enough to cover their double digit numbers. Check back later for some additions to today's card. Good luck!

IOWA -3 VS NORTHERN ILLINOIS
CLEMSON +2.5 VS GEORGIA
PURDUE +10.5 AT CINCINNATI
TOLEDO +22 AT FLORIDA
TEMPLE +28 AT NOTRE DAME
RICE +30 AT TEXAS A&M
VIRGINIA TECH +22.5 VS ALABAMA
CLEMSON ML (+135) VS GEORGIA
WASHINGTON -4 VS BOISE STATE
TCU +6 VS LSU
NORTHWESTERN -6.5 AT CAL

TWO TEAM PARLAY-IOWA (ML) AND PENN STATE (ML)

FRIDAY FREE FOR ALL

A huge start to the season for Mr. Thursday Night as a 3-1 opening evening (including a 2.5 unit parlay) has things looking up early on. It took a little bit of help from South Carolina and their late game goal line stand and Hawaii's last second 60 yard touchdown pass but we had the right side in both games so there is no need to feel guilty. A light schedule tonight however we have identified a couple of spots with excellent value. Be sure to check back in tomorrow when opening weekend really gets cranked up with a full slate of games.

WESTERN MICHIGAN +27.5 AT MICHIGAN STATE
SMU +5 VS TEXAS TECH

#1-OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes are bowl eligible once again just in time to make a run at not only the Big Ten Title, but also a National Championship. While most publications have Ohio State as a top 5 team, the critics point to several narrow escapes in 2012 as the reason for the Buckeyes being a bit of a fraud.

The offense will start and stop with Braxton Miller. Miller may very well be the odds on favorite to bring the Heisman Trophy back to Columbus this fall. If Ohio State goes undefeated this year, you can consider Miller a lock for the award. Miller's offense line looks extremely strong with 4 seniors making up the starting five. Devin Smith and Corey Brown lead a group of receivers that will need to take another step forward in 2013. Carlos Hyde will miss a couple of games due to suspension but will be back for conference play. Hyde is the clear cut #1 in the backfield and one of the better backs in the country.

Defensively, linebacker Ryan Shazier (115 tackles, 5.0 sacks)is the unquestioned leader and a candidate for multiple post season awards. The defensive line appears to be the soft spot as Chris Carter, Joey Bosa, Michael Hill and Chase Farri all will need to improve their output from the prior season. As usual, the Buckeye secondary is loaded lead by the latest All-American corner from OSU, Bradley Roby.

A trip to Cal figures to be the only moderate test during a weak non-conference slate. Minnesota, Michigan State and Nebraska were lucky enough to miss Ohio State on the schedule this year. The toughest test will as usual be the last weekend of the season, in Ann Arbor against Michigan.

PREDICTION: 4-0 non-conference, 8-0 conference, 12-0 overall.

#2-NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

Pat Fitzgerald has the Wildcat fan base in a frenzy as Northwestern will field their most talented roster since the Darnell Autry days. The Wildcats won their first bowl game in school history last year and will set their sights even higher in 2013.

The offense should be dynamic once again with Kane Colter back behind center and running back Venric Mark poised for a monster senior season. Mike Trumpy also returns to give Mark the occasional breather. Christian Jones, Tony Jones and Rashad Lawrence will be Colter’s primary weapons out wide while Dan Vitale will chip in at both WR and RB. The offensive line for Northwestern is young and lack experienced so their growth will likely dictate how far the Wildcats go on offense.

Northwestern returns seven starters on defense which was noticeably better last fall. Tyler Scott ancors the defensive line and will get help from sophomore Dean Lowry and freshman Ifeadi Odenigbo. Returning 112 tackler Damien Proby will be the focal point of the linebacker group and Ibraheim Campbell returns in the secondary.

Northwestern travels to Cal to open the season in what should be a good early season test. In week two, Syracuse visits Evanston. In conference play, the Wildcats miss Indiana, Penn State and Purdue. An October 5th trip to the Horseshoe will be a key game in the conference race.

PREDICTION: 4-0 non-conference, 7-1 conference, 11-1 overall.

MR. THURSDAY NIGHT!

Football is back tomorrow fellow degenerates and we've got a nice looking card to kickoff the season! Several interesting opportunities have presented themselves already and we look forward to pouncing on them like a true degen would. Our annual Hall of Fame Game start of season wager has got us off at 1-0 and the picks below figure to get us up 4 units before the weekend even hits. Clowney and the boys will take the Heels behind the woodshed while Minnesota begins its' usual non-conference cupcake schedule with a blowout of UNLV. Stay tuned for a possible late add in the Rutgers/Fresno game. Good luck!

SOUTH CAROLINA -13.5 VS NORTH CAROLINA
MINNESOTA -13.5 VS UNLV

2 TEAM PARLAY:
UTAH STATE +115 TO WIN VS UTAH
OLE MISS -170 TO WIN AT VANDERBILT

ADD 2 TEAM PARLAY-RUTGERS +10.5 AT FRESNO STATE/HAWAII +24 VS USC

#3-NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

Bo Pelini returns a strong and experienced group in 2013 as the Nebraska Cornhuskers attempt to win their first conference title in over a decade. The big question this fall remains on the defensive side of the ball after an embarrassing effort last season, in particular in the Big Ten title game and Capital One Bowl.

Taylor Martinez is back for what seems like his 8th season and figures to improve even further with his passing skills. The development was evident in 2012 as Martinez finished with 2700 yards and 23 touchdowns through the air. Ameer Abdullah will be the starter at running back with talented youngsters, Imani Cross and Terrell Newby figuring to find carries of their own. At wide receiver, Kenny Bell may be the best in the Big Ten while Jamal Turner and Quincy Enunway will battle for the #2 spot.

Between the defensive line and linebacking units, Nebraska returns just two starters however this may be a good thing after a dismal 2012. JUCO lineman Randy Gregory was brought in to make a difference up front and senior Jason Ankrah will try and build on a promising showing last year. All 3 starting linebackers are gone however the secondary will be perhaps among the best in the country. Ciante Evans is a lock to be on the All-Big Team and perhaps even more.

An improved UCLA squad is the main event of the non-conference for the Huskers. During conference play, Nebraska does not play Indiana, Purdue or Ohio State. Early conference matchups against Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota should allow Nebraska to get off to a 3-0 Big Ten start.

PREDICTION: 4-0 non-conference, 6-2 conference, 10-2 overall.

#4-MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Third year bench boss Brady Hoke hopes to continue to build the maze & blue program back to previous heights in 2013. Denard Robinson is gone but capable Devin Gardner returns to Ann Arbor to lead what looks to be a young but very talented Wolverine squad.

Gardner took over last year after the Robinson injury and looked electric at times. He’ll be joined in the backfield by Fitzgerald Toussaint (who is hoping to return from injury) and Derrick Green. The group of wide receivers appears to be the weak spot on the Michigan offense. Jeremy Gallon and Drew Dileo will attempt to fill the shoes of the departed Roy Roundtree. Up front, All-American tackle Taylor Lewan will lead an offensive line that only returns two starters.

The past few years the defense has been the reason that Michigan has not been able to take that final step back into national relevancy. Frank Clark looks to be a difference maker on the defensive line and sophomore Ondre Pipkins should challenge for even more playing time this fall. The Wolverine linebackers have been hit with injuries this spring and summer but Desmond Morgan moving to the inside slot should make this a solid trio. The secondary was hit hard by graduation and there could be some early growing pains in the back end.

The annual match-up vs Notre Dame is the only highlight of the non-conference schedule. Once Big Ten play kicks off, Michigan will avoid Illinois, Wisconsin and Purdue. Nebraska and Ohio State both have to visit the Big House in 2013.

PREDICTION: 4-0 non-conference, 6-2 conference, 10-2 overall.

#5-INDIANA HOOSIERS

The surprise team in the Big Ten this year will be the Indiana Hoosiers, yes the Indiana Hoosiers. Kevin Wilson returns 3 capable quarterbacks and several solid offensive weapons. Not since the days of Vaughn Dunbar have the Hoosiers been relevant but we are projecting a revival this fall in Bloomington.

Tre Roberson is back from injury and will likely regain his starting quarterback position come the 2013 opener. Stephen Houston will be the primary ball carrier and the always reliable Shane Wynn will be Roberson’s favorite target again this fall. Despite running 3 quarterbacks out there last season, Indiana finished with a top 20 passing attack in the country.
The defense of Indiana will determine if this is truly to be a special season or another long fall in Bloomington.

Another season of finishing in the 100s for total defense will not allow the Hoosiers to take that important next step for the program. Senior Greg Heban and junior Mark Murphy form an exception safety tandem while linebacker David Cooper remains the clear cut leader of this unit.

Indiana plays all 4 non-conference games at home and figures to only be challenged by Missouri in late September. Once the Big Ten slate fires up, the Hoosiers will have their fifth straight home game when Penn State comes calling. Indiana avoids Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska.

PREDICTION: 4-0 non-conference, 5-3 conference, 9-3 overall.

#6-WISCONSIN BADGERS

Gary Andersen steps in for the departed Bret Bielema as the Wisconsin Badgers look to continue was is their golden age of fooball. Amazingly, Wisconsin has reached three straight BCS Bowl games with three different starting quarterbacks.

Montee Ball is gone but plenty of capable running backs remain to run behind another strong Badger offensive line. Ball’s career backup, James White returns with 2700 career rushing yards to his name. White will likely start with Melvin Gordon waiting in the wings should White need a breather. At receiver, James Abberderis is back and Jacob Pedersen headlines the tight end grouping. As of press time, the QB job is still up in there air with Curt Phillips, Tanner McEvoy and Joel Stave battling for the starting gig.

The Wisconsin defense will undergo a major facelift as Gary Andersen brings in his 3-4 setup. The defensive line is unsettled with several underperformers returning and a couple of position changes. Chris Borland is back to stabilize the linebacker unit and is poised for an All-American 2013. The secondary has major holes to fill with 3 starters gone from last fall.

The Badgers schedule features two tune-ups before a trip to the desert to face Arizona State. BYU visits Camp Randall in early November. During conference play, Wisconsin avoids Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska. A late September trip to Columbus should give us a good idea on what this Badger squad will look like.

PREDICTION: 3-1 non-conference, 5-3 conference, 8-4 overall.

#7-IOWA HAWKEYES

The seat is getting warm for Kirk Ferentz in Iowa City as he tries to reverse a 3 year trend of winning fewer games than the year before. A quiet offseason and the emergence of some young talent has Hawkeye fans hoping Ferentz can turn around his fortunes once again.

Jake Rudock appears to have won the quarterback competition however he is yet to take a snap in a college game. Despite the inexperience, Rudock figures to be an upgrade over the dismal performance given by James Vandenberg in 2012. For the first time in years, the running back situation appears calm and deep, with Mark Weisman listed as the starter and several others pushing for time as well. The wide receiver group is very much unproven but should be aided by an excellent crop of tight ends highlighted by CJ Fiedorowicz. The strength on the offensive side of the ball for Iowa will be the offensive line, nothing new in Hawkeye land.

In 2012, the Iowa defense was as bad as it has been in a decade. The main reason for this was a defensive line that was subpar by Big Ten standards. This fall, a young and athletic group of lineman move in hoping to regain control of the line of scrimmage. The linebacker group of Hitchens, Morris and Kirksey is solid and reliable as all 3 seniors have years of game experience. In the secondary, the Hawkeyes are waiting for the light bulb to come on for Nico Law. Law oozes talent but thus far has had a difficult time understanding the college game.

An early test vs. Northern Illinois should give us a good idea where the Hawkeyes stand this fall. Weeks later, a trip to Ames will test Iowa as they square off against Iowa State. Iowa misses Illinois, Indiana and Penn State this season which is a tough break as 2 of these teams fall in the bottom 4 of our rankings. The Hawkeyes will be in most games this fall, outside of the dreaded trip to the Horseshoe in mid-October.

PREDICTION: 4-0 non-conference, 3-5 conference, 7-5 overall.

#8-MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Michigan State enters the 2013 season looking to rebound from a disappointing 2012 campaign. Expectations were high but offensive struggles prevented the Spartans from living up to their lofty preseason ranking.

Head coach Mark Dantonio once again looks to quarterback Andrew Maxwell to improve a unit that was downright dreadful last fall. If Maxwell struggles again, so will the Spartans. The offensive line appears experienced however it is not a top 5 line in the conference. Le’Veon Bell is off to the NFL, leaving junior Nick Hill as the starter entering September. A young wide receiver group is sparked by Alex Burbridge and DeAnthony Arnett. Dion Sims is gone at tight end, leaving a trio of pass catchers left to fill the void.

Michigan State once again finished in the top 5 in the country in total defense last fall. Stars William Gholston, Chris Norman and Johnny Adams are gone however the majority of the unit remain intact and figures once again to be among the best. Arjen Colquhoun is a new arrival to the starting lineup and is poised to be one of the better safeties in recent MSU memory.

Notre Dame looks to be the only test in an otherwise soft non-conference schedule. Michigan State does not play Ohio State, Penn State or Wisconsin this fall however we are betting on the offense struggling again and Dantonio blowing at least a game or two on his own resulting in another disappointing finish in East Lansing.

PREDICTION: 3-1 non-conference, 3-5 conference, 6-6 overall.

#9-PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

Bill O’Brien was a miracle worker in 2012, leading a depleted roster to 8 wins following a stormy 12 months. The lack of depth figures to have a larger impact this season as the Nittany Lions begin to fade away from relevancy in the Big 10.

Elite freshman recruit Christian Hackenberg takes over at quarterback and does have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Jesse James and Matt Lehman lead an excellent tight end grouping and WR Allen Robinson returns for his junior season.

The defense is going to have to create turnovers if Penn State is to replicate their special season last year. Senior linebacker Glenn Carson is the heart of a unit that can not afford any injuries. Defensive coordinator John Butler will need to blitz more this fall to create some pressure on the quarterback which was lacking all of last year.

The Nittany Lions have an extremely weak non-conference schedule, playing 4 winnable games, 3 of which are at home and the other (Syracuse) being at a neutral site. The Big Ten schedule will provide plenty of tests however, opening up at Indiana, vs Michigan and at Ohio State. Penn State does not play Iowa, Michigan State or Northwestern this season.

PREDICTION: 4-0 non-conference, 3-5 conference, 7-5 overall.

#10 PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

The winds of change are blowing in West Lafayette as Danny Hope could not survive a 6 win 2012 campaign and has been replaced by Kent State’s Darrell Hazell. It has been years since Purdue was a significant factor in the Big Ten race and it appears they are still years away from returning to the past glory days.

Senior Rob Henry is likely your opening day starter. Henry’s passing ability has always been question mark but there is no doubt he can move the chains with his feet. Henry doesn’t figure to get much help from a weak stable of running backs led by Akeen Hunt. Gary Bush returns after catching 7 touchdowns in 2012 while the offensive line hopes to fill 3 spots left vacant by graduation.

The Boilermakers also debut a new defensive coordinator this fall in Greg Hudson. 8 starters return however it can be debated if that is a good or a bad thing as Purdue finished second to last in total defense in the Big Ten last fall. Ricardo Allen is the clear cut leader of the group and is just one interception return for a touchdown away from tying the national record of 5.

On paper, the schedule looks challenging for Purdue. 3 tough non-conference games (Cincy, Notre Dame, Northern Illinois) highlight September. The Boilermakers will miss Minnesota, Michigan and Northwestern during conference play. Visits by Nebraska and Ohio State to Ross Ade Stadium should entertain the home crowd.

PREDICTION: 1-3 non-conference, 1-7 conference, 2-10 overall.

#11-MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

Minnesota hasn’t won a conference title since 1967 and it does not appear that Jerry Kill will be the man to break the trend. Entering year three, Kill is just 9-16 at Minnesota and has to replace QB MarQuies Gray this fall. On the bright side, 18 starters return for Minnesota including the man who will take over for Gray.

Phillip Nelson will be the man behind center in 2013. Nelson didn’t figure to see the field last year until injuries hit and he actually ended up battling for the starting job. The strength of the offensive unit appears to be the offensive line which is chalked with plenty of starting experience. Overall the Gophers return 10 of 11 offensive starters however the issue is, these starters were not overly productive last season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Minnesota is also undersized but did finish last season 33rd in the country in total defense. Defensive Coordinator Tracy Claeys also has plenty of experience to work with including leading tackler Aaron Hill.

On paper, this appears to be one of the more talented Gophers squads in recent history. However we question both the history of this program and the coaching ability of Jerry Kill. The September schedule is weak as usual with UNLV, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Western Illinois lining up the cupcakes. The conference slate will open vs Iowa. Minnesota avoids Ohio State, Purdue and Illinois in 2013.

PREDICTION: 4-0 non-conference, 1-7 conference, 5-7 overall.

#12-ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

The season is just 10 days away therefore it is time for our annual rundown of the Big Ten Power Rankings. The conference figures to be stronger this year and with Ohio State off of probation, the Big 10 may have their first legit National Championship contender in several years. We’ll kick things off today with #12!

Tim Beckham returns for year two after winning one game over a FBS in his debut campaign. The Illini lost one game by less than 14 points including an embarrassment vs Louisiana Tech. It didn’t take long fo Beckham to learn things are a little tougher in the Big Ten than in the MAC while at Toledo.

On offense, Nathan Steelhaase returns and will likely be the signal caller come the opener in late August. Steelhaase had an excellent freshman year but since then has had difficulty determining if he was a running quarterback or pocket passer. Ryan Lankford leads a veteran although underwhelming receiving core. Donovan Young and Josh Ferguson will be the duo in the backfield trying to relieve Steelhaase of some of the offensive burden.

The Illini defense appears to be undersized and inexperienced across the board. Linebacker Johnathan Brown figures to be the leader of the defense despite missing much of 2012 due to injury. The secondary could be an outright disaster with very little experience or talent to be found.

The schedule finds some moderate non-conferences challenges with matchups against Washington, Miami OH and Cincinnati scheduled. Illinois misses Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota during conference play and starts with a tough trio of Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan State.

PREDICTION: 1-3 non-conference, 0-8 conference, 1-11 overall.

MR. THURSDAY NIGHT RETURNS

Hello again fellow degenerates! Football season is upon us once again and Mr. Thursday Night kicked off the season with a winner as Dallas +3 came home last night in the Hall of Fame game. Coming soon will be our annual Big Ten rundown along with all the locks you've come to expect from MTN. Also be on the lookout this fall for guest picks from other gamers on the staff. We've already secured our future wager of the year while in Las Vegas last month as Clemson 27 to 1 to win the National Title was just too good to pass up. We will know where we stand on that wager early in the year as Clemson and Georgia square off in a week 1 showdown. Good luck this fall and stay tuned!

NCAA SWEET 16

We look to continue our red hot tournament run with these winners:

Indiana -5 vs Syracuse
Arizona +4 vs Ohio State

SUNDAY FREE FOR ALL

A 3-1 Saturday puts us at an amazing 12-4 during the past 3 days of NCAA action. We are on 3 dogs today as the tournament continues to loosen up. Good luck and enjoy these winners!

Iowa State +7.5 vs OSU
FGC +7.5 vs SDSU
Miss -4.5 vs Lasalle
Minnesota +8 vs Florida

SATURDAY NCAA

A 4-2 Friday gets us to an amazing 9-3 in the past two days of NCAA action. The game of the day on Saturday may very well be the early tip as Michigan squares off against an exciting VCU squad. Later on, upstart Oregon appears primed to pull another upset as they matchup with St. Louis. We do not expect a Harvard victory today but we do expect them to easily cover that number. Michigan State gets an overrated Memphis squad in round 2 and will have no issues advancing to yet another Sweet 16. Good luck!

Michigan -3.5 vs VCU
Michigan State -6 vs Memphis
Harvard +10 vs Arizona
Oregon +4 vs St. Louis

NCAA FRIDAY

Blamo!

Mr. Thursday Night returns with a bang as he goes 5-1 on day 1 of the NCAA Tournament. He's got more sure fire winners for his fellow degenerates today. He's even thrown in a bonus NIT pick at no additional charge. Stay tuned for a possible late addition of Kansas State to today's card. Good luck!

NCST -5 vs Temple
Iowa State -1 vs ND
Miss +6.5 vs Wisky
NW ST +20.5 vs Florida
Iowa -8.5 vs Stony Brook
UNC -4.5 vs Villanova

BACK IN THE SADDLE

After a long trip through the desert, Mr. Thursday Night is back with a handful of stone cold locks for you today on NCAA Tournament Thursday. Good luck today and stay tuned for more action!

Colorado State +3 vs Mizz
MSU -10 vs Valpo
Davidson +3.5 vs Marquette
Memphis -1 vs St Mary's
Pitt -4 vs Wich St
Oregon +2 vs Oklahoma State