RIVALRY WEEK CAN BE SO MUCH FUN

Enjoy your holiday get-together

It's Thanksgiving week and we're headed into a weekend of games that feature bitter rivals. These games always make for delicious Thanksgiving dinner banter especially if different foes are represented at the table.

So tighten your seatbelt because things could get contentious and interesting, especially if ole Uncle Joe has one more vino...

Last Saturday we hit a speed bump, going 4-4 for the day.

Yale jumped up to bite Harvard, ending a 9 year drought. LSU's miserable red-zone performance gave Florida the SEC East. Colorado beat its first ranked opponent in over a decade, and the Golden Gophers tripped up Northwestern.

Mo Wins. Mo Money

But we're sitting at 66% and that means we're MAKING MO' MONEY...with more to come.

FROM THE MAIL BAG....

From Boomer Sooner: With regards to Tennessee, "...respectfully, if praying, hoping, and "if" is involved, it doesn't seem to me like that qualifies as "earning" a trip to the Ga Dome. By the way, congrats on your winning percentage. Impressive." (editor's note: very astute observation. Thanks for sharing)

From Doctor R. Allen in Charleston: "Good grief WWW!!!! Specatular! Incredible! Amazing! Impressive! (editor's note: we do our best. Hope you're making money)

From Buffy in Boston: "You finally feature an Ivy League game. And you get it wrong. Ha ha ha. LMAO." (editor's note: glad we could make you laugh)

WHAT WE LEARNED IN Week Twelve...

...the Coaching Carousel is already spinning...

• With LSU losing to Florida it's a pretty safe bet that Ed Orgeron lost his audition to be the permanent head coach in Baton Rouge. So the LSU booster braintrust is counting its dollars to go after a big name like Jimbo Fisher at FSU. Which will open up the FSU job which will open up another job and so on and so on...

Happy trails to you...

• The days at Texas are drawing to a close for Charlie Strong as his Longhorns were upset by lowly Kansas. That appears to be the final straw for Strong who was never fully embraced in Austin. Look for Tom Herman to be the new man at Texas.

• Notre Dame is suffering through another disappointing season. Brian Kelly will survive this year but not next if his Irish continue to underperform. It's not a question of talent in South Bend; they have no problem in recruiting the best. So it's gotta be about the coaching. And Notre Dame has more disposable cash than any other school to go after big name coaches who can't resist the allure of the Golden Dome. 

Bama's odd couple

• How much longer will Lane Kiffin be content to be Nick Saban's lap dog? He's arguably the best offensive coordinator in the business but that doesn't necessarily translate to being an effective head coach. But somebody, somewhere, some day will give him another shot. And it will happen sooner than later. He's too good of a coach despite his weenie personality.


THE GREAT EIGHT™ for Week Thirteen...

#3 Michigan @ #2 Ohio State...if you know of two teams that hate each other more than these two schools please let me know. The stakes for this game could not be higher as both teams jockey for CFP consideration. The Buckeyes have dominated this series over the last decade, winning 11 of the last 12 meetings and could send a strong message to the committee by beating the Wolverines for the fifth straight time overall. Urban is 18-1 in the month of November.  Make that 19-1. Bet on the Buckeyes to win the 113th edition of this bitter rivalry.

Georgia Tech @ Georgia...Clean Old Fashioned Hate returns for the 109th time but it's not the rousing rivalry it should be given that the Dawgs have dominated in recent years. But every few seasons the Yellow Jackets beat the mutts to make things interesting and this could be one of those years. The Jackets return several players from injury so they should be at full strength. This will be a good one. In an UPSET SPECIAL, the Bees sting the Dawgs in Athens.

#13 Florida @ #15 Florida State...the Seminoles are 8-1 against SEC teams since Jimbo took over, and 5-1 versus the Gators. Despite beating LSU 16-10 with a gutsy goal line stand, Florida is still banged up and missing key players. Meanwhile 'Noles rb Dalvin Cook has rushed for 100+ yards in seven of the last eight games to become FSU's all time leading rusher. Look for another big game Saturday night from Cook as the Seminoles scalp the Gators.

Kentucky @ #11 Louisville...after getting blown out 36-10 last week by Houston, the Cardinals will be anxious to beat someone up this Saturday, and Kentucky is the perfect get-well opponent as they meet for the 29th Governor's Cup. If Stoops is smart (and he is), he's studied Houston's game tape and seen how the Cougars handcuffed Louisville's qb Lamar Jackson. If the Cats can somehow contain Jackson they have a chance of knocking off the heavily favored Cardinals. The spread is just too tasty to ignore (26 points). So take Kentucky and the points in another UPSET SPECIAL.

South Carolina @ #4 Clemson...the Gamecocks have made great strides defensively in Muschamp's first season but they'll have their hands full with Clemson's dangerous Deshaun Watson who only needs two more TDs to join Tajh Boyd as the only players in Tiger history to account for 100 touchdowns - passing, rushing or receiving. If Carolina can slow Watson they have a shot. The spread (24 points) is too tempting to resist. Take the Cocks and points in an UPSET SPECIAL.

#16 Auburn @ #1 Alabama...as we've said before, until someone beats Bama we stick with the Tide. And this game is no different. The Crimson defense has been stellar and ranks second in scoring defense (11.4 points per game). Look for Alabama to make it a perfect undefeated season and move closer to securing the top spot in the CFP. Take the Tide over the tiggers.

#24 Tennessee @ Vanderbilt...can Botch Jones get his crew excited to beat Vandy which will give them the inside track to a Sugar Bowl berth? We're not so sure given his team's failure to beat South Carolina when the SEC East title was at stake...after a bye week. If qb Dobbs rolls like he did last week versus Mizzou, then the Vols win. But we think the Commodores will make this a long long day for the Vols. Take Vandy in this UPSET SPECIAL.

Mississippi State @ Ole Miss...this is the 89th Egg Bowl that features two programs that have returned to mediocrity in the SEC West. Just two years ago both Magnolia State teams were in the Top Ten and playing great football. But alas, they have relapsed to their former selves in a division dominated by Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M. Nevertheless, this game will be hard fought and the loser heads to the SEC West basement. Take the Rebels in this one in a close one.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK™

MORE PICKS. MORE WINS!

It's already Week Twelve and we're starting the final lap of the 2016 College Football season. Hard to believe.

But one thing to believe is our great success at making winning picks. Like hitting on five of six UPSET SPECIALS last week as we went 7-1 overall.

We're at a season of high of 67% of money making winners and we're not letting up. You can bet on that!

BIG GAME IN THE RED STICK

The Florida Gators and Louisiana State finally make up their hurricane-delayed game from earlier this season. Neither team really wanted to make up the game but the new SEC commish finally grew a pair and forced the game to be played. What makes this game so important is the impact it will have on the SEC East title. If Florida wins, they seal their trip to Atlanta. If they lose, Tennessee makes the trip, assuming Botch Jones can get his team to win out over Mizzou and Vandy, never a sure thing.

Our rookie LSU correspondent, Bayou Bengal, is on the scene in Baton Rouge to witness the game, and party-down like a true Cajun Crazy.

For insight into tomorrow's big show down, here's Bayou Bengal's take (scribed before his fifth Red Stick Rye).

Straight From The Bayou

Jambalaya jammin'

It's a great day to be a Tiger fan! While our championship aspirations are long since out the window, along with our formerly beloved Coach Miles, the new-look Tigers return home with sweet-as-Sugar (bowl) hopes of beating the Gators. 

This game carries extra weight after a season full of bad weather and bad attitudes, culminating with a usually-feisty matchup becoming ever more so. With the LSU backs putting up video game numbers against the Hawgs, and Florida missing 7 starters (including some key ones on defense), look for LSU to make a strong push to cover their -14 line in this one. 

Aside from the obvious delight of pulling a W out of this one, the bout does carry some potential season-shaping implications. A win for either team puts them squarely in view of the Sugar Bowl, which would obviously be a good time for the home-grown heroes on LSU and their fans. 

Gonna party in da Bayou

A win Saturday, as well as shrugging off the tryptophan against Texas A&M, likely not only locks LSU in the Sugar Bowl, but also potentially moves Coach Orgeron (hereafter referred to as DACOACHO) into pole position to lead the Tigers out of the gates in 2017. Seriously, go watch him do a sideline interview. You'll see why (hint: his accent is spectacular). The offense and defense have both surged under DACOACHO, and and if he can keep it up for the final 2 games of the season, and the bowl? My money's on him. 

Prediction: with yours truly in attendance for my first game in far too long, the Fightin' Tigers send the swamp lizards back to Gainesville, 36-13. GEAUX TIGERS. GEAUX AMERICA!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ for Week Twelve

Yale @ Harvard...tomorrow is the playing of the 133rd The Game between the Crimson and the Bulldogs, which started in 1875 with a Harvard 4-0 win. A win by the Cambridge crew will give them their 4th straight Ivy League crown. Harvard Stadium will be full, and so will the pewter flasks. We like Harvard winning big over Yale.

#20 Washington State @ #12 Colorado...the Cougars arrive in Boulder as underdogs but they do lead the Pac-12 in rushing yards with 2299 and 29 rushing/receiving TDs. So look for them to pound the rock as they try to minimize the on-field time of Colorado's qb Lirufau who is coming off an impressive showing against Arizona. This will be a tight one. Take the Cougars in an UPSET SPECIAL.

#21 Florida # #16 LSU...the Gators are going to wish they had played this game back in October because the Tigers have only gotten better since. Their ground game is stronger led by Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice. Meanwhile Florida will be without three of their leading tacklers and are playing with back up qb Austin Appleby. Interesting side note: both Appleby and LSU qb Danny Etling were teammates at Purdue before both transferred. Look for LSU to throw Tennessee a lifeline tomorrow with a win over the Gators.

#8 Oklahoma @ #10 West Virginia...the Big 12 is anxious to regain some respect and a win by one of these teams may put them in the CFP conversation. The Sooners are red hot, winning 8 straight after losing two of their first three games. The Mountaineers put their 8 game home winning streak on the line so they're ready to make a move as well. This one is going to be super tight. Take the Sooners.

Northwestern @ Minnesota...the Golden Gophers are looking to have their best season since 2003 but they'll have to get through visiting Northwestern that have won three of the last four meetings in Minneapolis. The Wildcats racked up over 600 yards of offense last week in beating the Boilermakers, so they're primed for action. Look for the Wildcats to win a close one.

Notre Dame @ Virginia Tech...to say this season has been a bust for the Irish is an understatement. They need to win two more games to become bowl eligible. Bad times for the Golden Domers. The Hokies are in the hunt for the ACC Coastal title but are still reeling from their loss to Georgia Tech. If qb Jerod Evans can have a steady game (no INTs) then the Hokies win. Take the Hokies in Blacksburg.

Virginia @ Georgia Tech...despite their upset win over Virginia Tech, Paul Johnson is still feeling the heat on the Flats. His Jackets need to win big over the Wahoos tomorrow who have lost five straight. QB Justin Thomas is slated to return and we think he will have a big day over 2-8 UVa. Bet on the Bees to win.

Missouri @ #19 Tennessee...the Vols need to win out their SEC schedule (Mizzou and Vandy) and pray that LSU can knock off the Gators tomorrow. If that happens, the Vols will earn a trip to the Georgia Dome and have another shot at bringing down Goliath. But first, Tennessee has to have consistent performances from qb Dobbs and a much improved defense. Look for Vols DE Derek Barnett to tee off on the Tigers. He has 10 sacks this season and 30 in his career, just two shy of the great Reggie White's school record. The Vols are favored. And they should be. Take Tennessee to bite the Tigers.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK™

UPSETS GALORE. AND MORE.

In last week's GREAT EIGHT™we swung for the fences by picking six UPSETS, hitting on five.

Our upset strategy was in keeping with the big upset recorded earlier in the week.

So how'd we do overall??

We went 7-1. Cha Ching, Baby.

Sweet Sixty Seven

With last Saturday's winning picks, we're now sitting at a season high of 67%. Which means - - if you've been putting down some cash - - you've made a very very nice return on your investment.

You can thank us now. Or, since the holidays are fast approaching, just remember that my favorite scotch is Macallan Single Malt and I enjoy Cohiba smokes. Perfect stocking stuffers? Yes, yes they are.

So let's savor the  moment with a quick victory lap in Woolard's Weekend Rewind.

Woolard's Weekend Rewind™

• We took Georgia and the points over #8 Auburn. The Dawgs didn't need the points in their 13-7 upset win in Athens.

• We took Kentucky plus the points (14). Tennessee won by only 13, 49-36. Vols could end the season strong, but remember: they rarely cover the spread.

• We took Wake Forest and the points (34.5). Louisville only won by 32. We squeezed this one out!

• Florida won by 13 points. We took South Carolina and the points (17). Cha ching, although Vol fans would have preferred a Gamecock win as well.

• We took the Pitt Panthers plus points (21). They upset Clemson 43-42, one of several Top Ten upsets on Saturday.

• Ohio State pummeled the Terps, 62-3. No points involved here as the Buckeyes rolled, again.

• We took Oklahoma over Baylor. We knew the Sooners would cover the 21.

• Our only loss for the day was Alabama beating Mississippi State by 48 points. The line was 30 and too tempting not to take. Shame on us....never go against the Tide!

We'll be back later this week with our Great Eight for Week Twelve.

Keep Winning.

WEEK ELEVEN COULD BE HEAVEN.

Week Ten was not too bad as we went 5-3 in our picks.

Making mo' moulah

We just missed one of our UPSET SPECIALS when Georgia hit a field goal to beat Kentucky at the buzzer.

A quick glance at the Mo' Money Tracker™shows we're still making some moulah as we start to make the final turn of the season. Hopefully you're making some moulah, too.

Upsets in the Air

Whether you voted Red or Blue, the final tally late Tuesday night can be regarded as an UPSET. So, in keeping with the Upset theme, we've loaded up this week's GREAT EIGHT™ with several UPSET SPECIALS that could lift your spirits while lifting your bank account. $$$$.

SIDELINES...What We Learned in Week Ten

• Wisconsin finally wins in Evanston. After 17 straight losses in Evanston, the Badgers finally got one at Northwestern. Something must happen at the state line. Maybe it's the long drive from Madison that wipes the boys out. Or, maybe they fill up on Chicago deep dish before the game. Dunno. In any event, the drought is over.

• Missing Persons Alert issued for the Husker defense. The Bug Eaters lost last week 62-3 to Ohio State. Zero defense. The week before they lost to Wisconsin in a tighter game, 23-17. So, two weeks in a row we've gotten a Nebraska game correct. Finally. Can Nebraska's defense be found in time for tomorrow's match with 7-2 Minnesota??

• Tennessee had a feel good game with Tennessee Tech last Saturday, or as we called them back in the day, Tennis Shoe Tech (yes, we were a clever bunch). They smacked the boys from Cookeville, 55-0. Which leads me to tomorrow's game with a surging Kentucky. Botch Jones is back on the old hot seat after under delivering with a team that Orange Necks felt was primed for glory this season. A loss tomorrow to the Wildcats ain't gonna go down well with the Big Orange faithful that are growing weary of Botch's promo lines and rah rah. It wasn't that long ago that Derek Doolittle lost 10-7 to a Kentucky team led by a wide receiver turned qb, Matt Roark from North Cobb High School here in metro Atlanta. That was Roark's very first and only college game at quarterback and he did enough to beat a Tennessee team that mailed it in. Fortunately, Doolittle was canned the next season. Let's hope Botch fares better and his Vols kill the Cats. Otherwise look for the moving vans real soon.

• Who's more annoying? Brent Musberger or Verne Lundquist? Since Verne is retiring I won't pick on him...too much. But listening to both last Saturday brings to mind that there is a real art to announcing games on television. Sometimes saying little is better. Fans are not stupid (well, some are) and are not dying to be entertained all the time by bad jokes and tired cliches. Sometimes it's best to let the visuals of a game tell the story. Fortunately, there's still some great announcers that know when to speak and when to shut up. Our favorites are Brad Nessler, Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler, and Ron Franklin (before he was silenced by ESPN for saying some un-PC stuff...boo hoo).

THE GREAT EIGHT™ for WEEK ELEVEN....

Pitt @ #3 Clemson...the Tigers look to clinch the ACC Atlantic title and move closer to securing a return trip to the College Football Playoff. Clemson has won 21 straight home games - the longest streak in the nation. Take the Panthers and the points in our first UPSET SPECIAL.

Mississippi State @ #1 Alabama...the 4-5 Bulldogs looked like world beaters last Saturday as they gutted the Texas A&M Aggies. But Bama is an elephant of a different color...Crimson to be exact. Plus the game is in Tuscaloosa at high noon; just enough time for the bama frat rats to get liquored up and primed for kickoff. Alabama is favored by 30 points. Bama wins but fails to cover. Take the Cowbells and the points in an UPSET SPECIAL.

Kentucky @ Tennessee...the Vols are a 14 point favorite. But this team starts incredibly slow and are missing some key players like rb Jaden Hurd (quit the team), safety/returner Evan Berry plus the on again/off again play of qb Joshua Hobbs.  The good news for Vol fans, rb John Kelly is lightning in a jar quick, which bodes well for the final stretch. Vols win but fail to cover. Take Kentucky and the points in this UPSET SPECIAL.

South Carolina @ #22 Florida...Vol fans will be watching this one hoping to see the Gamecocks upset the Gators, and reopen the SEC East for Tennessee. Florida will be without injured qb Luke Del Rio which gives Cock faithful some hope. The Gators are favored by 17 points. Take South Carolina and the points in another UPSET SPECIAL.

#25 Baylor @ #9 Oklahoma...the Sooners are on a roll after losing two of their first three games to Houston and Ohio State. A win tomorrow moves them closer to another Big 12 championship. The Bears are teetering from back to back losses to Texas and TCU. The Sooners are favored by 16 and they will cover. Take Stoops' Sooners in this one.

#8 Auburn @ Georgia...the Tigers are surging and headed to a SEC West showdown with Alabama. But this game with Georgia is the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry" with the Bulldogs winning 10 of the last 14 meetings. Take UGA and the points in an UPSET SPECIAL in Athens. 

Wake Forest @ #5 Louisville...the Cardinals have beaten only one team with a winning record this season and are under pressure to blow out teams if they want to score points with the playoff committee. Along comes the scrappy 6-3 Deacons, who are very successful at forcing turnovers (they lead the ACC). The Cardinals win but don't cover the 34.5 points. Mighty mighty tasty. Take the Deacs and the points in yet another UPSET SPECIAL.

#6 Ohio State @ Maryland...the Buckeyes shucked the Huskers last Saturday 62-3 and the Terps are lined up to be their next victim. Maryland has been sliding down hill since its 4-0 start. While the 29.5 spread looks so delicious, we think Meyer's Buckeyes will cover in College Park. Take Ohio State over the Turtles.

Good Luck This Weekend. 

Make Mo' Money with Mark™

DO IT AGAIN IN WEEK TEN

Week Nine Mighty Fine

We had another solid showing last Saturday as we went 6-2 on our picks.

That pushes our numbers to 47-25 for the season.

So, we're hoping to have another strong day and add to our growing pile of cash.

SIDELINES...What we learned in Week Nine

• What's happened at Georgia?? A team that was included in everyone's pre-season Top Twenty has completely dropped off of the radar. We understand that the Dawg offensive line is rebuilding but the much ballyhooed tandem of Chubbs and Michel has become a non-factor. Georgia's game in Kentucky is not a sure thing which will make an ugly season uglier and send doggie fans howling.

• Inexcusable! After an off week, Tennessee came out and laid an egg in Columbia, losing 24-21. No excuses for Botch Jones not having his team ready to play, especially with an SEC East title hanging in the balance. The name Rocky Flop is well deserved.

• We finally got a Nebraska game right as the Huskers fell to Wisconsin in Madison. Can we do it a second week in a row?

• Mark Stoops at Kentucky has doused the flames of doubt that were heating up his chair as the 5-3 Wildcats have an outside chance of getting to the Dome in December should they win out and the Gators drop two. It's unlikely to happen but the Cats are playing much better this season and Stoops can breathe a little easier.

THE GREAT EIGHT for WEEK TEN...

#8 Wisconsin @ Northwestern...the Badgers have survived their school record of playing five top-10 opponents and are looking to snap a 17 year drought in Evanston. Wildcat qb Clayton Thorson ranks 3rd in the Big Ten in passing yards and has thrown for 15 touchdowns, the most ever by a sophomore in school history. In a tight one, the Badgers survive. Take Wisconsin over the Cats.

Georgia Tech @ #18 North Carolina...just when you're about to write off GT qb Justin Thomas he has a career day and wins national player of the week after passing for 264 yards and rushing for another 195 in a big Jacket 38-35 win over Duke. The question is: can he do it again as the Bees travel to Chapel Hill? The Tar Heels have their own weapon, qb Mitch Trubisky who is rewriting the passing records at UNC. He'll go after the Jackets secondary and a GT defense that has given up 35 points in 3 of their last 4 games. Take the Heels in this one.

#10 Florida @ Arkansas...the Gators are taking advantage of Rocky Flop and are looking to return to ATL for another shot at the SEC Championship. Their trip to Fayetteville won't be an easy one as the Hogs look for redemption after their embarrassing 56-3 loss to Auburn. But since giving up 38 points to Tennessee, the Gator defense has settled down and allowed only 44 combined points in six victories. QB Del Rio played good enough to defeat Georgia last Saturday and he is taking advantage of a much improved receiving corps. We're taking the Gators over the Razorbacks.

#1 Alabama @ #15 LSU...yes, the Tigers have found new life under interim head coach Ed Orgeron. And, yes, it will be a night game in Baton Rouge. But the Crimson Tide is undefeated for a reason: they're damn good plus the fact their defense finds ways to score. This should be a great game and the 8.5 spread is tempting especially with Leonard Fournette returning to old form. But we ain't buying. Take the Tide in the red stick.

#9 Nebraska @ #6 Ohio State...the Buckeyes need to win this game to keep pace with Michigan who leads the Big Ten East. Meanwhile, the Huskers are in the driver's seat in the West. Both are 7-1. Ohio State has had a rough three game stretch and are hoping to jump out early over Nebraska. If Tommy Armstrong takes care of the ball, this could be a tight game tomorrow night. In a close one, Buckeyes shuck the Huskers.

#4 Washington @ Cal...the undefeated Huskies are 5 in the initial CFP rankings and cannot afford a slip up since their non-conference slate is fairly weak. They'll be looking for their 13th consecutive win as they travel to Berkeley. We think they'll get that. Put your money on the Huskies.

Georgia @ Kentucky...we normally wouldn't feature a matchup like this but the Wildcats are surprisingly in the hunt for the SEC East crown after Tennessee tanked and left the door open. A win also makes the Wildcats bowl-eligible for the first time since 2010. So a lot is riding on this game as Kentucky hopes to make November a memorable one. Georgia ranks last in the SEC in red zone defense, allowing 19 TDs and 5 field goals. Meanwhile the Wildcats feature a three headed running attack with Kemp, Williams, and Snell, averaging 219 yards per game. That could be the difference as the Cats look to snap a six game losing streak to the Dawgs. That happens tomorrow. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take Kentucky over Georgia.

Vanderbilt @ #11 Auburn...there is absolutely no reason to think that Auburn will lose to Vandy. And they won't. But a line of 25.5 points is just too tasty to ignore. So, despite averaging 300 rushing yards and 200 passing, we think the 'Dores can keep it close. War Eagles win but don't cover the spread. Take Vandy and the points in an UPSET SPECIAL.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK™