MAKING GREEN YOUR FAVORITE COLOR
As most schools begin their run through conference play, we're feeling pretty pretty pretty good.

Why? Because we're off to one of our best starts in our six years of picking winners and making lots of green!!

Sweet 71. Cha Ching!

Last week we went 6-2, including our UPSET SPECIAL in the Air Force-Michigan game and our on-target pick of Florida finding yet another way to beat Tennessee in The Swamp. This pushes our overall winning record to 71%, which outstrips what you might find in Vegas or Atlantic City. Very sweet.

Extra Points
• The honeymoon in Baton Rouge with Coach "O" is over. Either Missy State is a really good team that no one noticed before the start of the season, or LSU is failing once again to capitalize on a team loaded with talent. In any event, all eyes will be on "O" to see if he can right the Bengal ship. If not, this crazy cajun could be out.

It's tough to be a Vol fan

• Botch Jones has once again shown the college football world how bad a game manager and strategist he is. While he is one of the better recruiters of high school talent, the series of bad decisions in the Florida loss speaks volumes. The list of screw ups is too long to list but suffice to say that the bunsen burner on Botch's bottom has been cranked up a few more notches. And the new AD at Tennessee is watching and listening. The Georgia game is now a MUST win if the Vols want to have a sniff at the SEC East crown.

Land sharks? Really?

• Misery continues in Oxford as the Black Rebel Bears got spanked by a fairly weak Cal team, losing 27-16. The Ole Miss braintrust is probably content to ride out this bowl-less season with interim head coach Matt Luke, but we're willing to bet they're having conversations about leadership in 2018. As a side note, Ole Miss is once again revisiting their mascot issue, and may drop the current Black Rebel Bear moniker for Land Sharks. Okay.

• Dan Mullen is sitting pretty after his Mississippi State Dawgs bit the Bengal Tigers. Missy State is now 3-0, and could be a serious threat to unseat Alabama as the best in the West.  We'll know more after their matchup with Georgia this Saturday in Athens.

• Wisconsin fans invaded Provo last Saturday to watch their Badgers pummel BYU 40-6. In the process they helped local bars set all time financial records in a town dominated by dry Mormons. Drink up and jump around.

Bug Eaters getting restless

• Who says life as a Nebraska Cornhusker fan is boring? While we questioned the dismissal of Bo Pelini, we were suspect about the hiring of super nice guy Mike Riley who had an okay record at Oregon State. As the wheels continue to fall off the Husker wagon, just yesterday NU canned their athletic director, Shawn Eichorst who was the trigger man on the Bo Out/Mike In transaction. Memo to Coach Riley: prep thy resume pronto. Look for favorite son, Scott Frost, to return to Lincoln to head up the Bug Eaters.

Preview of the Southern Cal Trojans vs Cal Golden Bears Game...from the LAIR OF THE BEAR
There's a huge game brewing on the West Coat that has PAC 12 ramifications. Our first year Pac 12 correspondent, Lair of the Bear, shares his thoughts about the big game in Berkeley.

"Ahead of the 2017 season, usc vs. Cal was pegged as an easy Trojan victory, but after undefeated starts for both sides, it now looms as a trap game for the Trojans!

usc takes an overall 12-game winning streak into Strawberry Canyon - the program’s longest such streak since Pete Carroll’s final season in 2009.  This usc team last lost September 23, 2016 at Utah, which opens a string of bad omens for usc, as Saturday’s game will also be played September 23.

Lair of the Bear with Joe Roth throwback hat

In addition, the quickest way to an upset is via turnovers and Cal has worked that to their advantage in 2017.  The Bears have forced three turnovers in each of their three games so far.  They have generated 14 points off of turnovers in two games versus North Carolina and Ole Miss. Their nine turnovers on the season, including four fumbles and five interceptions, ranks third nationally.

In addition, there will be a lot of emotion inside California Memorial Stadium.  Saturday's contest is the Joe Roth Game, named after the former Cal quarterback (1975-76) who led the Bears to a co-Pac-8 Championship in 1975, including, in the presence of yours truly, "Lair of the Bear", a victory over No. 4 usc. Shortly after graduating from Cal, Roth passed away from cancer in February of 1977.  Cal will wear throwback uniforms from the Roth era on Saturday.  

And…. the Pac-12 road opener has been a tricky fixture for USC in the past, and it doesn’t look to get any easier on Saturday.  Since 2009, USC is 3-5 in Pac-12 road openers, beginning with a notable loss to former Trojan assistant Steve Sarkisian at Washington and last year with a loss to Stanford.

Cal has gotten off to a 3-0 start with a balanced and effective offensive attack and a defense which looks completely transformed under Wilcox

After allowing 42.6 points last season, Cal's defense has allowed an average of only 22.0 points per game in the first three games of the 2017 campaign.

Freshman linebacker Devante Downs (6’3”, 235 pounds from Mountlake Terrace, Washington) was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for the second time in the first three games for his performance Saturday in unbeaten Cal's 27-16 home win over Ole Miss at California Memorial Stadium.

On offense Cal plays an up-tempo game, and wears opponents down late in the second half.  There were a lot of hands-on-hips on the Ole Miss defensive side of the ball last week.

All this being said… usc has found a way to win in close contests this season. They have a “pretty good” quarterback in Sam Darnold and a pair of good running backs in Ronald Jones II and Stephen Carr.

However, if Cal can keep it close at the half, I like my Bears in an upset over Timmy Trojan and his insensitive and politically incorrect horse, Traveler - almost the same name as Robert E Lee’s horse!"

GO BEARS!

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The GREAT EIGHT™ for WEEK FOUR

#5 Southern Cal @ Cal...this will be a good test for both teams. Is Cal a real team to be taken seriously and can they hang tough with USC? And can the Trojans bounce back from a sloppy game and play well on the road? The 16 point spread is mighty tempting but we think the Men of Troy will cover. Take Southern Cal in a big road win.

#15 Auburn @ Missouri...the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles have a lot of issues to deal with especially their offense which has sputtered all season, scoring just 6 points against Clemson and 24 against FCS Mercer.  We think Auburn's offensive woes will continue and fail to cover the 20 point spread. Take Mizzou and the points.

Clang that thang

#17 Mississippi State @ #11 Georgia...both teams need a W to stay in the hunt for their respective division crowns. Missy State dominated LSU because it controlled the line of scrimmage both ways. Will Georgia finally unleash the Dawg's Chubb and Michel? This will be the game of the day in a tight one. Will it be the Chapel Bell clanging? Or the Cow Bells?  Take the Cow Bell clangers in an UPSET SPECIAL in Athens.

#4 Penn State @ Iowa...James Franklin has jumped to the top in our Top Weeners list after the stunt he pulled last Saturday. Leading Georgia State 56-0 with just 11 seconds left in the game he calls a time out as the Panthers attempt a field goal. Whatta a weener. In any event, Penn State takes on an undefeated Hawkeye team that appears hungry for more. Not so fast, Iowa fans. The Nittany Lions have perhaps the best running back in America, Saquon Barkley. At 5'11, 223 lbs, he's a one man wrecking crew. If the Hawkeyes can't stop Barkley then their winning streak comes to an end. Take Penn State over Iowa.

#7 Washington @ Colorado...the Buffs haven't beaten a Top Ten team in ten years and they have their work cut out for them on Saturday. The Huskies have a real opportunity to flex some muscle with an offense led by Jake Browning who ranks seventh nationally in passing efficiency after finishing sixth in last season's Heisman Trophy voting. And watch out for Washington's Dante Pettis who has returned a punt for a touchdown in all three games this season and has tied the NCAA record with 8 in his career. Huskies howl in Boulder.

UCLA @ Stanford...since blowing out Rice 62-7, things have been going down hill quickly for Stanford. Beaten by USC 42-24 and 20-17 by underdog San Diego State, the Cardinal face a red hot Josh Rosen. He's been nothing short of sensational through the first three games, passing of over 1200 yards and 13 touchdowns. Unfortunately the Bruin defense leaves a lot to be desired having given up a staggering average of 515 yards and 38 points per game. And Stanford will take advantage of that. The Cardinal clip the Bruins.

Pitt @ Georgia Tech...this game could make life worse for the Panthers after getting the tar beat out of them by Penn State (33-14) and Oklahoma State (59-21). The Jackets are looking to open ACC play with a win. And with 52 freshmen (and only 15 seniors), this makes for a pretty bumpy ride for Pitt at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Bees sting the Panthers.

#16 TCU @ #6 Oklahoma State...if you like offenses that march up and down the field then you're going to love this marquee matchup. The two teams are averaging a combined 103 points per game through the first three weeks of the season. A victory puts the winner in contention with the Sooners for being the best in the Big 12. The outcome is going to come down to which teams defense steps up. Saddle up with the Cowboys and ride a big W.

Good luck this weekend.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™