END OF THE LINE

We closed out the 2018 Season going 4-4 last weekend with some pretty exciting games that weren’t decided until late. We guess that’s a fitting end to another crazy and exciting season.

For the 2018 campaign, we finished at 59%. Not the greatest level but far from the worse. Naturally we wanted to match last season’s stellar success of 72% winners, but we fell short of that. Bottomline, we made some money, and we hope you did too.

A BIG THANK YOU

Muchos gracias to all of our contributors this season that took the time to share their personal takes on game picks and experiences. We had some new folks jump on board and we appreciate their valuable participation. And, of course, we appreciate all of our readers and subscribers.

BOWL GAMES AHEAD

The College Football Playoff has been settled with Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma as the final four. We could spend hours, if not days, debating the final line up, as well as the other teams slated for bowl games. Some schools made out well while others, debatably, got jobbed (see Georgia Tech). Nevertheless there are tons of bowl games (perhaps too many) to enjoy over the next few weeks.

WORTH NOTING

 A few things happening this Saturday….

Colgate takes on North Dakota State in the FCS quarter-finals while Kennesaw State hosts South Dakota State.  Excellent football.

The classic Army-Navy game is set for 3:00 pm in Philadelphia. You’ll be feeling the cold temps from your TV so have some hard cider handy to make your viewing a bit more comfortable. If you like run-heavy offenses, this game is for you. Be sure to check out the uniforms that each team will be sporting.

Also…the Heisman Trophy winner will be announced in New York City tomorrow night. Three pretty well qualified guys (all qbs) have been invited to the Big Apple. Look for Dwayne Haskins to leave Manhattan with the hardware.

THE FUTURE OF WOOLARD’S WEEKEND WINNERS

 It’s said that change is good. So plans are underway now for a new look and new format for the 2019 season (although several followers appreciated the old school look).

The mainstay, The Great Eight™, will of course remain, along with a few UPSET SPECIALS to make things interesting. And we’ll continue featuring our team of contributors across the country. We’re always looking for more college football “experts” so give us a jingle if you’d like to rep your conference, region or team. We’d love to have you.

As chief editor, head referee, and senior raconteur, my role is still under consideration. I may be stepping away but never too far to lend a hand with game picks and astute commentary. Time will tell. What I can tell you is that we’ve had an awesome time over the last 7 seasons and I hope you’ve had fun as well, in addition to making a few bucks with our winning picks. The best payoff has been talking with folks around the country and sharing thoughts on something we all collectively enjoy, college football. I thank you all.

So best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season and a prosperous and healthy 2019.  Hope to see you next season.

MAKE MO’ MONEY WITH MARK™

FINISH STRONG

We got clobbered last week.

No way to sugar coat it. Pretending otherwise would not be right.

We went 2-6 last weekend in which several games were decided late (e.g. 7 OT loss by LSU), and others were decided early. Like Michigan getting pummeled by Ohio State, 62-39. So much for having the best defense in America.

There are a few large match ups this weekend including several involving conference championships along with CFP rankings. And we're looking for redemption...and some money, too.

Let’s get to it.

The GREAT EIGHT for WEEK FOURTEEN

#1 ALABAMA vs #4 GEORGIA…the table is set for the SEC Championship Game along with a ton of storylines. Teacher vs Pupil. Rematch of  2017. East vs West. And, of course, CFP ramifications. Georgia must win or they drop out of the CFP. But even if an undefeated Bama were to lose, the Tide may very well stay in the top four team set. Obviously, a lot is at stake. But as we have said before, until someone knocks off Alabama, our money runs with the Tide. And so far, no one has come close to beating Saban’s squad. Take the Tide over the pups.

#2 CLEMSON vs PITTSBURGH…somehow a 7-5 Pitt team has stumbled into the ACC Chmpionship game, after getting ripped by Miami last weekend. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Clemson is loaded and knows that securing a top spot in the CFP is one win away. No contest here. Tigers claw the Panthers.

#12 WASHINGTON vs #19 UTAH…unlike last season, the Huskies are not pushing for a seat at the CFP table. But the pooches still have a lot to play for. Like a berth in the Rose Bowl. The key to a Washington win: Myles Gaskin. This kid can run the ball. He’s the first player in Pac 12 history to post four consecutive 1000 yard seasons. He’ll run through and over the Utes tomorrow night. Huskies howl in Santa Clara.

OKLAHOMA vs  #11 TEXAS…the second time could be a charm for the Longhorns as they face the Sooners for the second time this season after beating Oklahoma in October. While Sooner qb Kyler Murray is getting all the pre-game hype, look for qb Same Ehlinger to pick apart a faltering Sooner defense that has one of the worst passing defenses in America. Longhorns stick the Sooners.

#20 NORTHWESTERN vs #5 OHIO STATE…this is a David versus Goliath contest. The Wildcats are a hungry bunch with their very first trip to the Big Ten Championship game. And they will bring a ton of fans to Indianapolis. Menawhile the Buckeyes are coming off a huge 62-XX beat down of Michigan. And they’re ready for more. It won’t be pretty. Brutus brutalizes the ‘Cats.

#8 CENTRAL FLORIDA vs MEMPHIS….this is a rematch of last year’s American Athletic Conference Championship game. A New Year’s Bowl game along with their 24 game winning streak is on the line for the Knights. And there are playing without the qb star, McKenzie Milton. Memphis came close in October to beating UCF, 31-30. Can they win a rematch?  We think so. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Tigers bite the Knights.

JAMES MADISON vs COLGATE…we’ve been quietly following the JMU Dukes this season and, as usual, they are poised for a deep run on the FCS playoffs. But first they need to get by the Colgate Raiders, a team that beat JMU in 2015 second round. Colgate is number one in scoring defense so it’s going to be tough sledding for the Dukes. A possible distraction is the rumored leaving of their head coach, Mike Houston (37-5 in 3 seasons) to Charlotte. Despite that, we’re putting our chips on the Dukes.

#22 FRESNO STATE vs #21 BOISE STATE…this is another title game clash for the Mountain West Conference championship. This is the fourth time in two seasons that the two schools are playing each other, so familiarity is there. The key to the game is Fresno State’s ability to contain Bronco rb Alexander Mattison. He’s been red hot down the stretch, compiling 799 rushing yards and 10 TDs in the last six games. He can scorch the Smurf Turf. Put your bucks on the Broncos.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK

A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER

If you’ve been taking advantage of our winning picks, then this is a November to remember.

We went 7-1 last Saturday, following 7-1 and 6-2 performances. That puts us at 63% for the season. Not too shabby, don’t you think?

That’s some serious winning! And finishing strong!

This weekend is stocked full of traditional rivalry games that actually started on Thanksgiving Day with Mississippi State trouncing the hapless Rebels of Ole Miss. Some of these games have conference title and CFP ramifications as we head into the final two weekends of 2018. A lot can happen, and a lot of money can be yours.

Let’s get to it.

GREAT EIGHT™ for WEEK THIRTEEN

TENNESSEE @ VANDERBILT…the loser of this game is definitely a loser. The losing team fails to become bowl eligible and finishes as the bottom dweller of the SEC East. After playing competitively against Kentucky and Charlotte, the Vols laid a huge egg in their 50-17 loss to Missouri. The Orange defense failed to show while the offense struggled once again. Fortunately for the Vols, qb Jarrett Guarantano and wr Marquez Callaway have been cleared for the game. And that should be enough to beat Vandy. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Vols slam the ‘Dores.

#1 ALABAMA @ AUBURN…if you like college football (and who doesn’t) this game never disappoints. It’s the Iron Bowl. It’s intense, the fans get crazy, the coaches bring their best. Last season Auburn stunned the Tide with a 26-14 upset that sent them to the SECCG to face Georgia. We don’t see that happening again but the 24 point spread is too tempting to ignore. Take Aubbie and the points.

GEORGIA TECH @ #5 GEORGIA…good ole fashion hate is on display in this bitter rivalry. The Jackets have won the last two games in Athens, so anything can happen; especially with the Dawgs having only 6 days to prep for the triple option. If Tech’s qb TaQuon Marshall can connect on a few passes with the Bee defense coming up with a few stops, GT can keep this game close.  The line is very tasty and we’re biting. Take Tech and the points (17).

SOUTH CAROLINA @ CLEMSON….take a look at these facts. Clemson has only lost once at home in the past five seasons. The Gamecocks are 0-4 versus Top 25 this season. This doesn’t bode well for South Carolina as they face a Clemson team that has so many weapons on both sides of the balls. Look for Clemson rb Travis Etienne to have a big day. Tigers clip the Cocks.

#4 MICHIGAN @ #10 OHIO STATE…the winner of this game is the Big Ten East title winner, and if it’s Michigan, the Wolverines take a huge step closer to the CFP. There’s no question that Michigan has one of the best defenses in the country. But they also have qb Shea Patterson and the Buckeyes are struggling to stop big plays on defense. Circle the game as must-see TV. Wolverines chomp on the Nuts.

#18 WASHINGTON @ #8 WASHINGTON STATE…you need to call your sports book now since this game kicks at 8:30 tonight. It’s the Apple Cup that will decide the PAC-12 North title. This game can be decided by the play of Wazzou qb Gardner Minshew. He’s put up a nation-leading 4,325 passing yards at 70% completion rate, with 36 TDs and only 7 INTs. That’s the kind of performance that gets you an invite to NYC for the Heisman show. But the Huskies can answer with their own qb, Jake Browning, who is the PAC-12 winningest qb in conference history. Both teams have great running backs, UW Myles Gaskin and WSU James Williams, that can take the load off of their qbs. Mike Leach is a certifiable whackadoodle but he’s got things moving with his Cougars. Take Washington State over the Huskies.

#7 LSU @ #22 TEXAS A&M…if Coach O can get his Tigers to continue their powerful play from last week, then this will be a long afternoon for the Aggies. In last week’s 42-10 win over Rice, the Tigers limited the Owls to just 198 yards while ripping off 552 yards of offense. But that was Rice.  Both teams are banged up at key positions, but we think LSU has enough in its tank to make this eight in a row over the Aggies. Tigers bite the Aggies.

#11 FLORIDA @ FLORIDA STATE…both head coaches, Dan Mullen and Willie Taggart, are new to this intense rivalry. Florida wants to stop a five game skid to the Seminoles, while FSU needs a win to become bowl eligible and keep its streak of 36 bowl appearances going. Gator qb Franks is more than anxious to wipe out the memory from last year’s game in which he turned the ball over 4 times, including two that went for FSU scores.  While this match-up lacks high octane offenses, there will be enough to make it exciting. Take Florida. Gators chomp the ‘Noles.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™

WINNING AGAIN FEELS SO GOOD.

 

We almost ran the table last week, going 7-1 in our picks .

The only misfire was Wisconsin dropping our UPSET SPECIAL 22-10 to #14 Penn State.

That puts us at 60% which means we made mo’ money, and hopefully you did, too. Right? You followed our picks, didn’t you?

SIDELINES…

• Check this out. Northwestern sold out its ticket allotment to the Big Ten Championship within 48 hours. And an anonymous donor picked up the tab for student tickets and transportation to Indianapolis. These ‘Cats are hungry for a title shot.

• When Mizzou visits Rocky Top on Saturday, ex head coach Derek “Do Little” Dooley will be attending as the offensive coordinator for the Tigers. Hard to believe he’s qualified as an OC let alone being a coach of a D1 program. Would be pretty nice payback if the Vols can flatline the Mizzou offense.

• We know we’re nearing the end of the season but some of Saturday’s games are down right embarrassing. Alabama v Citadel, Auburn v Liberty, South Carolina v Chattanooga, Georgia v UMass, Florida v Idaho. Fans, especially season ticket holders, deserve better. So do the players. They better hope strength of schedule doesn’t become an issue.

• Is Kentucky overrated? Or is Tennessee getting better? Because the Vols took a paddle to the Cats hindside last Saturday in Knoxville, dominating Kentucky 24-7. The second time this season the Vols have knocked off a ranked opponent.

The GREAT EIGHT™ for WEEK TWELVE

VIRGINIA @ GEORGIA TECH…a lot of us wrote off the Jackets earlier in the season after they dropped 3 of their first 4 games. But lookie here! Tech is 6-5, bowl eligible, and the future for Paul Johnson looks a lot brighter. But the Bees will have their hands full with the Cavs who are 7-3. Both teams still have a shot at the Coastal Division title, and the winner will need help from someone to beat Pitt. The Jackets triple option will rack up yardage with their triple headed monster of Marshall, Oliver, and Mason. But can they count on another big day from their defense? They can. Jackets sting the Cavs.

DUKE @ #2 CLEMSON…the Tigers are flying high at the moment and licking their chops for a CFP berth. But along comes pesky Duke with their own ideas of upsetting Dabo’s boys. But the Blue Devils have lost 27 of the last 32 games with Clemson and haven’t won since 2004. With Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence it’s not going to happen soon. The 28 point line is tempting but we ain’t biting. Tigers bite the Devils.

#12  SYRACUSE @ #3 NOTRE DAME…Yankee Stadium in the Bronx will be the scene for this game tomorrow. The 8-2 Cuse face the 10-0 Irish, currently ranked #3 in the CFP scenario. Qb Ian Book returns for the Irish with a nation leading 75% completion rate, which should help Notre Dame’s on again/off again run offense. This will be a close one. Irish nip Syracuse.

INDIANA @ #4 MICHIGAN…it’s been 31 years since the Hoosiers have beaten the Wolverines who are in the midst of a 22 game win streak over Indiana that dates back to 1987.  Indiana brings a fairly balanced offense to Ann Arbor and should keep the game close for a half until Michigan flexes their muscles and puts the game away in the second half….setting up a killer game next week versus arch enemy, Ohio State. Take the Wolverines over the Hoosier

MISSOURI @ TENNESSEE…we have been reluctant to bet on the Vols this season due to their disappointing track record. But Tennessee has shown sparks of life that bodes well for a brighter future on Rocky Top. No other SEC coach has knocked off two ranked teams in their first year of coaching. But here comes Mizzou; a team that has also shown some promise as they have won back to back SEC games, improving to a 6-4 record. But the Tigers will be facing an improving Jarrett Guarantano who has completed a school record 146 passes without an INT. Overlay his performance with another strong run game and Tennessee should be able to pull off the W. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Vols clip the Tigers.

#10 OHIO STATE @ MARYLAND…the 5-5 Terps desperately need to win to become bowl-eligible but are staring at a stout Ohio State team that still has a shot at the Big Ten East title. The Terps have lost their starting qb while the Buckeye run game has ramped up the last two games, rushing for 229 yards over Nebraska and 120 versus Michigan State.  Look for more of the same tomorrow at College Park. Buckeyes flip the Turtles.

#16 IOWA STATE @ #15 TEXAS…this is basically an elimination game for a chance to play for the Big 12 Championship. Tom Herman has his Texas squad trending up after a big win over Oklahoma but the ‘Horns need a win to keep their title hopes alive. Meanwhile the Cyclones are playing much improved football with a tough defense and a rising star at qb with Brock Purdy. This is a must-see game on Saturday. Texas weathers the Cyclones; Horns win.

#24 CINNCINNATI @ #11 CENTRAL FLORIDA…the Knights finally hit WWW as a featured game, and why not? Tomorrow ESPN’s CollegeGameDay will broadcast from Orlando as the Knights put the longest winning streak in FBS (27) on the line. The Bearcats will come to play but in the end UCF can score in bunches. Look for McKenzie Milton to have a big day. Knights crown the Cats.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™

MO' GAMES. MO' MONEY.

Real life is forcing us to audible to a briefer WWW than normal.  We were caught up in mid-term election odds making and are happy to report that we made a few bucks on various elections around this great nation of ours! Yeehaw. ‘MERICA!

Anyways, we did well last weekend, going 6-2 overall with a big UPSET SPECIAL of West Virginia over Texas.

We took the 38.5 points and Louisville thinking that would be more than ample to pick up easy cash. But Petrino’s pathetic Cards folded to Clemson, 77-16. Bad on them, not good for us.

We also thought the Cats could upset Georgia but the Dawgs came to play and left with a huge W.

And the air finally left the LSU bubble as they were shut out 29-0 by the Tide.

The GREAT EIGHT for WEEK ELEVEN™

#10 OHIO STATE @ #18 MICHIGAN STATE…the Buckeyes squeaked out a 36-31 win over the struggling Huskers last week in a game that was a lot closer than expected. Can the Spartans surprise Ohio State in Lansing? We think not. Urban Meyer will have his guys ready after a tough week of practice. Buckeyes win.

SOUTH CAROLINA @ #15 FLORIDA…the Gators got bad news mid-week when their starting qb went down with a “non-contact” foot injury. Try explaining that to the media corps. This could make for an interesting game but we don’t think Muschamp can out coach Mullen in this matchup. Gators growl in Gainesville.

WISCONSIN @ #20 PENN STATE…the Wolverines exposed Penn State 42-7 last Saturday so it will be interesting to see if James Franklin’s Nittany Lions can rebound with a win over the Badgers who must win in order to remain in the Big Ten West title race with Northwestern. The big weapon for Wisconsin is rb Jonathan Taylor, the top runner in the Big Ten. He could be the difference maker given that both qbs are hurting. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Badgers in a big win over Penn State.

RHODE ISLAND @ JAMES MADISON…the Dukes (6-3) are not having their usual stellar season, having lost a tough game last Saturday to New Hampshire, 35-24, complete with six turnovers. They seem to have lost their edge with a struggling offense and an o-line that can’t protect the quarterback. JMU needs a win badly to stay in the FCS playoff hunt. Can they rebound on the road? We think they can. Happy bus ride back to Harrisonburg. Dukes win.

OKLAHOMA STATE @ #6 OKLAHOMA…this is the big bad Badlam game between two schools that absolutely hate each other. Neither team plays great defense on a consistent basis so this could be another shootout bonanza like last year’s Sooner win,  62-52. The only exception is that the Cowpokes lead the nation with qb sacks with 33. Will that be enough to win. Don’t think so. Sooners win in Norman.

#16 MISSISSIPPI STATE @ #1 ALABAMA…here’s the deal. The crew from Starkvegas has played some good ball this season, and they have hopes of slowing down the Bama barrage in Tuscaloosa. QB Tua may be a bit banged up but that’s no big deal given that they have Jalen Hurts as backup. Bottomline, Missy State can’t touch Bama, who’s favored by 24 points. Tide rolls.

#24 AUBURN @ #5 GEORGIA…whatever the Georgia offensive line had for breakfast last week they should be eating the same thing every Saturday. The pups piled up over 330 yards rushing against a Kentucky defense ranked 15^th against the rush. Get this…255 of those yards came before first contact. That’s dominance. An Auburn loss drop them to 6-4 and Malzhan squarely on the hot seat. Ring the Chapel Bell. Dawgs bite the tiggers in Athens.

#2 CLEMSON @ #17 BOSTON COLLEGE….this game features two of the best running backs in the ACC, Clemson’s Travis Etienne and BC’s AJ Dillon, who is a bit banged up coming into this weekend. The Tigers are on their way to winning another ACC title and BC should not not be a factor. Too many weapons for Clemson. Tigers take down the Eagles.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™

DO IT AGAIN IN WEEK TEN

We Making Mo Money

After a 7-1 mash up two weeks ago, we went a more modest 5-3 last Saturday with a couple of games just a hair away from going our way. But that's how the football bounces.

Penn State rallied late to hold off Iowa and the Cowpokes of Okie State beat the Longhorns late, 38-35. We did cash in on our UPSET SPECIAL of Washington State over Stanford so all is good. We made a few bucks and, hopefully, you did, too.

SIDELINES

• Lane Kiffin is apparently looking at numerous SEC teams as an offensive coordinator, including Tennessee. Would Fulmer let him come back to Knoxville?? We think not. Unless Jeremy Pruitt, who coached with Kiffin at Alabama, insists on such a move.

• Rumor has it that bad boy Butch Jones is interested in the Maryland job, which we think would be a positive move for the Terps. It would also lighten the multi-million dollar buyout that Tennessee is saddled with. Hope he ends up in College Park. And that cigar he was puffing on a few weeks ago...we know where he can stick it!

• As heard at this week’s press conference, Nick Saban was asked what he will choose during the coin toss at LSU – kick or receive. His response: “I hope we elect to kick ass, is what I want.”

Two Bit Joe calling the Dawgs

• They say payback is hell, especially when your Gators get skinned by the Bulldawgs. That's what happened when Two Bit Joe lost his bet with Kirby Girl, who dished it out all week long in some fun work place harassment. Too bad there wasn't a cheerleader outfit in the mix.

The Huskers travel to Columbus tomorrow hoping to upset the Buckeyes who are trying to forget the butt kicking they received two weeks ago courtesy the Boilermakers. To better understand the current state of Husker football, we’ve reached out to one of our long time Big Ten reps, Harry Husker, to give us some insight. So let’s go Inside The Huddle™ for Harry's thoughts on what’s happening in Lincoln.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE™ with HARRY HUSKER

For a lifetime Husker fan, being ask to write a short “ditty” on Cornhusker football was a daunting task this year. When WWW asked me, I don’t know if they heard the split second hesitation in my voice over the phone because this is somewhat akin to writing the obituary for your dying best buddy, who is nowhere near death! 

Studio 54 regular, Harry Husker

        

So, keeping it semi-short, we Bug Eaters have gone through a succession of ADs and head coaches (after Solich) who collectively had a severe case of anal cranial inversion when it came to Nebraska football, state psyche, and tradition. Callahan, Pelini, and Riley are good coaches, but the fit at Nebraska was like a ballerina trying out for nose guard. 

Like any corporation, the “board” can get it wrong in picking the senior executives. They got it right with Frost and Moos. They understand the sport has gone by the days of Bob Devaney and the Cornhusker game needs to adapt to the game of today, not forgetting that all that worked in the 60’s through the 90’s does not need to be trashed.

Scott will be the new Dr. Tom Osborne, who remembered what Bear Bryant said after the Tide thrashed the Devaney Cornhuskers 34-7 in the 1967 Sugar Bowl “a good, quick, small team can beat a big slow team every time.”  Then when Osborne, after changing Cornhusker recruiting and training, beat Bama 38-7 in the 1972 Orange Bowl, to paraphrase Bear Bryant quote, “the big quick guys will of course win.”

Scott Frost knew what the program he inherited in Lincoln was going to be, understood the work was multi-year, and he commented pre-season, “a two or three-win season is not out of the realm of possibility for the Huskers.”

Most of the faithful understand the task Mr. Frost has ahead of him and the fans will keep filling Memorial Stadium (366 consecutive sellouts of 90k dating back to 1962)

The tradition and hard work that built the program which produced three Heisman winners and five national title teams, the last one quarterbacked by Scott Frost of Wood River, Nebraska, population 1600, WILL BE BACK.

This Saturday the Cornhuskers play the Buckeyes, the spread of 17½ points (editor’s note: the spread has moved to 18) seems to point out the bookies have a little more respect for team from Lincoln, Nebraska.  WWW might differ from this but I will take the points and Nebraska.  GO BIG RED!!!!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK TEN

LOUISVILLE @ #2 CLEMSON…this could be a trap game for the Tigers as they look ahead to next week’s game against Boston College that could determine the ACC Atlantic Division. With a struggling Louisville, the Tiger’s biggest challenge will be complacency. Clemson will dominate both lines but the 38.5 point spread is just too tempting to pass up because we think Bobby Petrino will squeeze out a couple of TDs to make things interesting. So….in an an UPSET SPECIAL, take Louisville and the points.

Cats are hungry for title

#6 GEORGIA @ #9 KENTUCKY…when was the last time the Wildcats were in the Top Ten…football not basketball?  The winner of this game is the heir apparent to the SEC East , earning a shot at Alabama in the SEC CG (assuming Bama slips past pecky LSU). Kentucky has dazzled the college football world with its number one ranked scoring defense, giving up just 13 points per game. They needed a last second TD last week to squeek by Mizzou, so they know how to win the tight ones. Key to the game: rb Benny Snell. When he carries 16 times or more, the Cats are 18-4. When he carries 15 time or less, the Cats are 3-9. So look for a steady diet of Snell tomorrow. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Cats bite the Dawgs!

#13 WEST VIRGINIA @ #17 TEXAS…the winner of this game will have the inside track to the Big 12 conference championship game. Mountaineer qb Will Greir will lead the charge for WVU, and will be looking to get the ball out to a great fleet of receivers including, David Sills, Marcus Simms, and Gary Jennings. You’ll hear their names all afternoon, especially going against a Texas secondary that was chewed up last week by Oklahoma State. This will be super tight. But in an UPSET SPECIAL, we’re going with West Virginia.

#14 PENN STATE @ #5 MICHIGAN….after an opening loss to Notre Dame, the Wolverines have been on a winning ride with seven consecutive wins. Qb Shea Patterson has been a big boost to the offense and the defense ranks among the best in the country, limiting opponents to less than 24 points per game. So this should be interesting. Because the Penn State offense averages 41 points a game and qb Trace McSorely is one of the best. This will be tight. But the Wolverines will beat the kitty cats of Penn State.

NEBRASKA @ #17 OHIO STATE…no one is more anxious to start this game then the Buckeyes who were pounded 49-20 by Purdue two weeks ago. They’ve had a bye week to stew even more. Meanwhile, the Huskers are sporting a two game win streak after losing some fairly close games to Colorado, Troy, and Northwestern in OT. So a few points could have changed the narrative for this game significantly. Key to this game is OSU’s ability to get back to their run game which has faded of late. It’s important because the Bug Eaters are susceptible to the run, allowing 166 rushing yards per game. Michigan gashed them for 285 yards and Wisconsin ripped off 370 yards. So look for Urban Meyer to establish the run early and often. Nebraska will counter with a very dangerous dual threat qb, Adrian Martinez. This could be a game in which the Cornhuskers sneak up on the Buckeyes. But we think Meyer will have his crew ready to wreak havoc on Frost’s Huskers.  Take Ohio State over Nebraska.

DARTMOUTH @ PRINCETON…both teams are sporting perfect 7-0 records and are headed to an Ivy League title showdown. The Tigers whupped Cornell last week, 66-0, and rolled up an impressive 504 yards of offense. The average of 50 points per game. Meanwhile, the Big Green have scored over 35 points per game so they can make some noise as well. We like Princeton, especially after watching them defeat Harvard two weeks ago. Put your greenbacks on Princeton.

#1 ALABAMA @ #3 LSU…this promises to be the best game on Saturday as these two titans clash for the SEC West title and a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. As usual, Bama is rolling along and dishing out a lot of pain along the way, winning games with a minimum margin of 22 points in their 8 wins this season. But LSU plays pretty good defense so qb Tua Tagovailoa will have his work cut out for him. But can the Tiger secondary, ranked 5^th nationally against the pass, limit Tua and his receivers? The Tide has too many weapons and a head coach that absolutely hates to lose. Take the Tide over the Tigers in the Red Stick.

#4 NOTRE DAME @ NORTHWESTERN…the Wildcats are coming off a big upset over Wisconsin and are pumped to host the Irish in Evanston for the first time since 1976. The key could be NU’s qb Clayton Thorson. He’s improving but will need a lot help, especially from his offensive line in slowing down Notre Dame’s front seven. Hopefully, for Wildcat fans, the team is not looking past the Irish to next week’s game with Iowa that will decide the Big Ten West title. It’s going to be close, but put your chips on the Irish. Notre Dame over Northwestern.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK™

KEEP THE SHINE IN WEEK NINE

After a couple of soft weeks we rebounded very nicely, going 7-1 with our weekend picks. If Tennessee could have slowed the Alabama juggernaut we might have gone 8-0 since we thought Bama would not cover the 28 point spread. But they did, which should come as no surprise since Alabama has hung 50+ points on almost every opponent this season.

Bottomline, we are making money and hopefully you are too.

SIDELINES

• we wish Nick Saban would quit complaining about poor student attendance at home games. The Bama fans will learn fast enough that success doesn't last forever. And one day, sooner than later, Saban will be leaving Tuscaloosa and the party will end. Spoiled.

• just as Georgia Tech fans were arranging for moving vans, Paul Johnson's Jackets pulled another huge road win, this time against the Va Tech gobblers, 49-28. Be sure to check out Tobias Oliver, fill in qb, who racked up 203 rushing yards, 3 TDs on 39 carries. He's not the back up qb for long.

THIS WEEKEND....

We have another great slate of games including the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party featuring the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators in their annual football fest in Jacksonville.

To better understand the dynamics of this game, we’ve asked long time contributor, Kirby Girl to give us her take on the game. We also have newcomer, Two Bits Joe, a Florida grad, for his comments on the Gators and why they will prevail in Jacksonville. Please welcome Two Bits Joe to the wonderful world of Woolard's Weekend Winners!

The tension between these two is nothing short of a nuclear standoff. So much so that these two work colleagues have drawn up legal agreements specifying sanctions in the event their respective team wins. Michael Avenatti would be proud.

IN THEIR WORDS…

SHE SAYS…..

Jacked up in Jacksonville. Let the Big Dawg eat.

WWW…The Dawgs were humbled in Death Valley, only their second regular-season loss in as many years. What do they need to fix to have any hope of making it back to Atlanta in December?

KIRBY GIRL...Turnovers – frankly too many mistakes and what seemed to be a lack of discipline from the team showed vs the Tigers. These Dawgs are young and talented but I’d love to see the upperclassmen mature and develop into leaders to win big games.

WWW…What's your best WLCP memory?

KIRBY GIRL...There is something special about GA/FL and the genuine hate for Tim Tebow and the gator chomp. But, there is nothing quite like walking into the stadium and seeing the fans split 50/50 down the middle, and (if its anything like last year) seeing the Florida side completely empty by halftime.

WWW…Ok, so who wins: Year 3 Kirby Smart or Year 1 Dan Mullen?

KIRBY GIRL...Really, is that even a question? I believe Kirby put the fear of God in the Dawgs and we are going to come out with some heat after a lousy showing in Creole country.

WWW…Most likely, the winner of this game faces the Tide in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. How bad does your team get beat?

KIRBY GIRL...The Dawgs haven’t forgotten last January and I know they will be ready for a re-match.

HE SAYS….

The chomp will prevail

WWW…There's clearly a major difference in these Gators from Dan McElwain's team that finished 4-7. What are the biggest changes that have lead to Mullen's success back in Gainesville?

TWO BITS JOE… ATTITUDE!!!! Ever since his first day on the job, Mac brought with him a sense of delusion, entitlement, and pure laziness. Mac spent his offseasons eating PB&J's in his office instead of recruiting and it showed. The talent on the field diminished and their hunger to win was gone. He once said he could teach a dog how to play football. Guess he couldn't teach a bunch of 3 and 4 star athletes.... and yes I say 3 and 4 stars because in his 3 years, he never recruited a single 5 star. Pathetic. Now Dan.... Well Dan is just the man. He showed the Gator Nation how much he wanted to be a part of it and our players are responding. He tailored a system around Feleipe's strengths instead of the McElwain method - running the same garbage offense year after year regardless of your QB's skill set. Dan got to work immediately. Brought in the right players, got the Jumpman sponsorship, brought in a good coaching staff. But our success this year all boils down to one thing: a change in ATTITUDE.

WWW…What's your best WLCP memory?

TWO BITS JOE… I've actually only been once for the game 2012 and it was a year we lost. We put up a good fight though and if it weren't for a late goal line fumble by Jordan Reed, I still believe we would've won that game.. Anyways, my favorite memory was probably during the tailgate a woman (Georgia fan) called the police on me for watching her TV from like 50 feet away. Typical classless Georgia fan (editor's note: were you fully clothed?)

WWW…Isaiah Crowell once brought an actual bulldog to a press conference. Which current Florida Gator would be most likely to bring a live gator to a media event?

TWO BITS JOE… Kadarius Toney would bring a live gator. Check out his instagram, he's always hanging out with snakes. I guess he just likes reptiles. If you were wondering, he's #4 on offense, you may see him in the endzone a few times on Saturday.

WWW…ok, so who wins: Year 3 Kirby Smart or Year 1 Dan Mullen?

TWO BITS JOE…of course Dan. Florida has been steadfast all year. We're going to use the first part of the game to establish the passing game with Feleipe. Expect some short, easy completions to build up his confidence. We'll mix in the run with Jordan Scarlett and Lamical Perine as the game progresses and then unleash Dameon "Day Money" Pierce in the 4th on an exhausted Georgia D-Line. While all of that's happening on offense, the Florida defense led by our enforcer Chauncey Gardner-Johnson will be making Fromm or Fields uncomfortable all game. They might want to get that 3rd stringer warmed up as well.. Jachai Polite and the rest of our boys in the trenches have been hammering QB's all year long. 

WWW…most likely, the winner of this game faces the Tide in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. How bad does your team get beat?

TWO BITS JOE…let's just say, there may be a rematch between Florida and Bama in the College Football playoff (editor’s note: “may” doesn’t sound terribly confident…and side steps the real question of who wins such a matchup…which would be Alabama by 21).

THE GREAT EIGHT™ for WEEK NINE

#9 FLORIDA v #7 GEORGIA…the Gators are playing with house money and on Florida turf. Given where they’ve been, they have made great strides with new head coach Dan Mullen who is turning out to be one of the best hires of the off season. Meanwhile, Georgia, as usual, had lofty projections for 2018, including a return trip to the CFP. So this game has big time ramifications for the Pups. Lose, and the calls for third year head coach Kirby’s head will ring out. That’s pretty much how UGA fans roll. Just ask Mark Richt. Win, and the Dawg’s chances of making a serious run at a national championship remain alive, albeit thin. In any case, this classic will be just that…a classic of two long time rivals fighting for SEC East dominance. As we’ve said before, UGA has so many weapons especially if Fromm settles in early, and Florida is no LSU. So Dawg fans will have a happy ride home up I-75 feeling pretty good about gigging the Gators and their climb back into national prominence. Dawgs pee on the Gators.

#2 CLEMSON @ FLORIDA STATE…this appears to be an uphill battle for the Seminoles who have not defeated a ranked team since the end of the 2016 season in the Orange Bowl. Meanwhile, Clemson seems to be getting stronger, after knocking off a very athletic NC State, 41-7.  Key to the game? Clemson receivers Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross. Watch for Clemson qb Trevor Lawrence to target them early and often. Take the Tigers over the Noles. Tigers chomp FSU.

#20 WISCONSIN @ NORTHWESTERN…it may be cold on the lake but this game promises to have a lot of sizzle as the winner has the inside track to the Big Ten West division. The Badgers have played in 5 of the 7 Big Ten Championship Games while Northwestern won a title share back in 2000. Key to the game is no secret for Wisconsin: rb Jonathan Taylor, #1 in America with 158+ rushing yards per game. He’ll be facing a Wildcat defense that has struggled against the run. Wisconsin has won 3 of the last 5 with Northwestern. Tomorrow they make that 4 of 6. Badgers run over the Wildcats.

#12 KENTUCKY @ MISSOURI…when was the last time the Wildcats were ranked you might ask? October 14, 2008 at #8 in the AP Poll. And we’re not talking basketball. As a longtime outsider in the SEC East, Kentucky has slowly climbed up the division to claim a share of the top spot with Georgia and Florida. A win over favored Mizzou would be huge, and it could happen. The key is rb Benny Snell who is ranked #4 nationally in rushing and averages 5.2 ypc. He’s a load to bring down. Countering Snell is the Tigers’ qb Drew Lock and his cannon arm. Look for him to take several deep shots down the field to exploit Kentucky’s struggling secondary. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take the Wildcats as Snell has another standout game. Cats claw the Tigers.

#14 WASHINGTON STATE @ #24 STANFORD…this is one of the better games on Saturday as two Top 25 teams compete for control of the Pac-12. Key to the game is the Cougar passing attack versus Stanford’s secondary. Wassu leads the nation in passing yards per game, 392, while the Cardinal defense ranks 98^th in passing yards allowed per game (252). And that could be the difference. In another UPSET SPECIAL, Cougars claw the Cardinal.

#18 IOWA @ #17 PENN STATE…while Penn State has evolved into an also ran for Big Ten title hopes, the Hawkeyes are making a lot of noise and are in the thick of things in the West Division with the Badgers and Wildcats. So this game has some serious implications. Iowa rolls into Happy Valley with a qb, Nate Stanley, riding a hot arm, passing for over 30 yards in 3 of the previous 4 games. While Penn State seems due to have a winning effort, we like Iowa in this one.  Hawkeyes handle the Nittany Lions.

TEXAS @ OKLAHOMA STATE…the Cowboys started off the season 3-0 but now are hoping to end a two-game skid after losing to Kansas State, 31-12. That’s going to be a tall order against the Longhorns, undefeated in Big 12 play. The only thing that could derail Texas is if qb Sam Ehlinger can’t go. Regardless, we still think the Longhorns have plenty of weapons and a very capable qb backup, Shane Buechele, if necessary. Take Texas over the Cowpokes.

NOTRE DAME v NAVY…the Irish are 7-0 and rocking along but here comes that pesky option ground game of Navy. While this isn’t the Navy of the past few seasons, the running game is strong and poised to give the Gold Domers headaches. The problem is that the Middie defense has done little to help, especially against the pass. And that’s music to the ears of Irish qb Ian Book, who’s hitting on 75% of his passes.  The 23.5 point spread is awfully tempting but we think Notre Dame covers. Irish over the Midshipmen.

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