TIME TO SHINE IN WEEK NINE

You're probably smack dab in the middle of your Halloween office party so we'll jump right into what you need to know to Make Mo' Money this weekend. And hey, save me the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, please. Cold weather is headed our way and I need the extra calories. Plus chocolate goes well with Merlot.

Weekend Rewind

We went 5-3 last Saturday BUT hit on two big UPSET SPECIALS: Duke over Virginia Tech and Tennessee covering the points in their classic hook up with Alabama, coming darn close to knocking off the #8 Tide 19-14. And it took a miracle at Techwood for the Rambling Wreck to upset Florida State.

Golden Gator with this pal, Spurrier

Before we get into our picks, the Golden Gator has stopped by to share his thoughts on the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party that's taking place tomorrow in Jacksonville, one of the best all time classic college football games in America. 

Florida has jumped out to an unexpected great start (6-1) under first year head coach, Jim McElwain. It's a young team that's appears to be getting better and could be the team to beat in the SEC East for the next couple of seasons. Meanwhile, Georgia has taken some serious hits and is scrambling to find answers and touchdowns. The mutts will be going with their third different QB this season, Faton Bauta, as Mark Richt hopes to jump start his offense. Bauta lacks a big time arm but is fairly quick on his feet. Let's hope so for his sake.

I first met Golden Gator 25+ years ago when the Florida alum decided to return to the Southeast after a long and distinguished marketing and advertising career in Los Angeles. When he wasn't launching innovative service concepts with Atlantic Richfield, he was helping guide the creative efforts for a little computer company in Cupertino, Apple. He also convinced Delta to add extra olives to all martinis served in first class...the only way to fly. 

Golden Gator is semi-retired now, actively playing the market as well as sports gaming in Vegas. He's passionate about his Gators, SEC football, and, of course, Making Mo' Money.

 Please Welcome Golden Gator...in his words...

 

"It's that time again! A pre-season top five pick goes up against a team not expected to win but a couple. The pre-season top team is rumored to have talent worthy of Sunday football while the other guys were said to lack such basics as an offensive line, a quarterback and a running back.

It's Florida versus Georgia!  

Georgia, the pre-season top five club, is whining its way to Jacksonville while the Gators are proudly prancing into town. As the ole ball coach once said, where do all those All-Americans at Georgia disappear at this time of year?

Both teams have seen adversity: Georgia's without Chubb, a potential Heisman candidate, and Florida is without several key players including Will Grier and all the place kickers.

But Georgia is taking steps to improve their odds. They are putting a lid on the St. Simons fraternity bash! Is it in hopes of sobriety for their team come Saturday? To make sure, they are also going to Jax a day early. Is it true the players will be locked in their rooms?

OK. What about the game??

It will be close. Florida will be in 4 down territory much of the game with no confidence in their kicking game. Georgia will try to win with the run, knowing they have no passing game. A risky tactic given the Florida defense.

The Gators cover the spread and win 28-10!!! You heard it here first, folks."

PS.. Jeremy Foley will present the game ball to Steve Spurrier, the man who created the Gator Nation!  Oh... And Richt will start a riot to incite his team!

Here's Your Weekend Winners for Week #9...The Great Eight™...

Dartmouth @ Harvard...we're breaking format here as we include a Friday night game in Cambridge, MA, the 119th meeting of Dartmouth and Harvard. Both teams are 6-0, the first time in 19 years for the Big Green of Dartmouth. Leaving the Bay State with a "W" aint gonna happen for the Hanover boys as the Crimson is putting up 43+ points a game while the defense is yielding only 7.8 points a game, #1 in the FCS. Harvard continues their march to the Ivy League crown with a win over Dartmouth.

# 9 Notre Dame @ #21 Temple...the Temple Owls are having one of its best seasons ever and is ranked nationally for the first time since 1979. Knocking off the Irish would be huge; maybe bigger than Bill Cosby's legal problems. Notre Dame is plenty rested after an off week following their win over Southern Cal so the Golden Domers should be in good shape. Irish QB DeShone Kizer has had a hot hand, leading the offense to 41 points in each of the last two games. We see no let up in Philly. Fighting Irish pluck the Owls.

Georgia Tech @ Virginia...the Bees are still buzzing after their miracle comeback on the Flats last Saturday night but now it's time to focus on the Wahoos. A win keeps the Jackets alive for its 19th consecutive bowl game so this is a must win. Key fact to ponder: GT is ranked 2nd in the nation in converting red-zone possessions into touchdowns (79%). And with most of their secondary returning from injuries, Tech should win its 4th straight over the Cavaliers. Take Johnson's Jackets in Charlottesville.

# 8 Stanford @ Washington State...this game features the top two offenses in the Pac-12 and Stanford has shown a lot of defensive muscle, allowing fewer than 30 points in 40 of their last 43 games. Meanwhile, the Cougars are seeking its first win over a top ten team since beating #5 Texas in the 2003 Holiday Bowl. That's a long time! This should be one of the best games on Halloween night. Cardinal over the Cougars in this one.

# 15 Michigan @ #Minnesota...the Wolverines have lost 6 of their last 9 Big Ten road games dating back to 2013 but they should be able to handle the Golden Gophers and bring the Little Brown Jug back to Ann Arbor. Minnesota is preparing for this game without their head coach, Jerry Kill, who stepped down two days ago due to serious health issues. This could be an incentive for the Gophers to go out and win one for Kill but Michigan has too many weapons on their side. Besides, Minnesota is averaging a league-worst 20 points per game. Michigan wins over Minnesota.

# 19 Ole Miss @ Auburn...the Rebs are still in the hunt for the SEC West and are looking to build on last week's big win over Texas A&M, 23-3. Measnwhile Auburn is hoping to rebound from their 4 Overtimes loss at Arkansas which put them squarely in the SEC West basement. It's going to be a challenge for Malzahn's mob to become bowl eligible given their remaining schedule. While Auburn has taken the last 5 of 6 games over Ole Miss, look for Chad Kelly to have a big day hooking up with Laquon Treadwell who has gone over 100 yards in each of the last three games. Plus Robert Nkimdiche has been cleared for the game. Looming in the distance is their showdown with division-leading LSU. Take the Rebels as Ole Miss tears up Toomer's Corner.

Tennessee @ Kentucky...the Vols had a great showing last week in Tuska-Loser but close is not good enough and moral victories count for nothing. Nevertheless, Tennessee could and should be 7-0 but for poor coaching decisions made in their losses to Oklahoma, Florida, and Arkansas. That's on BuTch Jones. If Tennessee brings their game to Lexington, the Vols will notch another victory in the Old Beer Barrel. Furthermore, the Vols should win out the balance of their schedule as they enter the easier phase of their schedule. In a solid win, Big Orange over the Big Blue.

# 11 Florida vs @ Georgia...the Gators are a 2 point favorite in this classic match up with Georgia. Both teams have flipped from the preseason predictions with Florida putting together a solid resume while UGA is struggling to find consistency in their offense. No Dawg fan in Atlanta is expecting a win. They've sort of resigned themselves to the usual mid-October fade and the threats of firing Richt are picking up steam. We've seen this before. And it will not get any better Saturday. Gators chomp the bullpups.

Good luck this Weekend.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™
 

GONNA BE GREAT IN WEEK EIGHT

We rebounded nicely the last two weeks with solid 6-2 finishes. Making that extra delicious is hitting on a couple of huge UPSET SPECIALS including the last second shocker with Michigan State upsetting Michigan at the Big House. They say it's never over till it's over. Just ask Nebraska fans about that.

Included in our Great Eight is an intriguing matchup of two FCS powerhouses, James Madison and Richmond. This is our first FCS pick of the season. And, of course, we've included the classic rivalry, Alabama v Tennessee.

The Bama-Tennessee game has deep roots and a personal connection. My very first in-person exposure to this great match-up was in 1973 as a freshman at Legion Field. The Vols were led by legend QB Conredge Holloway (the first starting African-American QB in the SEC) and Coach Bill Battle going up against the great Bear Bryant. Old lady Legion Field was rocking since both teams were ranked (Bama was #2) and looking to make a major splash as the ABC national game of the week. The Vols had no answer to running back Wilbur Jackson, a 250 lb running back built like a Mack truck. It was a long ride back to Knoxville.

In keeping with past seasons, we've invited Kenny Clyde from Bamaland back again to share his thoughts on the 2015 Third Saturday in October.


KENNY CLYDE and the TIDE TAKE.

Cuz Danny Raye Clyde

Kenny Clyde and I go way back to the days when both of us arrived in Atlanta looking to make our mark in the ad agency business. Since those early days, we've logged many miles in our annual Third Saturday in October pilgrimages to either Knoxville or Birmingham. We typically headed out on Friday morning so we could get in 18 before hitting the bars. Depending on game time, we'd squeeze in another 18. Sunday morning before heading back to ATL, we'd get in yet another 18, weather, wives, and moods permitting. So this game has a special meaning to both of us.

Meet Kenny Clyde

Kenny Clyde sez RTR

Kenny Clyde hails from Birmingham where he grew up in the shadows of Legion Field where most Saturdays you could find him hawking Cokes and old lottery tickets in the stands of that hallowed place. Over the years I met his kin including all 49 cousins: Jim Bob Clyde, Forest Joe Clyde, Billy Joe Clyde, Cooter Clyde, Danny Rae Clyde, Leon Clyde...you get the picture; all very nice and all very Crimson Tide. Denzil and Ann, Kenny Clyde's folks, welcomed me into their home. Super folks and super Bear Bryant devotees. I never minded sleeping in the basement cause Denzil could whip up an over the top Southern breakfast that was well worth the sacrifice. Good times we had.

Please Welcome Kenny Clyde...in his words...

"I first laid eyes on Mark Woolard in May of 1981.  Just recruited to the biggest, baddest ad agency in the South, I was walked into my office and there was Mark, my next door neighbor (editor's note: I believe my office was bigger than his).

It took us about 4 minutes to establish that he was a Vol and I cheered for the greatest team in the history of college football, the Crimson Tide of Alabama. I told Mark that I grew up in North Alabama, so UT was always my third favorite team, (with my second favorite being whoever was playing Auburn that week).

Thus started a wonderful friendship that has continued all these years.  

Cuz Cooter Clyde: priceless artwork

Bama took that ‘81 game, then I had to suffer four losses till 1986, when the order of the universe was restored and Bama rolled off 7 in a row. And so it went, home and home, me and Mark and wives.  (Wish I could tell you the story of the liquid and illicit afternoon spent just outside Knoxville, causing us to be drunk and late for dinner. But I’d have to kill you.) (editor's note: no clue what he might be referring to).  

 Going to K’ville was especially nice, because we got to stay with Mark’s in-laws, Jim and Joyce.  No finer humans on earth. 

Then kids started getting in the way.  Mark had 3, we had 3, and there were practices and scouting and sports and the usual Dad stuff that took precedence over a road trip.

But we never stopped watching and we never stopped rooting.

It was easy for me to want to push Phat Phil out the door after he dropped the dime on one of our Memphis boosters being a little too friendly to a recruit’s family.  Then I watched with painful amusement as Lying Kiffin and Derelict Dooley wrecked a proud program.

Now I’m torn.  I think Butch Jones is a nice guy.  I think he should have beat Oklahoma and Florida with his late game double digit leads (editor's note: and the Arkansas game, too).  But somebody needs to buy him an old fashioned stopwatch to remind him it’s a 60 minute game.

Bama’s looking forward to its 9^th in a row come Saturday.  And at the end of the day I believe we’ll have it.  At which time Saban and his coaches will continue a great tradition started on the third Saturday in October in 1961—passing out victory cigars to the game-winning team.  A tradition begun by long time Alabama trainer Jim Goostree, who knew what that weekend meant.  Cause he was a UT grad who saw the light."

Here's Your Weekend Winners for Week #8...The Great Eight™...

Tennessee @ #8 Alabama...the Volunteers head to Tuska-Loser this Saturday with hopes of upsetting an Alabama team that's picked up steam since losing to Ole Miss back in mid September. The Vols finally got the "big-game monkey" off their back by coming from behind to beat the mutts in Knoxville. Another 20 seconds and the outcome would have probably been different with Georgia threatening late. This Saturday, though, UT's qb Dobbs will be facing a much superior secondary which notched 4 Aggie INTs, returning 3 for TDs, a school record. Bama has the upper hand in this series having won the last eight straight and has won 57 straight games over unranked teams. In past seasons, this has been a tight game at times so if the Vols can keep it close, they may - just may - have a shot at pulling a biggie. And the line of 15.5  points is just too tasty to overlook. So...in an UPSET SPECIAL take Tennessee and the points. Smokey howls with Verne and Gary Saturday afternoon.

Hotty Toddy, ladies

#15 Texas A&M@ #24 Mississippi...the Aggies stumbled against Bama last week with qb Kyle Allen throwing to too many guys in the wrong uni's (4 INTs by Bama). Meanwhile Ole Miss is looking to rebound from being upset by Tiger High in Memphis that carved up the Reb secondary with 384 passing yards (note: Memphis is a pretty good team this season). The Rebs appear to have all star DT Robert Nkimdiche cleared for the game and qb Chad Kelly leads the SEC in passing with 319 yds per game. The Aggies own this series 6-1 but not tomorrow. Take Ole Miss in a close one in Oxford.

 #6 Clemson @ Miami...if the Canes want to win this game they need to limit Clemson's scoring in the first half. The Tigers have dominated opponents, outscoring the opposition 137-33 in the first half of games. Miami is led by qb Brad Kaaya, last season's ACC rookie of the year. But Clemson's Deshaun Watson is lighting it up. Last Saturday he torched Boston College for 420 yards and 3 TDs, his second 400-yard passing game of his career. Take the Tigers in this one as Clemson keeps pace with FSU.

Bucky bites Illini

 Wisconsin @ Illinois...the Badgers have dominated this series of late and their stout defense will give the Illini fits tomorrow. Wisconsin is ranked third nationally in total defense and stifled Purdue last week, holding the Boilermakers to a total offense of 191 yards. While Illinois has imprived from last season, the Badgers have enough fire power to win on the road. Take Bucky and the Badgers over the Illini.

 Auburn @ Arkansas...the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles/Dying Oaks look to extend their winning streak to 3. The Auburn offense has shown signs of life having scored 30+ points in their last two outings and the defense is ranked 11th nationally with only 5 passing TDs allowed this season. The Hogs are a run first/run often offense so look for them to pound the rock and control the tempo of the game. This should be a tight one. Take Malzahn's crew in an UPSET SPECIAL.

 #23 Duke @ Virginia Tech...the Blue Devils have no problem winning on the road. They've won five consecutive road games dating to last season, and have yielded the fewest points in the nation (56) and is tied with Michigan for first in the country by allowing only 9.3 points per game!At 5-1 it appears that Cutcliffe has his Dookies on the right track despite being the underdog in this one. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take Duke over the Hokies.

 #9 Florida State @ Georgia Tech...we debated about including this game in our Great Eight but are intrigued with this matchup that could very well be a trap game for the Noles. The past five meetings between these teams have been decided by a combined 17 points. Only a handful of plays separate the Yellow Jackets from having quite a different record and if they play a heady game, they may very well have a shot at knocking off the visiting Seminoles especially if their run game can chew up the clock. But FSU's Everett Golson is going to go right at the Bee's weakness: the secondary. He has zero INTs in 177 pass attempts. Plus rb Dalvin Cook is averaging 159 yards rushing per game. We hate to think that GT could be facing their 6th straight loss but this could happen especially if the defense continues to falter in the second half. Take FSU to win in Atlanta.

Duke: one badass statue

Richmond @ James Madison...ESPN College GameDay comes live from Harrisonburg, Virginia, a quiet little hamlet nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains. It's great exposure for small college football and a huge opportunity for viewers to experience the typical non-powerhouse atmosphere. But don't let the FCS label fool you into thinking this is a matchup of two so-so teams. JMU has a high powered offense averaging over 48 points and 613 yards per game. The Dukes have posted at least 38 points every game, hitting 50 four times in seven games. They hung 48 on FBS opponent, SMU. If that's not enough, ex-GT Yellow Jacket, Vad Lee, leads the JMU offense. In the win over SMU, Lee became the first Division I (FCS OR FBS) to throw and run for 275 yards in the same game, racking up 289 yards passing and 276 on the ground. Let that sink in for a moment. The 5-1 Spiders are 13.5 point dogs and this is very very tempting to take. But we think the undefeated Dukes are just too powerful. Take the Dukes over the Spiders.

Good luck this week. And have some fun!

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™

WEEK SEVEN ALMOST HEAVEN

This past Saturday was amazing with some great, last minute outcomes that swung some big time money our way.

For the second consecutive week we went 6 & 2...that's 12 & 4 over the last two Saturdays for you non-math majors.

OMG. What just happened??

And what's even better is we hit on TWO UPSET SPECIALS by riding with Michigan State over Michigan and Pitt beating the much malingered Yellow Jackets. Both games were decided late. Pitt hit a school record 56 yard field goal to nip Tech with 1:49 to go while Sparty got a huge break on a fumbled punt snap returned for a touchdown as the gun sounded in Ann Arbor.

If you're a Spartan fan (and we have a few MSU subscribers on board), you can now get up off the floor. It's for real. You beat the Wolverines...for the 7th time in 8 games. In fact, for those counting at home, Michigan State has won every Big Ten road game dating back to 2012. Impressive to say the least, especially going into hostile venues like the Big House and the Horseshoe at Ohio State.

Later this Week.... 

Fireside chat with Kenny Clyde

In addition to posting The Great Eight™ Winning Picks, Kenny Clyde from Bamaland will be sharing some words of wisdom regarding the Tennessee-Alabama matchup that takes place in Tuska-Loser on Saturday. If you know me then you know this game is extra special regardless of either team's season record. It defines the best in Southern football and you can't find a more intense rivalry that dates back to 1901, and has featured some of the greatest coaching legends in college football with Paul 'Bear' Bryant and General Robert Neyland. Get those cigars ready, my friends.

Sidelines....

BEVO: a damn good cow

• A moment of silence for BEVO XIV. The Texas Longhorn mascot went to the big feedlot in the sky last Friday.  In his honor, the Woolard's Weekend Winners staff will be dining at the local Longhorn tonight.  I'm ordering up an extra juicy 24 ounce bone-in ribeye in a salute to the lost bovine.

• Shame on Michigan's Jim Harbaugh. After Saturday's shocker, the Michigan head coach didn't lift a finger to protect his punter, Blake O'Neill from potential abuse. This kid has been getting death threats since botching the punt snap and it took the Michigan athletic director on Sunday to tell Wolverine fans to knock off the bullshit directed toward O'Neill. Harbaugh made no mention of other mistakes he (Harbaugh) made during the game ---like the two previous timeouts --- or the fact that the snap was terrible. Instead he let his senior punter swing in the breeze as an open target to buttholes that go after players when their team loses. Coaches and athletic directors are fair game in my opinion. But not college players.

Where am I? Who am I?

• Memphis breaks into the Top 25. The Tigers knocked off #13 Ole Miss, 37-24, and Memphis is sporting a perfect 6-0 record and now ranked #18. The Rebel Black Bears (gotta hate that name) jumped out 14-0 then Memphis scored 24 unanswered points. Adding insult to injury, the Rebs lost DT Robert Nkemdiche to a concussion as he was being used as a running back in a short yardage situation. He may not be cleared in time for Saturday's big game with Texas A&M. I bet Mister Freeze would like to have that decision back and keep Nkimdiche soley at defensive tackle. Sometimes being cute ain't so cute.

Endzone party not so fun

• The pain of victory. Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson, the freshman that scooped up the botched Michigan snap, suffered a fractured hip as he scored the winning touchdown. With teammates jumping on the dog pile, Jalen could only wait for the mayhem to clear before he could get medical assistance. He will be gone for the balance of the season. Tough break for him (see what I did there?).

• For you smart guys out there that went to Ivy League schools. In case you missed it, Harvard is putting together yet another stellar season. The Crimson is 5-0 and visits Princeton this Saturday to face the Tigers. Harvard has won the Ivy League the last 3 of 4 seasons. And you gotta love the fact that Ivy Leagues don't offer athletic scholarships. 

• College GameDay will be in Harrisonburg, VA. Once a season ESPN's College GameDay broadcasts from a small market, lower level college team town. Last season it was Fargo, ND and featured the North Dakota State team. It's great exposure for the smaller schools and a great opportunity for fans to experience what's happening in a non-big time football powerhouse campus. The featured game Saturday pits the Richmond Spiders versus host James Madison Dukes. Both schools are tied at the top of the Colonial Athletic Conference and both are riding long winning streaks (JMU has won 7 in a row; Richmond 5). On a side note, the qb at JMU is GT transfer Vad Lee who is ripping up the competition this season. Kudos to ESPN.

We'll be back later in the week. Stay classy my friends!

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™

LUCKY SEVEN IN WEEK SEVEN

What a difference a week makes!

We rebounded very nicely last Saturday as we posted a 6-2 finish that included an UPSET SPECIAL, Oklahoma State over West Virginia. If you followed our predictions then you made some decent cash, or at least enough to cover your bar tab.

We have another great slate of games for this Saturday and have, of course, sprinkled in some UPSET SPECIALS (FOUR!) to make things interesting. Since this is Week Seven, we're shooting for seven solid winning picks. You can bet on it.

SIDELINES

More wins than Saint Tom

• Tennessee finally pulled out of its tailspin last Saturday by beating Georgia, 38-31, in a game that was nothing short of being devine.  Seems coming from behind suits the Orange quite well. As I sat at my favorite drinking hole nursing a celebratory Chivas & soda I overheard a couple of Nebraska fans muttering about yet another last gasp lost in which their beloved Huskers choked on a big corn cob. All of their four losses have come on opposing team's final possessions...only a handful of seconds separates Nebraska from being 6-0....

And then the "Bring Back Bo" conversation started.

Not surprising since Bo Pelini posted almost identical records during his 7 years in Lincoln as Saint Tom (cue the angelic harps) did in his first seven seasons.

Let's compare: Osborne 65-18-2, no titles, 4-3 in bowls...Pelini 67-27, no titles, 4-3 in bowls.

He may have been a pinch prickly but he certainly posted a won-lost record that would make most schools green with envy....seven consecutive seasons with 9+ wins.

So the Nebraska brain trust brings in Mike Riley from Oregon State where he posted a lackluster record over 14 seasons as the Beavers' head coach.

And what's happened since? Nebraska has lost four games by a combined 11 points in the last 30 seconds in Riley's first season. That's enough to make any preacher hit the bottle.

Is it time for Husker fans to panic? No. Is it time for Riley to be canned? Of course not. But it is interesting to note that a petition on change.org is making its rounds. Not a healthy sign especially when it comes to recruiting and it's sad to see a once proud program mismanage its future.

But take heart Husker fans. It could be worse. Like Auburn, that was a preseason favorite to compete for the National Championship. Or, Georgia that crashes and burns with back to back losses. Or Tennessee that successfully snatched three defeats from the jaws of victory.

Incidentally, Bo is 3-1 as the head coach of the Youngstown State Penguins. He may not know how to win the PR battle, but Bo knows how to coach.

• Hey bartender, I'll have another. Famous last words for Steve Sarkisian who was cut loose as Southern Cal's head coach after allegedly reporting to work Sunday morning totally ripped and exhibiting strange behavior. It was also reported that Sark was more than tipsy during the Arizona State game, which they won. The sad thing is that Sark apparently displayed similar behavior while at Washington and he was able to successfully skate around the demons. Seems AD Pat Haden needs to seriously sharpen his background checks if he desires to remain at So Cal.

Happens every season

• If it's October then it's time to cue the "Fire Mark Richt" chants. Sure enough, within minutes of the mutts losing in Knoxville, the Atlanta airwaves and internet chatrooms were lit up with frustrated doggie fans calling for the immediate beheading of Coach Richt. This is not unusual. It seems to happen every year and doggie fans have only themselves to blame. They spend 9 months jazzing themselves up about their team, its phenomenal recruiting haul, and loaded teams...only to see UGA fail to live up to their inflated expectations. Frustrating for sure. But if the UGA faithful want to suffer the same fate as Tennessee then go ahead and run off Richt. Because Tennessee has been lost in the wilderness ever since they fired Hall of Fame coach Phillip Fulmer.

Visors can breathe easier now

• Say so long to the Head Ball Coach. We knew it was coming but were sort of caught off guard at the timing. Steve Spurrier resigned this past Monday and is heading off to the fairways. You may or may not like Spurrier but you have to respect what he brought to college football and to the SEC. His "fun & gun" offense revolutionized the conference and forced all others to adopt a creative passing attack. Wherever he went, Spurrier transformed trash heaps into winning programs (Duke, Florida, South Carolina). As a Tennessee fan I saw first hand his ability to humble defenses regardless of down and distance. He will be missed as well as his visor throwing antics.

Charlie survives Blazing Saddles

• Strong survives Red River Shootout. Just when Charlie Strong really needed a win, his Longhorns delivered with a 24-17 win over the Sooners. Much like the frontier town of Rock Ridge in which a black sheriff is assigned to combat the corrupt bad guys, we were beginning to think that the town of Austin was just having issues with a black head coach. If Sheriff Strong can keep winning, I'm sure the good folk of Austin will care less what their head coach looks like. We can only hope.

Here's Your Weekend Winners for Week #7...The Great Eight™...

#7 Michigan State @ #12 Michigan...the Wolverines have pitched three straight shutouts and look to continue its impressive run when Sparty rolls into the Big House. Michigan is 2nd in total defense allowing just 181 yards per game. But Michigan State is led by QB Connor Cook who is 18-1 versus Big Ten schools. It will be tough for the Spartans to win in Ann Arbor but we're going with Michigan State and the points (7.5 as of Friday morning) in an UPSET SPECIAL.

#10 Alabama @ #9 Texas A&M...the Aggies are hoping to secure their first 6-0 start since 1994 but they'll have their hands full with a very physical Alabama team. If successful, the Aggies place themselves in a great position in the SEC West and will leave the Tide on the outside looking in. Bama tends to have trouble with up tempo teams so look for Sumlin to keep his offense moving quickly. This will be a pretty close game but Ride the Tide in College Station. Bama rolls.

#8 Florida @ #6 LSU...the Gators have surprised us all this season with a 6-0 record (many thanks to Botch Jones at Tennessee) but they enter Death Valley without their PED-enhanced QB Will Grier who will be sitting out the next 12 months for drug violations per the NCAA. Treon Harris is a capable QB but there will be a drop off. The key to this game is LSU's Leonard Fournette who averages 8.6 yards per carry and leads the third best rushing attack in the nation. This will be too much for Florida to handle especially if their defense gets little support from the offense. Tigers bite the Gators in Baton Rouge.

Southern Cal @ #14 Notre Dame...the Trojans head to South Bend with a new head coach so it will be interesting to see how they respond to the off the field issues swirling around Troy. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is on the verge of averaging over 500 yards of total offense for the first time since 1970. The Irish are tough and So Cal will be no match for the Golden Domers. Irish beat the Trojans in a close one.

Lousiville @ #11 Florida State...winning in Tally Town is tough as the Seminoles have won 17 consecutive home games and their 27th ACC win in a row. Key fact: FSU is the ONLY team in the nation without an offensive turnover! And in 151 pass attempts, QB Everett Golson has 8 TDs and zero INTs. And that my friends will be the difference. Noles win a close one over the Cards.

Pittsburgh @ Georgia Tech...ordinarily this is a game that we would ignore but we're anxious to see if the Jackets can snap their four game losing skid. Their losses have come from teams with a combined 19-3 record so it's not like they are playing the Little Sisters of the Poor. It's no secret that Johnson is upset with his team, calling them "inept." Harsh words but well earned. The misery continues as the Panthers bite Buzz in an UPSET SPECIAL.

#17 Iowa @ #20 Northwestern...these teams are meeting as ranked teams for the first time since 1996. Key fact is Iowa is one of only 3 FBS schools that has allowed only one rushing touchdown this season which will be tested as the Wildcats have the second best ground game in the Big Ten. This should be a close one in Evanston. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Wildcats ground the Hawkeyes.

Georgia @ Missouri...after losing to Tennessee the Dawgs dropped out of the Top 25 and are looking to find life after Nick Chubb. While Mizzou is 4-2, they're struggling offensively while their defense has been pretty respectable. Key guy to watch is Tiger LB Kentrell Brothers who leads the nations with 74 tackles and ranks second with 12.3 per game. Georgia should rebound but the 17 point spread is just too tasty to leave on the table. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take the Tigers and the points. You'll thank me later.

Good luck this week. And have some fun!

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™

YOUR WEEK SIX FIX

We righted the ship last week going 4 and 4. Not a spectacular outing but good enough to get our wagon out of the ditch...at least for the moment. Speaking of ditches, there's plenty of head coaches looking to do the same as their teams continue to struggle, like Georgia Tech, Tennessee, etc.

SIDELINES

• Georgia Tech is trying to avoid its first 4 game losing streak since 1996. The Jackets blew a 21-0 lead at home last Saturday, falling to UNC. One more conference loss and it's lights out at Bobby Dodd.

Who goes first? Bevo or Strong?

• When things are bad, things are really bad. The Texas Longhorns are off to their worse start since 1956 at 1-4. But now we learn that team mascot Bevo XIV has a life threatening condition and will not make the trip to Dallas for the Red River Shootout with Oklahoma. Am thinking that more Longhorn fans are pulling for Bevo than Charlie Strong to survive.

• This is the first time since 2010 that no SEC team is in the AP Top 5. Is that possible?

• Four of the top 10 teams were upset last week: Ole Miss, Georgia, Notre Dame, UCLA.

• Would you believe that LSU has attempted fewer passes than Georgia Tech? Only 62 pass attempts; 20 fewer than the Engineers. Of course, if I had Leonard Fournette, I'd be reluctant to pass, too.

• Not to pick on Tennessee but the Vols have lost 27 of the last 28 games versus ranked teams. Not a promising note as they host #19 Georgia this Saturday.

• Polynesian Pipeline to Utah. 33 Utes have Polynesian roots, the most of any NCAA team and 8 Utah Pacific Islanders are on current NFL rosters. These guys may lack the multi-star ratings but they sure can play football.

Here's Your Weekend Winners for Week #6...The Great Eight™...

#13 Northwestern @ #18 Michigan...the Wildcats are the biggest surprise in the Big Ten after beating Stanford and Duke as underdogs. At 5-0, Northwestern is ranked #1 in points allowed while Michigan has pitched back to back shutouts and is #2 in points allowed. The Wolverines have allowed only 7 points in the last 15 quarters. So this game at the Big House is truly shaping up to be a war of the defenses in which a 10-7 outcome may be in order.  Michigan has won 9 of the last 10 games with Northwestern. But this changes on Saturday. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take Northwestern and the points (8 pts). Wildcats escape Ann Arbor with a big win.

#11 Florida @ Missouri...who says a freshman quarterback and a first year head coach can't win in the SEC?? That's one of many excuses that's come out of Knoxville in recent seasons, but let's not go there right now. These two teams are emerging as the two best in the SEC East and the hot Gators have found their quarterback, Will Grier. He'll be facing a true freshman, Drew Lock, for the Tigers, who has to contend with an aggressive Florida defense. When you're hot you're hot. So put your money on the Gators.

#23 Cal @ #5 Utah...these two teams are the only undefeated schools left in the Pac-12. For ages, the Utes' role has been upsetting teams on the rise but now the Utes are sporting a huge target on their backs. In addition to being able to put up monster points (62-20 over Oregon), it looks like Utah is the real deal with a defense to match that will have its hands full with Cal's qb, Jared Goff who's been lighting up defenses this season. Take the Utes in this one over the Golden Bears.

Noles add to Golden's miseries

Miami @ #12 Florida State...the Noles have beaten the Canes five straight and the feeling in South Florida is that one more loss will send Al Golden packing much to the delight of Miami fans. The Canes can put up some serious offensive yards but also give up a ton of yards, too. Meanwhile the Noles, led by ND transfer Everett Golson, have not committed a turnover this season! Although FSU's stud running back is injured, there's enough firepower for the Seminoles to win this one. Put your money on the Noles.

#21 Oklahoma State @ West Virginia...this game features two of the top defenses in the Big 12. Okay, no one really plays defense in the Big 12 but don't let that get in the way of a good storyline. West Virginia has the top conference defense allowing only 16.8 points per game and second in total defense allowing 337 yards per game...right behind the Cowboys at 310. The Cowboys have a league best 22 sacks with 13 in its past two games. That's pretty stout. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take the Cowpokes and the points (7). Okie State wins.

Can Sir James work his magic at PSU?

Indiana @ Penn State...miracle worker James Franklin has Penn State off to its best start in a long time with a 4-1 record. But now its Big Ten schedule kicks in with Indiana followed by Ohio State, Northwestern and those two pesky Michigan teams. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Despite having a future NFL qb, Christian Hackenburg, the Nittany Lions offense has not hit its prime as they've beaten up on teams such as South Dakota State, Buffalo, and Army. Not exactly world beaters. Look for the Hoosiers to put up some points. They lead the Big Ten with 36 points per game. We like the Hoosiers in this one. In another UPSET SPECIAL, Hoosiers take one in Beaver Valley.

#2 TCU @ Kansas State...the Horned Frogs have one of the most potent offenses in the country and win by an average of 26.8 points. Trevone Boykin is lighting up the scoreboard throwing for over 1800 yards and 19 touchdowns. Bill Synder is always good for at least one surprise upset per year but his Wildcats need to score early to set the pace.  Not an easy task given that the Frogs have allowed only 9.6 points before halftime. Frogs get hoppy with a win over K-State.

Illinois @ #22 Iowa...Iowa is off to its best start (5-0) since 2009 when they finished 11-2. The Hawkeyes have regained their moniker, Bullies of the Big Ten, with a hard nosed defense that kept #19 Wisconsin out of the end zone last week and is the only team in the nation that hasn't given up a rushing touchdown this season.The Fighting Illini are off to a great start as well after coming from behind to beat Nebraska 14-13 last Saturday. Iowa has won 7 of the past 8 meetings. They'll make this number 8 on Saturday. Hawkeyes fly high with the win.

Good luck this week.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™

PUT IT IN DRIVE IN WEEK FIVE

We've have definitely hit some turbulance the last few weeks with some pretty ugly outcomes but we're hoping to get back on track this Saturday.

Business commitments have hampered our operations this week (ah, that pesky thing called real life/ real job) so this forecast will be short but long on success.

It's time to Make Mo' Money.

EXTRA POINTS

• Did Oregon forget to let their defense out of the lockerroom last Saturday?? Who woulda thought that Utah would hang 62 points on the Ducks at home? We sure didn't.

• TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson set a school single game reception record with 18 receptions. That's a lot of catches!

• In a side note, the TCU student body is 64% female. Could be key to their recruiting.

• Could be a footrace between LSU's Fournette and UGA's Chubb for the Heisman. Fournette making the LSU qb job look pretty easy: turn and hand off.

• Michigan State's QB Connor Cook is 27-3 as a starter....the best winning percentage in USA at .900. With one more win he becomes the Spartan's winningest qb ever.

• Navy's Keenan Reynold has scored 3+ times rushing in 13 games...the best in NCAA history.

• LSU has 50 consecutive non conference wins...has not lost one since 2002. No wonder Les Miles smiles when they play out of conference teams.

• Show the Longhorns some love. They are off to their worst start since 1956 at 1-3. First time ever they have lost 3 games before the end of September. Doesn't bode well for Charlie Strong.

• Vols BuTch Jones out coached again, losing to a Gator team loaded with freshmen and a first year head coach. BuTch has got to come up with some new excuses.

Here's Your Weekend Winners for Week #5...The Great Eight™...

Arkansas @ Tennessee...both teams desperately need to win if they want to stop the slides and salvage their seasons. With Alabama and Georgia yet to come, BuTch needs a W badly.  Otherwise the once pro-BuTch crowd gets even smaller and unrest will continue to pick up steam in KnoxVegas. As we've said before, until Tennessee shows their ability to close out games, we can't back them. In an UPSET SPECIAL take the Pigs and the points.

#13 Alabama @ #8 Georgia...this is a pickem game as these two heavyweights face off tomorrow afternoon in Athens. Mark Richt needs a huge signature win against a bonafide top shelf team and the Dawgs need to show that they are for real. Meanwhile Saban and company are still licking their wounds from an Ole Miss beating and nothing would be better medicine than a big road win at Sanford. A loss for Bama pretty much ends their championship quest.  Take Bama as the Tide rolls in Athens.

North Carolina @ Georgia Tech...the Jackets are reeling from back to back losses and need to rebound in their matchup with the Heels. Of particular concern is the Tech running game which has been stymied the past two Saturdays. Before the last two losses, the Bees rush average was 8.5 yards per carry but has dropped to just 3.6. If Tech wants to be considered an elite program, they need to heal (heel...see what I did there?) themselves and fast. Take the Jackets for the win.

#6 Notre Dame @ #12 Clemson...this is another pickem game with national playoff ramifications and could very well be an elimination game as both teams are undefeated. Clemson's Deshaun Watson is really dangerous but we think the Irish have enough playmakers on defense to contain him. Take the Irish over the Tigers.

#23 West Virginia @ #15 Oklahoma...the Mountaineers have the best scoring defense in the nations (only 7.7 points allowed) but will have its hands full when they head to Norman to take on the Sooners. Baker Mayfield leads the Sooner offense with 572 yards of total offense and should have enough weapons at his disposal to dispatch the 'Neers. Take the Sooner Schooners...but it will be close.

#3 Mississippi @ #25 Florida...both teams are undefeated and looking to add to their resumes. Florida escaped certain doom against Tennessee and found ways to beat the Vols. Freshman qb Will Grier was pretty poised in leading the comeback but the Rebs have their own freshman qb, Chad Kelly, who's been putting up some pretty stout numbers. If Ole Miss can tighten up the defense (gave up 500+ against Alabama), they should survive their trip to the Swamp. Take the Rebs in this one.

#21 Mississippi State @ #14 Texas A+M...the Cowbells have a much improved defense and enough offense in the likes of Dak Prescott. But check out the defensive line for the Aggies...17 sacks and 38 tackles for loss in just four games, tops in the nation. We think that's enough to keep the brakes on Prescott and send the mutts back to Starkville with their tales between their legs. Aggies win a tight one in College Station.

Arizona State @ #7 UCLA...the Bruins are flexing their muscles after taking care of business against Arizona. Bruin qb Josh Rosen returned to early season form and rb Paul Perkins led the ground attack that scored six touchdowns. Bet on the Bruins to win.

Good luck this week.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™