BACK TO OUR WINNING WAYS. HOW SWEET IT IS.

It's been a crazy week. We experienced a system crash, an internet outage, and Chardonnay shortage.

So we were unable to issue our usual mid-week edition but hopefully you survived.

Home of the Great Eight™

Today's issue is a mash-up of "Sidelines", guest writer input from the esteemed Golden Gator, and of course our Great Eight™picks for Week Four.

So, grab some joe, sit back, and have a quick read as we head into another weekend of great College Football.

Where Are We?

We rebounded very nicely this past Saturday, going 6-2 with a huge UPSET SPECIAL pick of Louisville beating Florida State.

If you followed this pick, then you had a very very nice return. The nifty Mo Money Tracker™ shows we are now close to 60% of winning picks so we're starting to feel a little better about our prognostications.

Of course, our goal has always been to achieve close to a 70% hit rate where we can really make some serious cash. The kind of cash you need to keep the little lady happy and the debt collectors off your front porch.

Cardiologists were working overtime this past weekend as several games turned out to be heart stoppers and heart breakers...Nebraska holding off Oregon, Alabama escaping Oxford with a win, Georgia winning at the end, LSU squeaking past Mississippi State. Totally crazy but that's college football.

SIDELINES...What We learned in Week Three

• The Unknown...this past Saturday is a great example of the unknown when picking winners and losers. Who would of thought that Florida State would be totally undressed on national television by Louisville, 63-20? Well, we picked the Cardinals to upset FSU but not by that spread.

• Mississippi Burning...Nick Saban barely escaped Oxford with a 48-43 win. Mister Freeze seems to have Bama's number with the Rebs coming within an eye lash of grabbing its third victory in a row over Alabama.This game was not for the faint of heart.

• Husker Heaven...in another heart stopper, Mike Riley finally snapped whatever spell Oregon had over him as Nebraska battled back to win 35-32 late over the Ducks. Husker fans were delighted as they chowed down on post-game runzas and cold PBR.

• Smart...Kirby Smart is the first Georgia football head coach in Bulldawg history since 1938 to be undefeated after three games in their inaugural season. Their game with Mizzou was another game not decided until their final possession (28-27). We'll know more about the Dawgs after their match with Ole Miss but it's safe to say that UGA is a work in progress. A win on the road in SEC play is tough so give Smart some credit for making that happen.

• Tennessee...if you are a Vol fan then you have to be scratching your head and wondering why the Vols are under-performing with all of their experienced talent. After quickly putting up a touchdown on their opening drive, Tennessee settled into their underwhelming ways and barely held off an inferior Ohio team. In the process, Tennessee lost several key starters which will impact them as they head into big boy SEC play starting tomorrow with Florida. Ouch.

Today's guest featurette is penned by Golden Gator, another long time contributor to Woolard's Weekend Winners. Golden Gator grew up in the Sunshine State, graduated from UF junior college, and remains a huge Gator supporter to this day. He's been wearing a black arm band ever since Steve Spurrier left town for Columbia.

In His Words....Golden Gator

It's time for the annual FLORIDA- TENNESSEE battle!  Or as we say in Gator Country, another sure win.

Looking to make it a dozen

The Gators have won 11 in a row and REALLY want #12 as a get well gift to Del Rio and Callaway, neither of whom will play Saturday (editor's note: Florida always has a knack for overcoming QB injuries in big games, so no worries Gator fans).

How can they win without them? It's called defense. 

The Gator defense is the best in all of college football. And the Vols offense has been lucky but very inconsistent. The shame is that Joshua Dobbs, the Vols QB out of Alpharetta, is a very talented kid. But, with Butch Jones directing him, he's been erratic and mistake prone. The aggressive Gator defense will have a feast.

Florida's offense, already shaky, will struggle with Appleby filling in for Del Rio. So expect a low scoring game. The Vols won't be able to run against the Gator defense so Dobbs is the key. If he eliminates turnovers and mistakes, the Vols can win. But history says they won't! Butch blows another big game!

Gators win in an upset... 20- 13. You heard it here first from the Golden Gator!

Our GREAT EIGHT™ for Week Four...

#12 Georgia @ #23 Ole Miss...some how, some way, Mister Freeze has to keep his Rebels from giving up huge leads. They blew a 22 point lead over FSU and 21 point advantage over top-ranked Alabama. Meanwhile, Georgia was torched for 376 passing yards last week by Mizzou. Guess what Ole Miss is going to do?? Rebel qb Chad Kelly, who passed for 421 yards last week against Bama, is going to go right at the Dawg secondary. And he has plenty of capable targets. If the Rebs can eliminate turnovers (they rank last in the SEC and 102nd in the country) and the defense can contain UGA's ground game, the Rebs can rebound. Take Ole Miss as Mister Freeze puts the doggies on ice.

#18 LSU @ Auburn...last week the Bengals seemed to right the ship with a new quarterback, Purdue transfer Danny Etling, who delivered a solid performance beating Mississippi State. Meanwhile Auburn is still trying to forge its identity with its lone win being over Arkansas State. LSU fans are hoping for a repeat of last season when Leonard Fournette cranked out 228 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns against the Plainsmen. Auburn will attempt to be the first team to score a first quarter point against LSU this season. Can they do it? Perhaps. But they ain't beating Les Miles. Take the Crazy Cajuns over damn war eagle.

#7 Stanford @ UCLA...the Bruins defense held BYU to just 23 rushing yards last week but they will have their hands full tomorrow as Stanford's Christian McCaffrey hits the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Last season, McCaffrey rolled up 243 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. UCLA answers with a pretty deep collection of running backs and qb Josh Rosen who posted 300+ passing yards against BYU. Can UCLA slow down Stanford? We don't think so. Book the Cardinal to win in Pasadena.

#19 Florida @ #14 Tennessee...from the land of bizarre (aka Gainesville, FL) comes this very strange quote from Gator DB Quincy Wilson. "Have you ever seen a duck pull a truck? Ducks don't pull trucks. Gators are going win, simple as that." Florida is not known for its mental prowess and this leaves us wondering what the hell ole Quincy has been smoking. In any case, this is a huge game for both teams and represents the opening bell for the SEC East. Butch has to have his team up for this one otherwise the 2000 lb. bull gator remains squarely on his back. The Ohio game was not kind to Tennessee as they lost some key starters to injury. But Florida lost its starting quarterback Del Rio as well. But have no fear, Gator fans. We've seen this before where a third string QB enters the game to lead the swamp things to victory. Key to the game: Josh Dobbs' mind set. At times he looks brilliant. More often, though, he looks like a freshman in his decision making. If you're a Vols fan, start praying that the disappointing offensive line can give Dobbs some protection and offer Hurd/Kamara a chance to break some big ones. Otherwise Neyland Stadium starts emptying in the third stanza. In a UPSET SPECIAL take Florida. Gators chomp down on Rocky Top.

#11 Wisconsin @ #8 Michigan State...this is a huge game with Big Ten title ramifications despite being only week four. The Spartans are coming off a big road win over Notre Dame while the Badgers are still smarting over its meager 6 point win over lowly Georgia State. Wisconsin hopes to play keep away as they lead the Big Ten and are 3rd in the country in time of possession. Will this matter? Don't think so. Sparty skins the Badgers.

#16 Baylor @ Oklahoma State...Baylor is the lone remaining undefeated team in the Big 12 thanks in part to a pretty soft non-conference schedule. And the Big 12 wonders why they get little credibility come playoff time. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are one lousy stinking bad call from being undefeated after they got jobbed in their game with Central Michigan. QB Mason Rudolph loves to throw the ball passing for a school record of 540 yards. But the Pokes will not have it easy in Waco where the Bears have the nation's best home record since 2011 at 31-3. Make that 32-3. Bears claw the Cowboys.

#20 Nebraska @ Northwestern...after last week's tango with the Ducks, the Huskers are looking  for another win, this time in Evanston. After spending most of the week in an ice tub, Husker qb Tommy Armstrong is ready to keep the mojo going for the Bug Eaters. He can kill you with his arm as well as  his legs as evidenced by his game winning touchdown run against Oregon. We think this is the season that the Huskers flip the page and start winning the close ones, and it should be a close one against the Wildcats. Take the Huskers by the Lake.

Pitt @ North Carolina...this is a big game between two schools vying for the ACC Coastal title. The Panthers offense is averaging 36 points per game with James Conner leading the ground attacked with a 4.5 yards-per-carry average. But Pitt's biggest weakness is its secondary, having been torched for 540 yards by Oklahoma State. So expect Larry Fedora's Tar Heels to pass early and often with qb Mitch Trubisky. This should be a good afternoon treat...especially if you're a Tar Heel fan. UNC edges Pitt.

Let's check back next week and see how we fared. Have a great football weekend.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK

TIME FOR WINNING. NOT WHINING.

We'll be the first to admit that our results for the first two weeks of College Football have been less than stellar, going 4-4 each week. But the level of excitement has far exceeded our expectations as we've been treated to some pretty engaging games, some not decided until late or in overtime.

And this weekend promises even more excitement and the chance to Make Mo' Money.™

The game schedulers got this weekend's schedule right with several high profile contests.

But before we get into our Great Eight™ we have first hand game insight from Jumping Jeff, our man in Lincoln Nebraska. Jumping Jeff, a Nebraska native and all time ambassador for the Huskers, has been a long time contributor to Woolard's Weekend Winners. We welcome him back to share his thoughts on the Oregon-Nebraska game.

The Word From Lincoln...

Have ticket will travel

Jumping Jeff has been in Lincoln all week checking out the bar scene and gathering intel on tomorrow's big game with the visiting Oregon Ducks. His passion for Husker football runs deep. His Daddy went to UNL, Jeff married a UNL gal, and now his son is a senior at UNL. If you were to cut Jumping Jeff open, kernels would start popping out of his veins.

In His Words, Jumping Jeff...

"This week, I’m on my way to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Memorial Stadium transforms into Nebraska’s third largest city on football Saturdays. 

Over 90,000 red clad fans will cheer on their Huskers against the Oregon Ducks in a Big Ten vs Pac 12 matchup.

Nebraska needs to run the ball and play ball control keeping the ball away from Oregon’s excellent offense. Brady Hoke’s Oregon Defense looks pretty weak. Tommy Armstrong is like having a tailback in the backfield along with 3 serviceable tailbacks. Sr. Terrell Newby, So. Devine Ozigbo and True freshman Tre Bryant running plays from the I back. All 3 are excellent tailbacks and would be starting at most other schools. So that's a strength. Also dangerous is red Shirt So. De’Mornay Pierson-El for jet sweeps and returning punts. He was hurt and out all of last year. But as a freshman he was the Big Ten Freshman Special Teams player of the year in 2014.
 
The blackshirts will need to load the box and control Oregon’s top tailback Royce Freeman. Force them to pass the ball. Our defensive backs had 6 interceptions last week against Wyoming and are the strength of our defense. 

Cornhusker fans are patient and still love Mike Riley. This game will go along way in getting the people on the fence – in love with Riley. But so far we are undefeated and ended last season with a positive bowl win again UCLA. So Riley is in good graces. I’ve met him personally and he is a great, positive guy. He takes time to talk to all the Alumni which is night and day to Bo Pelini. Fans love him as they say, win or tie.

My pick for Woolard's Weekend Winners: my Nebraska Cornhuskers in a tight, high scoring game, 35-31, over the muddling Ducks. GO BIG RED.

The Great Eight for Week Three...

#22 Oregon @ Nebraska...Mike Riley welcomes his old nemesis, Oregon, to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. While at Oregon State, Riley came up snake eyes 7 times when facing the Ducks, so he's hoping his Huskers can dial up a win in the first meeting of these schools in 30 years. The key to this game is Nebraska's ability to minimize Oregon's first half scoring in which they have a 42 point advantage. But while the Ducks have their usual offensive power, their defense is suspect even after playing an FCS opponent and an undermanned Virginia team (82th in total defense). Meanwhile Nebraska's qb Tommy Armstrong is coming off an awesome showing of 377 passing yards. He'll need more of that tomorrow. We've had spotty luck when it comes to prediciting Nebraska outcomes. Let's hope we get this one right. Ducks fly high over the Corn Dogs in an UPSET SPECIAL.

Who let the Dawgs out?

#13 Georgia @ Missouri...Kirby has been coy about who starts as Georgia's quarterback on Saturday but we think the key to this game is the Dawg's ability to run. Last week, Nick Chubb rushed for only 80 yards on 22 carries and Sony Michel rushed just 3 times for 3 yards. If the mutts can crank up the run game and avoid costly turnovers, they beat Mizzou for the 4th time since the Tigers joined the SEC. Mutts bite the tiggers.

#4 Ohio State @ #14 Oklahoma...this is only the third meeting of these two collegiate icons and the first since 1983. While preseason projections were not terribly kind to the Buckeyes since they were returning only 6 starters (the fewest in the BCS), OSU has ripped off two impressive wins, showcasing their passing game in the win over Bowling Green, and their ground game in a 48-3 rout of Tulsa. Ohio State has won 18 straight road games - a school record. Make it 19 and the end to the Sooners' college football playoff hopes. Buckeyes trip the Sooners.

Still have a date tonight, right? Oh wait.

#1 Alabama @ #17 Mississippi...there's no way Nick Saban loses three times in a row to the same opponent, right? That hasn't happened since 1999 when Saban's Spartans lost to the Purdue Boilermakers. But the Rebels are looking to pin their third win over the Tide tomorrow afternoon in Oxford. Mister Freeze, still fussing over his second half meltdown to Florida State, is hoping Chad Kelly can keep airing it out. He's passed for 532 yards and 7 TDs in this season's first two games. Saban is counting on Jalen Hurts to help the Tide snap the streak. It works. Tide trips Ole Miss. Not so hotty toddy.

Southern Cal @ #6 Stanford...if Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey has a good night's sleep and eats his morning Wheaties, then it's all over for the Trojans. McCaffrey had a school record 461 all purpose yards to help Stanford beat USC in the Pac-12 title game last season, and USC is still having nightmares. This game will be a perfect night cap as Stanford hangs another on Southern Cal.

#2 Florida State @ #10 Louisville...America got its first real taste of Lamar Jackson as Louisville knocked off Syracuse. Already Jackson has compiled over 1000 yards of total offense and accounted for 13 touchdowns in less than two full games for the Cardinals. FSU will need all hands on deck if they wish to slow down Action Jackson. Louisville is only 2 of 16 in this series and 1-5 at home against the 'Noles. That changes tomorrow. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take Louisville over FSU.

#8 Michigan State @ #18 Notre Dame...we like Sparty, we really do. But we think Notre Dame has so many weapons that Michigan State is not going to slow down the Irish in South Bend. The key is the quarterback play of DeShone Kizer going against a tough Michigan State defense anchored by DT Malik McDowell. The Spartans looked sluggish in week one against Furman and were idle last Saturday. They will really need to step up their game tomorrow. Fighting Irish slap Sparty.

Mississippi State @ #22 LSU...the Tigers have a bit of a quarterback controversy brewing in Baton Rouge as Les Miles has turned to Purdue transfer, Danny Etling, to lead the Tigers tomorrow. This is a much needed win for Mullen's mutts if they want to be a player in the SEC West and it looks like their qb Nick Fitzgerald is up for the role as he set a school record for rushing yards by a quarterback. For LSU, the game plan is simple: Leonard Fournette, who returns from sitting out last week with an injury. LSU has won 15 of the last 16 meetings. Tomorrow, they make it 16 of 17. Bengals bite the Doggies.

Baby's Bonus Pick...take Ohio and the points (27 1/2) over Tennessee. No way the Vols cover that spread.
Let's check back next week to see how much moolah we make.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™

WEEK THREE. LET IT BE. LET IT BE.

After a frustrating weekend of mixed results, the words of Paul McCartney provide some comfort as we move into Week Three.

"...in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be, let it be."

Last weekend was not kind to us.

We went 4-4 again with our Great Eight picks but at least we're consistent. So we look for words of wisdom and hope that Lady Luck comes to us.

To ease the pain though, we did hit on one of our UPSET SPECIALS by taking UL-Monroe and the points over Oklahoma. So that counts for something, right? Especially when last Saturday's slate of games was a wee bit pale compared to the robust opening weekend a few days prior.

But enough whining. Let's get back to winning. We're looking forward to some great games this Saturday and the chance to Make Mo' Money.™

SIDELINES...What We learned in Week Two

Def Con 5 for Jones

• Tennessee still has offensive line problems as they struggled with Virginia Tech. They seemed to finally find themselves late in the game but by that time the Hokies were worn down after so many turnovers. And the defense looked really bad in the early going,  giving up 198 yards and two quick touchdowns in the first 3 drives by the Hokies. Good news: on the next 12 drives, VT had only 72 yards, 5 punts and 4 fumbles. If the Vols are going to be successful they've got to stop spotting the opposition with early leads otherwise it spells doom when they start playing big boy SEC teams like Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

• Speaking of Georgia, their offensive line actually looked worse than Tennessee's. They barely squeaked by Nicholls State 26-24 despite being 46.5 point favorites. It's early, but the love affair with qb Eason might be waning. Memo to mutt fans: he's just a freshman. To make things a bit edgy with newcomer Kirby Smart, Chubb was held to 80 yards for the game; well below what the Dawgs need to be successful especially when they open SEC play.

• Elimination Saturday? We know it's only week three but a couple of teams are facing potential elimination from the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss (which faces Bama) and Oklahoma (plays Ohio State) each opened the season with high profile losses. A second loss makes them extreme long shots of reaching the CFP. And Notre Dame faces that same scenario when they host Michigan State.

• Seems that struggling with the little guys is contagious. Clemson escaped with a 30-24 win over lowly Troy, leading 13-10 at the half. Also, in another example of stupidity, Clemson's Ray-Ray McCloud let go of the football before he crossed the goal line for an apparent Tiger touchdown. Troy recovered for a touchback. Memo to players: it's real simple. It ain't a touchdown until the ball clearly breaks the plane. Capiche?

Headed for the hotseat?

• Big Ten looking big again. Last Saturday the best of the Big Ten flexed it's muscles. Ohio State beat Tulsa 48-3; Michigan downed UCF 51-14; Wisconsin zipped Akron 54-10; Iowa stormed the Cyclones 42-3. Okay, the competition was not that stiff. But we'll get a better idea of Big Ten toughness after this weekend's huge slate of games: Buckeyes visit Norman; Sparty hosts the Irish, and Nebraska welcomes the Oregon Ducks to Lincoln.

• What the hell is going on in Evanston? Northwestern is 0-2 after losing to two FCS cupcakes, Western Michigan and Illinois State. We recognize that the Wildcats are rebuilding, but fagettabout it. Pat Fitzgerald's stock has been rising in recent years but if he doesn't correct whatever is going on then he'll quickly find himself on the hotseat.

Husker hopeful, Jumping Jeff

Coming Friday....

Jumping Jeff will be checking in from Lincoln where he hopes his Huskers can shoot down a few Ducks. He'll be on hand to tell us what Riley's crew has to do to have a chance at slowing down a high flying Oregon offense.

We'll also have our Great Eight™ for Saturday which features some pretty pretty tasty matchups. So look for our email alert and check which of your many credit cards still has room for a few wagers. See you then.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK™

Need a Re-Do in Week Two

The best opening weekend in college football history is now in the books. And what a weekend it was.

Alabama remains the Big Guy to beat. Ohio State and Michigan appear to be the drivers in the Big Ten. Florida State entertained us with a monster comeback. And football has never been better in the state of Texas with all of it "power teams" winning including Texas, Houston, TCU, Texas A&M, Baylor and Texas Tech.

We struggled to go 4-4 and we're hoping this Saturday gets us back on the winning track.

Week Two is a drop off compared to the first week in terms of marquee matchups and high profile games. Nevetheless, there are a few games that promise the opportunity to Make Mo' Money™.

We have several UPSET SPECIALS that should jumpstart your winning streak. So let's get right to it.

The Great Eight for Week Two...

IQ level in Bristol to hit all-time low

#17 Tennessee vs Virginia Tech...we're not big fans of Bristol Motor Speedway being the venue for this matchup. It's purely a PR stunt to claim the largest crowd ever to attend a college football game with no regard for the serious fan. The closest seat to the field will be 80 yards away so you better take a good pair of binocs - better yet, a Hubbell telescope - if you want to catch a glimpse of the game while sitting with 150,000 juiced up hillbillies. The good news: each team pockets at least $4.3m. They say that the greatest degree of improvement is from the first to the second game. If you're a Vol fan, you hope that's true. This is a critical game for Botch Jones especially on the heels of a lackluster effort against Appalachian State. The Vols need to unleash Dobbs as a runner and the offensive line needs to give him better protection. Although the Hokies are unranked, Bud Foster is still their defensive coordinator and he'll mix it up with blitzes along with a focus on forcing turnovers. They had four last Saturday against Liberty, but that was Liberty. In an UPSET SPECIAL, take the Hokies and the points in Bristol. Gobble gobble.

Penn State vs Pittsburgh...once upon a time this series, which has not been played in 15 years, was a big deal especially back in the 70's and '80s with guys like Tony Dorsett and Dan Marino. Vol retread Nathan Peterman leads the Pitt offense after a decent showing last week vs Villanova, although he fumbled two snaps and had another stripped from him (sound familiar Vol fans?). Penn State head coach James Franklin still has his sour attitude he had at Vandy but he does have a few more weapons to work with in his up tempo spread offense. This could be a rather entertaining game set for noon. Panthers bite the Nittany Lions in Pittsburgh.

Check out the hot chick in the 4th row

South Carolina @ Mississippi State...Will Muschamp and his Cocks left Nashville with a 13-10 win over the 'Dores while the Bulldogs were embarrassed by 28 point underdog, South Alabama. Muschamp has restructured a porous Carolina defense and it showed last week as the Cocks held Vandy to only 169 yds rushing, far less than their SEC worst 217 average last season. Mullen is hoping his mutts can shake their blues and get back to basics with a strong ground game. In another UPSET SPECIAL, the Cocks crow in Starkville.

Kentucky @ Florida...the Wildcats blew a big lead to lose to Southern Miss while the Gators toyed with UMass before putting them away in an uninspired effort. New qb transfer Luke Del Rio played good enough to rally the Gators, passing for 256 yards and two TDs. Kentucky hasn't beaten Florida since the Reagan administration, 29 years ago. Make it 30 years. Gators chomp on the kitty kats in Gainesville.

Virginia @ #24 Oregon...new UVA coach Bronco Mendenhall is still having nightmares over Virginia's lousy run defense. Last week FCS opponent Richmond pounded out 187 rushing yards as the Spiders won in Charlottesville, 37-20. Once again, Oregon is loaded with plenty of skill position standouts and new qb Dakota Prukop did well in his debut with three passing TDs and one rushing TD. Interesting note: Virginia is the first ACC team ever to play at Oregon...and it will be a long flight home as the Ducks honk all over the Cavs. Take Oregon.

Biking to the game makes total sense

BYU @ Utah...only a few exits on the interstate separate these two schools and the hate level between them is palpable.  BYU, led by 26 year old qb Taysom Hill, is coming off a 18-16 win over Arizona and is looking for some revenge after the Utes beat them in last season's Las Vegas Bowl, allowing a 35 point comeback. Meanwhile, the Utes hope that new qb Troy Williams can have another big day like last Saturday when he passed for 272 yards. In an UPSET SPECIAL, book the Mormons over the Utes.

Arkansas @ #15 TCU...this is the first time in 25 years since these teams have played each other. But both coaches are very familiar to each other. "Kenny Thrill" is back in football as the new qb for TCU and racked up 439 passing yards in his debut over South Dakota State (yes, I know). While the Horned Frog offense had a mind blowing 662 total yards, the defense gave up 461 yards and 41 points. Not good. Bielema is hoping his trademark Razorback run game gets back on track after gaining a paltry 106 yards against La Tech. Look for the Toads to take the Hogs.

#14 Oklahoma vs Louisiana Monroe...Stoops' Sooners are still stinging after losing to Houston, and we're sure they'll right the ship with a win over Louisiana Monroe. BUT a 46.5 point spread is just too tasty not to bite. The Warhawks are 1-28 against ranked opponents and we see no way they leave Norman with a win. BUT the points!!  Too tasty. So take UL-Monroe and the points and you'll make some cash.

Let's check back next week to see how much moolah everyone won.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™

WEEK ONE: UGLY BUT DONE

We knew going into the first full weekend of college football it was going to be a wee bit crazy given so many unknowns especially with new head coaches, new players, and new story lines.

While our results were less than stellar we weren't disappointed in the games in terms of excitement, suspense, and the unexpected twists and turns.

With that being said, we went 4-4 for the weekend. Disappointing, yes. Devastating, no. If you've followed us in the past, our approach to gaming is long term, much like playing the stock market. One weekend does not a season make so let's get ready to Make Mo' Money™.

SIDELINES: what we learned this weekend....

• If there was any doubt if Nick Chubbs could return to his old form, doubt no more. Chubbs had 222 yards on 32 carries. And in the process, newcomer Jason Eason's arm lived up to its billing in his first collegiate game. The SEC East just got a little more interesting.

Howdy do, my peeps

• The Texas Longhorns found their new quarterback. Shane Buechele became the first freshman quarterback to start for Texas since since Bobby Layne in 1944. The kid racked up 280 yards in a 16 of 26 effort as Texas beat Notre Dame in 2 OT periods. Seems Charlie Strong is slowly winning over the Horn faithful that were calling for his head just last season.

• Thursday night's performance by Tennessee definitely showed that the Vols were overrated in the preseason polls. Senior Dobbs played like a freshman, the offensive line got pushed around, and once again Botch Jones was out coached....by Appy State. Let's hope they get their act together for their big shindig at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

• LSU is not what we thought after Wisconsin upset the Tigers. Look for things to heat up for head coach Les Miles. And Brandon Harris erased any thoughts that the quarterback had improved. Nope. But is the real problem in Baton Rouge Les Miles or offensive coordinator Cam Cameron who has yet to demonstrate that he can effectively develop quarterbacks?

• Alabama showed why they are number 1 with a 52-6 beat down of Southern Cal. Score one for Lane Kiffin.

TallyTown Ted is a happy camper

• Florida State showed why they are one of the top teams by storming back from a 28-6 deficit to beat Ole Miss 45-34. The Noles had a monster comeback in which they scored 33 unanswered points. While rb Dalvin Cook was kept in check, freshman qb Francois lit up Orlando with 419 passing yards, the most ever in the ACC by a freshman quarterback.

• Ole Miss ought to make Florida State defensive end DeMarcus Walker a member of the Rebel backfield since he spent so much time there, sacking Chad Kelly 4.5 times in the second half. Seems the Reb o-line had no answer for containing him.

• With Oklahoma losing to Houston, look for more grumbling about Bob Stoops in Norman. Despite being the winningest coach in OU history, the Sooner faithful are anxious for titles.

• Mark Richt has the Miami Hurricanes back in the Top 25 for the first time since November 2013. Richt's 'Canes pummeled the Florida A&M Rattlers 70-3.

From The Mail Bag...

Here's a quick sampling of comments and feedback received over the last few days:

From a Seminole Fan: "Happy 5th season and welcome to Bayou Bengal! Excited to see this season begin!"

From a Bama Fan: "Hey!  Put this in the hate mail section next week. The hell you say my coach Saban isn't warm and fuzzy.  Grizzlies are IN FACT, "warm and fuzzy!"

More from Bama Fan: "A panel of experts" without The Bear?  In fact ZERO representation from college football's most storied, most elite, hottest over the past decade and trending up program?????  F#*& U!! (editor's note: Alabama is, in fact, represented in our panel with Kenny Clyde, a long time respected Tide contributor).

From Knoxville: "Please remove me from the VIP list. While I appreciate the insight and candor, receiving Woolard's Weekend Winners may jeopardize my wife's employment." (editor's note: This is a first. You've been removed. Have a nice season).

From West Coast Willie: "Thank you, thank you, thank you. Woolard's Weekend Winners helped me make enough money to buy a new coffee maker." (editor's note: we do what we can).

Let us know what you think. It's easy. Just use the nifty comment box below or shoot us an email. We love to hear to from you.

Look for Week Two picks later this week.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK™

 

KICKING OFF WEEK ONE

This is not your typical opening weekend for college football in which power teams play over matched weaklings. Instead we have a line up of several high octane games that can impact rankings and season outlooks. It truly is a weekend in which you, the fan, get to see some great football, and have the opportunity to make Make Mo' Money.

Kicking off the first weekend is a great slate of games. Take a quick read below including game insight from Mister Big Ten and Bayou Bengal. Then get ready to make some cash.

The GREAT EIGHT for Week One...

Miles will have smiles

#5 LSU vs Wisconsin...the Tigers are loaded with tons of talent. Heisman hopeful Leonard Fournette anchors the backfield and qb Brandon Harris has plenty of athletic play makers around him. Meanwhile Wisconsin is retooling a young o-line but won't stray too far from their bread and butter ground game. In the end, Les Miles will have plenty of smiles as the Bengal Tigers chomp on Badger brats. Put your money on LSU.

#1 Alabama vs #20 Southern Cal...top ranked Bama has never lost an opener under Nick Saban, having won the previous nine. And the Crimson Tide's last two national championships, including last season, started at Jerry's House in Dallas. A win Saturday night will make it a perfect 10. Take the Tide over the Trojans.

#11 Ole Miss vs #4 Florida State...this game has all the makings for an offensive shootout featuring the SEC's best quarterback, Chad Kelly, going against Dalvin Cook, FSU's Heisman hopeful running back who led the ACC in six different offensive categories. There will be no shortage of talent - offense and defense - for both teams and NFL scouts will be licking their chops over this match up. In the end, we think the Noles have a few more weapons and will win a close one over the Rebels. FSU wins.

#18 Georgia vs #22 North Carolina...this game is shaping up to be a real dandy in the Georgia Dome. Dawg fans are once again optimistic that this could be their year (what else is new?). New head coach Kirby Smart is going with senior qb Grayson Lambert, backed by one of the best backfields in America with Chubb and Michel. The Tar Heels won 11 straight last season before losing to Clemson in the ACC championship game but will be breaking in a new qb as well as reworking their defense that yielded 24.5 points per game. We see the mutts pulling this one out. Georgia wins.

#2 Clemson vs Auburn...qb Deshaun Watson became the first FBS quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards and rush for 1000+ yards in a season. Throw in rb Wayne Gallman and Auburn will have its hands full. Auburn is now on its fifth defensive coordinator in six seasons and it's going to be another long night for War Eagle. Dabo's crew clobbers Aubbie. Clemson wins.

#10 Notre Dame vs Texas...despite experiencing off field issues with several Irish players, Notre Dame should not have any problems in handling the Longhorns who hope to bounce back from a losing season. We like the Fighting Irish in this one. Notre Dame on top.

#16 UCLA vs Texas A&M...this will be the toughest season opener for Jim Mora in his five seasons at UCLA as the Bruins travel to College Station. As a side note, Mora will be facing Noel Mazzone, his old offensive coordinator. The difference in this game will be Josh Rosen, the heady quarterback for UCLA. Look for the heat to increase on Aggie head coach, Kevin Sumlin. Bruins bop the cows.

#3 Oklahoma vs #15 Houston...the Cougars are coming off a 13-1 season with a big 38-24 win over FSU in the Peach Bowl. With its best preseason ranking since 1991, the Cougars are looking to knock off the Sooners. That's a huge task as Oklahoma is led by Heisman contender, Baker Mayfield. Look for a high scoring event in Texas with Boomer Sooner coming out on top. Oklahoma wins.

In Their Words...
LSU heads north to hallowed Lambeau Field to take on the Badgers of Wisconsin. While the Badgers are in the process of rebuilding, Les Miles is looking to kickoff 2016 with a big win to silence his critics. Sharing their game insight is Mister Big Ten and newcomer, Bayou Bengal.

Badgers Look For Upset

Mister Big Ten

The Badgers kick off the season against LSU in the (un)Frozen Tundra this week.  While LSU is ranked 5^th in the country, the unranked Badgers are looking to make their mark with homegrown talent, a quarterback primed for greatness, and a running back ready to follow in the Badger running back tradition. 

With the chips stacked up against the Badgers, my Vegas friends are not willing to bet on the Rudy factor.  Wisconsin will need to bring their top game defensively against LSU’s Heisman hopeful. After battling injuries all of last season, and loosing redshirt senior Dan Voltz, the Badger defense is mixing things up with some experienced sophomores that gained solid experience in 2015.

Offensively the badgers are revamping their air game with new starting quarterback Bart Houston and head coach Paul Chryst.  Ending the 2015 season with a 10-3 record and a Holiday bowl win over USC, The Badgers hope to reign an explosive offense with a healthy Corey Clement ready to show why he should also be part of the Heisman conversation.  I see this game being a battle of the running backs and the team that can keep the defensive line on their heels by mixing up the play calls will be able to create some scoring opportunities.  If the Badgers can contain Fournette, they might have a fighting chance to beat the spread and bring some freeze to the Frozen Tundra and give LSU fans a true Lambeau Field experience. Bucky the Badger will eat well Saturday afternoon.

Tigers Will Roar in Green Bay

Ah, Labor Day Weekend. The most wonderful time of the year. A paid long weekend, football back

Bayou Bengal

in our lives, and LSU starting its annual march to the playoffs.

The Tigers start the season licking their wounds from last year, a roller-coaster of a campaign that saw the best running back in the land, nay, in the UNIVERSE, fall scorching to earth as the team received a waxing from Alabama and never fully recovered. Amid calls for Les Miles’ sacking by angry mobs, the Tigers finished 9-3 in what felt like the hardest year of the Miles era to date. Now, on the eve of what should be a highly entertaining tilt with Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, the Tigers prepare to right wrongs, straighten out their fan base, and prove that there is still one team left to challenge the great Crimson Tyrants from the east.

There are always questions surrounding the Tigers, as Les Miles has yet to field a team that isn’t guaranteed to induce cardiac arrest at least 3 separate times most games, and this year is certainly no different. Sure, there are things you can bank on: A stout defense, uber-athletic wide receivers, and Leonard Fournette showing these kids what it’s like in a man’s world. But can Brandon Harris, the embattled incumbent QB who has the talent, but perhaps not the constitution, stand behind what projects to be a bend-but-pray-they-don’t-break offensive line? Will Dave Aranda, fresh from Wisconsin himself, prove to be the effective defensive coordinator Tigers faithful have prayed for the past few years? All signs point to the positive out of camp, and with impressive depth at every position, the Tigers appear poised to retake their rightful place at the top of the SEC.

Look for LSU to come out HOT on Saturday, and Lambeau Leap their way to victory (if ol’ Les allows the Leap. It’s a thing). Wisconsin is always sneaky, and the game is taking place deep in Wisconsin territory. Tigers fans always travel well, so I fully expect the Purple and Gold to have a strong showing in the stands. My crystal ball is telling me the Tiger running game picks up where it left off last season, and with a few well-timed passing plays, the Fighting Tigers send those pesky Badgers to bed without supper. GEAUX TIGERS! GEUAX AMERICA!

 Let's check in next week to see how we did. Good luck with your opening week picks!

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™

Our Season Five. Your Season to Thrive.

We're back for Year 5

It's been a long hot summer.

More disappointment with the Atlanta Braves. Political vitriol at an all time high (or should I say low). Global warming on the rise. Skeeters becoming more than just a nuisance.

Thankfully it's time for College Football and the opportunity to Make Mo' Money.

This is our fifth season of Woolard's Weekend Winners™.

If you've followed us before then you know what we're all about. If you're a newcomer, welcome.

Here's the drill. Each week we highlight eight different college games. We call this The Great Eight in which we provide you insight on which teams will come out on top. We usually sprinkle in a few Upset Specials in which you can win even bigger money.

Not to brag but we're very good at making cash. In the interest of transparency last season we did hit a speed bump with a 59% hit rate on winning picks. In the previous seasons, however, we were generally in the 69%+ range and that translates into some serious cash. And if you took advantage of our brilliance then you, too, made money. If not, that's your loss but this is a whole new season and a chance for redemption. Cha ching.

Here's our panel of contributing guests. 

To make each week even more interesting we feature insight and commentary from guest experts that hail from different colleges across the country. It's fun. It's engaging. And, most importantly, they can help you make mo' money.

Meet Our Newest Contributing Guest: Bayou Bengal

Every season we welcome a new contributing guest to our esteemed panel of passionate scribes.

This season is no different as Bayou Bengal joins Woolard's Weekend Winners.

Bayou Bengal, your LSU connection

You can probably tell from his name that Bayou Bengal is a LSU alum. He knows first hand the passion of the Cajun Crazies and the electricity of night games in the Red Stick. Bayou Bengal will be bringing us updates and insights of the LSU program as well as the rest of the Southeastern Conference. We look forward to reading his insight, beginning later this week as he and Mister Big Ten preview the LSU-Wisconsin game.

And now a moment with Bayou Bengal.
WWW: You grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. What took you to LSU and Cajun Country?
BB: I had a number of friends from various parts of my life attend LSU. While attending UNC-Asheville my freshman year, I visited Baton Rouge and decided to transfer. One of my better decisions.

WWW: What makes LSU football special?
BB: The personality. Each season comes with big-time recruits and championship aspirations, but also heart-stopping clock management and last second plays to win the game. Never a dull moment!

WWW: What's your first memory of college football?
BB: My first real memory is watching Georgia Tech on TV. Although I was more of a basketball fan at the time (think Tobacco Road in the ACC), I'd catch games on TV and spend way too much time trying to figure out what was going on. My first game in person was the LSU-Virginia Tech game in 2007, when the Hokies came in as the higher ranked team and we 'monster-stomped' them.

WWW: What's the biggest thing you're looking forward to this season?
BB: November 5. Every LSU fan has that date circled on their calendar 5 years in advance. Yeah, baby!
  
WWW: Some pundits are saying this could be LSU's year. What say ye?
BB: I like our chances! We've got a great shot at having the top defense in the country and our main question, just like every season, is our quarterback. If Brandon Harris has his head on right, and doesn't get rattled by the big boys at Bama, we'll march to the championship. Oh, and don't forget #7 in the backfield. He's gonna be okay.

WWW: LSU leadership toyed with Les Miles last season...he's fired, he's staying, he's lousy, he's great. What's the real scoop?
BB: The scoop is Les Miles is our coach, at least through this season, hopefully much longer. I consider him one of the 3 best coaches in the country, eccentricities and all, but that view doesn't necessarily extend to our AD office. We'll save that for another time though. Now if he could just recruit a real-deal QB!

WWW: We've heard that you're quite an accomplished tennis player. Tell us about it.
BB: I grew up in a tennis family, where almost every family member up through my grandparents played. So I spent almost every day from age 10-18 playing in some form or fashion. I was a pretty successful junior player and was ranked in the Top 100 in North Carolina. I won state championships in Singles and Doubles while in high school.

WWW: Impressive. But what about table tennis? Any good?
BB: I can swat the ball around a bit, yes.

WWW: You recently got married. Congrats. Does your wife share your passion for college football?
BB: Anna started at UNC-Chapel Hill the same year I started at LSU, and can be easily considered more passionate than I for college football. Look for her to scream herself horse as the Tar Heels paper train the Georgia mutts this weekend.

WWW: Your favorite game time libation?
BB: An old fashioned. Heavy on the bourbon; never with soda.
WWW: Cheers.

Our Preseason Top Twenty

Let the debate begin

Since everybody and his brother seems to have a preseason ranking, we said, "what the heck, we can do that, too." So, here's our shot at the Top Twenty for 2016. Let us know what you think.

#1   Until someone can knock off Alabama, the Tide remains atop our ranking. With top recruiting classes year in and year out, it's just a matter of reloading regardless of who needs to be replaced. What Saban lacks in the warm and fuzzy department, he kills it with his leadership and football brain. And keeping all of those 4 and 5 star recruits happy is a real balancing act.
#2   Oklahoma returns 13 starters including QB Baker Mayfield. If they can get thru Ohio State and Houston, the future is bright. Boomer Sooner.
#3   If Clemson can get by Florida State, the Tigers will have very little resistance from the rest of the ACC. They have plenty of weapons returning including Heisman finalist Deshaun Watson.
#4   Florida State knocks heads with Clemson in Tallahassee for a "winner takes all" kinda game. The "Nole offense returns 11 starters including RB Dalvin Cook, another likely Heisman finalist.
#5   We're pretty bullish on LSU. They return 9 starters on offense and 9 on defense. If qb Brandon Harris continues to grow and Leonard Fournette stays on course for the Heisman, the folks in the Red Stick are going to be very very happy.

#6   Ohio State lost a lot of talent to the NFL and they have some real testers including road games at Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan State. But don't count Urban Meyer out. QB JT Barrett is still in Columbus and Buckeye recruiting has been top notch.

#7   No question that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is a bit thorny but the guy can coach, having won 10 games in his first season in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines return 13 starters and have 8 home games. That should help.
#8   This ranking may be a bit of a stretch given that Art Briles is no longer in Waco but Baylor has a pretty easy schedule (again) with the exception of Oklahoma in Norman.

#9   If Notre Dame can keep its players out of jail then things will be good in South Bend. Brian Kelly has qb Malik Zaire returning and the Irish defense should be fairly stout.
#10   UCLA should break into the top ten with returning qb Josh Rosen. If he can avoid the dreaded "sophomore slump" the Bruins will be in contention for the PAC-12 crown and more.
#11   Ole Miss has arguably the best qb in the SEC and the Rebs are betting that Chad Kelly can deliver once again. Mister Freeze lost a lot of starters but the recruiting pipeline keeps flowing to Oxford. If the Rebs can knock off Bama (again) and LSU, they should go even higher than #11.
 #12   This is a pretty lofting ranking once you consider that Michigan State returns less than half of their offense and will be breaking in a new QB to replace Connor Cook. The defense should be fine but the Spartans have one of the toughest schedules in America including Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, BYU, and a road trip to Notre Dame. Mark Dantonio has his work cut out for him.
#13   The last time we watched Oregon they were in the process of blowing a 31-0 lead in the Alamo Bowl against TCU. Nevertheless, they have a new DC, Brady Hoke, who brings aggressive schemes. RB Royce Freeman is a real Heisman candidate and he'll be joined by some of the best receivers in the PAC-12.

#14   Until Tennessee knocks off a couple of "big boy" schools like Alabama and Florida, we can't rank the Vols any higher. Sorry Vol fans. The table is set in Knoxville with most starters returning and having one of the best backfields in the country with Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. While Dobbs may lack a cannon arm, there's no guttier qb in the SEC. Our real concern is if head coach Butch Jones can stay out of the way (see last minute losses to Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas).
#15   While the Houston defense lost several key defenders, the offense, which averaged 40+ points, will be potent once again. If the Cougars can slip by Oklahoma, the Big 12 title could find a home in Houston.

#16   Washington took their lumps last season by playing a bunch of freshmen and sophomores including qb Jake Browning and rb Myles Gaskin. That strategy may pay off plus the Huskies defense, which led the PAC-12 in scoring defense, remains pretty intact.
#17  Time will tell how good Georgia will be under new head coach, Kirby Smart. All eyes will be on new qb Jason Eason but the real producers may be the Dawg backfield with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Look for a more aggressive defense under new coordinator, Jim Chaney.
#18   Stanford head coach David Shaw has his work cut out for him after losing 12 starters. But the Cardinal offensive line is intact and rb Christian McCaffrey, last year's Heisman runner up, will lead the way.
#19  TCU has some big shoes to fill like qb Trevone Boykin but no worries for head coach Gary Patterson. QB Kenny Hill, Aggie transfer, brings hope to the offense and the Horned Frog defense returns 7 starters.
#20  Louisville could be the most under valued team on the board. The Cardinals return 10 starters on offense and 8 on defense.  QB Lamar Jackson is a dual threat qb and has the right coach, Bobby Petrino, to help sharpen his passing game. Expect Louisville to make the ACC interesting with FSU and Clemson.

We'll be issuing our Great Eight later this week so be sure to look for your email alert.

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™