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Fab 4 picks
I sometimes wonder if I should continue the regular features like the picks.
Heck, should I shift to other lanes? Wednesday’s post-election conversation drew more than 60 comments, after all.
Or should we completely dive into sports and other silliness as a reprieve from our daily grind?
Thoughts?
With that, here are my thoughts on a college football weekend filled with possibilities.
And pressures. Let’s be Fabulous.
> Iowa minus-5.5 at UCLA. Iowa plays great D. UCLA has great co-eds. Edge UCLA, but bet on Iowa.
> Army minus-5 (Caesars) at North Texas. Army QB1 Bryson Daily is listed as questionable. Daily did not play last week, and the Cadets limped through a 20-3 win over Air Force, which is terrible. Still, without Daily, Army is better than North Texas, and if he does suit up, this line will be double digits before kickoff.
> Arizona State minus-2.5 against UCF. OK, let’s review. A 6-2 home team welcoming a team that has to travel from Orlando to Phoenix. OK. A preseason pick to win the league has lost five of its last six and a preseason cellar dweller is still in title game contention. Check. And I get to pick against Gus Malzahn. Check mate.
> Boise State-Nevada over 60. Yes, I think the Broncos could get there on their own, and they will be motivated. But a line at 24 screams backdoor. Spy, I need a ruling. That said, the Boise State offense is great. The Boise State defense is great for overs.
> BYU minus-3 (ESPN Bets) at Utah. The Utes have arguably the best coach in the country you could not pick out of a photo. But the Utes — the two Utes was a great line in “My Cousin Vinny” — have been awfully disappointing since 17-year-veteran QB1 Cam Rising has been on the shelf. And BYU has something to prove to the committee. This Holy War will be a Holy Roller.
Last week: 2-4 against the spread (33%)
This season: 29-28-1 against the spread (51.8%)
Last season: 2023 results: 67-46-2 against the spread (59.3%)
Dyna-no-mite
So if you are around my age, you hear, “DINE-OH-MIGHT!” and think of JJ Evans (aka Jimmie Walker) from the great “Good Times” TV show.
That’s who we are.
But if we are talking dynasty in the post-dynamite generation, then we have to start with the Patriots, right?
Brady and Belichick. Two of the first ballot GOATs at QB1 and HC.
Is there another DINE-OH-MITE dynasty of the 2000s?
Try this one: The Golden State Warriors, who are 7-1 to start the season, enjoyed a great run over the last decade plus, have had arguably the best non-LeBron James player over the last couple of decades and have had Steve Kerr running the show.
Are the Warriors a dynasty? Would you rather have Kerr than say, Phil Jackson, jewelry notwithstanding? Is Steph Curry a top-10 (top-15) all-time NBA player?
What say you J.J.? Or Spy?
Political correctness
I am pulling back from political discourse.
I know that seems silly because — like the networks we bemoan — the interest and the comments explode when we kick around the political football.
But we are moving toward being a distraction from the angst of the everyday world.
That said, when a story like this hits our feed, we have to discuss it, right?
Rory McIlroy told media folks that Donald Trump getting elected Tuesday “clears the way” for the PGA Tour and the LIV golf folks to merge.
I guess we knew this was going to happen, but in other ways, it makes me sad. Does that make sense?
The merger talks have dragged on since a 2023 deadline, and Trump said it would take him “the better part of 15 minutes” to finish the deal.
OK, I guess. But I truly hope that the newly elected president is going to focus on a slew of things more pertinent than the golf divide, you know?
This and that
› We may discuss this more in the afternoon version of Jay’s Plays, but I am pretty sure I am going to lay the number whenever Alabama, UK and Auburn are at home against everyone.
› Yikes. Wanna feel old? Matt Leinart’s son Cole has committed to play QB at SMU. Seriously.
› Sneaky great NFL game tonight with the Bengals going to Baltimore to face Derrick Henry and the Ravens. Am I nuts for thinking Derrick Henry may be the best non-QB NFL player since Ray Lewis? Discuss.
› You know the rules. Here’s Paschall’s picks column.
› It’s to the surprise of no one that the late night talking heads are befuddled by Trump’s win. That said, they should be tickled because four years of Trump makes the comedy circuit way more target rich than four years of Kamala Harris.
› One more political note: Apparently FOX News won the TV ratings war, which is not that surprising considering how good of a night Trump and his supporters had Tuesday. But it was kinda eye-popping to me that MSNBC topped CNN in viewers, according to the L.A. Times.
Today’s questions
It’s an anything goes Thursday people, so fire away.
Great job Wednesday — the discussion was fair and almost entirely cordial. Visa tip to all of you.
As for today, Nov. 7, let’s review:
On this day in 1991, Magic Johnson announced he had the HIV. Man, I remember exactly where I was when that news dropped.
Joni Mitchell is 81 today.
Billy Graham would have been 106 today.
Who is on the all-time preacher Rushmore? Go, and remember the mailbag.