From the "Talks too much" studios, let's make some dough. Or some entertainment.
Fab 4 picks (plus 1)
OK, last week was a waste of a great start for our picks (entertainment purposes only of course).
And the 1-4 marks was far from entertaining.
But who is to expect a starting quarterback to break an ankle, the national champion front-runner to play flat, and a team generate more than 500 yards and score 12 points.
At least we had Clemson. Yes Clemson, a team that takes its show on the road Thursday night at Louisville laying less than a touchdown. (Yes, I like the Tigers a lot. Unless a hot dog-eating contest decides it, then we are all in with Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. War All-Beef Franks.)
When faced with a rough picking patch, remember your keys.
Find the things you truly believe and work from there. Also, as Coach Finstock told us, try not to date a woman with a tattoo of a dagger and remember to get 12 hours of sleep, and everything else is cream cheese.
FILE- In this Dec. 6, 2014 file photo, Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas looks to pass against Florida State during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C. Thomas and Georgia Tech are looking for more success in 2015 following an 11-3 season that included a narrow loss to Florida State in the ACC championship game and an Orange Bowl win over Mississippi State. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)Georgia Tech minus-2.5 at Notre Dame. The Irish are salty and athletic defensively, but this is a Georgia Tech offense that is unlike almost any other. Tech is averaging 67 points a game and has thrown a total of 15 passes. That's scary. We'd lean toward Tech winning a close one if each team was at full strength. Add in that Notre Dame is without its starting quarterback, tailback and tight end, and this one looks even better.
Auburn plus-7.5 at LSU. Each Tigers team has a quarterback with the confidence of a middle schooler asking a cheerleader to the dance. Each Tigers team has a plethora of future NFL stars. If Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson, who is day-to-day with a hip injury, plays the whole game, we think Auburn wins outright. Yes, I went to Auburn and rank among the most optimistic Auburn followers around. Still, without or without Lawson, this feels like a one-score game, and even my Auburn math tells me that getting 7.5 points in a one-score game is pretty sweet.
Wake Forest minus-3 at Army. It's important to remember that picking games is not picking games you are interested in watching. It's also important to remember that picking winners can be achieved by picking losers. Buy the half here of course and enjoy. How much is Army struggling? The Cadets lost to Fordham. Yes, Fordham.
Duke-Northwestern under the 50. What do these schools have in common? They are each well-coached. They each featured a level of intelligence on both sides of the ball. We trust these teams to make the right play and be in the right position. To recap: Smart guys, who play tough, know their assignments and stay under control. Here's saying this is 21-17 either way.
Colorado State plus-3.5 against Colorado. Maybe sitting next to David Paschall on Press Row has made us a Mike Bobo believer, but something doesn't add up here. Colorado State should have beaten a sneaky good Minnesota team a week ago, and Colorado lost to a Hawaii team that's less than average. Either way, we'll ride with the Rams and one of the five worst uniforms in college football.
Bonus pick: Miami minus-3 over Nebraska. Yes, buy the half, and the line on this one is dropping as the week goes on, so you may get an even better price. The first road game for the Cornhuskers comes at a Miami team that is a) desperate and b) fully healthy.
Last week against the spread: a woeful 1-4 ( 20 percent)
Season against the spread: a pedestrian 5-5 (50 percent)
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SEC items of interest
Face it. It's a monster week that features a national playoff springboard game, a potential SEC eliminator, and a statement game in the SEC.
Giddy-up.
1. Ole Miss at Alabama. The winner of this one takes a firm spot right behind THE Ohio State among those considered front-runners for the college football playoff. Ole Miss is in a rare spot in that they may have more players on the field who will be first-rounders in the next NFL draft than Alabama does. That doesn't happen often. It also doesn't happen too frequently that a quarterback making his first road start - like Chad Kelly will this weekend - comes to Tuscaloosa and finds a lot of success. The only bad thing about this one is the start time - a church-threatening 9:15 Eastern kickoff.
2. Tigers on Tigers. Auburn goes to LSU for a rare day game at Baton Rouge. We have covered the quarterback situation - Auburn's Jeremy Johnson and LSU's Brandon Harris - and it's an issue for each team in each direction. Defensively, which team can coerce the other into turnovers will go a long way to deciding which set of Tigers still has championship dreams.
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier calls for a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. Kentucky won 26-22. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) 3. Spurrier getting 17 against Georgia. Yes, Steve Spurrier, the Ol Ball Coach, the Evil Genius, Darth Visor, you name it, is a 17-point underdog against Georgia. Yes, that Georgia, a team that Spurrier has delighted in tormenting throughout his entire Hall of Fame career. Yes, we are all surprised, but even with all of Spurrier's gifts, it's hard to have a lot of faith in some guy named Perry Orth making his first start at quarterback at Sanford Stadium.
4. Kentucky-Florida. The last time Kentucky beat Florida it was November 1986. That was so long ago, that year was when Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champ ever, smoking was banned from public transportation and the originals Nintendo game system could be purchased for less than $90. Is this the year the Wildcats topple the streak? It's very possible.
5. Tennessee, Arkansas get back the swagger. Painful losses for coaches trying to rebuild proud programs last week. Now, where do the Vols and Hogs go moving forward? Tennessee faces an overmatched Western Carolina bunch who may get a lot of wrath Saturday. Arkansas welcomes a Texas Tech team that has put up a ton of points - 64 per game and more than 640 yards per contest - that the Hogs crushed a year ago. Championships and/or program turnarounds can't be completed in September, but they can be derailed.
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Then there's this
OK we all feel sorry for ourselves at times.
It's human nature. Often, though, it's a wasted emotion that wastes time and slows the process of making whatever it - and ultimately ourselves - better.
Here's a value tip, and something to bookmark, the next time any of us has some self pity, remember the name Kris Silbaugh.
Yes, Kris Silbaugh.
Mr. Silbaugh is like one of the millions of high school kids chasing dreams and making memories on Friday nights. He's a wide receiver for Cambridge Springs High outside of Erie, Pa. In fact, Kris already has the school record in receiving yards, and he's only a junior.
Awesome right? But hardly extraordinary, you're thinking.
Did we mention that Kris Silbaugh was born without a left hand?
Yes, he's a record-setting wide receiver with one hand.
Thanks Kris for showing us all that anything is possible.
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This and that
- Now even the actual DeflateGate offenders - the two dudes who had a hand in deflating the footballs have been re-instated. So the NFL spends tens of millions of dollars and untold amounts of PR capitol for what amounts to two equipment managers to miss one game. Amazing.
- OK, this is nuts. Former Chicago pitcher Scott Carroll was sent to the minors in late August. He expected to be recalled when the rosters were expanded, so he left his car parked on the street in the Windy City figuring he'd pick it up in a few days. Foster was not immediately recalled and now he has forgotten where he parked. Yep, dude has lost his car.
Republican presidential candidate, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, makes a point during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) 
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former New York Gov. George Pataki, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, businessman Donald Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie take the stage during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley, Calif. - Watched almost all of the GOP debate last night. We think Carly Fiorina had the best night, Marco Rubio was second and then we'd tip the visor to John Kasich, the Ohio governor, who may be starting to sneak by Jeb Bush as the 'establishment' GOP contender. Chris Christie had some moments but he felt like damaged goods. As for The Donald, this one did not go as well as the first. Sure, he's the front-runner, but at some point the GOP base is going to have to realize that experience and electability are not negatives.
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Today's questions
Who won the GOP debate Wednesday night?
If politics is not your cup of stew, Thursday is Kyle Chandler's 50th birthday. Yep 50.
Kyle Chandler is a talented actor, but unless he has a Citizen Kane moment or an Augustus McRae role in his future, Chandler will always be Coach Eric Taylor fro the TV version of "Friday Night Lights."
What's your Rushmore of fictional TV/movie football coaches?
Go and remember the mailbag.