Week 11 Recap
Alex’s Week 11 Record: 10-6
Alex’s Overall Record: 62-67
Adam’s Week 11 Record: 5-8
Adam’s Overall Record: 26-34-1
CQ Readers’ Week 11 Record: 5-8
CQ Readers’ Overall Record: 36-47-1
Alex had a winning week for what seems like the first time in a month, but Adam and the readers couldn’t quite crack .500. Adam even went down with his lock of the week (Alabama -7 at Mississippi State). As we hit the final weeks of the season, everyone is within reach of a winning record. But there aren’t many opportunities to rack up the wins this week as the slate includes only one Top-25 matchup.
Hoosier Special
Rutger at Indiana (-11), O/U 46, 12:00 p.m.
Alex: Indiana finds itself in the same place it was through 10 games last season - beat Rutger and Purdue and go bowling. The difference this year? Rutger and Purdue are better, the former far more so than the latter. The Hoosiers are still double-digit favorites, though, which seems like a bit much. Take into consideration that Rutger is 8-2 against the spread this season and Indiana is 2-8 ATS, and I’ll take the road team to cover. Indiana still wins outright, but Rutger makes us all sweat for awhile en route to win number 5.
Adam: Indiana Football is gross. Rutger football is just a little bit more gross. IU needs to win out to guarantee a bowl birth, but they could sneak in with 5 wins (gross). Rutger is a better team than last year, so I am shocked they are double digit dogs to the Hoosiers. I’m all for school spirit, but if they you have something better to do, don’t cancel those plans.
Alex’s Pick: Rutger (+11) and Under 46
Adam’s Pick: Rutger (+11) and Under 46
Poll
Rutger at Indiana (-11), O/U 46
This poll is closed
-
20%
Rutger (+11) and Over 46
-
14%
Indiana (-11) and Over 46
-
50%
Rutger (+11) and Under 46
-
14%
Indiana (-11) and Over 46
Top 25 Games
24 Michigan at 5 Wisconsin (-7.5), O/U 39.5, 12:00 p.m.
Adam: This is a tough game. A part of me still wants to think Wisconsin is just a bit overrated. Another part of me thinks Michigan is underrated. However, Harbaugh has not proved he can coach and win big games. I think this one is a lot closer and Michigan covers.
Alex’s Pick: Over 39.5
Adam’s Pick: Michigan (+7.5)
Poll
Michigan at Wisconsin (-7.5), O/U 39.5
This poll is closed
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28%
Michigan (+7.5)
-
33%
Wisconsin (-7.5)
-
23%
Over 39.5
-
14%
Under 39.5
Big Ten Games
Minnesota at 23 Northwestern (-7.5), O/U 40.5, 12:00 p.m.
Alex: For the first time all season, Minnesota looked like the team that the media thought they would be under PJ Fleck last week in a win over Nebraska. Northwestern, on the other hand, has been the team we all know they are - slow, methodical, boring, and good. I’ll take that consistency each week - and I’ll take the team that is 7-3 against the spread.
Alex’s Pick: Northwestern (-7.5)
Adam’s Pick: Over 40.5
Poll
Minnesota at Northwestern (-7.5), O/U 40.5
This poll is closed
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20%
Minnesota (+7.5)
-
46%
Northwestern (-7.5)
-
23%
Over 40.5
-
10%
Under 40.5
Illinois at 9 Ohio State (-41), O/U 53.5, 3:30 p.m.
Adam: In classic Ohio State fashion, they somehow find themselves in a decent playoff position in November, after they seemed dead earlier in the year. They need to take care of business against a very bad Illini team. In his final home game JT Barrett will be responsible for 6 touchdowns.
Alex’s Pick: Illinois (+41)
Adam’s Pick: Ohio State (-41)
Poll
Illinois at Ohio State (-41), O/U 53.5
This poll is closed
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35%
Illinois (+41)
-
32%
Ohio State (-41)
-
32%
Over 53.5
-
0%
Under 53.5
Purdue at Iowa (-7.5), O/U 41.5, 3:30 p.m.
Alex: The Boilermakers find themselves in the same place as Indiana - win twice and go bowling. Iowa is reeling from a beatdown at Iowa that came on the heels of their stunning blowout of Ohio State. The most important aspect of this game may be whether the emotional ups and downs of their last two weeks have altered the Hawkeyes’ focus. My bet is on “no.”
Alex’s Pick: Iowa (-7.5)
Adam’s Pick: Iowa (-7.5)
Poll
Purdue at Iowa (-7.5), O/U 41.5
This poll is closed
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6%
Purdue (+7.5)
-
76%
Iowa (-7.5)
-
6%
Over 41.5
-
10%
Under 41.5
Nebraska at 10 Penn State (-25.5), O/U 55.5, 4:00 p.m.
Adam: Is it me or has Penn State seem disinterested in football since the second half of the Ohio State game? They’ve been sluggish and the once Heisman “Lock” may not even finish in the top three. That being said, they’ll blow out the Cornhuskers in their last home game of the year.
Alex’s Pick: Penn State (-25.5)
Adam’s Pick: Penn State (-25.5)
Poll
Nebraska at Penn State (-25.5), O/U 55.5
This poll is closed
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33%
Nebraska (+25.5)
-
44%
Penn State (-25.5)
-
14%
Over 55.5
-
7%
Under 55.5
Maryland at 17 Michigan State (-16), O/U 43, 4:00 p.m.
Alex: Michigan State got taken out to the woodshed last weekend, but wins over Maryland and Rutger are all that stand between them and nine wins, which would probably feel awfully good after last season’s 3-9 campaign. In real life, I’d stay as far away from this game as possible - 16 is a lot of points and the Over/Under is perfect, in my opinion, for Vegas. For here, I guess I’ll take Sparty to win by three scores, despite some reverse line movement.
Alex’s Pick: Michigan State (-16)
Adam’s Pick: Under 43
Poll
Maryland at Michigan State (-16), O/U 43
This poll is closed
-
50%
Maryland (+16)
-
25%
Michigan State (-16)
-
12%
Over 43
-
12%
Under 43
Locks of the Week
Alex: Texas is 5-5 and needs a win to be bowl eligible. With games at West Virginia and at home against Texas Tech remaining, the Longhorns are in decent shape. But Vegas is overvaluing them the same way the media did before the season started. Although the Longhorns are 7-3 against the spread this year, only getting three points in Morgantown will make for a pretty tough cover. West Virginia wins this one by a couple scores.
Alex’s Lock: West Virginia (-3) vs. Texas
Adam: Louisville had a disappointing year, to say the least. However, Lamar Jackson has been terrific again, and will want to put on a show in his final home game of the season/possibly college career. Plus Syracuse, is still getting a boost in Vegas from the Clemson win, even though they’ve lost three straight. Give me the Cardinals in a three touchdown win.
Adam’s Lock: Louisville (-13) Vs. Syracuse
Ben’s chili recipe
Ben Raphel: Look, this isn’t a great week for games, and I’ve just about exhausted all the Group of 5 conferences (except for #MACtion which is only weeknight games at this point). I could pick a Power 5 conference, or NFL, but instead, I’m taking this space in a different direction.
Let’s make chili.
INGREDIENTS
1-1.5 lbs ground beef (can substitute with ground turkey if that’s your thing)
1 yellow onion
1 bell pepper, your choice of color
1 jalapeño pepper
1 can of light red kidney beans
1 can of dark red kidney beans
1 can of tomato sauce
1 can of stewed or diced tomatoes
at least 3 cloves of garlic
at least 1⁄2 bottle of Frank’s hot sauce
Liberal amounts of cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper
Shredded cheese, sour cream, and green onions for topping
ABSOLUTELY NO SPAGHETTI THIS ISN’T SKYLINE
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1 (8:30pm): Oh no, you don’t have lunch for tomorrow! What can you do? Oh wait, you go to the store and get all these chili ingredients and throw them in your slow cooker overnight.
Step 2 (9:30pm): Get home from the store. Unpack all your ingredients. Cook the ground beef in a pan with chopped-up onion and minced garlic and olive oil. Once the beef is browned, throw it into the slow cooker.
Step 3 (10:00pm): Chop the rest of the veggies. Open all the cans. Throw all veggies and beans into the slow cooker while stirring. Apply hot sauce and spices while continuing to stir.
Step 4 (11:00pm): Turn slow cooker on Low. Go to bed.
Step 5 (7:00am): Wake up to the smell of slow cooked chili coming from your kitchen. Pour servings into containers. Bring shredded cheese and sour cream and chopped-up green onions to throw on top (and some cornbread for a side), and be the envy of all your coworkers once lunchtime rolls around.
THE PEOPLE’S PARLAY
Kyle Swick: Another week, another loss. The good news is, if you’ve been backing up your parlays (playing the parlay and all legs of it as separate single plays) you’re still probably ahead on the year depending on unit management. I know I say this every week but DAMN I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS ONE:
- UAB (+10.5) at Florida: The Blazers are 8-2 ATS this year while the Gators are 2-7. Add in the fact that UAB is getting 10.5 against a team they’re statistically superior to and this is easily the pick I feel best about on the weekend. So congrats, in advance, to Florida’s 27-3 victory.
- Miami at Virginia (u50.5): Just going to keep riding these Miami unders all the way to the bank. It has been the safest bet all season long and with Miami coming off two massive prime time victories, I would expect a sleepy start against the Cavaliers, who are a pretty reliable under themselves.
- Cincinnati (-3.5) at East Carolina: ECU is 2-8 ATS this year while the Bearcats, while still pretty bad, are 3-2 on the road ATS. Can’t ignore the opportunity to lay a field goal against one of the worst teams in the country.
- UCLA at USC (o71.5): That is a mighty number to get past, but USC is 4-2 on the over at home this year while UCLA has hit the over five times in five chances on the road this season. Both offenses are prolific and the defenses range from average (USC) to laughable (UCLA). I think we’re in good hands.