Chapter 7

There is no place like home. Maybe I am too much of a homer, but the pride I have where I’m from keeps me here. Whether it is Rahway or Rutgers, I always rock a block R and I always bleed scarlet red. I enjoy traveling and seeing different parts of the USA. I absolutely love Jacksonville Beach, somehow I am a fan of Detroit, and Boston is a really cool city. Sure, going to Penn State for a football game with 107,000 screaming people is sweet, as well. There is still something missing. The sense of community in Rahway, and acting reckless at Rutgers High Point stadium is just a different level.

This past weekend was Rutgers homecoming. Friday night my friends and I hung out in Rahway, and spent Saturday in New Brunswick/Piscataway. It was great! I spent a lot of time with the guys I worked with when I was a student equipment manager. Rutgers hung in there and only lost by a field goal against Northwestern and it was refreshing to see them competitive again. I don’t think I can give toooooo many details on the weekend festivities but Friday night my buddy Dante had a great idea. I will be bringing back the video component to Kowals Korner. Dante is going to call me and give me three random college football games to discuss. Let’s hope this doesn’t backfire and he doesn’t make me look like a fool!

Shout out Dante! Dante and I crack jokes on each other every second we can, that’s just what best friends do right? The dude does honestly stink in Mario Kart but he’s a fly guy, can’t lie there. Let’s recap last week though; I still have seven games I wrote about.

Recap:
Knicks +2.5 at Nets – HIT! Nets 107 Knicks 105
Michigan at Michigan State – HIT! Michigan 21 Michigan State 7
Ohio State -12.5 at Purdue – Miss. Purdue 49 Ohio State 20 #wow
Oregon +3 at Washington State – Miss. Washington State 34 Oregon 20
Chelsea -130 vs. Manchester United – Miss. Chelsea 2 United 2
Chargers vs. Titans Under 45.5 – HIT! Chargers 20 Titans 19 (39)
Redskins -1.5 vs. Cowboys – HIT! Redskins 20 Cowboys 17
Last week 4-3
Kowals Korner YTD 23-25

**Friday Night Knicks**
Warriors –12 at Knicks – Hopefully the Knicks play every Friday night so I can continue this segment! The Warriors are one of the best teams ever assembled in basketball. They have five all stars (Boogie Cousins is hurt so currently four available all stars) and role players who do their job. Kevin Durant and his entourage are flirting with an exit from the Warriors and people think he will be the new King of New York. Hopefully he will put on a show for his potential new fan base and do what he does best, score. Him and Steph Curry are basically unguardable. What we have to watch out for is that the warriors go up by so much, that their starters sit the whole fourth and let the Knicks make a late run to cover the spread. Warriors 121 Knicks 106.

**Saturday Slate**

Army +1 at Eastern Michigan – At Rutgers homecoming, I saw a former coworker who worked in the video department. He now works for Army football, and is enjoying a successful season. He enjoys working for Army coach Monken who brings a lot of energy to practices. Army football has turned the corner under Monken, as they won two straight bowl games. Eastern Michigan actually has the 11th worst run defense in the nation. They give up 5 yards per carry and 213 a game! Army is one of the best rushing teams in the nation, and I expect them to carve up the Eastern Michigan defense like Swiss cheese.

#7 Georgia vs. #9 Florida Under 52 – This game has huge implications, as the both teams are 4-1 in conference, along with Kentucky. The winner will have a good shot in representing the SEC East in the SEC Championship game. Florida comes in as one of the hottest teams in the nation but do not have an elite quarterback. Points will be hard to come by for the road team, Florida. Georgia’s offense has been good, but they were much more explosive last season when they went to the National Championship. I think the defenses will control this game’s tempo. Georgia 24 Florida 21 (45)

BYU – 7 vs. Northern Illinois – After two straight losses, BYU bounced back last week against the Korner’s Hawaii. BYU made a quarterback switch for that game, and they crushed Hawaii. I will ride their momentum as they host Northern Illinois. Northern Illinois is 0-3 when they play outside of their conference, and going west to Provo, Utah is no easy task. BYU fixed their offense last week with the quarterback switch, but I am not sure Northern Illinois could. They lack playmakers which isn’t a recipe for success on the road. BYU 27 Northern Illinois 14.

#16 Texas A&M +2.5 at Mississippi State – Both teams have lost to elite opponents. A&M to Clemson and Alabama; State to Kentucky, Florida, and LSU. State likes to grind out games, slowing down the tempo, forcing punts and running the ball. A&M on the other hand, has the athletes to open things up. I believe they end up dictating the tempo thanks to electric quarterback Kellen Mond. While being the home team always helps, A&M is just better and more talented then State. The underdogs come out on top, outright. Texas A&M 23 Mississippi State 20.

**Sunday Funday**

Redskins +1 at Giants – The Giants have the talent to be better then 1-6 but sometimes that’s how the game goes. Its no surprise to me that the line is as close as it is. The Redskins are the only team above .500 and lead the NFC East. Alex Smith doesn’t have good weapons around him but does not turn the ball over. This will force the Giants to “earn” their points. They wont get any freebees off a turnover. Eli will have to orchestrate drives against this team and the OLine will have to hold up versus a good Redskins DLine. I don’t see this happening consistently. Redskins 24 Giants 21.

Packers +9.5 at Rams – Aaron Rodgers is never truly out of a game. He is the best quarterback I have ever seen play, in my young life. It’s a shame he hasn’t had a good team around him in the recent years. The Rams are loaded at every single position. I expect the Rams to go up early, forcing Rodgers and the Packers to play catch-up. This could be a nerve wrecking bet because I can see the Rams being up by 14 late, and the Packers scoring close to a meaningless touchdown before the game ends. This spread is too big for me when I get to have Rodgers as the QB. Rams 31 Packers 24.

**Celebrity Pick**
Cardinals +1 vs. 49ers – Let’s start off by saying my friend “Striker” is all over this pick. Striker and I go wayyyyy back, like Cadillac seats. In 8th grade, we were on the middle school soccer team. He got the name Striker because he was a prolific goal scorer, but so was I. Let me tell you, we combined for 40 goals in 8th grade! He had 38 of them … Anyways, Striker likes this matchup. The Cardinals have a new offensive coordinator in former Jaguar great Byron Leftwich. He will look to get running back David Johnson back on track for the Cardinals. The Cardinals also have a premier corner back in Patrick Peterson who will look to slow down Goodwin of the 49ers. The Cardinals have the best player on both sides of the football, and they also have Rahway great Olsen Pierre on the defensive line. Look for them to come out on top at home. Cardinals 23 49ers 19.

Thanks for the read!
Goose