Chapter 11

What’s up everybody, glad you’re back for Chapter 11! We have an early release date on this one because Thanksgiving is Thursday! I personally don’t even like Thanksgiving dinner. I’m not a fan of Turkey, and feel all the food blends boringly. But, I LOVE watching football with the family! Before we get to the recap, I would like to congratulate my buddy Gian. Last chapter, we made a bet on which #13 would have the better game on Sunday between Mike Evans and Odell. Gian is a Bucs fan #OffSeasonChamps so he had Mike Evans, and I had Odell. Odell had a respectable 4 catches, 74 yards and a touchdown. Mike Evans went OFF though for 6 catches, 120 yards and a touchdown! We were at the game and Gian gave me the stare down when Evans had his 40 yard touchdown, disrespectful! Gian, I owe you a pizza date, congrats buddy. 

We will be skipping the video this week. I was being a good son and helped clean up for Thanksgiving. The problem is I’m red-eyed from all the dust. Hopefully the story below is enough entertainment.

Recap:
Rutgers +3 vs. St. Johns – Miss.
Pelicans -10 vs. Knicks – Miss.
Pittsburgh -7 at Wake Forest – HIT!
Oklahoma State vs. #9 West Virginia Over 72 – HIT!
Louisiana -17 vs. South Alabama – Miss.
Bucs +1.5 at Giants – Miss.
Saints vs. Eagles Over 55 – Push.
Last week 2-4-1. YTD 36-40-1
NCAAF 19-24 NFL 13-10-1 Basketball 3-4

**Thanksgiving Special**

Lets actually rewind it just a little before the Thanksgiving games. Lets go allllll the way back to 11/24/2011, aka Thanksgiving 2011. I was getting ready to play my last football game of my career, against our cross-town rivals Clark. And yes, I was getting ready to “play” #StudsOnly

Due to weather this game was also our Senior Day. We had a nice intro, I got to walk the field with my parents and all was good. Clark starts with the ball, and since it was Senior Day, I strutted out there for the start. With my pops announcing the game I was hoping to make a play, I thought it would be cool for him to hype me up one more time. So the first play of the game, it had to be a set up by the Clark coaches, they had to know I was a weaker link on the line. I was unblocked, and the running back is running FULL steam at me. I bit down on my mouth piece and prayed. I caught the running back, and he ran me smooth over. BUT, I held on, and from this I tripped him up. LETS GO!!! I might’ve gotten run over, but guess what, it was a tackle at the line of scrimmage for no gain! Yeah, now what Mr. running back from Clark! As the game goes on, I start to play a little less, but that’s okay because I was extremely muddy.

We had the better team than Clark, not gonna lie, but they always seem to play us tough. The field didn’t help anyone out either, it was destroyed from the storms that year. We had Hurricane Irene and the Halloween Nor’easter in a 10 week span. It was a true mud-bowl. No team could score a touchdown in regulation and we went to over time tied 3-3. Our defense stayed strong, didn’t even give up a yard their first possession. There was nothing more I wanted to do then to End On Top with a victory. We get called for a holding in our drive on overtime and in my mind I’m getting ready to go back on defense… “Suggs catches the screen, he’s at the 30, the 25, the 20, the 15, 10, 5, TOUCHDOWN RAHWAY !!!” Rahway scores on a long screen pass and we defeat Clark 9-3! I remember jumping on Nick Heim’s back as he basically gives me a piggy-back ride off the field. Man it was a great game, a great season, and a great career. Wouldn’t have wanted to spend it with anyone else.

Bears -3 at Lions – The early game of the three, could have some of their stars unavailable due to injury. Kerryon Johnson for the Lions looks like he will miss, while quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, will be a game time decision. I think the loss of Johnson is the bigger loss of the two, because if the Lions cannot have their running back, they will be a one-dimensional throwing team. New Bears coach, Matt Nagy, is an offensive genius and his team has been on a tear. On a short week, the Bears should be prepped even if they have to go to the backup quarterback.
Bears 25 Lions 20.

Cowboys vs. Redskins Under 41 – Alex Smith is regarded as one of the best teammates because of his willingness to sacrifice. He constantly teaches his backups and always looks out for his teammates. Last week his season ended in a gruesome leg injury. Backup Colt McCoy has been a journeyman through the NFL, and is looking at his next opportunity. The Cowboys know they are going against a backup quarterback for the Redskins so I expect them to play this one conservative. They will keep the ball on the ground and feed Zeke. I am glad this game is the middle game of the three, because it will be dinnertime.
Cowboys 19 Redskins 14.

Falcons +13 at Saints – Michael Thomas is my favorite non-Jaguar in the NFL. The Saints receiver is truly special and I love watching him play. 13 points is a lot to cover though, even for Super Bowl favorite, Saints. The Falcons are no scrubs, and they know the Saints well, being a divisional foe. This pick is more a respect pick by me for Matt Ryan and the Falcons. I could see a late, back-door cover touchdown for the Falcons to cover this spread, hopefully by Rutgers legend Sanu.
Saints 35 Falcons 25.

**Rivalry Week Special**

#13 West Virginia vs. #6 Oklahoma Over 84 – HOLY! 84 points and I still think its going over? Well, this matchup reminds me of the Monday Night Football game we just witnessed between the Rams and the Chiefs. These two teams, led by two Heisman hopeful quarterbacks are constantly putting up 50 points each. Kyler Murray, the quarterback for Oklahoma, right now is having a better season then his former teammate Baker Mayfield. Kyler is an elite athlete with an elite arm. Kyler is also fortunate enough to have one of the best receivers to throw to in Hollywood Brown. This is must see TV Friday night at 8pm.
West Virginia 51 Oklahoma 49.

#16 Washington +3 at #8 Washington State – Washington State is what many people love about college football. An unranked, non-traditional powerhouse who rose all the way up to #8 in the nation, and has a quarterback with a huge personality. Gardner Minshew leads the NCAA in yards this year, and he could also head to New York as a Heisman finalist. That being said, Washington has been in the spotlight, and Washington State has not. The team who people thought would make the playoffs, Washington, will end Washington State’s Cinderella story in this rivalry matchup.
Washington 31 Washington State 28.

#10 Ohio State +4 vs. #4 Michigan – If there is one thing we’ve learned over the chapters, its that I love Ohio State this year. If there is one thing I haven’t learned, its that Ohio State hasn’t been that impressive this year. They are due to play like the potential playoff team they are. Winning 13 of the last 14 against Michigan, Ohio State has the blueprint to take down the Wolverines. Dwayne Haskins and the Ohio State offense will get theirs, but can the Ohio State defense finally slow down the run? That will be the key of the game, slowing down Michigan’s Karan Higdon.
Ohio State 23 Michigan 21.

Thank you,
Goose