Chapter Fourteen

2025 NCAA 6-10 
2025 NFL 7-15
2018-2025 NCAA 124-130-6
2018-2025 NFL 166-148-11

Vandy +3.5 at Tennessee – HIT!
Bears +7 at Eagles – HIT!
Giants +7.5 at Patriots – Miss.

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Maybe I’ll go more into depth another time about Rutgers but I want to say Saturday was fun! Rutgers has had some ugly mess ups, but I don’t know, it didn’t feel like “same old Rutgers.” We put up 36 points! Offense rocked all night long. The defense had a down year and a down game. I’ve seen a lot of panic with the loss, but to me, that was amazing thrilling entertainment and I feel the season ended on a “let’s fast forward to September” note.

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Cowboys +3.5 at Lions

The Cowboys are hot! I criticized how Jerry Jones handled the trade deadline being super aggressive, but Quinnen Williams has produced like a star. He will need another game wrecker performance as he and the Cowboys go against Gibbs and the Lions. The loss of Amon Ra St Brown I think means the world for the Lions and if he somehow plays he’ll be a decoy. He’s the chain mover for them and they are already down LaPorta. The Lions need help on the OLine and we thought they would get that with Frank Ragnow but he failed his physical so look for the Cowboys to stuff inside run. Jahmyr Gibbs can win games, but I think this Cowboys offense is too potent and will overwhelm the reeling Lions who are down part of their intermediate identity. Post Lions bye week they are letting quarterbacks move the ball and find the endzone. Jordan Love had 4 touchdowns, Jameis Winston had 366 yards on 18 completions, Mariota had a modest 213 on only 16 completions and 2 touchdowns, and “Nine” looked competent vs them having a 45.5 QBR. Dak Prescott should have a field day as I do not think anyone on the Lions can slow down Pickens and Lamb. 

Virginia -4 vs Duke

Virginia has had a near perfect season, losing week 2 to an electric CJ Bailey at NC State, and losing 16-9 to Wake in a game that Virginia’s QB got hurt. Outside of that, all wins! Both Virginia and Duke avoided a lot of the big dogs in the ACC, but I’m really impressed with Virginia’s overtime win at Louisville. They showed they can win without extreme passing numbers and can also force two turnovers when they need it. Duke is more of a one trick pony, they have a great QB, mid run game, and horrid defense. Virginia’s defense is nothing to brag about, but I feel it’s telling that Duke’s QB Darian Mensah had his worst game of the season v Virginia in a 34-17 loss a few weeks ago. They’ll create pressure, having 4 sacks that game, and jump passing lanes. Virginia is overall the more complete versatile team, and Duke’s single strength of their air attack rocks, but there’s a reason they went 7-5 because their lack of balance hurts winning games. 

Jaguars +1.5 v Colts

It’s always scary picking your favorite team because you wonder if there’s any bias. The Colts are playing some rough football lately, and injuries are starting to creep up. Daniel Jones has had a great year, and did play a strong Texans team last week, but his mobility is slashed, and he’ll be going against a Jaguar DLine getting Travon Walker back. Jaguars should also be getting back Arik Armstead, Jourdan Lewis, and Eric Murray on defense. Jags have always been a good run defense, giving up 3.9 yards per carry, and now that they are getting healthy, I expect them to be able to limit Jonathan Taylor from wrecking the game. Post bye week the Jaguars are starting to take off, just like Liam Coen’s Bucs last year. They talk about what a complex system Coen runs so it makes sense that the Jags go from scoring 20.8 in 7 games pre bye to 29.2 a game in the 5 post bye. This week should be Jaguars most healthy offense of the season, with another week of Strange and BTJ off injury, Parker Washington set to return, and Jakobi Meyers getting comfortable in the system. I think this firepower will be too much to handle in a Colts led team without Sauce Gardner. The Jaguars should extend their Colts win streak when playing in Duval to 11 this weekend.

Power Rankings

1. Rams (1)
2. Patriots (3)
3. Broncos (2)
4. Niners (9) 
5. Packers (5) 
6. Bears (12)
7. Seahawks (10) 
8. Texans (16) 
9. Eagles (7)
10. Bills (14) 
11. Cowboys (15)
12. Jaguars (17)
13. Chargers (13) 
14. Ravens (4)  
15. Chiefs (8)
16. Colts (6)
17. Panthers (20)
18. Lions (11) 
19. Bucs (19)
20. Bengals (29)
21. Steelers (18)
22. Dolphins (23)
23. Jets (27)
24. Falcons (22)
25. Vikings (24)
26. Cardinals (25) 
27. Browns (21)
28. Commanders (30)
29. Giants (26)
30. Saints (28) 
31. Raiders (31) 
32. Titans (32)

Thank you,
Goose