Scene Four

Recap

TCU -3 – Miss.
Jaguars -3 – HIT!
Saints -3 – Miss.

2026 NCAA 3-4-1
2026 NFL 3-3
2018-2026 NCAA 131-139-7
2018-2026 NFL 177–160-11

There’s a smell in the air, a coziness vibe floating around, the mornings are crisp and the lungs are opening up. October is here and the football season is in full swing. The baseball playoffs began, hockey started up, and basketball is around the corner. These next few weeks bring excellent content and I am here for it. Just keep good non-football games off of Wednesday’s so I can watch Survivor and Amazing Race in piece! My son is way too young to understand many things, including football, but there was nothing better than holding him Sunday afternoon explaining to him some of the things the Jaguars were doing on the field. Rutgers is struggling this season, but the Jaguars are contenders (barring injury). Eventually he took a nap in my arms, and then Travis Hunter secured his first interception, and all daddy could do is smile, and let my sweet prince nap. There will come a time for cartoons and I can’t wait to show him Pokémon season 1, but for now Sunday’s are for Football.

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Rutgers hosts Indiana at 8pm this Saturday for their Homecoming and Blackout game. HoCo is so schedule based, so I get it, but we gotta make this a noon game. Rutgers last 3 home games aren’t against juggernauts, Michigan, Nebraska, Michigan State, and one of those three should have been the blackout, to give the atmosphere a boost.

Indiana hasn’t looked national title good to start the year, but I struggle to see where Rutgers can compete. We saw this weekend that USC is a paper tiger, so I’m not surprised our O was able to move the ball, but Indiana has an elite coach, and that’ll make a big difference.

I’m happy Schiano got his 100th win. I don’t think he gets canned if we lose by say 50, but I think his time is coming unfortunately. He’s a bad quarterback evaluator and his calling card, defense and special teams, haven’t been special the last few seasons. Athan Kaliakmanis fell into Rutgers lap following his old OC, but it’s been dark outside of that. Lonergan’s pick 6 against USC after driving after half time felt too similar to Wimsatt’s pick 6 vs Ohio State right after halftime a few years ago.

All good things come to an end, and next season in a new Rutgers era, I hope I see a fun pass game that makes me want to get to every home game. In Keli Zinn I trust!

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Saturday October 3 12:00PM
Minnesota +6 vs Michigan

Bryce Underwood is on a steady climb improving, but I think that gets erased this weekend. Minnesota just picked of Demond Williams twice last weekend and this aggressive defense is in form. PJ Fleck is an excellent coach and an outstanding motivator. To beat Michigan you’ll need to bring physicality like Iowa did last week, and that is right up Minnesota’s wheelhouse. This will be the best quarterback Michigan has played this season so I’m not ready to crown Michigan as a top tier defensive team. I’ll take the 6 points, I think Drake Lindsay and Minnesota win outright.

Saturday October 3 3:30PM
Florida -5.5 at Mizzou

Florida was a late cut last week but this week I’m not blinking. They face the most overrated team in the country in Missouri. Jadan Baugh’s Heisman campaign will keep rolling as this light Missouri defense continues to let teams operate. One of the biggest advantage’s Florida has is their OC Buster Faulkner, who will be a Head Coach next season. In the last two weeks Mississippi State put up 500 yards and Troy put up 320, outgaining Missouri by 100, which Missouri escaped thanks to two turnovers. Good luck defending the intricate offense of Florida!

Sunday October 4 1:00pm
Rams -3 at Eagles

This might be the grossest pick I’ve ever Kornered about. The Rams travel east coast in a 1pm game to face a solid Eagles team who the public just saw get embarrassed. But like, The Rams can’t start 1-3, can they? And the Rams host the Buffalo Bills the week after on Monday night. The Rams NEED this game, potentially no Puca Nacua, no Myles Garrett, and a team still gelling. I like to use stats, but man this is a “feel bet.” The Eagles love a deep fade down the right sideline, we saw a great Devonta Smith catch on Monday night. Two problems. Makai Lemon was pretty open over the middle, and the Rams have Trent McDuffie to defend this. Jalen Hurts is a bonafide winner, but with the Eagles OLine getting another year older, and the constant OC switches he ha to deal with, he’s just not looking crisp this season. The Rams are in borderline desperation mode, and McVay, Stafford, and co. need to pull this one out.

Sunday Oct 4 4:25PM
Niners -3 vs Broncos

The Broncos can’t keep getting away with playing 30 minutes in a football game, and I think Sunday they’ll face the consequences. Versus the Jaguars and Rams, both at home, the Broncos must’ve had two great halftime speeches and adjustments, because they pulled a 180 on their performance. They lost the 1H 26-3 winning the 2H 37-13! The Niners are on another level to start the season, and since it’s at Levi Stadium they don’t have to worry about the altitude. The Broncos pass rush isn’t like it was last season, and all-world Patrick Surtain can’t cover all of McCaffrey, Kittle, and Mike Evans. I look for Brock Purdy to continue his MVP run and the Broncos to dig themselves in too big a hole for Bo Nix to shovel them out. Dare I say … Pick of The Year?

NFL Power Rankings

1. Buffalo Bills (2)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (4)
3. San Francisco 49ers (3)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (13)
5. Chicago Bears (17)
6. Seattle Seahawks (1)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (6)
8. Minnesota Vikings (10)
9. Denver Broncos (8)
10. Los Angeles Rams (5)
11. Las Vegas Raiders (20)
12. Baltimore Ravens (7)
13. Detroit Lions (11)
14. Philadelphia Eagles (9)
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (23)
16. New Orleans Saints (16)
17. Dallas Cowboys (15)
18. New England Patriots (12)
19. Indianapolis Colts (21)
20. Cleveland Browns (25)
21. New York Giants (29)
22. Atlanta Falcons (31)
23. Washington Commanders (28)
24. Carolina Panthers (14)
25. Houston Texans (18)
26. New York Jets (22)
27. Arizona Cardinals (30)
28. Green Bay Packers (19)
29. Los Angeles Chargers (26)
30. Tampa Bay Bucs (24)
31. Tennessee Titans (27)
32. Miami Dolphins (32)

College Football Playoffs

1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Miami
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. Alabama
8. Florida
9. Iowa
10. Oregon
11. Texas Tech
12. Boise State

Thank you,
Goose