Tag Archives: Wisconsin Badgers

Miami Hurricanes vs Wisconsin Badgers: Champs Sports Bowl

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Right off the bat the Hurricanes come in with a big home-field advantage, as this game is being played in their home state, Orlando, against a Big 10 school from the Midwest. The Hurricanes have a heap of top-flight speedy athletes, consistently prepare well with long breaks, and have played well at home all season long. Wisconsin probably doesn’t have the speed they’ll need to compete with Miami, plus they’ve covered on the road only twice all season long, at Minnesota and against at Hawaii. That doesn’t really win me over on the Badgers.

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One thing Wisconsin has done is out-rush every single one of their last 10 opponents, but that hasn’t really meant victory for them. They’ve lost 3 of their last 7 games, and haven’t beat a “good” team yet this year. Every time they had a chance to prove their worth, they’ve fallen to the Big 10’s top teams, losing to Iowa and Ohio State – they didn’t play Penn State, and they also lost to Northwestern.

Miami has also struggled against top-tier teams, losing to Clemson, North Carolina, and virginia Tech. They did beat Oklahoma and Georgia Tech earlier in the season, also smacking around a decent South Florida team to end the year.

Both teams are 9-3 SU this season, and both have been much better at home than on the road. That should be key in this one as I’ll take Miami playing in Orlando.

Miami Hurricanes (-3) @ Wisconsin Badgers:

Michigan Wolverines vs Wisconsin Badgers Football Pick

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Michigan Wolverines (+10) @ Wisconsin Badgers Football Pick: When you look at their most recent against a common opponent (Purdue), this game looks very scary. The Wolverines just barely lost to Purdue after falling apart in the second half, 36-38, while the Badgers smoked the Boilermakers 37-0. So all by itself, that looks scary. Then if you look at what Wisconsin has done lately, killing purdue after playing tough against Iowa, and then beating Indiana – they look even better. And then you have to look at Michigan lately, try 3 straight losses, including a 12-38 beatdown by Illinois, of all teams, and this game looks like a sure Wisconsin win. But wait, there’s more reasons to go against my pick – the Wolverines are 0-3 on the road this year. What am I doing here?

I’m looking at the bigger picture, that’s what. The Wolverines and Badgers are very equal teams. That’s right, look at it all and take it in. Both lost a close game to Iowa (besides Northwestern, who hasn’t lost a close game to Iowa?) – both got beat up by one of the best teams in the Big 10 (Wisconsin 13-31 vs Ohio State, Michigan 10-35 vs Penn State) – both played close with Michigan State (Wisconsin winning by a score, Michigan losing in overtime), both beat Indiana by 3, both have beaten up on a lesser team or two, and both have had their poor performances (Wisconsin struggled but won against Northern Illinois and Fresno State – Michigan got killed by Illinois) – I’m telling you, these teams are more equal than their records insist. Better yet, they’re more equal than a 10 point spread.

Michigan has struggled over the last 3 games, no doubt, but it’s hard for me to ignore their start to the season where they either won or played close to every team they went up against. I expect them to get back to respectability against an overrated Wisconsin team.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers Football Pick

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Iowa Hawkeyes @ Wisconsin Badgers (-2.5): Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of either team, but Iowa is way ahead of where they should be, and stuff like that has a way of working it’s way out sooner rather than later. They’re pretty lucky to be without a loss right now, a one point win against Northern Iowa to start the season, a 3 point win over Arkansas State two weeks ago, and a 2 point win over Michigan last week. You only get so many chances, and if the Hawkeyes were kittens, those lives would be getting down to go time, or shall we say no time. Football karma is real, and teh Badgers unranked and favored by nearly a field goal at home against the 12th ranked team in the country? There’s something to like there.

NCAA Free Picks: Week 3

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A couple big games, and a couple laughers – I’ll make my money anyway I can get it. I know I’m 1 game under .500 with my college picks heading into Week 3, but I have a good feeling this is where I bust over the .500 barrier and get in the green. I’ve got 8 good ones for you liking – 3 games that really seem like free money. Follow along, and write these down…

Washington State Cougars @ Baylor Bears (+2): Rule of thumb for 2008 college football season: If the Washington State Cougars are ever favored, make sure to bet against them. More so, if the Cougars are on the road and favored, first make sure they are playing against, at the very least, a division 2 program or greater. If they indeed are, say Baylor for example, go ahead and pick against the Cougars and feel 99% safe about your bet. That’s what I’m doing.

Michigan Wolverines (pk) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Free Money!!! Hooray! Come one, come all, take the Wolverines and watch your account grow in funds. I can’t figure out what about the terrible looking Irish gets them to be a pick’em against a fantastically mediocre Wolverines club. Thanks for this!

Georgia Bulldogs (-7) @ South Carolina Gamecocks: I know, I know, Coach Steve Spurrier has an affinity for pulling the big upset and ruing a season for opposing top rated teams. Not this time fellas. I’m surprised that the public isn’t on this game more than they already are (77%) – but when I see a nice bet, following the public or not, I take it. Don’t out think yourself. Georgia is at lest two scores better than SC. Spurrier better get his old Florida All-Time team members to come help out if he wants this win. Georgia 3-0, SC 1-2 – just as it should be.

Rice Owls @ Vanderbilt Commodores (-7): I wouldn’t bet the world on this game, but how can you not like it? Vandy has finally won me over, maybe just in time for them to crush my soul? Nan. Vandy plays tough defense, something the Owls haven’t faced in quite some time. Rice gives up a lot of points, something Chris Nickson and the track team skill positions in Vandy will take advantage of. I’m taking the home team here. But be careful, this might be trap material. Just a nice friendly wager for good value’s sake.

Oklahoma Sooners (-20) @ Washington Huskies: Free money!!! Thank you for scheduling this game so I could win free money. I am taking all the money in my accounts and putting it on the Sooners – at least if I get this one wrong I’ll lose it all. That’s right – my big risk and yours, should result in a big payoff. You think the Sooners are going to leave this game up to Pac-10 officials? Haha… Not after Oregon. Not after the call last week against Jake Locker. Sooners by 40. Free Money.

Ohio State Buckeyes @ USC Trojans (-10): Yes, I think the Big 10 isn’t very good and the Buckeyes aren’t nearly the team everyone is making them out to be. I think these teams are closer to even, but all the right things are going toward the Trojans. No big injuries. A week off to prepare. The game is at home in Southern California. It’s a late game, 8pm EST, which means just 5 pacific for the Trojans. Right – like I said, these are two very close teams, and maybe, with no distractions and tough circumstances I’d still give the Trojans a slight nod. Add all those things on to the Chestnut’s back and I’ll take the Trojans -10 any day.

UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (+23) @ Arizona State Sun Devils: Late night is the best time to play at ASU, so the home field advantage gets lost a little bit here. Utah just whooped the Rebels by 21, but Utah is better than ASU in my humble opinion. The Rebels throw the ball pretty efficiently and can stay within three scores of the Sun Devils, so I’ll take them at +24 and get ready to cash in.

Wisconsin Badgers @ Fresno State Bulldogs (+1.5): This may be a shot in the dark, (but it’s not really because I actually research the piss out of my picks) but I like the Bulldogs to pull the upset against the 11th ranked Badgers this Saturday Night. LIke the Trojans and the Buckeyes, this game is late, really late for the Badgers. 7:30 pacific is just a nice late game for Fresno State while the Badgers travel across the country to play at bed time. Tough deal for #11 – but I respect them for taking this game. The Bulldogs didn’t dominate during their Week 1 performance, but they’ll come to play. They can really shut down opposing offenses, and they run efficiently. We’ll see, but I like the home dogs here.

Free NCAA Football Picks – Week 1

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Here we are! It’s August 25th, 2008 and NCAA football games are just a few short days away. Summer is on the way out, and fall is just about to turn the leaves red. That means school for you young scholarly types and just colder weather for the rest of you – but it also means football! It all starts with a little NCAA action. For Week 1 I went ahead and picked out 10 winners… Enjoy the first edition of my NCAA Free Picks for 2008…

Thursday’s Games


Vanderbilt Commodores @ Miami-Ohio Redhawks (-4): (7:30pm EST, 8-28-2008)

Vanderbilt loses their best player in wide receiver Earl Bennett. He was by far their most effective and productive offensive player. Their leading returning receiver is out with a stress fracture (George Smith). If that weren’t enough, the Commodores also said goodbye to their leading rusher from last year, as well as their entire starting offensive line – that’s the kicker. Miami has a stout defense with very talented linebackers. They may be a smaller college, but they can play football. The Commodores don’t have much cohesion right now, as new starters are still being decided. The starting quarterback for this Thursday’s game wasn’t decided by the weekend, leaving much to be answered in the four days before kickoff. While Vanderbilt has all the questions, Miami of Ohio looks to be full of answers.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (-12) @ Baylor Bears: (8:00pm EST, 8-28-2008)

Wake Forest is the real deal. Despite winning 8 of their last 10 games and then spanking Connecticut in the 2nd half of their bowl game, the Deacons just can’t seem to get the credit they deserve. THe Deacons return their freshman quarterback sensation, Riley Skinner, and while they lose their top receiver from ’07, Wake is full of young talent at receiver. Head coach Jim Grobe knows what he’s doing. The Deacons are off and on on the road, but they’ve been a darn good football team with Riley Skinner at quarterback. I expect them to start off the season hot, and ride their quarterback to the top of the ACC. Take them over the Bears by a couple touchdowns.

Oregon State Beavers (-3) @ Stanford Cardinal: (9:00pm EST, 8-28-2008)

The Oregon State Beavers seem like the forgotten Pac-10 team heading into the season. Everyone seems to forget that the Beavers won 7 of their last 8 games including an upset victory over Maryland in their bowl game. During the last 8 games of the season, the Beavers’ only loss came against USC in Southern California. Last year, when the Beavers played Stanford, a tough Oregon State defense held the Cardinal out of the end-zone, winning 23-6. The Beavers lost their talented tail-back, Yvenson Bernard, to graduation – but they have a nice offensive line and a couple new running backs that have impressed when given the chance. One player that should have a great bounce back season is Sammie Stroughter, the speed demon that was a 2006 3rd team All-American. With family problems and injury woes, Stroughter struggled in 2007, playing only 3 games. He was awarded a medical red-shirt, and now he has one more chance to prove himself in the Pac-10. Every time he touches the ball, touchdowns can happen. Look for the Beavers to out-talent the Cardinal all over the field, dominating this early-season conference match-up.

Friday’s Game


Temple Owls (-7) @ Army Black Knights: (7:00pm EST, 8-29-2008)

Temple, amazingly, won 4 of their last 7 games, have three Pre-Seasons All Conference players returning, and were voted “Program on the Rise” by the MAC conference. They return their leading passer and an offensive line that found cohesion late last year. Defensively, Temple is better than expected, as Army will find out. Army switched their entire offense around this summer, moving from a no-huddle spread to an option based rushing attack. When that happens originally, teams seem to struggle because of the recruiting differences for offenses like that. I never thought I’d consider taking a Temple team on the road and favored by a touchdown, but that’s exactly what I’m doing and I’m confident about it.

Saturday’s Games


Bowling Green Falcons (+13) @ Pittsburgh Panthers: (12:00pm EST, 8-30-2008)

The Bowling Green Falcons bring 17 of 22 starters back to a team that is expected to compete for a WAC crown this season. The Falcons won 5 of their last 6 regular season games in 2007 before getting absolutely crushed in their bowl game against Tulsa. I like that last part. The Falcons have waited all summer, 17 returning starters and many other frustrated kids, to get back on the football field and prove that bowl game was a fluke. In comes the Panthers with one of the best running backs in the Nation and a former pro-football head coach. I like the Falcons’ chances – take them and all those points.

Akron Zips @ Wisconsin Badgers (-26): (12:00pm EST, 8-30-2008)

As if going into Wisconsin to play the 12th ranked team in the Nation wasn’t a tough enough opener, the Zips have really struggled with injuries during football camp. With a couple junior college transfers and position battles being effected by these injuries, the Zips preparation time for a tough Wisconsin team will be shortened. The Badgers return big names, it seems, when looking at their 2008 starters. P.J. Hill, the ultra talented tailback, and Travis Beckum, one of the most highly touted TEs in college football. Defensively, the Badgers are senior laden with an elite linebacking crew. It may be his first season as a starter, but senior quarterback Allen Evridge has been around for a while. Look for the Badgers to lean heavily on the run and really pound it to the Zips.

Utah Utes (+3.5) @ Michigan Wolverines: (3:30pm EST, 8-30-2008)

The Utes are very good and should win their conference this season. Michigan lost too many good players and are in the midst of a complete turn-around with their new head coach, Rich Rodriguez. I don’t know what else to say besides this, Utah is the better team with a better mentality and they also have nothing to lose in this one. Sign me up for that every single week.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (-6) @ Washington State Cougars: (3:30pm EST, 8-30-2008)

The Cougars weren’t very good a year ago, usually open the season soft, don’t have much of a home-field advantage during the first few weeks of the college football season, lost their star quarterback to graduation, and don’t have much confidence either. Hmm… I don’t like Pac-10 teams that open their seasons against tougher conferences, and that’s what I think this is. The Cowboys might not finish above .500 and they’ll probably look really bad in some games – but not this one. This is a team that, last year showed they can play tight with Kansas and Texas, beat Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Indiana – so I surely like them against the Cougars.

Michigan State Spartans (+5) @ California Golden Bears (8:00pm EST, 8-30-2008)

This isn’t me loving the Spartans as much as me down on the Bears. Cal has a super talented and amazingly fast sophomore running back in Jahvid Best, but besides that I’m not too impressed. They are supposed to have one of the top rated offenses in the Pac-10, but without a quarterback to deliver the bread, I’m not sure that will be the case. Michigan State’s defense isn’t dynamic, but I think they’ll stack the box and make Cal’s quarterbacks beat them. That’s what will be the undoing of the Bears in Week 1, I just don’t think they can beat the Spartans through the air.

Idaho Vandals @ Arizona Wildcats (-27): (10:00pm EST, 8-30-2008)

It seems like a lot of points, and it is, but I just have a feeling the Wildcats are going to go off for about 45 points in this one. They always run the ball hard and Idaho consistently can’t stop anybody else’s ground game. The Wildcats finished the season well, beating Washington, UCLA, and Oregon before losing to ASU by 3 points. The Wildcats really played well all season last year, losing to Stanford by 1, USC by 7, Oregon State by 2 scores. I like the Wildcats to get a little luck to sway their way this season – but that shouldn’t matter against the Vandals. Idaho was 1-11 in the WAC last season, and I expect much of the same this time around. This game wouldn’t surprise me if it was a 45-7 WIldcat blowout.

Week 10 College Football Picks Review: 2007

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10 looks good when you consider I only lost one game. However, when the realization comes that I only won two contests, the real story starts to come out. Two pushes and a couple wins isn’t all that bad, but ties sure can be frustrating. Honestly, I’ll take the ties, it’s the brutal beat I had on the Badger/Buckeye game that has me still turning. Here’s my NCAA Football Review for Week 10…

LUCKY LESTER’S Free NCAA Football Picks

Free Picks: Week 10

Wisconsin Badgers (+16) @ Ohio State Buckeyes: loss
(Line: Tuesday, 11:00pm EST: BodogLife)

This game was a joke…. Up 17-10 midway through the 3rd quarter – tied at 17 with 10 minutes to go in the 4th – And Wisconsin goes for a fake punt on their own 20 yard line, doesn’t get it, and then loses by just enough to make me a loser… That’s one of the worst beats I’ve had all season long.

Ball State Cardinals @ Indiana Hoosiers (-6.5): win
(Line: Tuesday, 11:00pm EST: Belmont)

Indiana absolutely annihilated the Cardinals in the 2nd half of this game. This win was as easy as they get.

Purdue Boilermakers (+7) @ Penn State Nittany Lions: push
(Line: Tuesday, 11:00pm EST: Belmont)

The refs were absolutely brutal in this game. A kid runs out of bounds, and the referee keeps the clock running. That cost Purdue about 45 seconds, maybe even more, and they didn’t have enough time to do anything but throw up a hail mary in the last few seconds. I wasn’t guaranteed a win or anything, but at least I had a chance if Zebra doesn’t blow it for me. Bummer.

Navy Midshipmen (+3.5) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish: win
(Line: Tuesday, 11:00pm EST: Belmont)

OT – just that right there got me excited. Haha – how far the Irish have fallen, overtime game against Navy – haha. Finally, after more than 40 yeas, the Irish have fallen to the Midshipmen from Navy, and I was on this one. I love it. A 3 OT thriller in which the Irish got a gift pass interference call on their first two point conversion, but fell short from the 1 and a half yard line to lose. This was one hell of a game.

Maryland Terrapins (+3) @ North Carolina Tar Heels: push
(Line: Thursday, 3:00pm EST: BodogLife)

It wasn’t quite what I expected, but the 3 poitns ended up saving my tail. The Tar Heels couldn’t score late, and the Terps chipped away field goal after field goal, finishing a 3 pointer short of overtime. 2 wins, 2 pushes, and a single loss – well, it could have been worse.

Free College Football Picks Week 10 – 2007

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Week 9 wasn’t as nice as week 8, but after a couple very bad beats, I broke out with a couple wins in 5 chances anyway. This week, I’m rolling with the underdog in 4 out of 5, and I think my might will be just right. College Football is a crazy thing, like Robin Williams and Martin Lawrence combined into one. Check out my free picks, I think you’ll make a buck or two.

LUCKY LESTER’S Free NCAA Football Picks

Free Picks: Week 10

Wisconsin Badgers (+16) @ Ohio State Buckeyes:
(Line: Tuesday, 11:00pm EST: BodogLife)

Don’t look at the Buckeye-Nittany Lion score and just think, “well, this game has to be a blowout, too” – that’s not how college football works. Wisconsin is playing well right now, and will look to get back in the hunt by beating numero uno on Saturday. I don’t think it will happen, but 16 points is too many to give the Badgers in this big time Big 10 showdown.

Ball State Cardinals @ Indiana Hoosiers (-6.5):
(Line: Tuesday, 11:00pm EST: Belmont)

After losing 3 straight to Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin, you can be the Hoosiers will be happy to see a non-powerhouse coming into their home stadium. If the Hoosiers had won last week, I’d think a let down was in order, but after 3 straight losses, this Hoosier team that is pretty solid, will be looking for a big win here. Unfortunately for Ball State, that’s coming down on them.

Purdue Boilermakers (+7) @ Penn State Nittany Lions:
(Line: Tuesday, 11:00pm EST: Belmont)

Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, I think last weeks big loss will have them down in the dumps, and they’ll be looking at this game like, “at least we don’t have to play the Buckeyes this week” and that’s no good when you’re taking on Purdue. The Boilermakers are better than people give them credit for. At 7-2, Purdue’s only losses have come to Michigan and Ohio State. These two teams are actually very similar in skill, just at different spots. Penn State has won 8 of the last 10 against the Boilermakers, but I see Purdue winning outright in Happy Valley, just to turn that stat around a little bit. Penn State just doesn’t have the offensive firepower to pass with the Boilermakers. If Purdue’s quick defensive front 7 can stop Penn State’s rushing attack, this game will be a blowout of the home team.

Navy Midshipmen (+3.5) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
(Line: Tuesday, 11:00pm EST: Belmont)

Like I said earlier, unless Duke is in town, the Irish shouldn’t be a favorite against anyone, especially a team as disciplined and mistake free as the Midshipmen. What will Notre Dame capitalize on? Nothing. I don’t think the Irish can put together multiple scoring drives, and thus it’ll be tough to beat anyone. Even Duke.

Maryland Terrapins (+3) @ North Carolina Tar Heels:
(Line: Thursday, 3:00pm EST: BodogLife)

The Terps are much better than the Tar Heels. This North Carolina team played pretty damn tough to start the year, but they have been fading into the team they are more comfortable with, a team that struggles from the get go. I like the Terps to win this game outright, and while it might be a close game early on, I just don’t thin the Tar Heels will have the willpower to step up when they get punched in the mouth – heck, it’s basketball season soon, isn’t it?