Bully The Bookie: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving; a time to gather with loved ones and share appreciation to all one’s blessings, such as a weekend full of football and large payouts. Up here in the Great White North, there will be no turkey, but anyone looking to bully the bookie will be giving thanks because your bank accounts will be increasing exponentially. I’m giving out 12 picks this week, and to spread it out, 3 on each day for consistent degenerate action. So, scroll down to read the picks, call the bookie, then settle into the recliner.
YEAR TO DATE BULLY THE BOOKIE RECORD
NCAAF: 20-12 (1-3 last week)
NFL: 14-12-3 (3-1 last week)
Overall: 34-24-3 (4-4 last week)
Let’s start with Thursday’s action.
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys
Thursday, November 22nd, 4:30 PM
Yes, America's team the Dallas Cowboys will be battling the Redskins on Thanksgiving. Kind of questionable given the racist, sadistic origin of Thanksgiving and the natives, and kind of a reach on my part - but that's how you react in 2018.
PICK: WASHINGTON +7.5 As the Redskins will try to cope without their QB Alex Smith. For those who missed Smith’s gruesome injury, be THANKFUL. Both shin bones snapped and Smitty had a case of floppy foot. But Washington can still play ball without this guy. Colt McCoy will start, surrounded by the Skins stout defense. As for the Cowboys, I think they can win, however, they’ve only won 1 game this year by more than a score, and in all their divisional games this year, they have finished within a TD. 23-17 COWBOYS
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18 Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Ole Miss Rebels
Thursday, November 22nd, 7:30 PM
PICK: OLE MISS +13 as these in state rivals play this year’s Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving.
This is the 115th Egg Bowl game dating back to 1901. As for 2018, Bulldogs definitely own the better squad but they won’t win by 14. Simply put, Miss St. has the worst offense in the SEC and they will not score enough to beat the odds. Also, Ole Miss will benefit from the energy senior night brings and this is a must-win game to qualify for bowl season. Ole Miss is 6-2-1 ATS last 9 in this matchup when they’re at home. 34-24 MISS ST
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Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
Thursday, November 22nd, 8:20 PM
PICK: OVER 60 as two dome dominant QBs meet up in a dome for the 2nd time this year. We know the Saints can score 35+ and we're going to leave it at that. Falcons have had recent offensive struggles against the Browns and Cowboys. However, they will figure out how to move the ball on turkey day against a New Orleans D that already gave up 37 to Matt Ryan this year. I predict Julio to go for 150+ yards and 2 TDs. 38-31 SAINTS
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There’s 3 locks for Thursday’s action, now let’s look at Friday’s slate of college picks.
Central Michigan Chippewas @ Toledo Rockets
Friday, November 23rd, 12 PM
PICK: TOLEDO -18.5 as Toledo looks to finish their conference schedule strong before bowl season. CMU aka the worst team in the MAC, is 1-10 on the year and only averages 15 per game. A very ugly year for the Chippewas, who are likely looking forward to the end of their season. Not to mention, it's Toledo's senior day. Add that to their 40 points per game this year and they will easily cover this large number. 38-17 ROCKETS
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Coastal Carolina Chanticleers @ South Alabama Jaguars
Friday, November 23rd, 3 PM
PICK: COASTAL -1. Not entirely sure what a Chanticleer is, but in this case, it is certainly stronger than a Jaguar. They are a strong bet on the road this year (4-1 ATS) AND CC's 5 wins thus far puts them 1 win shy of being bowl eligible, which just gives me more faith in the Chanticleers. 27-23 CHANTICLEERS
Btw, after thorough research via wikipedia, a Chanticleer is just a fancy way to say rooster.
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6 Oklahoma Sooners @ 13 West Virginia Mountaineers
Friday, November 23rd, 8 PM
PICK: OKLAHOMA -2.5 as a BIG12 title appearance is on the line. Two high-octane offenses meet up in Morgantown in front of what will definitely be a rowdy crowd. Normally I don’t like betting against the Mountaineers at home because of the atmosphere, but this QB for the Sooners has got me feeling risky. Kyler Murray is a freak of nature. Currently the Heisman player of the year favourite, as the Sooners seek to have back-to-back Heisman winning quarterbacks. Although the QB has already made the decision he won’t be taking his talents to the NFL. The reason; he was a first-rounder in the MLB draft last June. The Oakland A’s have allowed him to play his final season with OU before showing up for spring training in 2019, because studs like Murray get these exceptions. 52-38 SOONERS
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Now, cheers to the freakin weekend because its College Gameday Saturday.
7 Louisiana State Tigers @ 22 Texas A&M Aggies
Saturday, November 24th, 7:30 PM
PICK: TEXAS A&M -3 as the Aggies look to continue their home field success. Currently, 6-0 ATS at home this year, I think A&M will finish their season with a perfect home ATS record. This will only be LSU’s 4th road game (I don’t know how they pulled that off) and so far, they’re 1-2 ATS on the road including a loss to Florida. Also, Tigers just lost their head coach.
LSU will have to wait to fill their coaching void. Another reason to bet the home team. 27-20 AGGIES
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3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Southern California Trojans
Saturday, November 24th, 8 PM
PICK: NOTRE DAME -11 as the undefeated Fighting Irish will aim to clinch a college playoff semi-final appearance after this game. Currently 11-0, ND looks really impressive. USC on the other hand, hasn't quite figured it out yet. They’re 1-6 ATS at home to go along with an overall 5-6 record. USC will end the year on this downward spiral while ND continues to have the luck of the Irish with a potential historic season. 35-17 FIGHTING IRISH
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21 Utah State Aggies @ 23 Boise State Broncos
Saturday, November 24th, 10:15 PM
PICK: Boise St -2.5 as a trip to the Mountain West Conference championship game is on the line. Utah State is 10-1 and 7-0 in conference play. They are legit this year. The problem; if history tells us anything, they cannot hang with the Broncos. Boise St has beat Utah St in 14 of the last 15 games and this Boise team can ball.
I’ll take the Bronco's home field advantage in an extremely one-sided rivalry. 33-28 BRONCOS
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Now for the NFL Sunday finale.
New England Patriots @ New York Jets
Sunday, November 25th, 1 PM
PICK: New England -9.5 as the Jets are flying real low. They’ve lost 4 straight by an average of 18 points per game, and none of those previous 4 teams are as strong as the Pats. I know NE got embarrassed two weeks ago in Tennessee, however, I have all the faith in the world in Brady and Belichick; especially after a bye week. Lastly, the Jets QB Same Darnold is currently battling an injury. He missed his last game and is still listed as questionable. Even if he does play, he will not be 100%.
34-21 PATRIOTS
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Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, November 25th, 1 PM
PICK: Cincinnati -3 as they host the Browns who are in the basement of the AFC North. This spread confused me. Bengals aren’t a playoff team but AJ Green, Joe Mixon and Andy Dalton can put up points consistently. All of the Browns wins and tie have come at home this season. As for their record in Cincy, they are 1-8 in their last 9. I can’t see the Browns winning this game and with a spread so low, it is worth the wager. 24-17 BENGALS
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Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, November 25th, 8:20 PM
PICK: Minnesota -3 as the Packers have been hot at home and icy on the road.
When Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay play at home, they are 4-0-1 and that one tie was against the Vikings. It’s a different story when the Packers take the road; they’re 0-5 this year away from Lambeau Field. Also, last 7 games in Minnesota, the Packers are a measly 2-5 ATS. Don’t get sucked into the Aaron Rodgers hype with this spread. The Purple People Eaters will have their Thanksgiving feast on Mr. Discount Double Check. 33-23 Vikings