Todd Gurley is Suspended, will Dallas Continue to Run it, and Game Picks

Last weekend was a rough one for me with picks, particularly in the college game. I whiffed badly on almost every game on Saturday. I’m sorry America. I didn’t mean to let everyone down. Sometimes you have a bad week or game. It happens. If Clayton Kershaw, the best pitcher in baseball, can implode in back to back 7^th innings more quickly than Donald Sterling’s NBA ownership, I think I can afford to have a bad week.

 

Now, onto the games…..

 

College Football

 

(Victor in CAPS)

 

#13 Georgia at #23 MISSOURI

 

I would’ve picked Missouri to win even before the Todd Gurley suspension. Now, with Gurley gone for a violation of NCAA rules (which is a bunch of crap, but more on that in a minute), I really think they’re in trouble. Yes, I realize Georgia’s got like 3 or 4 other legit running backs on their roster, but Gurley’s the Heisman front runner for a reason. You can’t convince me their offense won’t be affected by losing a guy like that, particularly a guy that accounts for 36% of their total offense, which Gurley does. Missouri has been unimpressive for a large part of the season (loss at home against Indiana, and they struggled on the road at South Carolina for the middle 45 minutes of the game before scoring late to win), but they’ve still got a way better defense than Georgia. They’re also at home, and they should be able to move the ball on that crappy Dawgs defense. Missouri will win this weekend.

 

Now, quickly, on the Gurley suspension. So, allegedly, Gurley sold his autograph, and that’s why he’s in trouble. That’s literally the dumbest rule in the entire NCAA rule book. Why can’t a guy sell his autograph? Why is that a big deal? Why are college football players not allowed to profit off their own image off the field? It makes no sense. If a local car dealership wants to pay Gurley to be in one of their commercials, why shouldn’t he be allowed to appear? I’m not for the universities paying their athletes, but it’s ridiculous that a guy can’t make money off the field. Why should everyone else be able to profit off Gurley’s athletic brilliance, except for Gurley? It’s ludicrous. Now obviously, it’s on Gurley to understand the rule book, and not violate it. But it’s still a dumb rule. If people are willing to pay for Gurley’s autograph, he should be allowed to sell it.

 

#9 TCU at #5 BAYLOR

 

I’ve said this before, and I’ll continue to support his position until it blows up in my face, possibly this week: the November 8^th game in Norman between Oklahoma and Baylor will be the game that decides the Big 12. Because of that, I’ve got Baylor this week. I just don’t see the Horned Frogs being able to score enough points to keep up with Baylor. Plus, I think they might come out a little flat on Saturday. They’re coming off probably their biggest win since joining the Big 12, and I don’t think they’re good enough to beat Oklahoma and Baylor in back to back weeks.

 

#3 Ole Miss at #14 TEXAS A&M

 

No one is going undefeated in the SEC West. The winner of that division might even have two losses. I’m still not completely sold on Ole Miss. I love that defense, but Bo Wallace still quarterbacks that team. I know he threw those two huge touchdowns in the 4^th quarter on Saturday, but he’s still the Tony Romo of the SEC. Plus, they’re coming off the biggest win at the school in at least half a century. I don’t see how they go into the loud and emotional Kyle Field, with close to 100,000 crazy Aggie fans screaming for 3 and a half hours, and play extremely well, or at least not come out flat. I realize the A&M defense is as solid as paper mache, but it won’t matter on Saturday. I actually think the Aggies will win by at least 10 points.

 

#2 AUBURN at #3 Mississippi State

 

I almost picked Mississippi State because I don’t understand all of this “Auburn is the best team in the country” buzz. Three weeks ago, they played horribly at Kansas State, yet were somehow able to win. What have they done since then? They blew out a mediocre LSU team. So what? Are they the best team because they’re undefeated? That’s silly. There are lots of teams still undefeated. In fact, the only real reason I’m picking the Tigers is simply because I think it’s extremely difficult for anyone to win back to back games against top 10 teams, particularly when that team (Mississippi St) is coming off one of the program’s biggest and most emotional wins in a long time. They benefit by playing this game at home, but early, if they aren’t on their A game, Auburn has the potential to be up by two touchdowns quickly, because their offense is so explosive. I like the Tigers this weekend.

 

Other college picks

Duke at #22 GEORGIA TECH

#12 OREGON at #18 Ucla

#7 ALABAMA at Arkansas

LSU at Florida

 

NFL

 

JAGUARS at Titans

 

What? Jacksonville? I know, I know, picking the Jaguars is like signing your own death warrant, but Jacksonville isn’t going 0-16 this year. They’ve got to win at least one game, right? Jake Locker hasn’t practiced yet this week, which means the Titans will once again be led onto the field by the immortal Charlie Whitehurst, who will probably be the first quarterback in NFL history to start a game with a ponytail.

Remember last week, when Whitehurst came in after Locker got hurt, and the Titans blew a 28-3 lead against Cleveland, as they lost 29-28? I do. Plus, many Titans' fans have already given up on the season, and have started a “Suck for the Duck” campaign (“the Duck” being Oregon’s Marcus Mariota), meaning they hope the Titans pack it in Philadelphia 76ers’ style by not trying to win, resting guys for 3 weeks who have a one week hamstring injury, embarrassing the sport by not caring, and shamelessly taking the fan’s hard earned money. It’s not been a good time in Nashville this season. Jacksonville wins on Sunday.

 

Bears at FALCONS

 

This is the last week I’ll pick the Falcons the entire year if they lose on Sunday. I’m so frustrated with these teams, particularly over the last few weeks, because both of them have been so extremely inconsistent. Atlanta’s at home, so I’ll give them the nod, strictly because of that. But I don’t think either of these teams is playoff bound, at least at this point. The Falcons’ defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed, and the Bears’ haven’t been much better. Jared Allen, who was supposed to be one of Chicago’s big free agent signings, has zero sacks this year. Plus, that Chicago offensive line is terrible. Cutler takes so many big shots, and it seems like he never has quite enough time to throw. Atlanta better, they’re at home, and Chicago seems to always find a way to have a back breaking turnover, or defensive mix up, that costs them the game. For the last time this season, I’ll trust Atlanta this week.

 

GIANTS at Eagles

 

Philly, right now, is the most overrated team in the NFL. I don’t think they’re a bad team, I just think people’s perception and view of them is too high right now. All of their offensive linemen are hurt, and on their last 22 offensive possessions, they’ve scored two touchdowns. Plus, they really miss Desean Jackson. They don’t have that speedy deep threat guy anymore that takes the top off the defense. Jeremy Maclin is a fine receiver, but he’s not the game breaker Jackson was. Meanwhile, the Giants have quietly become really good all of the sudden. They’ve got some legit weapons, they can run the ball fairly effectively, the offensive line has gotten healthy over the last three weeks, and the defense has solidified a little bit. Eli looks way more comfortable in the pocket, because he doesn’t have to worry about being slammed to the turf every time he drops back. Philly, when healthy, is still the best team in that division, but until they get everyone back on their line, they’ll struggle. New York wins this week.

 

Dallas at SEATTLE

 

Crazy Demarco Murray fact: if he continues at his current pace, Murray will break Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record, as well as Larry Johnson’s record for most carries in a single season. Murray, who has 670 yards rushing on 130 carries, which is 210 more yards than the second place rusher Le’Veon Bell. Another crazy Murray fact: he’s never played in more than 8 consecutive games in his NFL career. He gets injured more often than the Vols disappoint their fans. For years and years, people outside of the Cowboys’ locker room have been begging the team to run the ball more, and for the first time, Dallas is actually doing it, and very successfully. Unfortunately, there’s also been a lot of talk this week about Murray’s injury history, as well as talk coming out of the Dallas locker room about limiting his carries, for fear that he might break down soon. If Murray doesn’t have a great game this week, Dallas won’t win. If they go away from Murray because of their fear, they’ll struggle mightily on Sunday. The Cowboys’ offensive line is one of the best in football, but they’re facing a Seattle defense that is the best against the run (they only allow 62.2 rushing yards per game). Dallas has committed to the run early in every single game this year, but because of their concerns, I think they’ll go away from it more than they should, and they’ll trust Romo too much to put the ball in the air against the best secondary in the league. This is at least a two or three pick game for Romo, as well as at least a two touchdown victory for the Seahawks. It would be incredibly stupid for me to pick against the Seahawks at home anyway. I can’t do it. Seattle wins big.

 

Other NFL picks

 

COLTS at Texans (I picked this one yesterday. I swear I picked Indy)

PATRIOTS at Bills

RAVENS at Bucs

Steelers at BROWNS

Panthers at BENGALS

BRONCOS at Jets

LIONS at Vikings

PACKERS at Dolphins

CHARGERS at Raiders

Redskins at CARDINALS

Monday Night

49ERS at Rams

 

Enjoy football this weekend, you deserve it.