It’s “hate week”.
If my mother’s reading this, she’s probably sick to her stomach. There’s nothing this woman hates more than your traditional “rivalry” banter.
You see I grew up in East Lansing, Michigan. Raised in a Wolverine household. My father is a UofM alum. There’s nobody I respect more than Dave Waddell. That pure fucking man.
I have fond memories of watching “the leaders and the best”. Saturday afternoons were for Church in my Catholic school home, until they weren’t, because Michigan had a lot of 3:30 kickoffs. My first jersey was a white #20 Mike Hart jersey. I wore it until the numbers wore off. Mario Manningham was my first favorite player. Then Denard Robinson.
Then I fell in love with basketball. Which….LOL, was not Michigan’s strongest suit. I remember being so so so so so jealous of the mid-2000s Michigan State fans. Final Fours were like an every other year thing, meanwhile my team had DANIEL HORTON trying to will Michigan to the NIT. Back then, little did I know how much basketball would end up shaping my life. I just wanted to see one NCAA Tournament before I grew up.
I always assumed I would go to college in Ann Arbor. Then I went on a ‘visit’ to the University of Michigan.
I don’t like playing the “I got into Michigan” card because it’s pompous as hell to say that, but sometimes it’s necessary when explaining my complicated fandoms to include this detail. So for this story - I got into Michigan. And I fully expected to go there.
Anyways, long story short I hated my visit. All the speakers or hosts or whatever they were called just came across so damn arrogant. It was very much a “do you know how lucky you are to be in our presence” type thing. The leaders and the best. It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine. Who’s got it better than us?
And if you’re into that sort of thing….hey, more power to you.
But it bugged the fuck out of me. I just remember being so torn. Like “I know I’m supposed to go here. I love the sports teams.” But it was an “all I want to do is get away from these people” type thing.
I’ve always been driven by people - and some of my best friends were already locked into going to Michigan State. So I visited there. Absolutely loved it. End of story.
The best memories of my life were made in four years in East Lansing. I met my wife there. I’d do anything to go back to those days.
But I’d be lying if I said I totally shook off the Michigan fandom. Which….I know. Makes me essentially the worst MSU alum ever. Or the worst Michigan fan ever? Idk. I could shake off the football - Jim Harbaugh is a ginormous douchebag and Mark Dantonio was everything I ever wanted in a football coach. That “pride comes before the fall” was a BAR.
But basketball….my true love…it never went away. John Beilein was a deity. I miss him. And Tom Izzo….not my type.
(Side note I actually think there’s a ton of similarities between Jim Harbaugh and Tom Izzo, the biggest difference being Izzo actually wins things, and Harbaugh didn’t until last year. But that’s for another day.)
Like I said I’ve always been driven by people - even my fandoms. It confuses everyone. It confuses me at times. Especially this week.
This damn week. My mother (God bless her) probably has a Facebook post drafted up already about why we can’t just all get along. I’ve tried to tell her 100 times - rivalries are fun. It’s what makes sports great. This is what we live for.
So my plea to you, good people. Enjoy this weekend. If your team wins, celebrate like John Beilein just took a hapless group of Zack Novaks into the Breslin Center and shockingly upset Draymond Green.
If your opponent loses, celebrate like Mark Dantonio and the No Fly Zone just forced them into -48 rushing yards.
If your team loses, cry like John Beilein just abandoned you out of nowhere for the fucking Cleveland Cavaliers.
If their team wins, sob like Braylon Edwards just Mossed another OT touchdown.
Just don’t forget how lucky we all are to have this rivalry.
Sports are the best. Even when we hate each other.
Love you Mom.
Onto picks.
Solo plays:
Syracuse -2.5 vs. Notre Dame
Is it trappy? Yes. Is Notre Dame Bad? Yes. Has Syracuse been lucky? Yes. Were they great against Clemson? Yes. Is this game at home in the dome? Yes. Add it all up? Cuse should win. Not particularly close.
Penn State +14.5 vs. Ohio State
It’s gonna sound crazy, but there’s a few things at play for me here. One, the last five games in this series (all Ohio State wins) have been decided by 13 points or less. Sean Clifford has been around for practically all of them. The real estate industry is devastated that Clifford keeps prolonging his career there. But, somehow, someway, he keeps these games close. OSU hasn’t been tested and *whispers*, CJ Stroud has made a lot of mistakes in games that don’t matter. Pick six against the woeful MSU defense, and he was making errors all game against Iowa. I think Stroud makes a few boneheaded plays that open the door here for PSU and the Nittany Lions take advantage.
Florida +22.5 at Georgia
I’m a bit scared that I’m backing the bad teams against the elite teams, but it’s above that key number of 21, and Florida was in a CLOSE ASS GAME against Tennessee, who I believe is better than Georgia. Anthony Richardson is a mess, but he’s good enough to oddly keep this close.
Oklahoma State ML at Kansas State
Better team still undervalued here. Second week in a row. Spencer Sanders out-dueled Quinn Ewers, and he can do it again this week against three hurt quarterbacks. Go Pokes.
The Obligatory Michigan/Michigan State pick: Michigan State 1Q +7 (-115)
Look, honestly I don’t think this is a close game for long. But if MSU decides to throw the ball, Keon Coleman and Jayden Reed are good enough for one big drive early. Peyton Thorne has won here before. The only time we saw JJ McCarthy in this rivalry he had trouble with the snap. If MSU wins the coin toss, I love this. If they don’t, I still like the chances. I think the Spartans take an early lead and then it’s Adios from there in a Wolverines blowout. But it’s enough to cover a TD in the first.
THE PARLAYS:
THIS ONE’S GOING TO HIT (+1304)
Oklahoma ML at Iowa State
Syracuse ML vs. Notre Dame
Oklahoma State ML at Kansas State
Wake Forest at Louisville
Tennessee ML vs. Kentucky
UCLA ML vs. Stanford
FUCK IT, THROW IT UP THERE, LET’S SEE SOME CHAOS (+24827)
West Virginia ML vs. TCU
Florida ML at Georgia
Penn State ML vs. Ohio State
Thanks for reading. If you enjoy this, let us know. Would love to know if I’m just typing out this nonsense on a weekly basis for absolutely nobody to read.
Without further ado, here’s the Albion Trayce Jackson-Davis:
This newsletter is all about good energy. Greg just refereed to me as Albion Trayce Jackson Davis and honestly…I will take that. I almost didn’t write this portion of the newsletter after that biography of Gregory’s fandom path which honestly may have further confused me? Nevertheless we might have to get that printed into flyers to hand out or have it play on the screen before Sleepers episodes so people understand us. I am feeing great, life is good, lets win some bets:
Michigan State +23 vs Michigan
Come on now y’all lol anyone who knows me knows this was going to be my pick but the reason for it being my pick might surprise you. The Wolverines are superior on both sides of the ball, they are motivated from last year’s let down, they have their sights on the CFP, etc etc. All the stats and analytics point to Michigan covering the 3 touchdown spread and for that reason alone that is why they will not. I remember a brisk fall afternoon a couple of years ago when Michigan fans were in a similar situation and they let avid high school wrestler Rocky Lombardi and current Eastern Kentucky WR Ricky White come in their crib and walk out with Paul B secured. Michigan State will cover because they aren’t supposed to. Also if it counts for anything I will be attending a bottomless mimosa brunch before the game so vibes and energy will be elite on my end as I do my part to help my team secure victory.
Oklahoma -1.5 vs Iowa State
Iowa State is 0-4 in the Big 12 and though Oklahoma has struggled this season (1-3 in the Big 12) I think they have the clear and obvious talent advantage over Iowa State. I think Oklahoma’s weapons have a field day in this game and Iowa State doesn’t have the weapons to expose Oklahoma’s defensive deficiencies.
Sleepers Agreed Upon Picks (Please Reference Initial Picks by Draftkings Steve Blake)
Oklahoma State ML vs Kansas State
Michigan State +7 1Q
Enjoy your Saturday unless you like Kanye West, if you do I hope all the music in your iTunes deletes except the U2 Album and Chance The Rapper songs and I hope you have an ass Saturday.