I’ve changed.
Since the conclusion of the 2025 CFB season, I’ve become a National Champion. HOO- HOO- HOO- woulda thought that was possible two (2) years ago. Curt Cignetti has me close to believing in God. CLOSE.
I’m a proud B1G grad, but now that I have a legitimate football program to root for, I’ve become a more staunch defender of the best conference in college sports. This is bad news for the (anonymous) SEC Insider, who is coming off his/her/their/thems worst season since this journey started.
I’ve had sex (not the first time).
I got promoted to full-time anchor/producer at TV6 about three (3) months ago. Not everyone is happy about that. Being an anchor/producer means many things, including, but not limited to: generally having a set time when I arrive to and leave work, a consistent sleep schedule, having Gen Z reporters say things to me that go something like, “Bro, I think I’m cooked on this story I’m working on,” whilst wearing pre-owned Generation 2 AirPods in both ears, and not having to drive 2.5 hours multiple days a week to report on a story that makes me want to get slapped in the face after I’m done.
Some things haven’t changed.
I still (probably) make less money than a janitor at Walmart (no offense to Walmart but Meijer has better Granny Smith apples).
I still can’t hit my P-wedge 150 straight towards the hole.
I still have a winning record in CFB picks since this blog started in 2022 (370-354-10).
And I still have the SEC Insider and Prem League Advisor along with me for another year.
But I don’t think the year really starts this week. I still don’t believe Week 0 (zero) is the actual start of the college football season. Just for the record though: teams playing in Week 0: B1G – 1, SEC -0. The SEC can’t handle Week 0 I guess (shrug emoji).
I know jack shit about the teams that are playing Saturday. So I’m not gonna do extra research for a fake slate of college football. I did my due diligence on two games: the Ireland game (TCU vs. North Carolina) and San Jose State at USC. The trends from the Ireland game told me to take the UNDER. I refuse to take the UNDER for my first bet of the year.
That leaves us with one (1) true pick for Week 0 along with some futures I really like. Let’s get to the picks.
*Editor’s note: I get all my odds from DraftKings
Last week: 0-0 / In 2025: 116-110-6 / Since 2022: 370-354-10
Dominic Toretto’s “Take it or leave it” Pick of the Week (In 2025: 6-10 / Overall: 23-23-1): San Jose St at USC OVER 59.5: Since Lincoln Riley took over in 2022, in six (6) games played the last weekend of August and the first weekend of September with a total of at least 59.5 points, the OVER in USC’s games are 5-1.
Futures
Penn State to make the CFP +320: This is great value. They only went to shit last year because they lost faith in James Franklin. Matt Campbell is a good coach. Rocco Becht is a good QB. Beaver Stadium is still a hard place to play in. Looking at their schedule, the only games that give me real pause (pause) are vs. USC and at Michigan. I don’t see why they can’t win 10 games.
Bama o8.5 wins -125: They’ve won 9 and 10 regular season games in Deboer’s first two years. I see surefire losses against Georgia and Texas A&M. One more blemish and this number still hits.
LSU o8.5 wins -115: There are plenty of reasons why this does not hit. There are also obvious reasons why this should. Brian Kelly was an unlikable dick. Lane Kiffin is at least likable.
Indiana o10.5 wins +105: What do you expect from me?
Michigan State o4.5 +130: I don’t know anything about MSU football this season except that Pat Fitzgerald is now the coach. Remember him? The guy who made Northwestern a relevant football program (and some other alleged stuff that may or may not have happened)? I see wins four home wins vs. Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Northwestern and Washington and one more at Rutgers.
SEC Insider Picks of the Weekend
Last week: 0-0 / 2025 record: 23-23 / Since 2022: 77-82-3
*the following is verbatim*
The wait is finally over. We get a little taste of some middle tier college football this weekend.
Everyone has written me and my beloved SEC off. Can we adjust to this new age of CFB? Time will tell. Fade-away knuckleheads
Mouth Watering Pick of the Week (6-8 in 2025 / 20-21-1 overall): N/A (just like the beers he/she/they probably drinks)
Hawaii at Stanford -4 – Plain and simple, you fade the Rainbow Warriors when they leave the big island. Especially early in the season.
New Mexico State at Florida State -30.5 – Norvell needs to make some noise this year. I think he needs to run it up in these no-name games. I’ve actually heard some positive things from those close to the program at FSU. Noles big.
Memphis at UNLV -4.5 – Point blank period, better coach, better talent. Give me Dan Mullen all day over first year head coach Charles Huff. Anyone remember SEC/B1G reject Air Noland? If he starts for Memphis my mouth may start watering on this one…
Prem League Advisor Pick of the Weekend
2025 record: 5-7 / Since 2023: 13-13
*the following is verbatim*
Coventry ML -115 vs. Hull City
We’re backkkkkkkkkkkkk. The prem advisor is already an informal 1-0 from last weekend’s Arsenal -1.5 bet (Premium members only pick) and we’re ready for a formal 1-0 start this weekend. This seems like a great spot. Coventry lost 3-0 to Arsenal in the opener last weekend and Hull surprised a lot of people with a 2-0 victory over United in their opener. Coventry at home, the books know something. This is one of those spots you just trust the bookmakers on. Hull comes back down to reality and Coventry secures their first victory as a new member of the premier league this season.
Griffin Weinberg 