I know it is Friday and I know that Football Friday has been AWOL for the last several weeks. I also know that I have not been able to do nearly the amount of background reading and concentration to do a full-fledged Football Friday today. So, I will try to do a mini-Football Friday and see how that goes.
Counting the results of the last Six-Pack in a Football Friday here is the status of those selections:
- Spreads and Totals = 12-8-0
- Money Line Parlays = 4-4* Net “Profit” = $140
The asterisk on the parlays reflects that I made a Money Line pick in the NFL game between the Giants and Commanders that ended in a tie. The sportsbook rule for such a situation is that the game is ignored in the parlay, and the result of the wager is dependent on all the other legs of the parlay. In the situation there, the other money line wager in the parlay was successful, so the payout was based on the rest of the parlay absent the odds for the Giants/Commanders game.
While I have been gone, the Linfield University Wildcats have been on a winning streak; their season record is now 6-1. That assures that the Linfield football streak of winning seasons continues since their regular season consists only of 9 games in Division III. Congratulations to the Linfield University Wildcats.
I did enough reading to find a college football player with a great name for this week. Let me introduce you to:
Tree Babalade OL Nebraska
My “Sleeper Team” for 2026 has been Florida. The Gators’ record so far is 5-3 and they have been up and down through the season.
- Florida has beaten Texas and Ole Miss
- Florida has lost to Mizzou and South Carolina
This week the Gators are at home against Oklahoma. Go Gators!
College Football Commentary
Baylor fired head coach, Dave Aranda; I had him on my hot-seat list in August.
Florida State fired head coach, Mike Norvell; I had him on my hot-seat list in August.
NC State fired head coach, Dave Doreen; I did not have him on my hot-seat list in August.
Allow me to comment on the Florida State job. It will pay well; according to reports, the school will buy out Norvell to the tune of $50M so new applicants for the job can ask for top-shelf money. Other than that, I am not so sure this is a great career opportunity. Florida State football is as much a quagmire as it is a career-maker. Since Bobby Bowden left in 2009, the Seminoles had a short time under Jimbo Fisher as a force to be reckoned with and then a steep decline. Willie Taggert and Mike Norvell have been in charge since 2018 and the cumulative record since then for the Seminoles is 52-53 – – but there is a sense among too many Seminole fans and boosters that the team should be at the top of the rankings every year.
Last year, when Penn State fired James Franklin there was not a stampede of great college coaches to take that job because the expectations at Penn State are like those at Florida State. Having a solid and better-than-average team every year is not sufficient; it needs to compete for the CFP Final game every year and that is just not a realistic goal. I will be interested to see who wants and then who gets the Florida State job this time around.
A surprising team for 2026 would be the UMass Minutemen; they were the only winless team in Division 1-A last year and as of today their record is 5-4 – – they are one win shy of a bowl invitation. UMass has been playing college football since 1879; they have spent some time in Division 1-AA and in Division 1-A; in that time, they have been to exactly two bowl games:
- The 1964 Tangerine Bowl
- The 1972 Boardwalk Bowl
If they win one more game, I think they would be a natural invitee to the Fenway Bowl in Boston. Here is their remaining schedule:
- At Toledo – – Toledo’s record today is 7-2
- Vs Akron – – Akron’s record today is 1-8
- At Bowling Green – – Bowling Green’s record today is 2-7.
This is the time of year when I start to track the contenders for the “Brothel Defense Award” which goes to the team that allow the opponent the most points per game in college football. The name derives from the fact that everyone scores in a brothel. As of this morning, here are the contenders:
- Northern Illinois gives up 37.6 points per game
- UNC-Charlotte gives up 40.3 points per game
- Colorado State gives up 42.4 points per game
And it is also time for me to consider the entries in the 2026 SHOE Tournament – – my imaginary competition to determine on the field of play the worst team in college football for 2026. SHOE is an acronym for Steaming Heap Of Excrement which applies to the worst team in the country. The tournament is simple; there are 8 entrants that are seeded. They play a standard set up where the losing team must play on instead of the victor until there is one worst team left. I need more study but here are my contending teams for those 8 SHOE Tournament slots as of today:
- Akron – – 1-8
- Bowling Green – – 2-7
- Hawaii – 2-6
- La-Monroe – – 1-7
- Northern Illinois – – 0-8
- Old Dominion – – 2-7
- Rice – – 1-7
- Sam Houston – – 1-7
- Temple – – 2-6
- UNC Charlotte – – 1-7
- UTEP – – 1-7
- Washington State – – 1-8
Games This Week
There are lots of games with ranked teams playing one another this week such as:
Alabama at LSU – 6 (53): Lane Kiffin strikes up a new rivalry with Alabama here.
BYU at Utah – 4 (48.5): In addition to being two ranked teams, this game is a huge rivalry game sometimes called “The Holy War”.
Texas – 3 at Missouri (42): this is important for SEC standings as well as for possible CFP participation.
Oregon at Ohio St. – 8 (45): Back in August this looked like it might be the Game of the Year; not so much now…
Georgia – 3.5 at Ole Miss (56.5): Important game for SEC standings …
Kentucky at Tennessee – 6 (49): Kentucky is a big surprise in 2026…
Miami at Notre Dame – 7 (55): Big game relative to CFP rankings.
NFL Commentary:
The Minnesota Vikings are an interesting team. Their defense is elite; so far in 2026 they give up only 13.3 points per game which is reminiscent of the 1985 Bears’ defense and the old Steel Curtain defense of the Steelers. But the Vikes’ offense just plain stinks and after 7 games, I think the jury is out on Kyler Murray as the Vikes’ QB of the Future. It is hard to make the argument that Murray needs more playmakers around him; the Vikes’ OL is solid; the pass catchers include Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson and Justin Jefferson.
In fact, Murray will be on the sidelines this week in favor of Carson Wentz as the Vikes try to raise their record to 7-1-0 when they host the Bills on MNF.
The Cowboys’ defense is embarrassing. They led the lowly Cards by double digits in the 4th quarter last week and let the game go to OT wherein they lost to those lowly Cards.
The Eagles’ offense is embarrassing. Yes, I know that the injury list is long and involves a lot of starting players. Nonetheless, the Eagles’ offense is boring, predictable and unproductive.
The Broncos are 6-2-0 and have a point differential of only +7 points for the season.
Games This Week:
Bengals – 3 at Falcons (52): Neither team can be relied upon to play the same from week to week. It’s an important game for both teams given the standings as of now.
Browns at Saints – 3 (42.5): Dog-Breath Game of the Week here.
Lions – 7 at Dolphins (50): Lions due for a let-down after beating the Vikes last week?
Rams – 4 at Commanders (47.5): Two more teams that are not reliable performers week to week.
Cowboys – 5 at Colts (51.5): Gave this game consideration as the Dog-Breath game.
Giants – 3 at Eagles (38.5): JJ McCarthy for the Giants versus Joe Milton for the Eagles …
Jets at Chiefs – 10 (48): I hate double-digit spreads in NFL games.
Broncos – 2.5 at Panthers (44): Important game for both teams.
Raiders at Niners – 10 (52): I hate double-digit spreads in NFL games.
Texans – 5 at Chargers (42): This is almost an elimination game for the Texans.
Packers at Pats – 3 (45): Gave this consideration as the Game of the Week; two good teams and each needs the game…
Cards at Seahawks – 9.5 (39.5): Almost a double-digit spread here …
(Sun Nite) Bucs at Bears – 6 (47.5): Bears are looking awfully good at this point of the season.
(Mon Nite) Bills – 3 at Vikes (44): This is clearly the Game of the Week …
Finally, a word from Bill Walsh:
“Not to get too clever, but ‘consistent effort is a consistent challenge.’”
But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………