When TMZ decided to venture into the sports world, their first target became Tiger Woods. They sort of stumbled upon as they were the only ones working on Thanksgiving weekend. Remember that? I am watching Friday afternoon college football nursing a hangover, and they break the news Woods has been hurt in an accident. Things spiraled out of control from there and TMZ got full credit because they deserved it.Shortly thereafter, TMZ announced they would be venturing into the sports field. Now they have not really broken any big stories about sports athletes since. Little stuff, but nothing to the level of Woods' case which took the whole nation by storm even if it was merely white collar gossip.
TMZ being who they are, needed to get another story out there to be a part of the national landscape. They are trying with the Jameis Winston sexual battery case. TMZ dug up a police report of a case that happened a year ago with it being heavily redacted. You can read it for yourself as I do not need to recap here. TMZ went further saying this is a police cover-up trying to protect a star athlete, which puts even more people in this thing plus opening TMZ to libel in a major way if they are wrong.
Every major sports news outlet covered the story without knowing very much. To me, this seems unfair to the victim and Winston. Why drag his name through the mud if there is not that much information out there? I am not defending Jameis whatsoever more so asking the process gets played out more before we start having legitimate conversations about him and this case. But the latter part gets sacrifice because in the 24-hour news cycle, something needs to be said about Winston even if the information is extremely vague at this time. That is a goddamn shame as well as the sexual battery that occurred with still too many happening in college campuses.
TMZ could be right about this whole thing, and honestly, it would be a great thing digging up a high-level college athletic sexual assault cover-up as it has happened before in the last couple decades. If they are completely wrong, shame on them. I realize they could give one shit about what I think, but this is a 19-year old young adult we are dealing with; not some high-profiled golfer who cheated on his wife countless times. This will be the last I speak of Winston until we know more about the case.
Grab Your Beers and Friends
4. Stanford at USC 7:00 pm ABC - We are going to begin this picks post with getting a little crazy. Stanford is coming off a big win against Oregon. They get a couple extra days rest to prepare for USC, but they head into a hostile environment again. Ed Orgeron has this team and school believing again in ways we have not seen since the Pete Carroll days. The man wrote a letter to the band thanking them. I truly believe Orgeron wants this job and the players want him to have it. He probably needs this win to keep his job. USC wins this game if they cannot stop Tyler Gaffney, but that concerns me because Ka'Deem Carey went off for 138 yards averaging 6.6 yards. Carey is the best running back they have faced this season. I am putting my eggs in a goddamn basket and taking USC. It feels like a classic hangover game. It will be a beauty. USC 30-28
25. Georgia at 7. Auburn 2:30 pm CBS - They call this rivalry between the hedges. Georgia is healthier than they have been with Todd Gurley healthy again plus their defense looks better granted against mediocre teams. Auburn has kept the ball rolling with a dominating running game with Tre Mason whose been an absolute stud and has to be blazing up the draft boards even as a running back. Interesting enough with how bad Georgia's defense has been, they are 20th in the nation when it comes to stopping backs like Mason. Looking at Auburn's schedule, when have they played a real quarterback? Bo Wallace probably on October 12th. Aaron Murray will lead the charge in a fun as hell SEC football game. UGA 38-34
12. Oklahoma State at 24. Texas 2:30 pm FOX - We talked about earlier today about Wisconsin getting disrespected but it really could be about Texas. They have won seven straight football games, and no one is talking about it. They would rather talk about whether Nick Saban will go to Austin next season. This Texas team has come around in a major way. Greg Robinson, a ridiculed man in college football, is doing well with these defense. They were resilient in an overtime win against West Virginia. I realize I have been sort of throwing dirt on Oklahoma State all year, but I cannot help but think they do not look ahead here. Horns get another close victory. TEXAS 41-35
Texas Tech at 5. Baylor 6:00 pm FOX (Played in Arlington, Texas) - I am mad at myself. When we broke down the BCS, I said 'Texas Tech will never get higher than this ranking'. Then I rescinded some of my comments in the next week when I picked Red Raiders to beat Oklahoma. I should have just stuck to my guns. Baylor is going to dominate in this football game. Texas Tech's defense took a major step back in the last couple of weeks, and Davis Webb will have some issues going up against this Baylor secondary. I have the Bears and I have them big. BAYLOR 49-21
Channel Flip-Worthy
16. Michigan State at Nebraska 2:30 pm ABC - ARE YOU READY FOR SOME DEFENSE?!?! Sure, high-scoring games in college football are great, but watching this Spartan defense is an absolute treat. They are nasty in both stopping the run and pass. Nebraska seems to have their shit together again after finding a way to win on a Hail Mary and beat Michigan on the road. Ron Kellogg III seems exactly like the type of quarterback whom could be a disaster against this mean Michigan State defense. Sparty rolls. MSU 21-6
Washington at 13. UCLA 8:00 pm ESPN (Played on Friday) - GUYS, if Washington only goes 1-2 in their last two games, they only win seven games again meaning Mitch and I would redeem ourselves with calling them the 'Milwaukee Bucks of college football.' I want this so bad, and it could not be more trivial. UCLA has back-to-back wins led by Myles Jack, the best two-way player in quite some time, as he had eight tackles but also 120 yards of rushing. I think we will get a good dose of Jack and Brett Hundley powering the Bruins over Washington. UCLA 34-21
Oregon State at 19. Arizona State 8:30 pm Pac-12 Network - I feel not a lot people talk about Arizona State. They are leading the Pac-12 South, and no one seems to talk about them. I think it is in large part to only playing Stanford this season and still having UCLA on their schedule. People are not ready to buy in. They should win this one. Oregon State, like Washington, is a team whom can be inferior opponents but struggles against better teams. Taylor Kelly should have a big game. ASU 37-17
Florida at 10. South Carolina 6:00 pm ESPN2 - Oh Florida. The Gators are down to their third-string quarterback starting Skyler Morenhinweg, the son of Marty, against South Carolina's defense. Good look Skyler. I really do not know if I could help Florida here. They have four wins and needs two more to be bowl eligible with games against South Carolina, Georgia Southern and Florida State. People want Will Muschamp fired, but I would argue while the offense has been atrocious for the last couple of years, the injuries this year are insurmountable. I have South Carolina for those wondering. SCAR 23-10
Upset Alert
23. Miami at Duke 2:30 pm ESPNU - YES! YES! YES! YES! You realize if Duke wins out and Virginia Tech loses a game, Duke will be in the ACC Championship. I may be making this pick out of hopes this could happen. I want to believe today. Duke's defense is pretty good, and their defense forced Logan Thomas into five interceptions. Stephen Morris is a man whom can throw picks with the best of em', and that could be a real problem here. I also think not having a Duke Johnson there really hurts this team.
DUKE 28-23
A palate clenser for your Netflix Binge Watch
1. Alabama at Mississippi State 6:45 pm ESPN - I would love to make a case for Mississippi State, but I cannot just not make such a case. I will say this they do play better against high-quality opponents. They do not win, but they find ways to score some points. Alabama might look a little hungover to start but crush Mississippi State at the end of it. BAMA 35-14
3. Ohio State at Illinois 11:00 am ESPN - This one I feel like could be 'much closer than other people think'. Carlos Hyde could have a massive day on Illinois' weak rush defense, but Ohio State could come in a little sleepy to this one. My whole 11 am road game theory gets tested here, and we have seen the theory been proven both right and wrong throughout the year. Ohio State wins in a close one. OSU 31-23
Utah at 6. Oregon 3:00 pm FOX Sports 1 - Oregon is going to steamroll Utah in this one. Utah cannot stop the pass. I think Marcus Mariota is alright, and he will play just fine. Give me Oregon and the points.
OREG 52-13
Indiana at 22. Wisconsin 11:00 am ESPN - See our Badger preview which is more so a how does Wisconsin find their way into the BCS.
Syracuse at 2. Florida State 2:30 pm ABC - I already spoke about the Winston case. I feel like Florida State should roll in this one. I would be intrigued if this game was in upstate New York. FSU 48-17
Sleep off your hangover
17. UCF at Temple 11:00 am ESPN3 - UCF 52-10
Iowa State at 18. Oklahoma 11:00 am FOX Sports 1 - OU 49-14
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