Welcome to the Addison Recorder‘s football Pick ‘Em column. Each week Alex and a guest writer will predict the outcome of the most intriguing games on the slate. He will try to be as expert as possible, but we make no guarantees for his guests.
This week we’re joined by Bean’s once and future cabinet-mate at Groupon, John Gramila. He said he might use augury for his predictions, so watch out.
This happened last year. Still not sure how the world didn’t end right after.
Michigan at Northwestern
Bean: This is on the docket because I’m actually going to be at the game. It will be my first time seeing Michigan play in person since…2000? It’s been awhile. The game itself will be a stupid pillow fight. The Wolverines march on towards firing Hoke and the Wildcats are wildly inconsistent. I guess I’ll go with my rooting interest. Wolverines by 2.
Gramila: The home field advantage will work against the Wildcats in this matchup. Alex’s presence should be the buff the Wolverines have been looking for. In an open field with very little cover, the Wildcats will by pounced by a 10 point Wolverine win.
Good lord is that an ugly alternate uniform.
#10 Notre Dame at #9 Arizona State
Bean: I am not sure how these two teams are in the Top Ten. Their most impressive games are their losses to Florida State and UCLA, respectively. Which means that neither impresses me much. So, uhhhhhh, I’ll go with the home team and send the Irish’s playoff hopes crashing to the ground. Sun Devils by 11.
Gramila: A classic fight between good and evil takes new form. ASU’s student body is very enthusiastic about winning, and the weekend temperature in Arizona will be around 80°. Notre Dame has only lost one game this season. Notre Dame by 3 points.
The idiot savant vs. creepy automaton that is this coaching matchup is always entertaining.
#5 Alabama at #16 LSU
Bean: For the past several years my greatest worry in Novembers has been whether or not Alabama will lost and get knocked out of the National Championship race. They have lost in November every year since 2011, yet it only cost them a title shot last year. I think another loss may loom, but not against this LSU team. Crimson Tide by 6.
Gramila: A win here means LSU has recovered from a disappointing early season and pulled their second consecutive home upset of a top five team. That sounds fun, and everyone likes an underdog. Let’s choose to ignore that the average Crimson Tide player weights 246.75 pounds and stands 6.5 feet tall. LSU by 12.
Worth noting again that K-State’s coach looks like a Keebler Elf.
#7 K-State at #6 TCU
Bean: Both of these teams are gunning for a playoff spot despite fluky early losses to Auburn and Baylor respectively. The Wildcats have been quietly consistent over the past few years, though they tend to stumble against very talented teams. Is TCU one of those? Eh…ask again later. The Horned Frogs are certainly well-coached and has been a big surprise this fall. They gutted out a win at West Virginia last week and have been scoring in buckets against everyone. So I’ll roll with them. Horned Frogs by 13.
Gramila: The score will be based on the number of Rhodes scholars coming out of each school. Kansas State wins by 8.
Bean doesn’t want to talk about it.
#14 Ohio State at #8 Michigan State
Bean: I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate how good this game should be. These two programs are my Wolverines fiercest rivals and are both just infinitely better than Hoke’s keystone kops right now. Can’t wait for a new coach! Come on down, Jim Harbaugh!
Um, on point, this game comes down to the Buckeye’s explosive offense against the Spartan’s stout defense. The Sparty defense carried the day in the Big Ten Title Game last year, but has been much more prone to busts and appeared mortal against Oregon back in September. Unfortunately for them, the Buckeyes may resemble that Oregon offense more than any other team in the country. So I see an upset brewing. Buckeyes by 5.
Gramila: With single loss Big Ten teams ranked lower than two loss S.E.C. teams, the Big Ten could use some love. Hopefully, we’ll have a strong showing from both teams. If Urban Frank Meyer, III can face his fear and really believe in himself and his team, it’ll be Buckeyes by 6.
Alex Bean
A life-long Midwesterner, currently living and working in Chicago. Primarily writes here about television and film (which is what he accrued crushing debt to study in school), but will write about books, sports, video games, or whatever else strikes his fancy. He's the one who thinks baseball is really boring.
Follow Me:
