Welcome back to another fun week of Friday Bet$ For Realz as some of your favorite Pencil Storm characters share actual bets they are making on NCAA and NFL football. Depending on our bank accounts we will be checking in throughout the 2025-26 with our blazing hot takes and sure-fire winners. However, it’s important to remember that sports betting is for suckers, so as long as you are cool with that.. Let’s Boogie!
Brian Phillips (Former Radio Morning Show Host CD101)
Ohio State -19 1/2 home to Penn State. The Nittany Lions have taken money, it was 20 1/2. I know the Buckeyes play slowly on offense, but that defense is so good I doubt they score more than 7 points.
Washington State -3 1/2 at Oregon State. Vegas has not caught up with how much the Cougs have improved on defense. Last week they were dogs at home to Toledo which I found baffling. The result was never in doubt 28-7. The Beavers are 1-7, having only defeated Lafayette. This is the easiest call of the weekend.
Vanderbilt +3 1/2 at Texas. I may be stepping in it here, but the Horns have been just terrible on offense all season. Arch looks to be on track to play for Texas. Is that a good thing? Besides, it's more fun to back 15 year senior Diego Pavia.
Army/Air Force over 49.5. This number assumes a normal service academy match up. Air Force has been trucking on offense and they can't stop anyone.
Indiana -21 1/2 at Maryland. Psycho Hoosier Coach Cignetti knows what the number is and intends to blow right past it. This is nothing new.
Wake Forest +10 1/2 at Florida State. Wake's defense is legit. I think the Deacon's moneyline is in play as well. Who has Florida State beaten besides Alabama.... no one in ACC play.
BIG $ (Pencil Storm Browns Beat Writer)
All right, at my core, I am a BCS guy ( I don't think they ever got it wrong tbh). However, this expanded playoffs is making for some interesting stretch runs as the mid majors scrap for those last spots.
I am focused on these scraps this week ,
I'm going Memphis -14 against Rice (-108)
My go to guys have been Houston, Weigman is a dog,
Cougars -12.5 vs WVU (-115)
I see points and Navy, I am inclined to take Navy and the points
Navy +6.5 vs North Texas (-105)
In gratitude for the Miami win money, I'll ride with Louisville -10.5 vs Virginia Tech (-110).
As always, enjoy, fade or tail.
Big$
Ben Galli (Pencilstorm NBA Beat Writer)
Saints vs Rams Under 43.5
Tyler Shough is making his first career start for the 1-7 Saints. The second-round pick out of Louisville is the oldest rookie QB at 25, having played 7 years in college! Something tells me if you weren't good enough for the league after 4, 5, or 6 years, maybe the 7th isn't the charm. New Orleans is also 29th in the NFL in scoring, so not good to begin with. The Rams have a formidable D this year and are close to the middle of the pack in offensive scoring. I see a 24-7 type of game.
San Antonio Spurs NBA Cup Winners +3500
With Game 6 of the World Series on deck and the second half of the NFL season underway, I'm sure the eyes of all sports fans are on the vaunted NBA Cup, which starts tonight. Actually, I hope they're not. Those courts are glaring! The winner of this in-season tournament will be crowned in mid-December, and there are much odds to contemplate. Even the favorite OKC Thunder are at +230, with the Cavs next at +500. But the San Antonio Spurs are sitting right there at 5-0 with the second-best point differential in the league at 14.4. With Victor E. Wembanyama terrifying onlookers, I'm not totally convinced they'll ever lose another game.
Jeremy Porter (Pencil Storm Co-Editor in Chief, rock and roll musician, Mexican fast-food enthusiast, proudly representing that state to the north in hostile online territory MICHIGAN GO BLUE!
I must say Michigan looked good against Washington, exceeding the expectations of my colleagues here, and again against Michigan State last weekend. I like the Wolverines -21 against Purdue on Saturday.
I like Western Michigan -5.5 over the struggling Chippewas of Central Michigan, to the dismay of Chip-alum TrooperGirl22 and half of my family.
ØSU should have no problem putting up -19.5 against Penn State, I would think.
The Lions have been strong lately, albeit a little sloppy at times. Their secondary is their Achilles, along with the temper of a few of their key players. Minnesota always comes at Detroit hard, and I think their 3-4 record is not representative of their talent. Also hearing McCarthy might start, which I am looking forward to as a fan (Go Blue amirite?) -8.5 makes me nervous. If I weren’t a homer I probably wouldn’t take it, but I am and I will.
The Packers are strong, and even though -13.5 is a lot, I think they’ll put that up against the Panthers in Lambeau.
I LOVE San Fransisco -2.5 against the lowly giants in New Jersey and I LOVE Denver +1.5 against Texas.
Chiefs – Bills sounds like the game of the week, and I want Buffalo to win so bad I might just take the money line instead of +2.
And finally, I hate to say it, but Aaron Rogers is playing some great ball. I won’t bet on him or any team that has him, so I’ll take the Colts -1.5 out of blind spite.
Colin Gawel (Pencilstorm guy / musician solo and with Watershed)
So two weeks ago I was sitting on a 5$ parlay to pay $21 and I needed Texas A&M to cover 7.5 vs Arkansas to cash the ticket. Problem is, I was watching the game in real time with a friend and it became obvious to us both that A&M was not going to cover the 7.5. Bummer.
However, I randomly opened my Bet365 App during a commerical break to survey some live odds when I noticed they were offering me a $16.17 cash out on my ill-fated parlay. I did a double take and mashed the accept button as quickly and firmly as possible. I couldn’t believe the offer. Yes, I took the money, no, A&M did not cover and I remain more confused than ever how online gambling actually works.
Nothing jumping out at me this week so I am making the smartest bet of all and not playing. For now…