Welcome back to another fun week of Friday Bet$ For Realz, New Year’s Eve edition, 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!
BIG $ (Pencil Storm Browns Beat Writer)
The Playoffs begin in earnest tonight, let us dig in...
Playoff Ryan has entered the chat. May god have mercy on Michael Irvin's soul.
Buckeyes -9.5
I am beyond sick of hearing about Oregon's big win against Iowa, aka the oxymoron of 2025. Oil money>Sneaker money..
Tech shows up.
Red Raiders +2.5
The Cig machine has yet to come up against SEC competition. There will be a learning curve.
Bama + 7 (If you're feeling froggy, jump on Bama moneyline)
UGA scares the living hell out of me.
Dogs easy -6.5
Happy New Year, good luck, fade or tail
Brian Phillips (Former Radio Morning Show Host CD101)
As I write I'm watching Coastal Carolina (home of professors Joe and Kate Oestreich) and Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl in what might be the worst game of college football ever played. In the brief period I've been watching I've seen a blocked field goal, a fumble, followed immediately by an interception, roughing the passer, offensive pass interference, intentional grounding and Tech attempting a Dollar store Phillie special on a two point conversion (it didn't work). I've checked the box score, and it appears there were three missed field goals in the first half as well.
This dumb game serves as a reminder that with all the firings (Coastal canned their coach weeks ago), opt outs, transfers, injuries, and rust these games are almost impossible to predict. So what the hell let's make a few picks. Please don't wager money on any of this.
Reliaquest Bowl - Noon Dec 31
Iowa +5.5 vs Vanderbilt
Looks like both squads will be more or less at full strength. I'd love to back Diego Pavia in his 16th year of college football one more time, but with Iowa's defense and special teams I just can't.
Citrus Bowl - 3pm Dec 31
Michigan +7 vs Texas
Shit... I hate this pick, but Texas is going to be without most of their starting defense. What's shocking is the UM player movement is minimal. Arch was improving toward the end of the year. The range of outcomes seems high. Do yourself a favor, just hate watch it. They should interview Jim Harbaugh at half time and ask him if he knew his heir apparent was psychotic (allegedly).
Ok enough of this bullshit. Bowl games should probably just go away at this point. I remember the NFL replacement player season in 1987, and these games have the same feel. On to the PLAYOFF!
Cotton Bowl - 8pm Dec 31
Ohio State -9.5 vs Miami
That's a lot of points for such a low total, but I have a feeling the Buckeyes have been holding some things back. Miami doesn't have an actual fanbase so the crowd will be 90% Ohio State. How are the Canes going to score?
Ohio State 20 Miami 9
Orange Bowl - Noon January 1
Texas Tech ML vs Oregon
The Ducks haven't faced a defense this good all year and we all remember their struggles against the likes of Wisconsin.
Rose Bowl - 4pm January 1
Indiana -7 vs Alabama
Bama can't run the ball. IU defense will feast.
IU 26 Bama 13
Sugar Bowl - 8pm January 1
Georgia -6.5 vs Mississippi
Here's where the rubber meets the road on all the Lane Kiffin nonsense. That smug dickhead left these kids high and dry and Georgia are peaking at the right time. I wouldn't be shocked if Ol Miss didn't grab an early lead because the Bulldogs usually give that up. By the end Georgia will have covered.
Georgia 34 Ol MIss 24
Welp with just seconds left Tech has come back to take a 23-14 lead. I think Coastal should go ahead and fire their interim coach after the game too. Actually, fire both staffs and put all the players in the portal. Good Lord that was awful.
Enjoy the games!
Ben Galli (Pencilstorm NBA Beat Writer)
As I took a gander at the lines available, these few stood out to me.
Texas -6.5 vs. Michigan - Is Michigan a basketball school now? The football program has obviously been in turmoil, and I just have a feeling that Sark and Archie want to end the season with a strong win against the Wolverines, if only to awaken the spirit of that 2006 team that went on to win it all after a thrilling Rose Bowl win against Michigan the year before.
Oregon -2.5 vs. Texas Tech - I don't know who Texas Tech's T. Boone Pickens is, but I'm still skeptical that all the oil money in West Texas can get the Red Raiders to play with the big boys this soon. Nice coach, nice story, but Oregon knows how to win these games. Well, kind of.
This last one's for anyone hoping beyond hope that the Buckeye hoopers can send off Bruce Thornton in deserving style. Currently, Ohio State is +8000 to make the Final Four and +10000 to win the Big Ten Regular Season Championship. Neither outcome is likely, but there's a stunner every year.