
I Texted Joe midway through the 3rd quarter “So, are you going to call it?”
“Sadly, I might be if this drive nets zero points.”
The Spartans drove to the Baylor 26. Maybe Joe would keep hope.
Naw… Conner Cook throws a picks. The score was 41-21 Bears.
“Over. And with Jesus Harbaugh in AA, according to the Walverine Nation, Spartans should just drop the program. “
Ugggh…Hadn’t thought of that.
Joe wasn’t the only one throwing in the towel. The Sax Man stopped by Aunt Doofus to watch Auburn take on Wiscy and for the Spartan game.
Auburn lost in OT on a boink FG (a boink miss being worth only one – it was still a loss according to Joe).
The Sax Man decides to leave. “Aren’t you going to watch the end?”
“Nope – this game is over.” He headed out doubly bummed.
Cousin Doofus went out to work on the yard. She was a trooper, watching games with me ever since I arrived New Years Eve but this was too much.
I decided to watch the rest of the game. Maybe they can make it a bit closer.
“Sadly, I might be if this drive nets zero points.”
The Spartans drove to the Baylor 26. Maybe Joe would keep hope.
Naw… Conner Cook throws a picks. The score was 41-21 Bears.
“Over. And with Jesus Harbaugh in AA, according to the Walverine Nation, Spartans should just drop the program. “
Ugggh…Hadn’t thought of that.
Joe wasn’t the only one throwing in the towel. The Sax Man stopped by Aunt Doofus to watch Auburn take on Wiscy and for the Spartan game.
Auburn lost in OT on a boink FG (a boink miss being worth only one – it was still a loss according to Joe).
The Sax Man decides to leave. “Aren’t you going to watch the end?”
“Nope – this game is over.” He headed out doubly bummed.
Cousin Doofus went out to work on the yard. She was a trooper, watching games with me ever since I arrived New Years Eve but this was too much.
I decided to watch the rest of the game. Maybe they can make it a bit closer.

Baylor boinked a FG to start the 4th quarter. Whew! That would have really put a final nail in the coffin. Sparty would need 3 TDs and 3 two pointers if he made that. I was still holding onto a sliver of hope. (and what was it with boinks on the first? I counted at least four during the day)
Cook finally starts to hit receivers. He was awful through the game so far. Missing open receivers, picks ugly.
Five plays later and Cook hits TE Josh Price….TD! 41-28 Baylor. MSU is only down two scores but the need to stop Baylor. Something they hadn’t done all day.
State runs the on side kick and they get it!! They just make a game of this.
But Cook returns to form. He throws another pick. I buried my head in my hands. Just when it looked like they may have a chance the old Conner Cook returns. Making horrifc decisions. He looked like a freshman not first day NFL pick.
Baylor LB taylor Young takes it back to the house. Ball game. Now I was calling it too.
But there’s a flag on the return. Illegal block. It was to be one of several critical small mistake.
Cook finally starts to hit receivers. He was awful through the game so far. Missing open receivers, picks ugly.
Five plays later and Cook hits TE Josh Price….TD! 41-28 Baylor. MSU is only down two scores but the need to stop Baylor. Something they hadn’t done all day.
State runs the on side kick and they get it!! They just make a game of this.
But Cook returns to form. He throws another pick. I buried my head in my hands. Just when it looked like they may have a chance the old Conner Cook returns. Making horrifc decisions. He looked like a freshman not first day NFL pick.
Baylor LB taylor Young takes it back to the house. Ball game. Now I was calling it too.
But there’s a flag on the return. Illegal block. It was to be one of several critical small mistake.

Baylor gets the ball at their 47 with 11 minutes left. The Bears drive to the MSU 44 – 4th down and six. In another mistake, HC Briles decides his team is unstoppable and full of arrogance – goes for it. The Bears come up short.
State gets the ball at their 40 still down two scores.
Cook was brilliant. Hitting passes and scrambling to the Baylor 1. Jeremy Langford punched it in. MSU cuts the lead to 41-35 There are still five minutes left. Could it be?!?!
They’ll need to make another stop.
DC Narduzzi had returned to the sidelines. The defense was playing aggressive. They needed to make one more stop.
MSU decides to kick deep and Baylor gets the ball at their 25.
The Bears are a great team. They weren’t about to cave and their elite offense grinds four minutes off the clock, using all the State time outs and sets up for a FG.
Joe texts “Mrs Joe is calling for a blocked FG and run back for TD”
State gets the ball at their 40 still down two scores.
Cook was brilliant. Hitting passes and scrambling to the Baylor 1. Jeremy Langford punched it in. MSU cuts the lead to 41-35 There are still five minutes left. Could it be?!?!
They’ll need to make another stop.
DC Narduzzi had returned to the sidelines. The defense was playing aggressive. They needed to make one more stop.
MSU decides to kick deep and Baylor gets the ball at their 25.
The Bears are a great team. They weren’t about to cave and their elite offense grinds four minutes off the clock, using all the State time outs and sets up for a FG.
Joe texts “Mrs Joe is calling for a blocked FG and run back for TD”

“Holy F&@#”
State blocks the FG and runs it 36 yards to the Baylor 45
“She’s thinking about quiting her day job and becoming a bookie”
“I’ll keep track of the bets” I said
It was a great call.
But it was going to take another miracle. State had the ball but with no times outs left and needing a TD.
Cook hits Mumphrey for 18 yards. First and 10 at the Baylor 27.
Incompete..2nd and ten
Incompete..3rd and ten
Incomplete..4th and ten
State was down to one last chance and
First down!! Cook hitsTony Lippet. State has first and goal at the ten 33 seconds left.
State blocks the FG and runs it 36 yards to the Baylor 45
“She’s thinking about quiting her day job and becoming a bookie”
“I’ll keep track of the bets” I said
It was a great call.
But it was going to take another miracle. State had the ball but with no times outs left and needing a TD.
Cook hits Mumphrey for 18 yards. First and 10 at the Baylor 27.
Incompete..2nd and ten
Incompete..3rd and ten
Incomplete..4th and ten
State was down to one last chance and
First down!! Cook hitsTony Lippet. State has first and goal at the ten 33 seconds left.

Then - Incompete..2nd and ten
Incompete..3rd and ten
C’mon State – don’t blow it now. Not with a chance at an all time miracle.
Cook drops back and TD!!!! Keith Mumphrey on a skinny slant to the back of the end zone!!
Down 20 points to start the final quarter – State scores 3 TDs and takes the lead with 17 seconds left 42-41.
But there was still a little too much time left to call it for State. Baylor can score in a hiccup. They already had TDs of 49, 53 and 74 yards. State just needs to hold.
Narduzzi now had the defense in a frenzy.
Baylor, first and ten at their 25 and …. Sack!
Second and sixteen at their 19 …. Sack! State was spitting fire on D
Third and twenty three at the Baylor 12 and …. Pick!! State Wins! State Wins!
A game that will go down in Spartan lore. A game where you will remember exactly where you were when it happened (And claiming you watched it all the way through if you turned it off.)
I immediately called the Sax Man “You left to early”
He agreed. He listened on the radio but wishes he had stuck around.
Incompete..3rd and ten
C’mon State – don’t blow it now. Not with a chance at an all time miracle.
Cook drops back and TD!!!! Keith Mumphrey on a skinny slant to the back of the end zone!!
Down 20 points to start the final quarter – State scores 3 TDs and takes the lead with 17 seconds left 42-41.
But there was still a little too much time left to call it for State. Baylor can score in a hiccup. They already had TDs of 49, 53 and 74 yards. State just needs to hold.
Narduzzi now had the defense in a frenzy.
Baylor, first and ten at their 25 and …. Sack!
Second and sixteen at their 19 …. Sack! State was spitting fire on D
Third and twenty three at the Baylor 12 and …. Pick!! State Wins! State Wins!
A game that will go down in Spartan lore. A game where you will remember exactly where you were when it happened (And claiming you watched it all the way through if you turned it off.)
I immediately called the Sax Man “You left to early”
He agreed. He listened on the radio but wishes he had stuck around.

Never give up!
Perhaps the best start to a New Year ever.
And apologies for not getting more picks out. I’ve been having way too good of a time watching football and polishing off various libations.
I’ve been taking the underdogs with pretty good success although today’s game is not starting too well.
I’ll keep taking the dogs with East Carolina +6.5 versus Florida and Arkansas State +3.5 vs Toledo.
It’s time to switch back to the pros with the start of the playoffs.
This weekend I’ll take
Perhaps the best start to a New Year ever.
And apologies for not getting more picks out. I’ve been having way too good of a time watching football and polishing off various libations.
I’ve been taking the underdogs with pretty good success although today’s game is not starting too well.
I’ll keep taking the dogs with East Carolina +6.5 versus Florida and Arkansas State +3.5 vs Toledo.
It’s time to switch back to the pros with the start of the playoffs.
This weekend I’ll take

Arizona +6.5 @ Carolina – The Panthers are on a four game winning streak primarily because Cam Newton is healthy again. That and who they played – New Orleans, Tampa bay, Cleveland and Atlanta.
Combine their best defensive players and maybe you have an average defense.
Newton has looked terrific playing against lousy defense.
Arizona started the season with a tremendous defense but has started to springs some leaks on the run defense. After not allowing a 100 yard runner in the first 10 weeks of the season – they have allowed 100 yards in five of their last six games.
Carolina’s defense has showed improvement. After allowing 31 points in five straight road games, the Panthers allowed a combined 13 points to Atlanta and New Orleans.
Arizona is down to Ryan Lindley at QB after Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton went down. Probably the best thing that can said about Lindley is that he is not totally incompetent.
I’m going to Arizona in this game. The spread has gotten too large after the Panthers routed Atlanta last week.
Arizona is 7-0 when getting 6.5 or less points.
Combine their best defensive players and maybe you have an average defense.
Newton has looked terrific playing against lousy defense.
Arizona started the season with a tremendous defense but has started to springs some leaks on the run defense. After not allowing a 100 yard runner in the first 10 weeks of the season – they have allowed 100 yards in five of their last six games.
Carolina’s defense has showed improvement. After allowing 31 points in five straight road games, the Panthers allowed a combined 13 points to Atlanta and New Orleans.
Arizona is down to Ryan Lindley at QB after Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton went down. Probably the best thing that can said about Lindley is that he is not totally incompetent.
I’m going to Arizona in this game. The spread has gotten too large after the Panthers routed Atlanta last week.
Arizona is 7-0 when getting 6.5 or less points.

Baltimore +3.0 @ Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh offense took a huge hit when RB Leveon Bell went out with a hyper extended knee. Bell was not only a stud runner but was a great safety valve for Roethlisberger and fantastic in pass protection. Big Ben is going to get pressured and nowhere to dump it off.
It will be up to the defensive line to get pressure early because the Ravens secondary. Good news for Ravens fans – All pro DT Haloti Ngata returns after a four game suspension for using substances he’s not supposed to.
The Steelers DL has been on fire lately recording nine sacks over the last two games. Their secondary is also struggling so they need to get to Flacco before he is able to find Steve Smith long. Flacco set a personal best 3,986 yards passing this year.
Baltimore has never beaten Pitssburgh in the playoffs and the Steelers are 31-13 ATS in December but I’m going to take Baltimore to cover. I don’t think they can adjust their offense enough for the loss of Bell.
It will be up to the defensive line to get pressure early because the Ravens secondary. Good news for Ravens fans – All pro DT Haloti Ngata returns after a four game suspension for using substances he’s not supposed to.
The Steelers DL has been on fire lately recording nine sacks over the last two games. Their secondary is also struggling so they need to get to Flacco before he is able to find Steve Smith long. Flacco set a personal best 3,986 yards passing this year.
Baltimore has never beaten Pitssburgh in the playoffs and the Steelers are 31-13 ATS in December but I’m going to take Baltimore to cover. I don’t think they can adjust their offense enough for the loss of Bell.

Indianapolis -3.5 vs Cincinnati – This game could hinge on whether the bengals AJ Green is available to play. Green suffered a concussion and is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game.
Even with Green in the lineup – the passing game will struggle. QB Andy Dalton has been absolutely awful in the playoffs going -3, 1 TD and 6 picks.
The Bengals will likely turn to RB Jeremy Hill to pick up the slack. Hill has been on fore lately running for over 100 yards in each of his last three games.
This game is a rematch of an October game where the Colts shut out the Bengals 27-0. A game the AJ Green missed as well .
Colt’s QB Andrew Luck threw for 344 yards and 2 TDs in that matchup and should have similar numbers against a poor Cincinnati defense.
The trends say to take the Bengals as non divisional rematches the loser is 27-13-1 ATS. But Luck is fantastic at home going 18-6 ATS
I’ll lay a Mega Bets and take the Colts. Dalton will implode again. Meanwhile Luck will find TY Hilton for multiple TDs.
Even with Green in the lineup – the passing game will struggle. QB Andy Dalton has been absolutely awful in the playoffs going -3, 1 TD and 6 picks.
The Bengals will likely turn to RB Jeremy Hill to pick up the slack. Hill has been on fore lately running for over 100 yards in each of his last three games.
This game is a rematch of an October game where the Colts shut out the Bengals 27-0. A game the AJ Green missed as well .
Colt’s QB Andrew Luck threw for 344 yards and 2 TDs in that matchup and should have similar numbers against a poor Cincinnati defense.
The trends say to take the Bengals as non divisional rematches the loser is 27-13-1 ATS. But Luck is fantastic at home going 18-6 ATS
I’ll lay a Mega Bets and take the Colts. Dalton will implode again. Meanwhile Luck will find TY Hilton for multiple TDs.

Detroit +6.5 @ Dallas – can the Lions win a playoff game again? The last time they did it was against the Cowboys back in 1991.
Detroit received good news and Ndamukong Suh was ruled eligible to play after stepping on Aaron Rodger’s leg.
With Suh in the lineup the Lions DL should be able to contain Dallas RB DeMarco Murray. Murray has been superb this year with 1,845 yards and 12 100 yard games.
They should have less luck pressuring QB Tony Romo however. The Dallas offensive line is solid giving time for Romo and he has performed. Over the last four weeks he has thrown 12 TDs agains just 1 pick.
With the Dallas offense and the Detroit defense in a titanic battle it will come down to the Detroit offense and QB Matthew Stafford in particular. Stafford in maddeningly inconsistent. With time and using proper mechanics he is a top tier QB. But under pressure he wil make poor throws.
Behind a porous offensive line Stafford has been sacked an incredible 45 times. But Dallas DL does not put pressure on the QB. They are number 27 in sacks this year.
The trends are mixed. Underdogs in Dallas games are 52-25 ATS but the Lions are 4-13 ATS against teams with winning records on the road.
I’ll take a Mini Mega on the Lions on a spread that is too big.
Detroit received good news and Ndamukong Suh was ruled eligible to play after stepping on Aaron Rodger’s leg.
With Suh in the lineup the Lions DL should be able to contain Dallas RB DeMarco Murray. Murray has been superb this year with 1,845 yards and 12 100 yard games.
They should have less luck pressuring QB Tony Romo however. The Dallas offensive line is solid giving time for Romo and he has performed. Over the last four weeks he has thrown 12 TDs agains just 1 pick.
With the Dallas offense and the Detroit defense in a titanic battle it will come down to the Detroit offense and QB Matthew Stafford in particular. Stafford in maddeningly inconsistent. With time and using proper mechanics he is a top tier QB. But under pressure he wil make poor throws.
Behind a porous offensive line Stafford has been sacked an incredible 45 times. But Dallas DL does not put pressure on the QB. They are number 27 in sacks this year.
The trends are mixed. Underdogs in Dallas games are 52-25 ATS but the Lions are 4-13 ATS against teams with winning records on the road.
I’ll take a Mini Mega on the Lions on a spread that is too big.